Warm psychedelia, lush production and more than a few very, very loud guitars.
Hello, Friends.
Record of the week - for the last time in what has been a magnificent month, thank you January - is Furling, the new LP from San Francisco-based singer, multi-instrumentalist and high-siren Meg Baird. Furling has flashes of her work in both Espers and Heron Oblivion, but there is something altogether more intimate about this latest solo LP. A hypnotic set of songs that swell around her beautiful voice with layers of dense psychedelic warmth.
One Day is the return of Canadian hardcore-band Fucked Up and it really is superb. Written and recorded in the confines of one literal day (hence the title), it is full of spontaneity and unbridled euphoria. It is hard and driving, but also some of their most melodic sounds to date. Damian screams like an army and that still never fails to make the chest pound.
+ Available on Indie Exclusive Blue in Milky Clear colour vinyl.
LOUIE is The long-awaited debut record from American hip-hop and R&B producer, Kenny Beats. In this week’s least surprising news, the production is just fantastic. It sounds like a sonic tapestry, but with such an organic flow. The album pays homage to Kenny’s father - a former broadcaster - through radio-DJ-style transitions and old recordings of his voice, a celebration of his passion and influence.
+ Available on Limited Edition Blue colour vinyl.
We Cater To Cowards is the explosive fifth album from Chicago metal band Oozing Wound and it is a proper riot. Hard, gnarled and ever-driving with absolutely brilliant handbrake changes of direction, it’s as exploratory and experimental as ever. They’ve hinted that this could be the last LP. We sure hope not, this slaps!
+ Available on Indie Exclusive Silver colour vinyl.
Dead Meat is the full debut from London’s The Tubs, the band that rose from the departed Joanna Gruesome. It has a really lush vintage hue to the jangle, a sort of Antipodean indie with all sorts of distinctly British tones. Really good stuff.
+ Available on Indie Exclusive Silver colour vinyl.
Electrophonic Chronic is the soulfull and grooving second LP from The Arcs. The songs that form this second LP were actually started years back during the sessions that recorded their debut LP (with the much-missed Richard Swift). Got some great grit to it too and Dan Auerbach’s voice sounds great.
+ Available on Indie Exclusive Crystal Clear colour vinyl.
Also this week; Say I Won't is the glistening new LP from Bass Drum Of Death. Got some real garage rock gems. We have a limited Ivory colour vinyl pressing.
Smalltown Stardust is the fifth studio LP from King Tuff and it is a psychedelic rock woozer. It really is a warm and joyous one, confident and free-rolling. Includes a Loser Edition on limited Dark Green colour vinyl.
You have to love a week where Fucked Up and Oozing Wound aren’t the two heaviest releases! That title goes to END and Cult Leader, who release the split Gather & Mourn via Closed Casket Activities. Heavy and full blast. Available on two absolutely mad-looking special discs. Still talking loud, there is then the wild card of Sightless Pit and the giant collaborative effort - Lockstep Bloodwar - from experimental metal titans Lee Buford (The Body) and Dylan Walker (Full of Hell).
We hardly have any left, but Burial releases the sublime three-track Streetlands EP. London-based ‘indie-supergroup’ SUEP release their long-awaited debut mini-album Shop. Dream House is the new LP from JW Francis. H.C. McEntire returns with the beautiful Every Acre. The CD format is here, with the LP due in a couple of weeks. Conversely, the delayed Back Home vinyl from Big Joanie is now here! Love those guys, great band, great album!
Difficult Messages collects together private press 45” singles from the ever-thrilling Wolf Eyes. Proper studio experimentation without sounding erratic. A great band.
And lastly today, Waile is the first new song in 38 years from Zamrock band WITCH. Man alive! Such great energy, this really is one to relish. No idea what the rest of the year looks like, but we sure hope there’s more because 2023 is totally the year of the Zamrock.
Reissues will follow and this week include; Allan Wachs, John Coltrane, Studio One Funk, Crosby (.. oh man) S,N&Y and The Velvet Underground’s Loaded which is an all-time top ten album, so get ready for the gush.
- Drift
