Some superb ‘new but not new’ with jazz tones, pattering surf rock and Slint.
Welcome to a chilly new week. We’ve been warming our hands to The New Smooth and Different Sound of The Chieftones. It’s another absolutely pearler via Numero, primitive and pounding drums with washes of surf-y guitars from the Tsimshian Nation garage band; Billy ThunderKloud, his brother Barry Littlestar with Jack Wolf, Richard Grayowl. This new LP compiles their debut single for Wisconsin’s lauded Cuca label and adds a dozen previously unissued demos. Swooning crooners and rocking jukebox jams, this is such a treat.
+ Available on limited Marbled Ash colour vinyl.
Also on Numero, we did mention a few weeks back that Duster’s exceptional Stratosphere received a 25th Anniversary pressing… which it did, and we now have a limited ‘Clear & Black Splatter’ that debuted this weekend as part of National Album Day. Talking of which, a few little extras online now to include the sold out R.E.M, The Virgin Suicides soundtrack and ambassador Tricky’s Maxinquaye Super.
Crackers in abundance this week as part of Verve By Request with four new reissues.
The 1973 self-titled La Clave LP is a right baller, a nine-man group led by Benny Velarde with members from Mexico, Panama, Cuba and Puerto Rico landing in San Fran for a funking serious affair.
Also high on swaggering 70’s fumes is João Donato’s A Bad Donato. Brazilian bossa nova roots run through funk, fusion and psychedelic pop filters. Such a vibe.
Modern Country is an album of country music songs by jazz trombonist and arranger Kai Winding. The ‘Oh, Lonesome Me’ cover is something of a personal all time fav over here.
Lastly, another covers set with Stan the man Getz enlisting fifth Beatle George Martin at the desk for a smooth set of 1970 contemporaries on Marrakesh Express.
All four are re-pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Third Man in Detroit.
One last jazz banger for you this week with Curtis Counce’s You Get More Bounce With Curtis Counce reissued on Craft Recordings. Such a smooth energy, it really flows and their is a certain maudlin tone to it. Pretty but sad. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl pressed at QRP with (AAA) lacquers cut from the original tapes by Bernie Grundman.
Self-described as one of the most iconic and influential albums ever, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon is available on a standalone LP after being remastered for the 50th Anniversary box set earlier this year.
Fire Records win the week’s “right up our Straße” award with The Chills iconic debut LP Brave Words getting an expanded edition alongside early singles compilation Kaleidoscope World. If you don’t know them, spend some time with The Chills.
LYF ARCHIVES 1998 - 2012 is a new coffee table book that celebrates the glimpses of gold that characterised WU LYF’s short reign, with essays, original art, photography and lyrics. They were seriously exciting, they just flew too close to the sun.
And lastly, we already told you, but we have new 2023 copies of Slint’s Spiderland and it’s one of the best albums of all time, so what are you waiting for?
It’s gonna be a right week, so speak soon, okay?
