Smooth groovers, big poppers and industrial smashers; this week sounds mint.
Hello, Friends.
Brothers & Sisters is the fifth solo LP from Beta Man Steve Mason and it is - unsurprisingly - fantastic! As with previous releases, the layering of sounds and tones is just masterful. Thematically the album is “a massive ‘fuck you’ to Brexit”, an ambitious collaborative album including feted Pakistani singer Javed Bashir, British gospel singers Jayando Cole, Keshia Smith, Connie McCall & Adrian Blake and Kaviraj Singh on the santoor. It’s an album of unity and togetherness, a euphoric tapestry of ideas and shared energy. Record of the Week and all good energy.
+ Available on Exclusive Gold colour vinyl.
Pink Colour Surgery is the pounding new LP from French punks The Psychotic Monks, a huge and bold step sideways into industrial tones and grit. There is such a darkness to the album without being bleak, it is dynamic music in shades of dark. Without remaining at the same speed, the album feels like it is continually in motion and that is super engaging. Really good stuff.
+ Available as a limited double Dinked Edtion on transparent “[s]lime” green colour vinyl, with an A6 sticker sheet and A3 fold out poster.
Russian producer Kate NV returns this week with the absolutely thrilling WOW. It’s an album of technicolour sounds, bleeps and pops and high sonic invention. She really is one of the most interesting producers out there (do keep an eye out for her collaborative Decisive Pink LP with Angel Deradoorian) and this one is a proper trip from start to finish.
+ Available on limited Yellow colour vinyl.
Amsterdam-based duo Weval release their third LP - Remember - on the Ninja Tune imprint Technicolour. It is absolutely full of wooze; organic sounding beats that build and dip to really great effect. Electronic music made by people with instruments; it has such a lovely feel.
Russia’s Gnoomes return on Rocket Recordings with Ax Ox. It is surprisingly psychedelic, with hazing vocals and guitars burning in and out of focus against the motoriks. Another one we’ve been really enjoying this week.
+ Pressed on limited Ox Blood coloured vinyl.
UGLY (an acronym for ‘U Gotta Love Yourself’) is the new studio LP from Slowthai. Recorded at producer Dan Carey’s home studio, it features a really interesting set of collaborators and is (mostly) a bold move away from the more pop heavy rap of his more recent output.
+ Available on exclusive Transparent Red colour vinyl.
At long last we have LP copies this week of Alpha Zulu, the fizzing seventh studio LP from French art-poppers Phoenix. Recorded during the height of the pandemic (amazingly at the iconic Louvre museum), the glossy and inventive production remains hugely impressive.
+ Available on exclusive Coke Bottle Clear vinyl.
The week’s new-not-new are also exciting to say the least, with reissues to include; Grateful Dead’s American Beauty, a very limited pressing of Soccer Mommy’s Clean, The Collected Works of The Shapiros and the small matter of 3 Feet High and Rising!
- Drift
