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2062 |
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BASINSKI, WILLIAM: The River 2CD (2062 0702)
34.00
Re-issue; originally released on Raster-Noton, 2002. "The River is the
culmination of William Basinski's shortwave music experiments. It was
recorded in real time in 1983 using tape loops and shortwave radio
static. The loops were all culled from the airwaves, short bits of
string melody taken from the Muzak radio station, slowed down and
mixed live to cassette from two '50s Norelco reel-to-reel decks with a
random accompaniment of shifting shortwave radio static. 'Growing up
in the '70s, with a love for the lush sound of the Mellotron, but not
having the pocketbook to own one, I decided to try to create my own. I
had heard that the sounds were recorded on tape loops, so I began
recording small bits of lush strings from intros and interludes in
Muzak songs to use as my keys. The aspect of pulling all the sounds
from the airwaves, to create something from nothing, fascinated me.
With these elemental, organic loops that I had saved aside for The
River, I was attempting to record the music of the spheres. The 90
minute length was decried by the length of the two sides of the
cassette. The idea was to have a piece which could repeat endlessly,
creating an eternal, meditative womb of tranquility.' "
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ARTHUR |
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TOPP, MARTY: Paradise Now: A Collective Creation of The Living
Theatre DVD (ARTHUR 003DVD) 28.00
"The screams the unchained soarings of a sincerity which is on its way
to this revolution of the whole body without which nothing can be
changed." -- Antonin Artaud. "Arthur Magazine proudly presents our
newest release Paradise Now: The Living Theatre in Amerika DVD
featuring rare, never-before-distributed films and a bacchanal of
revolutionary multimedia documents from The Living Theatre's historic
and influential '68-'69 American tour. A fulminating art-meets-life
installation brought to you in collaboration with The Living Theatre,
The Ira Cohen Akashic Project and Saturnalia Media Rites of the
Dreamweapon. Transform your living, work or performance space... hit
play, but don't say we didn't warn you! DVD includes: Paradise Now:
The Living Theatre in Amerika (1969) a film by Marty Topp, produced by
Ira Cohen for Universal Mutant; Emergency (1968) a film by Gwen Brown,
featuring precious footage of Living Theatre productions Mysteries and
smaller pieces, Paradise Now, and Frankenstein; rare photographs of
Paradise Now at Brooklyn Academy of Music by Don Snyder; the map of
Paradise Now, a 14'' x 19'' double-sided, commemorative poster + 'zine
including texts by Antonin Artaud, Julian Beck, Judith Malina, Ira
Cohen and Don Snyder. In 1968, The Living Theatre, led by Julian Beck
and Judith Malina, triumphantly returned to America from years of
self-imposed exile in Europe with their theatrical breakthrough
Paradise Now. The play introduces the practice of collective creation,
dissolving the boundaries of human interactions and forging a harmony
between the actors and audience. Of this process, Julian Beck writes,
'Collective creation is the secret weapon of the people ... This play
is a voyage from the many to the one and from the one to the many. It's
a spiritual voyage and a political voyage, a voyage for the actors and
the spectators. The play is a vertical ascent toward permanent
revolution, leading to revolutionary action here and now. The
revolution of which the play speaks is the beautiful, non-violent,
anarchist revolution. The purpose of the play is to lead to a state of
being in which non-violent revolutionary action is possible.' The
result of this shared voyage is the spontaneous creation of a
temporary anarchist collective -- free from the enslavements of war,
violence, the State, money and the self."
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AURORA BOREALIS (UK) |
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WRAITHS: Oriflamme LP (ABX 020LP) 25.00
"Haunting the dank crypts below Edinburgh's cobbled streets, Wraiths
seek to reify the shambling masses abandoned by God during the
plague-years of this fog-bound city. These two tortured priests take
the hymns of their past lives and pervert them into vast walls of
howling sound; a blood-flecked gobbet of phlegm in the eye of their
one-time Lord. Playing instruments as broken and wretched as their own
decaying bodies, Wraiths conjure their blasphemous noise with no
assistance from the modern world's difference engines and thinking
machines. Wraiths are the horror of infection. None shall escape the
harrow of the plague. Recorded live and under ritual conditions,
Oriflamme was Wraiths' first creation. The insanely limited CD-R
release was quickly consumed by collectors of the truly profane and
now this vinyl presentation has been ordained by the ghastly monks
themselves in conjunction with Aurora Borealis. Blackened
death-ambient drone meets howling, metallic noise."
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BELLA CASA (UK) |
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VA: Delirium of the Senses: Psychedelia in Italian Cinema CD
(CASA 007CD) 21.00
"This album demonstrates the incredible aptitude of Ennio Morricone's
golden generation of Italian composers for psychedelia. That most
hallucinogenic of all films, Fellini's Toby Dammit is featured with a
selection from Nino Rota's famous score along with a panorama of
superlative performances and rare recordings from such masters as
Morricone, Piero Piccioni and Umiliani, Berto Pisano and Claudio Gizzi
(former music director for the films of Andy Warhol) whose main title
for Roman Polanski's notorious What? is included here in digital
format for the first time."
