Squeezing the last June juices with a cracking new set!
Hello, Friends.A distinctly Sea Change-y tone to the start of this week's dispatch, with three of this year's leading lights releasing superb new albums.
Record of the Week is Tresor, the third solo LP from high queen Gwenno. It's her second album almost entirely in Cornish (Kernewek) language, written in St. Ives just prior to the Covid lockdowns of 2020. This is beautifully pastoral psychedelia, she makes such incredibly timeless music, sounding both ancient and weirdly futuristic. Instant bangers and hours to deep-dive into the beautiful, flowing language, this really is a wonder.
Another of this year's most beautiful voices is Naima Bock and this week sees the release of her excellent debut Giant Palm on Sub Pop. Really thoughtful compositions that wrap around her deliciously laconic voice. Some latin flourishes in the mix too, on what is a fantastically produced album.
+ Loser Edition LPs are pressed on orange vinyl.
Last of the trio is Dublin quintet Melts and the colossal Maelstrom debut LP. We've talked about it quite a bit - as it's lush and they came all the way to Totnes to play it for us - but also we were thrilled to introduce them to you earlier this year with a Dinked Edition. That Dinked Edition (No.177) is en route to us and hopefully shipping early next week, but we do have CD/LP copies in the building and this really is a hugely impressive debut album; driving walls of primal and powerful synths.
In the building, on the wall, on the stereo and giving us a right perk-up is Kibitzer, the splendid new album from Australian punks Vintage Crop. The album is our June Record of the Month and we had great pleasure in working with the band and Upset The Rhythm to bring you a very handsome Dinked Edition. Full of jangling bangers and available now as;
+ White Vinyl / Flexi-Disc - 2 Live Tracks / Lyric Fanzine / Bookmark / Hand Numbered.
Also released as a (very handsome) Dinked Edition is Momma's Household Name. The NY-via-LA based duo of Allegra Weingarten and Etta Friedman really have captured something pretty special, with a 2022 take on 1990s alt-rock. Some great songs and the whole thing has a really good energy without sounding like it's trying to dress up like its heroes.
+ Available on limited and exclusive Red colour vinyl.
+ Available as a Dinked Edition.
LA four-piece Oog Bogo release Plastic on the Drag City / Ty Segall operated God? record label and it really is mint. A brittle and bouncing set of garage bangers with loads of glam sparkle. Got a feeling that we'll be playing this one long and hard.
At The Hotspot is the new LP from 'supergroup' Warmduscher, their first in partnership with Bella Union. The album is produced by Joe Goddard and Al Doyle of Hot Chip and polishes their impressive debut with 80's funk shapes.
Although under the Fleet Foxes name, A Very Lonely Solstice is a really beautiful (mostly solo) thirteen track, career-spanning set from Robin Pecknold. Recorded in December 2020, at Brooklyn, NY's St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, his voice sounds absolutely lush.
+ Indie LPs are pressed on limited Clear colour vinyl.
World To Me is the raw and caustic debut LP from Tyneside five-piece Pit Pony. Harsh, vital and hugely impressive.
+ Indie LPs are pressed on Gold colour vinyl.
Also this week; we have the second volume of Locked Down And Stripped Back from The Wedding Present. Nick Cave releases a very limited 10" collection of Seven Psalms. Hard To Be A God is the excellent new set from Canadian songwriter Whitney K. Rimorso is the dark, dangerous and totally addictive new long-player from the mysterious Mai Mai Mai. CD copies are here, 2LP copies are en route.
Lastly this week and loud a.f. is Strange Desires, the new LP from Holy Scum. Featuring GNOD's Chris Haslam and Jon Perry, as well as Dälek's Mike Mare and former Action Beat member Peter J. Taylor, this is a proper bludgeoning. Feedback, sludge, cavernous pounding and all sorts of glitches, quite amazing energy. Available on "Pink Frog" colour vinyl, which looks proper bonkers!
It's a right good week for reissues too, with; Thee Oh Sees, Frankie Rose, Magician on Trunk, Super Djata Band, Doug McKechnie, Ash, Yard Act, Ferry Djimmy and more. We'll tell you all about it on Monday.
- Drift
