Psych tones, squelching acid, finger-picked tones and everything in between. Its a great start to August.
August's Record of the Month is the utterly stunning new Papa M album A Broke Moon Rises on Drag City. Following his phoenix-like rise from the ashes in late 2016, David Pajo returns with just four acoustic guitars and a bit of drums. It is released in a couple of weeks so we'll cover properly then, but it is one of the most special listens this year... or any year actually.
Record of the Week is Qualm, the new LP from German-based DJ and producer Helena Hauff. She has a huge reputation as one of the most primal and overwhelming DJ's playing out, and Qualm captures the many aspects of those sets and is a pretty thrilling sonic tour through techno, post-punk, synths and some seriously squelchy acid. Some of the motifs loop back into focus against others timbres. The title tracks' pop brilliance plays perfectly against the succeeding 'No Qualms' with the patter and hiss of the drum machines coming to the front. Ambitious and smart but most of all brilliantly delivered to coherently cover so much without a pick and mix effect.
Sea Change alumnus Gulp return with a new LP called All Good Wishes and it is woozy and wonderful. Gulp (formed by Super Furry Animals bassist Guto Pryce and wife Lyndsey Leven) have always had a lot of depth to their music, but on All Good Wishes, they really cover a rich sonic landscape from krautrock and motoriks into a tropical and heady psych-pop. Some banging tracks but a hugely evocative mood throughout, love this band and really loving this LP.
+ Whilst stocks last we have signed editions and free bonus CDs.
New Michael Nau LP on Full Time Hobby today called Mighty Thread. It's more of a band record than before (hence the Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread) but it still acts as a backdrop to Michael's voice, which is just as dreamy as it gets! There is a fullness and a polish to the album, but still an honesty to it that lands it somewhere between lo fi and Lambchop... lovely.
+ Limited edition indie shop blue vinyl version available, one time pressing of 500.
+ Deluxe edition too, with the indie blue vinyl and a bonus 7" with 2 exclusive tracks.
Talking of which, Lambchop's What Another Man Spills gets a remastered 20th-anniversary reissue today via City Slang. Remastered from the original DAT, the 2LP and CD reissue, featuring new artwork and liner notes by Kurt Wagner. The limited edition 2LP is pressed on 180g heavyweight coloured vinyl (one LP yellow, one LP clear).
Gabe Gurnsey of Factory Floor releases Physical today on Phantasy. His FF work is an interesting note, but it doesn't really bear much connection to the warmer and altogether less intense sound of him here going solo. It's quite cinematic, full of retro-futurism and very easy to lock into. It's fun and way less intense that FF, but don't think it doesn't have quite some punch to it... 'Harder Rhythm' is pure stand up and dance material.
The Morning Star is the first album of new material from Daniel Bachman in two years. It is also Bachman's first ever double album. He is such an amazing player and picker, but there is some very special magic floating about here amongst it all. Much of the magic comes from the distinct timelessness of it all, which is made even more fun by the cameo of an ambulance siren... you are never where you think you are!
Genericana is the new LP from Indiana folklorist Joseph O’Connell as Elephant Micah. Such a beautiful set of songs here. Sonic moments and textures all woven together like little fragments of dreams. The production is right up our street - experimental and interesting but deliciously homespun.
+ Limited edition version pressed on white vinyl for Indie stores only. LP includes 11” square insert and download.
Paradise: The Sound Of Ivor Raymonde is a long-overdue celebration of Ivor Raymonde, collecting his work as an arranger, musical director, producer, singer and songwriter. The story of a British musical great is told for the first time. Classic singles like Billy Fury’s 'Halfway To Paradise', Dusty Springfield’s 'I Only Want To Be With You' and The Walker Brothers' 'Make It Easy On Yourself'... but that's just the start of it. A really personal project for Bella Union (led of course by Ivor's own son Simon Raymonde), diving into the depth and width of Ivor's quite formidable body of work. Really really enjoying this.
Music On Vinyl reissue a twenty-first anniversary pressing of Tindersticks' Curtains. The expanded Edition contains the 15 original album songs plus 9 bonus tracks. 180 gram audiophile vinyl and a gatefold sleeve looks really handsome.
Also on MOV today is the Call Me By Your Name Original Film Soundtrack... but we only have like 6 left so chances are they will be toast by the time you all read this.
Legacy issue a double pressing of Jeff Buckley's Mystery White Boy album. It's a compilation of live recordings that Buckey's mother Mary Guibert compiled from DAT recordings made while Jeff was touring the Grace album. The best bits are when he tries stuff out vocally and it goes full batshit... the live shows had some edgy magic to them.
With 2018 marking the 50th anniversary since the original 12-track ‘Basement Tapes’ acetate of Dylan arrived in London, it seems the ideal time to release this 17-track CD compilation. A Tree With Roots: Fairport Convention And The Songs Of Bob Dylan.
Also this week a super limited 7" single on Awesome Tapes From Africa by Hailu Mergia. We have some signed copies of Laurence Cane-Honeysett's The Story of Trojan Records book (which is magnificent) and also post-festival (it was wet...) we have signed CD/LP's from Confidence Man, Insecure Men, 77:78 and Boy Azooga.
A reminder that we have the quite wonderful Virginia Astley reading from The English River this Saturday at Drift. 2pm start, free entry. Virginia's daughter Florence will be accompanying her with live flute and harp. It's going to be amazing.