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BLOOMSBURY (UK) |
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COPE, JULIAN: Japrocksampler Book (BLOOM JC)
30.00
2nd hardcover printing, now available! UK-only publication, hardcover,
302 pages, with 16 page inset of color cover reproductions. Impressive
work and a nice followup to Cope's defining Krautrocksampler from a
decade ago. "Julian Cope, eccentric and visionary rock musician, hip
archaeologist and one time frontman of Teardrop Explodes, follows the
runaway underground success of his book Krautrocksampler with
Japrocksampler, a cult deconstruction of Japanese rock music.
Japrocksampler reveals what really happened when East met West after
World War II and the mayhem that ensued... and is a must for anybody
interested in modern music and Japanese culture. It explores the clash
between traditional, conservative Japanese values and the wild rock
'n' roll renegades of the 1960s and '70s and tells the tale of the
seminal artists in Japanese post-war culture, from itinerant art-house
poets to violent refusenik rock groups with a penchant for plane
hijacking. The book concludes with enticing reviews of Julian's top 50
Jap Rock albums."
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BLOSSOMING NOISE |
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ABSOLUT NULL PUNKT: Absolute Magnitude CD (BN 031CD)
20.00
"Like digital Rotwangs screaming into the engorged petals of a hoteru
herusu green gel wormhole, These escapees from the Fushitsusha and
Zeni Geva host bars wreak red-lined havoc while sniffing the soiled
undergarments of music herself. Majestically fecund."
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MISS HIGH HEEL: The Family's Hot Daughter CD (BN 032CD)
20.00
"In their consumptive four-month existence, this meta-stuporgroup
annihilated no-wave distant past, banal present, and dystopic future.
The Family's Hot Daughter, MHH's sole studio document, was
meticulously restored for this release from the original, wholly
ungovernable recordings. The platinum, members-only standard of
insanity. Featuring Tom Smith, James Marlon Magas, Weasel Walter,
Azita Youseffi, Jim O'Rourke, Bill Pisarri, Chuck Falzone, Odi M'Khan,
Nandor Nevai and Mike Green."
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PALUMBO - TOMASINI: Canes Venatici CD (BN 033CD)
20.00
"Fabrizio Palumbo's (Larsen, Blind Cave Salamander) spectacular
orchestrations are paired brilliantly with Ernesto Tomasini's (Andrew
Liles, Othon Mataragas) stirring melismatics. Canes Venatici was
recorded in Torino, Italy at O.F.F. studio in late 2007."
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BUREAU B (GERMANY) |
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LAST, JAMES: James Last In Los Angeles LP (BB 010LP)
24.00
...The Legendary 1975 Record Plant Studio Sessions. The glitzy funk
disco jazz fusion insider tip from 1975 is now brand new on limited
vinyl. Considered by many jazz fans and DJs to be the finest album "Hansi"
ever recorded, the erstwhile Well Kept Secret album now has now
officially resurfaced and been retitled. James Last teamed up with
arranger and producer Wes Farrell and an array of top-flight American
musicians for the 1975 recording sessions in L.A.'s Record Plant
Studios. Glitzy jazz/disco arrangements and on-the-money funk rhythms
culminated in an orchestration which would not have been out of place
in a Blaxploitation score. Original copies of the LP fetch handsome
sums at record fairs and on the Internet, with tracks like "Bolero
75," "Love For Sale" and "I Can't Move No Mountains" firm favorites
with cool club DJs. How did this extraordinary record come about? In
the '70s, James Last was selling vast quantities of records and
filling concert halls the world over. There was, however, one
significant gap on the map -- the United States of America. Few in the
USA had even heard of the hugely successful bandleader. Signed to
Polydor, Last's desire to try out something different dovetailed
nicely with his record company's ambition to conquer America. The ball
started to roll, coming to a stop in L.A. where Last met Farrell and
an unparalleled selection of musicians at one of the most renowned
recording studios in the USA. Also credited with a role in the
arrangements was keyboarder and former Elvis pianist, Larry Muhoberac.
Among the musicians were sax stars Ernie Watts and Tom Scott, the
guitarist Larry Carlton (Steely Dan, Crusaders), bass player Max
Bennet (L.A. Express) and Jim Gordon (Derek and the Dominos) on the
drums. In spite of everything, the album failed to achieve the
commercial breakthrough hoped for in the USA. Meanwhile, the rest of
the world did not seem ready for such a funky James Last... ensuring
the album's status as both cult classic and well kept secret.
