It's a classic mid-month-big-batch. Lots here that we've fast become obsessed with.
Hello, Friends.
Record of the Week for us is the self-titled debut album from Purple Mountains. 'Purple Mountains' is the new nom-de-rock of David Berman from the Silver Jews, and much of this utterly excellent album is about his return from a self imposed decade long exile. Berman is unmistakable in both his drawling delivery, and his peculiar turn of phrase that remains strikingly original. Direct, unflinching and so wildly inventive in a rambling and seemingly naive flow of conscious. He is backed with real warmth by much of the band Woods with Anna St. Louis, rich and full of upbeat melancholia. Each time we listen to this - which is many times this week alone - we find something new and grew more familiar with it's bitter sweet quirks. Pretty sure this is a very special album indeed.
Penelope Isles release their excellent debut LP Until The Tide Creeps In today on Bella Union. We're very fond indeed of this lot, having had them join us at Sea Change last year and also in the shop as part of Michael Clark's band. They are quite exceptional musicians and the central siblings Jack and Lily Wolter really do have sort of magical connectivity. Dreamy layers part and reform around some really mathsy rhythms. Some lush songs and the album is packed with ideas. It's really really good.
+ Whilst they last, we have a handful of signed vinyl copies
Scott Hansen returns as Tycho with his fifth LP Weather, a first in a new partnership with Ninja Tune. The tones here are LUSH, he makes such dreamy synth noises. The clearest difference in his creative progression is the multi-collaboration with Saint Sinner, who sings on five of the eight album tracks. Takes the whole thing somewhere else.
+ We are about to put our last few Dinked Edition copies online!
Globetrotting Texan trio Khruangbin this week release Hasta El Cielo, the band’s glorious dub version of their second album Con Todo El Mundo. The full album has been processed anew along with two bonus dubs by renowned Jamaican producer Scientist. It retains the charm and character of what they do and takes it all somewhere weird.
+ The Coloured Indies exclusive LP+7s version, both pieces are pressed on individually numbered yellow vinyl.
Had a bit of a moment this week playing the debut Pottery EP (it's called No. 1 and it's released on 12" vinyl on Partisan Records). It really does have a bunch of everything we love. It's got some really locked in post-punk grooves, it's got a fair amount of jangling guitar and on a few occasions it takes on some very cheeky pop shapes and goes bananas in a hypnotic sort of dance direction. It's absolutely brilliant, they are definitely our new favourite band. Get involved on this one, it's brilliant.
Another new release for Ninja Tune and another huge return for Drift. Floating Points joins the Ninja roster and drops the LesAlpx / Coorabell 12". So good this, Sam Shepherd has magical ears and fingers. We do not have many of these.
Also this week, as many of your saw on our social sites, we have been exclusively selling copies of Jarvis Cocker's new Jarv Is project in the shop... but we're going to flick the online switch right now. Backed by Serafina Steer, Emma Smith, Andrew McKinney, Jason Buckle and Adam Betts, Jarvis was selling copies live and we're delighted to have just a few copies of the utterly glorious Must I Evolve? 12". We really do not have many.
The incredibly prolific Jefre Cantu-Ledesma releases Tracing Back The Radiance on Mexican Summer this week. This outing is another bold move into ambient, packed with guest players, it's full of gestures that all flow beautifully around one another.
The pounding and thrashing METZ release Automat, a collection of non-album singles, B-sides, and rarities dating back to 2009, available on LP for the first time, and including the band's long out-of-print early (pre-Sub Pop) recordings.
+ The Loser Edition LP is on Clear vinyl
Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough is the third LP from Bleached. Retains their punk rock roots, but pulls in pop production for a set of super catchy songs. Took a couple of listens for us, but we really got into it, super catchy.
+ Available as a limited indie only Opaque cream vinyl pressing.
Kyle Craft returns with Showboat Honey (also the name of his new backing band). Feels indebted to the mid seventies, with glam stompers and big radio ballads colliding. He's a great song writer and does a great job of making it all feel like his own.
+ Loser Edition is Clear / Blue Translucent Mix with Red spots.
Africa Express celebrated more than two decades of thrilling work by traveling to South Africa in January of last year to complete an electronic album in just 7 days. A week of discovery, collaboration and music-making. The result is Egoli – 18 tracks capturing the fresh, joyous sounds of Afro Futurism, straight out of Johannesburg. Featured artists include Damon Albarn, Blue May, Gruff Rhys, Georgia, Ghetts, Mr Jukes, Nick Zinner, Remi Kabaka, Otim Alpha and Poté as well as emerging and established stars of the buzzing South African music scene including BCUC, Blk Jks, Dominowe, Faka, Infamous Boiz, DJ Spoko, Mahotella Queens, Moonchild Sanelly , Muzi, Morena Leraba, Nonku Phiri, Radio 123, Sibot, Sho Madjozi, Zola 7, Zolani Mahola (Freshly Ground) and Maskandi guitar legend Phuzekhemisi.
A follow-up to Lee "Scratch" Perry's recently released and critically-acclaimed Rainford set. The A-side of this EP serves up an extended version of album highlight Makumba Rock, vocals mashed into dub in classic Jamaican discomix style.
In June 2017, New Order returned to the stage at Manchester’s Old Granada Studios where Joy Division made their television debut on Tony Wilson’s So It Goes programme in 1978. For the celebrated show ∑(No,12k,Lg,17Mif) New Order + Liam Gillick: So it goes .., New Order deconstructed, rethought and rebuilt a wealth of material from throughout their career: familiar and obscure, old and new. Packaging on this release is so lush.
Palace return with their second LP Life After. We have a limited Indie edition LP that is pressed on 'verdant green' coloured vinyl.
Anderson .Paak's Ventura finally lands on vinyl. Recorded at the same time as the Oxnard LP, Ventura showcases his other side with a bold and audacious step into soul. Great guests and his voice is superb.
+ Indie exclusive on Milky Clear Coloured Vinyl
sA pretty iconic reissue today on Mute, with the seminal self titled Suicide album getting a pressing on limited 140gm red vinyl. Ghost Rider has to be up there in any conversation about the best side-one-track-ones.
Sub Pop have started working with the iconic Preservation Hall Jazz Band (a new LP coming soon), and are reissuing the So It Is and That's It! albums. The New Orleans jazz band are 100% good vibes, looking forward to blasting this at you all.
Bloc Party this week release a special live edition of their debut album Silent Alarm, compiled of live recordings from last year’s homecoming show at Alexandra Palace and European tour.
Gomez's Liquid Skin gets a really nice 20th anniversary remastered edition. The double CD has a bunch of demos and rarities.
As part of the ongoing celebrations marking 50 years since David Bowie’s first hit, this a very special double 7” single of Space Oddity features brand new mixes by Tony Visconti. Double 7 edition in a really nice bespoke box. Includes a double sided poster and a print of the original print advert. Dead cool.
Before Frightened Rabbit founding member Scott Hutchison died, an idea was formed to celebrate 10 years of their seminal album 'The Midnight Organ Fight' by asking some of their talented buds in music to take a crack at their own versions of a song on the album. The whole album was recorded and was due to be released last summer, but then unfortunately Scott passed away last May. The band have decided they still want to release the record as a testament to the album, and to Scott. It is a very lovely tribute to a brilliant song writer.
Plenty to have a good dig through there, come join us for a drink why not?... we'll be playing plenty.
- Drift
