If you’re in the mood for something new, it’s a right old week of it down the record shop.
Hello, Friends.
A Comforting Notion is the debut EP from Heartworms and it marks the arrival of a very very special talent indeed. Under the guise of its architect Jojo Orme, Heartworms is a richly gothic-sounding adventure in post-rock and punk. Produced with Dan Carey (and released on the esteemed Speedy Wunderground), it’s a mesmerising set of dark and driving dystopian bangers. We can’t rave about Jojo and Heartworms enough.
+ A reminder that Heartworms play at Sea Change in May.
Our record of the week is the quite extraordinary and radically futuristic-sounding return of folk traditionalists Lankum, with False Lankum. There is always remarkable intensity in their songs, but the big difference here is the nuance of going from loud to quiet and hard to slow. It sounds very much like the ebb and flow of the raging seas that underpin so many of the songs. It is an absolutely essential listening experience for folk heads and more casual listeners, it uses generationally established shapes and tones and then goes somewhere completely different. Believe the hype, this one is something special.
+ Available on exclusive Clear Orange colour vinyl.
+ Whilst stocks last, vinyl formats will receive an exclusive art print.
Mike Polizze and his band return as Purling Hiss for their first LP in six years. Drag On Girard has the grit and gnarl of their (brilliant) previous records, but there is a real sense of optimism and euphoria that pours out here. Fuzzing guitars scream and wail, building up huge jams around Polizze’s urging vocals. It’s really great stuff.
A couple of enormous returns to the racks this week, with Depeche Mode releasing the throbbing and electro popping Memento Mori, and Lana Del Ray cooing lullabies on Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.
+ Memento Mori is available on limited double Opaque Red colour vinyl and also as a deluxe Hardcover Book CD edition.
+ Did You Know… is available on exclusive double Green colour vinyl with an alternative sleeve.
The Town That Cursed Your Name is the latest collection from the ever prolific Glenn Donaldson as The Reds, Pinks and Purples. Still very much the balladeer, the observations are brilliant and there are more fuzzed-out moments here than on much of his previous releases. Another fine addition to the RPP vaults.
+ Pressed on Pastel Green colour vinyl.
YIAN (燕) is the new album from Lucinda Chua on 4AD and it really is lush. Pop production and tones, but with some really soulful gestures and her voice is again pretty stunning; fragile and euphonious as it glides through the mix.
+ Pressed on Clear colour vinyl, Lucinda has signed some sleeves for us too!
Still so much to tell you about…
Benny Sings returns on Stones Throw with Young Hearts, made in collaboration with producer Kenny Beats. Got some serious squelch going on and is available in limited Blue colour vinyl.
Artisans & Merchants is the new LP from revered New York second-wave emo band The Van Pelt. It’s produced with Jeff Zeigler and tightly weaves everything together in the spirit of The War On Drugs or Kurt Vile; it’s all stadium ready. Available on limited Transparent Royal Blue colour vinyl.
Mark Peters presents a four-track EP called The Magic Hour, including a Richard Norris remix. The Natural Lines is the eponymous release from the artist formerly known as Matt Pond PA on Bella Union. Really great songwriting. Love in Exile is a new collaborative LP from Pakistani American singer Arooj Aftab, with jazz pianist Vijay Iyer and synth player Shahzad Ismaily. Really amazing symmetry between them, with Aftab’s voice really striking through.
Lastly this week, David Tattersall, The Wave Pictures guitarist and frontman releases a solo album of interpretations of John Fahey tunes called On The Sunny Side Of The Ocean. No fussin’ and beautifully recorded, this is really graceful stuff and on the stereo as we speak.
New-Not-New is equally amped this week, with; Sharon Van Etten, The Raincoats, Pink Floyd, double Basement Jaxx, The Notwist, Caribou and the mighty Mulatu Astatke. We’ll tell you all about it soon.
- Drift