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CHERRY RED (UK) |
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BATES, MARTYN: Letters Written/The Return of the Quiet CD (CDMRED
134CD) 22.00
"As part of Cherry Red's 30th anniversary commemorations, we shall be
revisiting many key artist's releases and they will be remastered,
re-pressed and re-promoted. Following on from our successful Eyeless
In Gaza re-promotion, we are now delighted to re-press two solo Martyn
Bates albums that were originally released in 1982 and 1987,
respectively (CD issue was originally from 1996). If you are not
familiar with these albums, then you are in for a positive treat!
Martyn is an artist who has expressed his evolving vision over a
period of more than 25 years. He has no time for any concept of
musical purity and instead seems to bend and adapt it to become part
of his wider notion of folk arts. His is a true evolution of
traditional creative arts, providing signposts for our reintegration
with the landscape and nature. Martyn spends his time creating music
that is music which brings together our past with the present,
expressing his hope for change through the bringing together of art,
nature and humanity."
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MONOCHROME SET, THE: The Independent Singles Collection CD (CDMRED
350CD) 22.00
"Suave; debonair; sophisticated. Haughty, perhaps, for those who favor
the pejorative. Aristocratic in more than one sense, classy in at
least as many. The Monochrome Set were effortlessly inventive,
literate, poised and immaculate of tuneage, possessed of an internal
dialogue as a band that allowed them to surf their own narrative. They
were just unlike anything else, in layman's terms. Instead, their
sound harked back to a golden era of British pop songwriters. But
there was nothing retrogressive about their endeavors. Instead, they
wrote songs that recreated the drama and promise of a Pearl & Dean
interval theme, veering from lullaby to mambo to harmonic pop,
accompanied by lush melodies and irresistibly playful lyrics that
embraced morbidity at one extreme, and pitch-perfect satire at another.
Because they could. This is The Monochrome Set's complete independent
singles collection including B-sides and rare tracks."
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CMYKMUSIK (SPAIN) |
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SPEDICATI & CAPRIATI: Giallo Canarino 12" (CMYK 019EP)
12.00
"Matteo Spedicati & Joseph Capriati are among the new breed of Italian
techno producers -- the funkiest shit from this part of the world.
Both work together for the first time, with a debut for CMYKmusik that
is a breath of fresh air, all dirty and groovy. 'Giallo Canarino'
starts where it ends, on the dancefloor, delivering techno that will
hammer all your senses with the joy of the unexpected. Changes,
mutations, explosions... the 3 tracks are all about rhythm and bass,
kicking asses all along the way. If you don't move it with these guys
you'd better ask for help. This is the freshest, funkiest and wildest
techno of the year, no doubts."
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COCOON (GERMANY) |
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KIERAN, PHIL: Missp 12" (COR 045EP) 11.00
Ireland's Phil Kieran is back again with Missp on Cocoon Recordings,
continuing consistently where he stopped with his contribution to the
Cocoon Compilation G collection: groovy, dark, technoid -- a sound
that reminds of some fog & strobo parties in the mid-'90s. A perfect
prime-time track. On the B-side, Pig & Dan interpret the track and
give it a new look that is trance-y and playful, but with a good twist
of acid and as good as the original.
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CONFUSED RECORDINGS (GERMANY) |
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BELSOM, RICHARD: Banshee 12" (CON 073EP) 12.00
"The world famous Confused label says hello to a new artist: Richard
Belsom. His debut track on Oliver Huntemann's cult imprint is called 'Banshee'
and it is literally rocking as all hell. Plain and dry techno beats
with super cool cymbal toppings underneath psychotic synth sounds and
roaring basses that will turn any boring night into an extravagant
techno party. To round out the package, it is up to our well known
friends Piemont aka Phunklarique & Dejonka to deliver one of their
rawest and most stripped-down remixes. Repetitive euphoria -- a must
have!"
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CONNAISSEUR SUPERIEUR (GERMANY) |
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ROYA, SEBASTIAN: Andante 12" (CNSS 010EP) 11.00
Sebastian Roya is back on Supérieur again, Connaisseur's sub-imprint,
where he had his first release and his first hit. With "Andante," he
shows his talent for massively drivin' voodoo grooves and weird
soundscapes. He layers and builds until the track is a big rolling
bulldozer no one can stop. Jens Zimmermann, a warhorse of electronic
music for almost 20 years, is responsible for the outstanding remix.
Sounds bustling about and echo chambers so 3D, you'd like to move into
them.
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CONSTELLATION (CANADA) |
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THEE SILVER MT. ZION MEMORIAL ORCHESTRA & TRA-LA-LA BAND: 13
Blues For Thirteen Moons CD (CST 051CD) 22.00
"Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band have been
making a big raw angry tender racket since the 2005 release of their
last album, Horses In The Sky. With a focus on live performance and
special projects over the past three years, the group proper has
logged well over 100 shows in Europe and North America, in between
sessions that yielded Thee Silver Mountain Reveries EP and Thee Silver
Mountain Elegies Play War Radio tour (featuring four members of Mt.
