Oh hey, it's February. A week of big returns and an epic reimagining.
Hello, Friends.
Record of the Month for February is All Or Nothing, the glorious return of post-punk trio Shopping. Their fourth studio album is immediate with pounding rhythms and is full of the intoxicating guitar riffs and hooks that Rachel Aggs (also of Trashkit, Sacred Paws and others) has become so celebrated for. The production is vivid and punchy, it's as close as they have gotten to pop and it's totally vibrant.
+ The first, limited run of the LP is housed in a gatefold sleeve.
To mark the tenth anniversary of the release of 'I’m New Here', the thirteenth - and last - studio album from the legendary US musician, poet and author Gil Scott-Heron, acclaimed US jazz musician Makaya McCraven has created a unique reinterpretation. Our Record of the Week is We’re New Again, a pitch-perfect homage to both Gil and the source material. The smart and inventive production opens up the album to new ideas and interpretations without obscuring Gil's baritone. Chopped, resampled and sounding both instantly familiar and impact-fully new, this really is a fine piece of work.
+ We have some lush art prints at the shop.
+ Longer Read: "Gil Scott-Heron’s Legacy Is a Work in Progress" - New York Times.
To further celebrate the tenth anniversary of I'm New Here, XL have also this week released an expanded edition on double vinyl (one green, one pink). In addition to the original album, this celebratory edition features two unreleased tracks - a cover of Richie Havens’ 'Handsome Johnny’ and a previously unheard Scott-Heron song 'King Henry IV’ - as well as a selection of other recordings from the original sessions.
"There was a lot more to the experience than it was possible to process at the time, and there was some great material that never made it onto the album." - Richard Russell
GUYS!!!! It’s All About The Dolphins... last Das Koolies 12"s on the racks now!!
Houston, Texas three piece Khruangbin and Fort Worth, Texas's Leon Bridges have collaborated for a four track EP inspired by the Lone Star state, with Texas Sun. Dusty desert vibes and classic soul sounds combine perfectly, sure hope that this mercurial new four piece spend more time together.
+ Limited Indie version LP is pressed on translucent orange coloured vinyl.
French electronic maestro Cerrone returns with a new album DNA on Because Music. Big synth chords and pounding disco beats, it still has the sort of funk that makes disco so unparalleled.
Also on Because this week is the self titled Logic1000 EP. Sydney-born producer and DJ Samantha Poulter is a quite brilliant beat maker, using organic samples and skips with an awful lot going on across these six tracks. 'Derrière' for one, is 2020's biggest ear worm yet. Previously released as a white label vinyl on her bandcamp as a very limited run, her debut EP finally sees a proper vinyl release.
Icelandic Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ásgeir returns with his highly anticipated third album Bury The Moon. Intimate and euphoric through to orchestral, it's all held in place with his voice which is in fine form here. It's in such good form in fact that he does it twice, also releasing Sátt, the Icelandic language version.
+ Indies only LP on Limited Edition silver vinyl.
Steve Spacek returns to his Detroit influences, with house music at the heart of his new Houses LP. The entire project was produced using iPhone and iPad apps, an approach Steve champions and feels liberated by using technology to join the past with the present.
Brooklyn-based Afrobeat band Antibalas are celebrating their twentieth year as a collective with their new album Fu Chronicles on Daptone. As an album it has a really loose vibe, but man are they a tight unit! Impossible not to be won over by this one instantly.
Grammy-winning, BRIT and Mercury-Prize-nominated artist La Roux returns with her first new album since 2014 with Supervision. The sounds of neon lights and late eighties TOTP, super fun.
+ Indie Exclusive LP in gatefold packaging with single LP pressed on clear vinyl, housed in a printed inner sleeve.
London based five-piece HMLTD release their long-awaited debut album, West of Eden. Theatrical and routed in an androgynous glam, they fit in a ton of ideas whilst still sounding completely in control.
Dutch pop band The Homesick release their second LP The Big Exercise, their first in partnership with Sub Pop. Really dense, often like a smart and upbeat post punk with tons of drive, really enjoying this.
+ Limited 'Loser' Indie LP version is pressed on yellow coloured vinyl.
Nada Surf release their ninth studio LP Never Not Together. We have an Indie edition of the LP on pink vinyl.
The self-titled debut album from Black Pumas drops on ATO. We have a deluxe red and black splatter vinyl edition.
No One Else Can Wear Your Crown is the third LP from London duo Oh Wonder. We have deluxe CD and indie shop LP editions.
Father Of All is the thirteenth studio album from Green Day and we have our last few indie shop LPs on red and white ghostly vinyl... like a marble effect, you know?
Relative neighbour of ours Seth Lakeman releases the excellent A Pilgrim's Tale. As he explains “If you’d never heard anything about the Mayflower and the birth of the modern USA, these words and music could be your primer.”
Lastly, we should have a few copies of the Overmono remixes of Thom Yorke's Not The News on their Poly Kicks label. But they haven't landed yet... so best keep an eye on our Instagram.
You all follow us right? You should do, it's all such premium content up there.
Big full week, double Dinked Editions too and we've uploaded even more to the preorder section since we last spoke so browse there on your travels. We are also now into the last couple of weeks for Winter Tier Sea Change tickets. More announcements in the next couple of weeks, it's wild!!
www.seachangefestival.co.uk
- Drift
