Rich and vivid production all round this week; from the piano meditations to the acid house bangers.
Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke collaborate on the unnerving and dream-like, Tall Tales, an album of subtlety and unexpected turns. Thom Yorke’s voice is really interesting, sounding very much like himself, but also contorted and manipulated to lead certain tracks and tones. The production is really something else, dark but not without little flourishes and off-kilter changes of pace. Also central to the project is visual collaborator Jonathan Zawada, whose hyperreal environments really blur the lines between the organic and digital. A dreamscape experience with both light and dark creeping in. One to spend time with for sure.
+ Available as ✨ lavish book-bound editions.
Das Koolies (Huw Bunford, Cian Ciarán, Daf Ieuan and Guto Pryce of Super Furry Animals) return with their second LP, Pando - and it is an album of euphoric “gospel electronica”. Self-produced, these are ebullient sounds; off-kilter indie pearls with a strong dose of acid house doosh. Really good stuff.
+ Available on limited Orange colour vinyl.
Man alive, were we ever ready for a new Mclusky album! the world is still here and so are we is a timely and pounding return from the Welsh post-hardcore band, the perfect mix of threat and vitriol with dark and prickling humour. After twenty years away, they don’t miss a beat, a hugely underrated band.
+ Available on exclusive Clear vinyl with a signed print.
Angel Deradoorian (Decisive Pink, Dirty Projectors) returns on Fire Records with Ready For Heaven and we have been loving the big energy on the stereo. She actually produced it all in solitude, and when you listen past the (glorious!) outsider alt-pop energy, you can hear a world of weird and idiosyncratic breaths, pops, clicks and sonics. A little like a one woman ESG, with pumping motoriks and stabs of synth and sax. Really impressive stuff.
+ Available on limited Deep Red colour vinyl.
Colemine Records are in very Colemine Records form this week with the glimmering sophomore album from Kansas City-based nine-piece R&B band, The Freedom Affair. I don’t know who the quote on the hype sticker is attributed to (“Timeless soul, right on time. Serious, this album F**ks”) but it’s gloriously on point! Three big vocals, six locked in players, it’s just in the pocket right from the get go.
+ Available on exclusive Orange/Black Swirl colour vinyl.
French-born, London-based singer/songwriter Charlotte Marionneau returns on the esteemed Duophonic Super 45s label under the name Le Volume Courbe and it is right up our street. Planet Ping Pong really bubbles along, vintage tones and thoughtful instrumentation. Features Noel Gallagher on a couple of tracks, plus a duet with Terry Hall and contributions from his son Theodore Hall too. We’ve really been enjoying this one.
Also this week; Anna Phoebe and Aisling Brouwer realign as AVAWAVES for the all new Heartbeat LP. A transportive and euphoric meeting of violin, piano and synth. Nils Frahm’s Night is a contemplative collection of five solo piano pieces to complement his gorgeous Day release. This new CD/LP pressing groups them together. Really sublime air. Ahead of the Proper Monday Number debut EP next month, we have a really limited white label 12” with a DFA edit of High Horse from James Murphy and Matt Cash. A scorcher! eor, is the second album from Breton musician and songwriter QUINQUIS (aka Émilie Quinquis) and this one really is gorgeous, with her vocals really soaring.
Pink Elephant is the pensive and focused seventh studio album from Arcade Fire. There is density to the production that is very them, but the mood is quite sombre and that really moves them into a different space. One to sit with, there is something amongst the sadness.
+ Available on limited “Meltdown” colour vinyl.
Lastly for now, Ill At Ease is the new LP from Canadian post-punks Preoccupations and it is positively dripping in menace. From iterations as Women, to Viet Cong to Preoccupations, there has always been such a great balance of evolution and progression with the band, whilst retaining that deep-rooted sense of neurosis. Ill At Ease is entirely that; darkwave synths and prickling guitar tones. It’s a bit like David Lynch’s take on soundtracking a John Hughes movie.
Cole Pulice’s album is due to land shortly (and is bloody gorgeous), we also have a new pressing of Father John Misty’s Mahashmashana and Röyksopp live due too. The week’s reissues include; Chapterhouse, Xmal Deutschland, John Carpenter and The Linco Label for Numero’s Eccentric Soul.