Zion and both members of label mates Hangedup), as well as
collaborations with Carla Bozulich, Vic Chesnutt and Patti Smith in
the studio and in concert. The music of the full band (two guitars,
two violins, cello, contrebasse and drums) has grown louder, looser,
full of spittle and tears. On 13 Blues For Thirteen Moons, riffs are
the backbone more than ever. Anchored by new drummer Eric Craven (ex-Hangedup),
the band works its slow build and burn with newfound patience,
sinuousness and ferocity. Whether methodically framing walls of sound
over the four-on-the floor punk dirge of '1,000,000 Died To Make This
Sound' or exploding in sheets of free noise and melody on 'Black
Waters Blowed,' the band has never rocked harder and has never sounded
more determined, desperate and driven. A stuttered blues riff is the
foundation for the album's title track, making its appearance after a
blisteringly minimalist intro. 'Engine Broke Blues' features a
gorgeous set of chords that build inexorably from multiple guitar,
string and organ lines. Fans of the group will be familiar with much
of this material from the band's live shows over the past couple of
years. The recording, undertaken at the newly renovated Hotel2Tango
facility in Montréal and co-engineered by Howard Bilerman and Radwan
Moumneh (who is also the band's live sound person), ups the ante
considerably, with crackling guitar crescendos setting the pace for
dive-bombing swirls of strings, while Efrim's voice rasps and wails
words of worry, hope and fury throughout. The band's hallmark group
vocal passages are positively spine-tingling."
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THEE SILVER MT. ZION MEMORIAL ORCHESTRA & TRA-LA-LA BAND: 13
Blues For Thirteen Moons 2LP (CST 051LP) 30.00
Double LP version.
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DBK WORKS |
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CLARK, GUY: Old No. 1 CD (DBK 539CD) 22.00
"Guy Clark's debut from 1975 is one of the all-time classic country
singer-songwriter records. By the time of its release, the Texas
native had been shopping his tunes in Nashville for a few years and
the songs from Old No.1 were already well-aged and oft covered (most
notably, Clark's buddy Jerry Jeff Walker had a minor hit with 'L.A.
Freeway' on 1972's Jerry Jeff Walker). Regardless, though Clark
considers himself more a songwriter than recording artist, nobody
holds a candle to these performances. From the rollicking Texas swing
of opener 'Rita Ballou' to the fingerpicked heartbreak of closer 'Let
Him Roll,' there is not a stinker to be found. Features help from
Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and a young Steve Earle."
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CLARK, GUY: Texas Cookin' CD (DBK 540CD) 22.00
"Originally released in 1976, Guy Clark's sophomore effort for RCA is
another fine set of country tunes that run the gamut of emotions from
goofy and playful to brutally heartbreaking, sometimes within the same
song. Featuring a ridiculously talented set of players that includes
Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Gimble, Chip Young, Jerry Jeff
Walker and Rodney Crowell, Texas Cookin' is an Outlaw Country classic.
While Willie and Waylon were turning the Outlaw into a marketing
campaign, Guy Clark really was doing things differently than the Nash
Vegas crowd, preferring whiskey and a picking session at his Nashville
home to the endless drugs and groupies of the road."
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DIRTER PROMOTIONS (UK) |
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MERZBOW/BAND OF PAIN: Reptile/Insect PIC. DISC (DPROM 060LP)
30.00
"After over a year in preparation, we are delighted to announce the
new split Merzbow/Band Of Pain full length picture disc LP. Ltd
worldwide to 1000 copies, this beautiful picture disc vinyl LP
features a side by each of these artists. Merzbow, well established as
THE pioneer of the Japanese noise/avant-garde scene and Band Of Pain,
leaders in a slightly darker experimental world, who were once
described by Terroriser magazine as being 'what Wagner would be doing
if he was alive today!' The full color picture disc is pressed on
heavyweight vinyl and cut by the finest mastering studio to give the
best possible reproduction for its powerful and intoxicating layers of
sound."
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DRAG CITY |
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SINGER: Unhistories CD (DC 356CD) 20.50
"Singer is the rock band peopled by Robert Lowe, Todd Rittmann, Adam
Vida and Ben Vida. Their music has two guitars, bass and some drums,
plus four lovesome voices that may or may not have given the band
their name (we don't know for sure, they're kinda tightlipped when not
singing). The Unhistories sound is psychedelic, but not in the paisley
way. More mind-expanding/modern... get it straight, Singer isn't
referencing any past trend in music. Their original idea involves
their (very) original compositions tangling with voices stumbling,
clucking, heaving, whipping, shrieking and sighing in a graceful
jumble. This is a crux. They've played around a little bit and there's
a convivial breeze that blows the air on show evenings. Singer stride
forth from the crowd and strike their variations on the pose. Then the
semi-describable WHAM of their show, a friendly sidling that shatters
into lurching, explosive entertainment without fail. A stiff-legged
stomp with that argument of harmony voices uncoiling throughout. What
do you expect? It's kinda tense or it's nothing. But it's not a
nightmare, just a weird dream. Don't be afraid!"
