Oh my! god(speed), we’re going to need a nice long weekend.
Hello, Friends.
How neat to speak to you on April 1st, as we can truly maximise the number of days that we can tell you about our April Record of the Month. New Long Leg is not just one of 2021's most eagerly anticipated debuts, this is doubtless one of the year's best albums already. Absolutely essential stuff.
You'll know well that we have been longtime admirers of Dry Cleaning (they were scheduled to grace our Sea Change stage last May) so excuse us for fanning the flames here, but it really is a damn near perfect debut. So much dark energy, so much dark humour and every element is just so perfectly balanced.
+ An instant classic. Shop now for our limited Opaque Yellow vinyl edition.
Our first Record of the Week for April is an epic return from one of our most favourite ever bands. Montreal's Godspeed You! Black Emperor are back with two seismic, 20-minute, side-length trajectories of noise-drenched, widescreen post-rock. G_d’s Pee AT STATE’S END is honestly a thriller. Twenty-five years into their career, this is some of the most enthralling and poignant music they have made; huge atmospherics, drones, dissolving field recordings, noise-drenched orchestrations and quite beautiful lifts and dips.
As ever, it's more of a musical experience than anything else necessarily. Very special stuff indeed.
+ We have a limited edition LP + 10" edition that includes two shorter, self-contained 6-minute pieces.
Head of Roses is the fantastic return of Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak) as Flock of Dimes. Really lush, hazy vibes on this one. The production is graceful and ethereal, but she's got such a grounded voice that you never drift away too far.
+ Loser Edition is Translucent Violet vinyl.
Next up, some of the best players we have EVER seen, with Black Twig Pickers and the new long-player Friend's Peace. Ingenious and original takes on old-time and Appalachian-inspired string band sounds.
We wont over hype this as we have like a dozen copies left... But DJINN - the Swedish collective featuring members of Hills and GOAT in their ranks - release the cosmic jazz opus Transmission on Rocket. My word it's good.
Written, recorded, produced and released on her own Daemon T.V. label, Homecoming is the punchy return of Du Blonde (aka Beth Jeans Houghton). Some real bangers here, and she has guests including; Shirley Manson, Ezra Furman, Andy Bell and members of Girl Ray and Tunng among others.
+ LP on Neon Pink vinyl OR White vinyl.
Talking of Andy Bell, we have the most excellent 'Andy Bell Meets Pye Corner Audio Uptown' The Indica Gallery EP on Sonic Cathedral. Five tracks from his debut solo album The View From Halfway Down reworked by Pye Corner Audio, with one re-edit by Andy himself in his GLOK guise. Not many of these left!
Grand Rapids-based Major Murphy return with Access. Some really fantastic songwriting here, very direct but also plenty of lush imagery. Our Indie LP is Transparent Blue vinyl.
Sturgill Simpson returns with his second volume of Bluegrass fever on Cuttin’ Grass (Vol. 2). There is a cut called 'Call To Arms' that has absolutely bonkers picking going on, really mind-blowing stuff!
+ Available on limited Blue vinyl. Our stock on this release is due in on Tuesday the 6th of April.
Sounds of the Unborn is an incredible concept on Sacred Bones Records that has our attention. The album created using biosonic MIDI tech, capturing the movements (dare we say performance?) of unborn Luca Yupanqui.
+ Indie Edition is Green Splatter vinyl.
Also this week...
Cai Burns, frontman of Nottingham punk band Kagoule, returns as Blood Wizard on Moshi Moshi. Philippe Cohen Solal and Mike Lindsay collaborate on Outsider, an album of ten astonishing pop songs, inspired by America's most celebrated Outsider artist Henry Darger. West Lothian's The Snuts release W.L., including a limited Brick Red vinyl pressing.
Reflections Vol. 1 (Bumble Bee Crown King) is the first in an archival series featuring rare and unreleased recordings of long-running cult folk rock band Woods. We have a super limited colour vinyl pressing too!
No matter how you spell 'em, it's just always so damn good! The repress of OSEES' Metamorphosed is in the house. Do not miss out (again).
Last one for this week and it's soundtracking us off into the distance on various easter egg hunts. The GRAMMY-nominated Cha Wa are back with a stone cold thriller called My People, a new collection that draws from the rich and vibrant street culture of New Orleans. Features collaborations with blues favourite Alvin Youngblood Hart and New Orleans vocal Sensation Anjelika Jelly Joseph. It really is the vital carnival spirit of New Orleans Mardi Gras put down on wax.
+ Limited indie shop version is pressed on 'Mardi Gras' coloured vinyl and housed in a tip-on jacket.
Do enjoy diving into all these musical waves, so much to enjoy.
- Drift
