A splendid early December turn-out for the new stuff, with lots of live recordings and some sensitive beauties.
Our Record of the Week is In Dreams, the surprise return of iconic San Jose slowcore/space rock outfit Duster. The band’s third LP after reforming in 2018, In Dreams is all about the mood; a focused and dense snooze with long reverberating tones and hazed whispers. It is slow and meticulous, a hushed and laconic buzz with so much subtlety and gentle lifts. It’s a really gorgeous haze throughout, but if you really dial into what they’re doing, the delicacy is just stunning.
+ Available on limited 'Aqua Tofana Colourless' vinyl.
I Wanna Run Barefoot Through Your Hair is the first new album in nine years from Christopher Owens, the former frontman of Girls. It’s been a volatile decade for Owens and he is pretty unflinching in the way he recounts many of its lows. But that in many ways is what makes this one so special; it’s real and although sad and mostly set at a slower pace, never purposely downbeat. There are some killer moments of celebration. Really one not to miss.
+ Available on Exclusive Baby Pink colour vinyl.
Firstly, Hayden Pedigo Live in Amarillo, Texas was cut live to tape the night before Christmas Eve 2023. It was off the back of a few months on the road and not only are the performances really assured, the way the set flows together is hugely impressive too. Some beautiful plucking.
+ Very limited and pressed on Panhandle Green colour vinyl.
Next, Paris is a new live recording from the inimitable Nils Frahm. Recorded last March at the Philharmonie de Paris’ Grand Salle Pierre Boulez, although he has a few (wonderful) live albums under his belt, this is the first one that is taken from one sole night. He covers a lot of his discography as the set ebbs and flows.
Then, four of the noisiest limbs out there come together as JOHN for POST-KINO (Live at Scala). Mostly focused on last year's belting A Life Diagrammatic LP, there are a couple of blistering old favourites at the end of the set too. Proper forces of nature.
+ Pressed on limited Eco-Mix vinyl with a fold out poster.
Lastly, Live At Alexandra Palace London is a lavish rendering of Four Tet’s 24th May 2023 live show. Available on 3LP and double CD, both editions include photos and other technical ephemera from the landmark shows. The progression from the slowly unfolding sonics through to the more propulsive directions is utterly masterful. The journey does make you feel like you’re there.
We got as many as we could, don’t miss out…
Joe Hisaishi’s Mládi collects three new excerpts taken from the soundtracks of films written and directed by Takeshi Kitano. Hisaishi plays the role of soloist on keyboard whilst directing the legendary Wiener Symphoniker. Special stuff. The disc looks amazing.
We have something a little bit special from Angel Olsen to close out this week on her somethingscosmic imprint. The label was created with the help of her longtime partners Jagjaguwar to provide “the flexibility to release when and how I want.” Cosmic Waves Volume 1 is a reimagining of the compilation, with the first side comprised of artists chosen by Olsen (Poppy Jean Crawford, Coffin Prick, Sarah Grace White, Maxim Ludwig and Camp Saint Helene), with each artist contributing a song. The flip side is all Angel, with her new interpretations of tracks by the artists featured. It just has such a lush wooze to it and her voice sounds especially resplendent.
Also very much at the front of the racks this week, we have a scorching new LP called 12 from the evergreen White Denim that we are really feeling. But, we’ll tell you a little more about that one shortly…
We have a couple of copies of Taylor Swift here, plus reissues to include Mercury Rev, Run The Jewels, Burial, Nahawa Doumbia, Hank Mobley and (warning you now) Jack Kerouac’s Readings by Jack Kerouac on the Beat Generation that we have always been rather wild about!