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SINGER: Unhistories LP (DC 356LP) 22.00
LP version.
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DUDE RECORDS (GERMANY) |
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WIMBISH, DOUG: Trippy Notes For Bass & Remixes CD (DR 104CD)
22.00
The Echo Beach subdivision Dude Records proudly presents the ultimate
re-release of the original 1999 On-U Sound album, Trippy Notes For
Bass by renowned bassist Doug Wimbish (Living Colour, Tackhead,
Headfake, Jungle Funk, Strange Parcels, etc.), featuring four bonus
remixes. Those who know Wimbish from his other projects may find his
first solo album to be disconcertingly tame. Where his playing in most
previous contexts has been wild, funky, and sometimes anarchic,
drawing freely on jazz, dub, and punk influences, here he's in an
almost contemplative mood. It's not that there are no beats -- "Bedwood,"
with its chugging midtempo groove and an ambience lifted straight from
label mates African Head Charge, is propulsive enough, "Logdrum" is
based on some seriously booty-moving loops, and "Will & Skip" (a
tribute to drummer Will Calhoun and guitarist Skip McDonald, Wimbish's
frequent collaborators) has a definite funk underpinning. But the
prevailing mood here is gently atmospheric, almost spiritual. "Glory"
sounds like a field recording from an electronic rain forest; "Glorification
Chant" sounds like a sort of North African qawwali variant in 12/8
time. Words cannot describe how much there is to discover -- from the
incredible vocals of Sussan Deyhim in "Arabic Cat" to Doug's one-man
band in "Just Another Minute." Those hoping for bone-shaking grooves
and crazier-than-thou Adrian Sherwood mixes may be disappointed, but
they shouldn't be -- this is a very beautiful piece of work.
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EARMARK (ITALY) |
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GEESIN, RON: A Raise of Eyebrows LP (EAR 42085LP)
23.00
"Best known as the co-author of Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother, this
tape manipulator and multi-instrumentalist released his debut on the
Transatlantic label in 1967. The contents of the tracks range from
bizarre audio collage ('A Raise Of Eyebrows'), to blistering freeform
banjo ('Certainly Random'), to traditional jazz arrangements ('Ha! Ha!
But Reasonable'), to odd spoken interludes ('Positives')."
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ECHOSPACE |
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DEEPCHORD: Grandbend 2x12" (ECHOSPACE 005EP) 26.00
Deepchord's immense "Grandbend" was originally released on Deepchord's
DC-10 release and has been often cited as the most beautifully
spacious of all of Rod Modell's recordings. This doublepack brings
together a remastered version of the original plus reworkings from
Echospace, cv313 and Deepchord themselves, plus some killer dubs.
These 6 versions are another intoxicating installment in the perfectly
formed Echospace catalog, and with a pressing of a measly 1000 copies
only for the world, they're just not going to last.
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DEEPCHORD PRESENTS: ECHOSPACE: Spatialdimension 12" (ECHOSPACE
006EP) 9.50
Echospace presents "Spatialdimension" -- a sublime configuration of
airy, reflective chords and a heaving bass line cushioned by all the
space you could imagine. Reflective yet propulsive -- something that
Echospace have turned into their calling card. The cv313 reduction on
the flip is more rugged, the kickdrum feeding added propulsion into
the mix while keeping things suitably narcotic and out of sorts. An
absolutely killer 12".
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EL RECORDS (UK) |
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SHANKAR, RAVI: Flowers of India CD (ACMEM 117CD)
22.00
"Historic Ravi Shankar beginning with the astonishing 28 minute 'Raga
Jog' recorded in 1956 and arguably one of his absolute finest
recordings. The other really serious rarities of this set are the
those made of the Hindu musicians that provided music for the
production of original Uday Shankar (Ravi's brother) dance company of
Hindu musicians when it made its historic first visit to the United
States in 1937; the young Ravi Shankar was amongst that number. These
are therefore the earliest recordings of Ravi that exist, originally
released on 78s and available digitally for the first time ever. Ravi
Shankar is the biggest name in world music and -- due partly to the
closeness of his involvement with The Beatles -- a towering figure in
psychedelic circles also. 'Raga Jog' is first and foremost, the most
refined Indian classical music; it is also the most incredible piece
of sitar psychedelia you will hear!"
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MANCINI, HENRY: Touch of Evil OST CD (ACMEM 134CD)
22.00
"Touch of Evil is a masterpiece of 20th century cinema: Director Orson
Welles' final Hollywood film and regarded as the last great film noir.
