A couple of filthy beasts that we have long adored and some utterly sublime sounds that we’re just falling for.
Man, have we ever been waiting for a repress on these records for a good while! Grinderman were Warren Ellis, Martyn P. Casey, James Sclavunos and Nick Cave, all members of The Bad Seeds and many other seminal noise makers. The four piece ripped two albums of chaotic and greased-rockers, a trip into the unhinged. The debut Grinderman LP actually followed the Bad Seeds’ goliath double LP Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus, which certainly had some proper chest pounders, and 2008’s equally thrilling Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! - which sure had its own intensity - falls chronologically between Grinderman and Grinderman 2, so Grinderman conceptually wasn’t perhaps as massive a departure as it feels looking back after nearly twenty years, especially with the cinematic grandeur of the more recent Bad Seeds discography out of context. But, the band sure was and sure is a thrilling prospect, a raw, primal and crazed aside into something else from Cave. Experimental rumbles with snarling lyrics that share the same bleak humour as The Birthday Party. Two absolute bangers, and the excellent Grinderman 2 RMX album too.
Yes, you do need them!
Now for one that we had no idea how much we loved!
Acid Jazz have revisited Benin’s legendary Albarika Store label for Fangate Djangele Et Djanfa Magni, a scorching collaboration between the famed Orchestre Poly-Rythmo and Ghanaian horn maestro Tidiani Koné. Simply; two sides, two extended jams, two red hot slices of prime West African funk groovers. Presented on a beautiful recreation of the original sleeve, with the audio remastered by Nick Robbins at Sound Mastering. Really great stuff.
Taking steps further into jazz, we have three really lovely things for you.
Firstly, Sun Ra’s 1979 Sleeping Beauty that was originally released on his own Saturn label and brought back to the racks this week by Strut. One of his most serene and accessible pieces with the Arkestra. Real cosmic jazz.
I mean, we say jazz, but by 1974 - and in particular on Stepping Into Tomorrow - Donald Byrd was blowing pure red-hot R&B-Funk fusion! Produced by Larry Mizell, this one really does sound incredible and the movements in pace are really exciting.
Similarly, trumpeter Eddie Henderson was the second of a pair of highly-rated funk fusion albums recorded for Blue Note. Heritage is experimental and searching with plenty of grooves to lock into.
Both albums are released as part of the Blue Note Classic Vinyl series. Stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
The Night School heads have put together a superb compilation called All The Young Droids: Junkshop Synth Pop 1978-1986, but we sold out over the weekend as we played it loud on the stereo and those folks shopping had ears… But, keep your eyes peeled for more copies ASAP.
Lastly today, keeping it mid-seventies and keeping it dialled to funk, “The New Orleans Project” is the debut LP from New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Tribe, The Wild Magnolias. Working with a crack backing band, this one really is glorious. Call-and-response vocals as the band winds it ever upwards. This is forty minutes of supreme good energy.
“just a few puffs to make you feel all right”. I know man, I know!
+ Pressed on limited Turquoise vinyl.
+ All Analog Process (AAA) from the original master tapes, cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.
