We’re starting your weeks off with some excellent Reissues before we all slide slowly into Record Shop celebrations…
Absolute solid gold essential alert on Superior Viaduct this week with a fresh pressing of Zuckerzeit, the pioneering third studio album by German band Cluster. Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius had relocated to the village of Forst where they built a home studio and began to collaborate with like-minded artists (Michael Rother and Brian Eno). Without losing their experimentalism they brought in catchy and hypnotic avant-pop hooks and other magical bleeps. Zuckerzeit really is a captivating treasure.
Some pretty serious musical archeology this week via Numero Group with a self-titled release from San Jose’s Ozean. Some seriously swirling shoegaze that really bubbles across the vista. Great stuff. Ozean apparently played just two shows in their brief existence and this release is a remastered edition of their 1993 self-titled demo cassette. Spins at 45rpm and is pressed on ‘Ozone Blue’ colour vinyl.
Two very different and hugely enjoyable reissues on Craft Recordings this week. Firstly, saxophonist Harold Land’s 1960 hard bopper The Fox is a phenomenal work out. Such dexterity as they absolutely fly through the scales. It wasn’t an album we knew at all well but we’ve sure enjoyed spinning it this week already. Next, Willie Colon & Hector Lavoe combine on the explosive La Gran Fuga (The Big Break). Originally released in 1970, it is a vibrant masterpiece of salsa music. Transported us all the way to an Andalusian bar, it did!
+ Both albums feature (AAA) lacquers cut from the original master tapes and are pressed on 180-gram vinyl.
Muireann Bradley’s fantastic I Kept These Old Blues gets a wider pressing this week on Tompkins Square after first appearing late last year. Muireann is a young blues, ragtime, roots and folk guitarist and singer based in Ballybofey in County Donegal Ireland. Really inventive stuff.
Mute present three records this week from Australian post-punk band These Immortal Souls and they are really thrashing! Founded in London by brothers Harry Howard and Rowland S. Howard (also of The Birthday Party), we have remastered editions of the band’s debut Get Lost (Don’t Lie!) and following I’m Never Gonna Die Again, plus a brand new album - EXTRA - that includes unearthed live recordings and remasters of covers tracks from across their career.
Lastly for today, Simon Reynold’s new book - Futuromania: Electronic Dreams, Desiring Machines and Tomorrow’s Music Today - has landed and it’s a corker. It is focused on various pop music outliers and heroic innovators. Simon also kindly signed our copies too!