Stars Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Marlene Dietrich and Welles
himself as the crooked police chief Hank Quinlan, who always gets his
man even if he has to concoct the evidence to do so! The searing
semi-Latin rock & roll score is considered (both by critics and the
composer) to be one of Henry Mancini's finest. Barney Kessel, who
featured on Pet Sounds and many of the Phil Spector and Monkeys' hits,
plays guitar."
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EMANEM (UK) |
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LONDON & GLASGOW IMPROVISERS ORCHESTRAS: Separately & Together
(2007) 2CD (EMANEM 4219) 40.00
"The whole of a 2007 Freedom Of The City festival concert, which was
the first meeting of these two orchestras. The 27-strong LIO started
the proceedings with conductions by Philipp Wachsmann, Ashley Wales,
Alison Blunt and Terry Day interspersed with free improvisations. The
17-strong GIO then performed pieces devised by George Burt and Emma
Roach and a free improvisation. Finally, the two orchestras combined
to be conducted by David Leahy, Una MacGlone & Raymond MacDonald, and
Dave Tucker. 126 minutes."
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FINDERS KEEPERS (UK) |
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ERSEN: Ersen CD (FKR 016CD) 22.00
"The music you are about to hear defies categorization. But for all
intents and multi-purposes, this record is a folk album. Embodying all
the aesthetic watermarks of a private press country LP, Selda's debut
long player from 1976 has masqueraded as lamb dressed as mutton,
throwing many a discerning wolf from the gourmet scent. Behold! Space
age, Anatolian, electronic, progressive-protest, psych-folk-funk-rock
from the Middle East. All of the above ingredients are presented
immaculately with utmost authenticity and conviction to create a
delectable hybrid concoction which has never been replicated or
equalled in the 3 mutant decades since its recording. After what seems
like a decade of cross-continental detective work and blind alley
buffoonery, Finders Keepers finally have the auspicious privilege to
introduce the incredible music of one of the most important figures in
Anadolu rock's history, Ersen. Ersen performed nearly all kinds of
Turkish music forms in his life adventure -- rock, pop, folk,
arabesque -- but in his early years (late '60s/early '70s) he was a
successful psych-rock singer, working with names such as Kardaslar,
Dadaslar, Mogollar, Üç Hürel. Each of the artists involved in the
recording of this LP continued to record radical and experimental
music and are considered the cream-of-the-crop among Eastern psych
aficionados. In recent years, the legacy of Anatolian progressive rock
has gone from strength to strength, gaining popularity amongst DJs,
producers and record collectors as an unrivaled source for unique
sounds rarely found in other genres of international music and, until
now, rarely heard outside their native environment. Thirty years down
the line, the Anatolian Invasion is on its way to a record store near
you and this -- the third installment -- follows on from our
critically acclaimed best selling Mustafa Ozkent and Selda Bagcan
reissues."
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GET BACK (ITALY) |
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POP, IGGY: Pop At His Top LP (GET 162LP) 19.00
LP version. The description below might suggest this is some kind of "greatest
hits", but there is no information as to the origination of the tracks.
It's bootleg-crackle live material from some unknown date, with
un-credited backing, shamelessly packaged. "After the Stooges fizzled
away into commercial oblivion (as so many legendary bands of the era
did), David Bowie saved our heavenly father of punk rock from
obscurity, and jump-started his solo career. Don't miss this perfectly
weeded garden of Iggy's most prized petunias. In other words, buy this
if you want to hear Iggy rip through 13 of his most classic tracks."
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GET PHYSICAL MUSIC (GERMANY) |
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BOOKA SHADE: Planetary/City Tales 12" (GPM 086EP)
11.00
Booka Shade return to their roots with a 12" of sheer dancefloor
firepower. "Planetary" appears on this 12" in two forms: club and dub.
The club mix features low-end tweaks, crowd-hyping drums and a melodic
stylophone refrain. The dub mix is a darker, more minimalist affair --
serious, seductive and mind-bending house music. Booka's version of
"City Tales" is an uncompromisingly dark but delicate scorcher with a
sensuous swing. Booka Shade invites you to chase the night and the
neon light.
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GUERSSEN RECORDS (SPAIN) |
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COOLEY-MUNSON: In Debt CD (GUESS 017CD) 23.00
"Bill Cooley and Alan Munson were two friends in Santa Barbara,
California, living their early 20s writing folk-rock songs for their
pleasure. That was 1972, and they decided to put these songs into the
studio, self-produce the album and press a tiny quantity of 500 pieces
hoping it could help getting a contract with a major company. This
never happened, as you would have guessed, and sure this fact helped
making their sole album, In Debt, a major collectable item in the
folk-rock and psychedelic rock listeners and collectors. Today,
original copies of this record fetch quite interesting sums when
changing hands in record fairs or internet auctions. Being a private
pressing, you can easily imagine it's not a big production, but no
care. This album has the right feel and you won't need anything else
to make it one of your faves. All tracks are original compositions,
and the style is very personal. It's folk-rock, but many tracks are
quite psychedelic too, in their own way. But don't look close for
influences, they will not come to mind that easily. Bill and Alan had
their own psychedelic folk-rock style, and the raw, sometimes
amateurish feel that these recordings have give the album the final
distinctive touch. Never reissued before in any format, now here we
come with a splendid reissue, with the collaboration of the guys.
