It’s a proper production masterclass this week; everything sounds amazing!
Hello, Friends.
Firstly this week; Imagine This Is A High Dimensional Space Of All Possibilities! Yes! Our Record of the Week reads like a manifesto from the returning James Holden – it’s brilliant! His first solo venture in a little while and it is very much centred around how he builds and swoops through his production, organic dance music that’s steeped in folklore as much as it is in rave culture. The tones bleep and squelch to rousing effect and the way he can lock in your attention is particularly mesmeric. Like everything else he produces, this really is essential stuff.
Sundown is the absolutely sublime new album from Eddie Chacon. 2020’s delicious ‘Pleasure, Joy and Happiness’ LP was intended to be a swan song for the cult singer, but thankfully the experience was so revelatory that Chacon decamped to Ibiza for two weeks with John Carroll Kirby to produce this wonderful new set. A new age soul record that doesn’t sound much like anything else. Such a smoothie, it really is a treat.
+ Available as an exclusive Dinked Edition on 180g audiophile opaque silver vinyl, with a fold-out poster and OBI strip.
Amsterdam-based sextet Altın Gün return on Glitterbeat this week with Aşk and it absolutely slaps! It’s an album full of live sounds; a proper band ripping through psychedelic takes on Turkish folk. Warm analogue hues, this really is such a trip. Great band, great record.
the record is the full debut album from boygenius, the combined forces of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. They produced it at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La Studios in Malibu and perhaps its biggest victory is how clearly they all loved making it. Vocally, they all wrap around one another and there is such a sense of belonging to something together. Camaraderie and euphoria.
+ Available on exclusive Clear Colour Vinyl.
Also to be filed under supergroup this week are New Pornographers and the impressive new Continue as a Guest. The record sees A.C. Newman joined by his compatriots Neko Case, Kathryn Calder, John Collins, Todd Fancey and Joe Seiders, with a guest appearance from Speedy Ortiz frontwoman Sadie Dupuis. It’s the band’s ninth full-length studio release and first on the Merge label. Warm and introspective with more than a few pop hooks.
+ Available on exclusive Green & Blue colour vinyl.
William Tyler joins forces with psychedelic dreamers The Impossible Truth (Jack Lawrence of Raconteurs / Dead Weather, Brian Kotzur of Silver Jews and pedal wizard Luke Schneider) for Secret Stratosphere and it is everything that you would hope for. Recorded live, there is such energy between the players as they weave and knot together from the driving to the pastoral. Proper jams. This is going to sound great and get played over here muchly through every season. A corker.
+ Pressed on double Orange Creamsicle colour vinyl.
Steve Gunn collaborates with pianist David Moore (of Bing & Ruth) on Let The Moon Be A Planet. Absolutely stunning improvisations that overlap and converse. Another absolute peach via the RVNG INTL label.
‘Scots singer of new songs and old’ Alasdair Roberts releases the excellent Grief in the Kitchen and Mirth in the Hall on Drag City, finding new space in traditional songs.
Also this week; Icons A Certain Ratio release 1982 via Mute. Australian 3-piece DMA's return for their long-awaited fourth LP, How Many Dreams? (including a limited Neon Yellow colour vinyl pressing). The Price Of Progress is the new studio set from Brooklyn-based rock and roll stalwarts The Hold Steady. Miracle-Level is the first Japanese-language release from San Francisco-based experimental rock band Deerhoof. Idiot Check is the new LP from Irish musician David Kitt and his voice sounds absolutely mint! Brooklyn-based musician and producer Barrie releases 5K. Her voice is really lush on this set. Oakland's Dick Stusso returns on Hardly Art with the varied and anthemic S.P. The album features his dad Mac Russo, who is a longtime member with The Doobie Brothers!
Lastly today, On The Bai’ou is a live album that truly captures the might and force of DITZ. The band played for us at Sea Change in May 2022 and it was an extraordinary experience. This set was recorded at The Louisiana in Bristol and is absolute fire, such an explosive live prospect. Pressed on very limited Transparent Red colour vinyl, don’t miss this one!
The reissues this week are bonkers too, with Alice Coltrane, a Flying Dutchman compilation, KMD, Joyce Street, Surf Curse and Once Again We Are The Children Of The Sun!
We’ll be sure to tell you more soon!
- Drift
