Records, Records, Lemon, Records. A very noice set for you this week.
Hello, Friends.
First one today is an indie-exclusive, it was available as a long-ago sold-out Dinked Edition, it's a brilliant debut and also our June Record of the Month. Day By Day is the swirling, dreamy, hazy and hugely addictive introduction to White Flowers. The songwriting duo of Joey Cobb and Katie Drew will be compared to all sorts of people in the next few weeks (Beach House, Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star) and although all are on-point, there is something going on here that is entirely unique. You can achieve the guitar tones, you can create the synth tones, but you just can't fake the spells. This really is special stuff.
+ Limited Blue Vinyl pressing.
We're also going to flag up that the band's brilliant Within A Dream EP (again, sold out fast in January) has a really limited, white vinyl repress this week. Online and instore, now!
Sleater-Kinney are one of our all-time favourite bands. Their evolution really is quite amazing, from thrashing punk trip through high production pop-queens to a dynamic duo. Their 10th studio album was recorded in Portland, Oregon during the summer of 2020, against a backdrop of social unrest, devastating wildfires and a raging pandemic. Path of Wellness is sonically adventurous, full of hooks and an album where you can clearly see the people who made it. It's our Record of the Week.
+ Limited indie shop exclusive is pressed on Opaque White vinyl.
Although we did talk about it a while back, we finally have physical copies of Ryley Walker's excellent Course In Fable album, released on his own Husky Pants Records. In many ways, this has pulled together all of the contrasting directions in his impressive discography. He shows some hugely impressive jazz chops as he flies through changing speeds and chords, he also sings impressively and never forgets the importance of a hook. It might well be the best work he has released to date.
You want a tip? Okay, Awake And Hungry is the debut 12" from Folly Group and it is absolutely excellent. It's released on So Young Records (from the same folks who make the magazine) and it's one of the best things we've heard in ages. Fast, tense and pounding guitar music with plenty of howl. Butt No Rifle is an all-time banger.
+ Very limited red vinyl 12".
SCURO CHIARO is the brand new solo album from Alessandro Cortini, following his recent collaboration with Daniel Avery. Really lush synth vibes, vast and spacious. Highly recommended.
+ Limited Clear vinyl pressing.
Another super-limited Andy Bell release on Sonic Cathedral, with the 7" All On You EP. Four tracks recorded for radio sessions, including a cover of Paris Angels’ 1990 cult classic Perfume.
Also this week; Post-punks Part Chimp release Drool (including a limited clear vinyl pressing) on Wrong Speed Records. Prodigious guitarist Julian Lage releases Squint on Blue Note. Oregon City Sessions is the first proper live album from Portugal. The Man, with previously-unreleased and untouched performance from the band’s early years. Silfur is a collection of new arrangements of Dustin O’Halloran's (A Winged Victory for the Sullen) acclaimed solo piano works. Mind Maintenance is the self-titled release from bassist Joshua Abrams and drummer Chad Taylor on Drag City. Lush, Africa-inspired head spaces via Buimbri and Mbira. The Best of Lily Konigsberg So Far via Wharf Cat is the first physical release for her music to date. Really limited red vinyl pressing.
Catalan singer-songwriter Joana Serrat returns with new album Hardcore From The Heart via Loose Music. Great set of songs and she has a killer voice, playing this a lot.
Lastly today, Time Apart in the West is a new collaborative work from Aria Rostami and Daniel Blomquist. Immaculate ambient electro-acoustics packaged in handmade sleeves. These are really special and I am not sure if anyone else has them in the UK yet... So get involved!
We'll talk tomorrow about reissues from; Timber Timbre, The Shins, the wonderful Ana Roxanne and Lanterns On The Lake and Spiritualized, although the last two might well be sold-out, regrettably.
A reminder that we posted full information on How Record Store Day is going to work at Drift.
Speak soon.
- Drift