Remastered sound taken from the master tapes, CD version comes with
booklet and outer slimcase. Alan Munson kept going the folk-rock way
and released two solo albums during the '70s too, which we are also
re-releasing along with In Debt."
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MUNSON, ALAN: First Light CD (GUESS 018CD) 22.00
"And here's the last of the '70s works by our friend Munson! This one
got released in 1979, again in small quantities, on the Parallax label
in California. The First Light album doesn't easily fit into a music
category box. The songs range from psych rock, to some fairly laidback
folk-rock, and even a song with a country rock feel. Instruments
played on the record include electric and acoustic guitars, electric
bass and drums. Lead solos are all played on electric guitar; a 'clean'
sound on the acoustic based songs and guitar effects were used on the
psych rock songs. Strong lead vocals and background harmony vocals,
all in all making another excellent album as result. Also one
unreleased bonus track is added, all remastered from the original
tapes. First time ever reissue as well, the CD comes with a booklet,
and outer carton slimcase."
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MUNSON, ALAN: Good Morning World CD (GUESS 019CD)
22.00
"Alan Munson, the songwriter of Cooley-Munson duo, continued the
folk-rock way. It took him some time, but in 1975 he was ready for
what is (for him, and for me too), his best '70s work. Incredibly,
Good Morning World was only released in cassette, and in a limited run,
so I bet no one of you has this yet! Under these circumstances, I'm so
glad to put this out at last the way it should be (and also on CD,
fine), and I'm sure you our beloved customers will appreciate this too!
Good Morning World includes nine original, acoustic based songs with a
mellow psych and folk rock sound across this album. Meaningful and
understandable lyrics, delivered by 'close-up' lead vocals, and
background harmony vocals. Instruments played on the album include 6
string acoustic guitar, 12 string acoustic guitar, electric bass and
percussion. Song arrangements include multiple guitar harmony lead
solos and fills. CD version with nice booklet with the same info and
notes, as well as the outer carton slimcase."
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HERZBLUT (GERMANY) |
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MASSEYEFF, NICOLAS: Deva 12" (HERZ 008EP) 11.00
Nicolas Masseyeff is the latest member of the growing Herzblut family.
Nicolas has done quite a few releases under different aliases in
different styles, but as Herzblut is all about personal style, honesty
and dedication, this is a techno manifesto! Huge sound-walls, kicking
beats and insane EFX make this 12" a dancefloor euphoria peak-time
blazer, with a Dolby surround trademark sound, bringing Herzblut and
Nicolas to the next level.
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HUMBLE SOUL (UK) |
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FAIRHURST, JOHN: Joys Of Spring CD (HS 204CD)
22.00
"Largely conceived under the stars, John Fairhurst's beautiful debut,
Joys Of Spring, originated in bars, on beaches, and up coconut trees.
His extensive travelling and raw musical experiences have informed
these warm, sumptuous and technically brilliant songs, alongside
influences as diverse as Hendrix, Miles Davis, Nick Drake, and Indian
sarod master, K. Sridhar, who briefly stayed with Fairhurst's family
in Wigan. 'He spent fifteen years living in a cave in the mountains as
he studied to mastery,' explains John. 'This dedication has inspired
me deeply.' After spending years 'drawing pictures of Stratocasters,'
playing in heavy rock bands and listening to Captain Beefheart in his
shed, John headed to southeast Asia and beyond, where his own
dedication to music was cemented. He worked alongside Maori gangsters,
played slide guitar in a Bangkok blues bar, wrote for a traditional
Thai dancer, and was tattooed with protective blessings by monks.
Apparently, these markings mean John cannot be killed, which is lucky,
since he was stabbed by a street gang not long afterwards. A stunning
debut, Joys Of Spring is an eclectic amalgamation of John's incredible
life to date; hazy summertime rhythms with masterful guitar techniques
and an underlying sense of the worldwide music community. Guesting on
the album are friends Nancy Elizabeth, Dave Rybka and Denis Jones,
themselves locally renowned musicians, while James G. Wilson earns a
songwriting credit with the poignantly beautiful 'Friends.' Opener, 'Obnox
Stomp,' is 'a good old foot-stamping dance tune,' and 'How Far How
Fast' is the result of jamming with 'fantastically gifted
percussionist' called Alfredo, whom he met in New Zealand. On the
other side of the world, the experimental 'Shivver' was born out of a
concept track just outside Wigan... Quite simply, Joys Of Spring is a
truly great achievement; an album of outstanding creativity, lush
eastern melodies, and at its heart, John's unbridled zest for life."
