Welcome to brimful Friday eve. The new release gods are smiling.
Late Again is the highly anticipated fourth full-length album from Sven Wunder and it’s absolutely sublime. The Stockholm-based producer has been one of our most go-to artists over the last few years and this new set is another gorgeous voyage through jazz, soundtrack and library hues. It’s the most nocturnal-sounding yet, with sunset through to starlight goodness. Record of the Week and one to just soak in.
Sit Down For Dinner is the first album in nine years from iconic NYC trio Blonde Redhead. It is - and has been - our September Record of the Month, a hazy and evocative album of dream pop and knotty little rhythms. We’re going to be playing this one for a long time to come, it’s just such a mood. Very highly recommended indeed.
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+ Join Record of the Month Club.
In a week with a few of them, one of our biggest returns is from Daniel Lopatin as Oneohtrix Point Never with Again on Warp. Man, it’s just so dense. Otherworldly electronic compositions that always find that melancholic space between human and computers. We’re long time fans and watching his work progress and evolve to include strings and epic tones alongside the digital crunches and swirls is something else. It’s way too much to absorb on first play, this is maximal music and is just so hugely impressive.
+ Available on exclusive double Blue vinyl.
Silver is the new LP from NYC-based disco-soul three-piece Say She She. The vibe is rich analogue disco soul, entirely written and recorded live to tape for that timeless sound. It has a really nice groove to it, ethereal floats through to steppin’ out disco grooves. When they hit the big harmonies, it’s almost too joyous to take! They sound amazing.
+ Available on exclusive double Transparent Clear vinyl.
+ Housed in a beautiful all-over gatefold silver-board jacket. Includes insert with exclusive photograph and credits.
Cousin is the new LP from Chicago-titans Wilco, and it’s another one that we are already in love with. The pacing is great, sort of wistful but never dawdling. The production is a big part of this, with the inimitable Cate Le Bon behind the desk. There are all sorts of flashes and gestures that are so clearly her, but sound so distinctly them?! Man, it’s great! Some great chugs and more than a little George Harrison energy to the more spangly moments. Bloody good.
Animal Collective return with Isn't it now and it is the first album that was recorded with all four members in the same room at the same time in over a decade. It’s proper kaleidoscopic stuff, swirling and oozing like sunshine Phil Spector or Smile Brian Wilson, with weird and thrilling left turns. The rich mass of vocals and harmonies are fantastic, a thick layer of euphoria atop of the experimentalism.
+ Available on limited Orange colour vinyl.
Welsh experimentalists Islet release Soft Fascination on Fire. Without sounding jumbly, it moves around a lot, with a frenetic and pulsating drive to the start of the album, before floating into way more mellow psychedelics for the second part.
The Rat Road is the first record in some six years from producer SBTRKT. It’s big, 22 tracks moving through UK garage, house, R&B, electro and even flashes of jazz, with collaborators including Toro Y Moi, Teezo Touchdown, D Double E, Anna Of The North, Kai Isaiah Jamal, Little Dragon and Sampha, who sounds especially good.
+ Available on limited and exclusive Silver colour vinyl.
Molly Burch returns on Captured Tracks with Daydreamer, a really personal set focused on adolescence. Stirring, whilst mostly delivered with a weightless fragility.
+ Available on limited Cotton Candy colour vinyl.
+ We have signed 12” posters.
Shone a Rainbow Light On is the debut record from Setting, a new North Carolina instrumental trio of Nathan Bowles, Jaime Fennelly and Joe Westerlund. Four long pieces that slowly evolve through electronic and acoustic improvisations. This one is such a head space, inspiring stuff.
The Harmony Codex is the new solo LP from Porcupine Tree main man Steven Wilson.
+ We have very limited and exclusive double Orange vinyl editions.
Also released on this stacked new music Friday; Seattle-based producer Lusine returns on Ghostly International with Long Light. Coin Coin Chapter Five: In The Garden is the latest release from celebrated composer, performer and saxophonist, Matana Roberts. Pressed as a double 10” which looks really nice. Alt metal stars Sleep Token release the new Sundowning LP on Spinefarm, which is available in a couple of limited colours. Modern Nature return on Bella Union. falling or flying is the second album from Jorja Smith and her voice sounds pretty amazing. Sahel is the first new LP in a few years from Tuareg folk hero, Bombino.
We’re trying to get hold of more copies of Joe Hisaishi’s sublime A Symphonic Celebration and Thundercat + Tame Impala’s pounding No More Lies 7”. Hopefully those guys and some other fine additions will be appearing here.
Lastly today, (I'm Just) Chillin', On Fire is the expansive new LP on International Anthem Recording Co. from Los Angeles-based producer, composer, and percussionist Carlos Niño. A double album (it’s like, 80 minutes) of ebbs, flows, new directions, sumptuous sonics and other mind-expanding tones. The roll call of guests is pretty wild, all adding to the journey. Highly recommended, just go get lost.
+ Available on limited double "Etheric Pink" colour vinyl.
The week's Best New Reissues offering is also utterly ludicrous, we’ll be spending the weekend writing about Electronic Music from India circa 1969-1972, the Four-Dimensional Music Of Lori Vambe, Victor Axelrod’s productions, “The Killer”, Morphine and the divine Betty Davis.
Come to the record shops guys, it really is brimmed.
- Drift