The sublime Cymande, the divine Fiona Apple, early Big Thief, Midwestern emo and tons of jazz essentials.
An absolute beauty to ease us all into this new week, with the reissue of Cymande’s beautiful Second Time Round album. Originally released in 1973, the album was the follow up to their astonishing self-titled debut. Full of flowing Afro-rhythms and Jamaican bass with innovative and grooving funk lines. Recorded fresh off a US tour with Al Green, god only knows why Cymande didn’t become the biggest thing going, this is another exceptional album that upgrades any record collection. A classic.
+ Pressed on limited Transparent Emerald Green vinyl in a gatefold sleeve.
We’re absolutely delighted to have Fiona Apple’s first four albums pressed afresh this week, with Extraordinary Machine, The Idler Wheel…, Tidal and When the Pawn Hits… all back in the racks. Man alive, she is such an extraordinary songwriter. The way she grows and progresses across the four albums is hugely impressive and re-listening this weekend there were tons of really funny lines in there. She locks you in and sings to you, it’s special stuff.
4AD have repressed Big Thief’s 2016 debut, Masterpiece. Originally released on Saddle Creek, Adrianne Lenker’s songs really hit like a bolt from the blue, with such emotional directness and honesty. It’s rawer than their following albums and full of beguiling charm.
+ Available on limited ECO colour vinyl.
Another week and another stonker from Numero Group, this time with an appraisal of Illinois band C-Clamp. Dream Backwards compiles the band’s two albums plus a third LP of singles and compilation tracks. Blastin’ Midwestern emo in December is nothing short of perfect tbh.
We’re trying to score more of the limited Opaque Blue Jay colour vinyl edition.
Some really excellent jazz reissues this week, with Max Roach, Melvin Jackson and Charlie Parker reissues under the Verve By Request series. The Roach-led Moon Faced and Starry Eyed has a great breeze and Abbey Lincoln’s vocals on a couple of tracks are pretty special. Jackson’s Funky Skull is… dead funky! It’s incredibly pioneering with his bass driving through reverbs and filters for some serious groove. Now’s The Time collects Charlie Parker’s astonishing early 1950’s 10” releases.
All three are pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Third Man in Detroit.
Not only this, Craft Jazz Essentials (available exclusively via us indies) have four releases with Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section, John Coltrane’s Standard Coltrane and The Last Trane, and Bill Evans Trio’s sad but utterly beautiful How My Heart Sings!
Lastly today, Matador reissue a 5th Anniversary pressing of the boygenius EP as part of the label’s ‘Revisionist History Edition’ series. Pressed on limited Yellow vinyl.
