Welcome to the week's adventures in stereo from Drift HQ.
Hello, Friends.
Our first Record of the Week for August 2020 is one really close to our hearts. Eight Gates is the final collection of songs that Jason Molina recorded before his death. Sometime in 2006 or 2007, Jason Molina moved from the Midwest to London. Separated from his bandmates and friends but never one for idleness, Molina explored his new home with fervor. Stripped back to the barest bones, it's somehow louder and more crushing than the biggest moments of Magnolia Electric Co. Without a doubt, one of the finest and most important songwriters of our lifetime. A very powerful last set of songs to savour.
+ Pressed on limited edition and exclsuive "Shortcake Splash" pink vinyl.
Twin Heavy is the warmly nostalgic second studio LP from Willie J Healey, full of smart pop with just enough rough corners to keep us hooked. His delivery has more than a little of the James Petralli about it, especially on Stereo.
+ Limited edition yellow vinyl pressing.
Grammy-nominated duo ODESZA and Sydney-based producer Golden Features combine forces as Bronson. The production is pretty intense, sounds really amazing. Features guest features from lau.ra (of Ultraísta), US R&B singer Gallant and British producer Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. If you buy a copy this week, we'll enter you into a draw to win a signed test pressing.
+ Limited Indies Only Edition on Black and Yellow vinyl with download code.
The iconic Norwegian eight-piece Jaga Jazzist return with new album Pyramid, a deep dive into post-rock, jazz and psychedelia influences. Their first for the Brainfeeder label, there is something pretty special going on here and we've got locked into it's delicious haze a few times this week already.
+ LP is pressed on Crystal Clear vinyl.
Purple Noon is the first new LP in three years from the Atlanta based producer Ernest Greene as Washed Out. Perfect glistening beats that are strangely melancholic.
+ Limited Loser Edition LP is pressed on 'Noon Purple' coloured vinyl.
Billy Nomates, the fierce and outspoken force of nature, has arrived to rattle cages. Her self-titled debut has got some excellent production to keep it driving along. Plenty of post-punk to the bass, which we highly approve of.
+ Indie shop version is pressed on yellow coloured vinyl, housed in a sleeve with gold foil text and includes a print of handwritten lyrics.
It really is a week of quite dazzling production and delicious voices. Do give our weekly playlist a spin some time.
Time Slips Away is Moscoman's long awaited second LP on Moshi Moshi. NYC's Michelle drop their debut Heatwave (includes Orange vinyl) via Transgressive. More of Liela Moss' beautiful voice on Bella Union with Who The Power (including Yellow vinyl). London-based Another Sky release I Slept On The Floor via Fiction (includes Dark Green vinyl). Dreamland is the third LP from Glass Animals on Polydor (includes very very limited Indies edition on Blue heavyweight vinyl). Sound Wheel is artist and musician Alison Mosshart’s (The Kills / Dead Weather) first solo spoken word album via Third Man. New Truth is the third album from L.A. based songwriter Jenny O, with loads of lush retro textures. Dance-pop-rock-gazers STRFKR return with Future Past Life (includes Orange vinyl). Darkstar release the limited Civic Jams Remixes 12" on Warp. We have just a couple of copies of the Bonny Light Horseman Green/Green 7", don't wait on that one.
After much confusion on our part, we have stock of the excellent self-titled Coricky LP. Features members of Fugazi, Minor Threat and Evens. All hits.
Helvetia return on Joyful Noise Recordings with This Devastating Map. Shapeshifting lo-fi pop bangers from Seattle. Got some great vibes, this.
+ Limited colour vinyl pressing.
+ Includes an exclusive flexi disc with an unreleased track titled 'Absence.'
Some great reissues this week. One that we've really been tripping over is the Brother Theotis Taylor compilation on Mississippi Records. The 92-year-old spiritual singer and piano player is known throughout South Georgia and beyond for his powerful voice and heavenly falsetto. It really is sublime and really quite modern-sounding music... That is really very not modern at all! Lush package too, with a gold-foil embossed jacket and 8-page full sized booklet with extensive liner notes and photographs courtesy of Brother Taylor and his family.
Third Man release a recently-uncovered high quality soundboard recording of The Stooges' famous final show with their original lineup and with bassist Dave Alexander, playing Fun House in full just before release. Live at Goose Lake: August 8th 1970, an unearthed gem in Stooges history.
Pixies' Bossanova turns thirty years old next week (13th August) and we have a lush new pressing on red vinyl with the original 16-page booklet reinserted, having previously only been available with the initial UK LP pressing. Their third studio LP found the band in fine form, huge production and perhaps their most commercial set of songs until their eventual reformation decades later. Often overshadowed, it's part of their catalogue very much worth revising.
Lastly this week, Music For Denali is an unreleased 1973 recording from ultimate high-queen composer and synth goddess Suzanne Ciani. Finders Keepers Records continue to display an unwaning commitment to preserving the Ciani archives with this master tape discovery. The music was created for a documentary about the first-ever skiers' descent from the peak of the tallest mountain in Alaska. We'd love to see this.
Beautiful and emotional music created with the Buchla synth and piano. Highly recommended indeed.
- Drift