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HYPERDUB (UK) |
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ZOMBY: Mu5h/Spliff Dub (Rustle Remix) 12" (HDB 009EP)
10.00
This is installment #2 of Hyperdub's rapid-fire assault on 2008, which
continues to mine a rich bleep seam. Both Zomby and Glaswegian
producer Rustie have built up a dedicated following with a string of
off-key productions. Their first Hyperdub outing is headlined by
Zomby's epic bleep symphony "Mu5h," a dramatic and melodic 8-bit
stepper, while the retooling of "Spliff Dub" scuttles along with wonky
percussion, jiggy grooves, speaker-busting bass, blaring synths and a
chopped-up vocal instructing you how to "keep the evil away."
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IMPORTANT RECORDS |
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COIL: The Ape Of Naples/The New Backwards 4LP (IMPREC 174LP)
95.00
"The Ape Of Naples/The New Backwards is limited to 1500 copies. This
4LP set is pressed on heavy duty 180 gram vinyl and each record is
packaged in its own LP jacket which is then housed in a deluxe tip-on
style box. A poster is included. The first three records make up The
Ape Of Naples and the B-side of each has a custom etching. The fourth
record is The New Backwards and it is double sided. A four panel
poster is included and the box has a 5th color spot-gloss. This box
set includes 2 albums. The first is the complete Ape Of Naples and the
second is The New Backwards which is only currently available in this
box set. The New Backwards appropriately is part of The Ape Of Naples
set. The material is additional completed versions of songs that were
left unfinished, whose early raw loops and demonstrational
incarnations might sound familiar to some but have never officially
surfaced."
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ISLANDS & ISLETS (GERMANY) |
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VAN RIVERS: Messed Up Alternative 12" (STHLMISLE 001EP)
12.00
"We're incredibly happy to be starting this new project! Islands and
Islets is a Berlin-based record label run as a daughter imprint to
dance-oriented Stockholm LTD, founded by Pär Grindvik. This new label
has developed from a constant stream of new influences that all
together make up our own special idea of independent and underground
music. Islands and Islets' qualities can be enjoyed by more 'inexperienced'
listeners as well as by the 'knowing' ears of a record collector.
Using electronics to rework and redevelop sound -- whether it be
instrumental or with vocals. With the hope of finding a new balance of
two worlds, Island & Islets strives to create something new and unique
that has roots in our physical realm. Our first 12" release, Van
Rivers' Messed Up Alternative. Van Rivers catches that special
movement and provides us with a great tool for both peak-time and
afterhours!"
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KLAP KLAP (GERMANY) |
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SESSION, SAMUEL L: Off The Chain 12" (KKLAP 005EP)
12.00
"The raw power of this fifth installment is nothing but delicious!
Samuel is back with another tech-house record that will for sure be a
real wallshaker. Just listen to the energy and madness Elbee Bad
provided with his vocals. It's insane people! In a good way of course,
if there ever was another way. Enough said!"
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LIGHT IN THE ATTIC |
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EARTH, ROOTS AND WATER: Innocent Youths LP (LITA 032LP)
20.00
LP version. "Innocent Youths was the first long player released on
Jerry Brown's Summer Records imprint, hitting the emerging Toronto
reggae marketplace in 1977. In 2008, the original LP is virtually
extinct, a highly coveted and extremely rare piece of Canadian reggae
history (often described as the northern answer to Lee Perry's Black
Ark). For the uninitiated, we are talking heavy bass, drums, reverb,
echo, roots vocals, keys, guitar, percussion, and Brown's wild style
touch behind the controls. By 1977, Earth, Roots and Water had
developed into an engaging live entity as well, based around the
talents of Adrian 'Homer' Miller (vocals), Anthony 'Base' Hibbert (bass),
Colin 'Zuba' Suban (drums), Matt Shelley (guitar), and Tony 'KB' Moore
(keyboards). Both a sonic and visual force, the charismatic youths
soon found themselves performing in and around the Toronto area,
opening up for The Police and The Stranglers while extending the
UK-born punk/reggae love affair to North America. In 2008, Light In
The Attic Records along with Jerry Brown and Jamaica-Toronto series
producer Kevin Howes (aka Sipreano) have decided to share this vital
bounty to reggae fans the world over. Innocent Youths contains the
complete studio album lovingly remastered from the original Summer
Records master tapes. Over 30 years ahead of its time, this maverick
material showcases the breadth of Earth, Roots and Water. Dig in..."
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MAN RECORDINGS (GERMANY) |
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DJ SANDRINHO/DANIEL HAAKSMAN/DJ BEWARE: Rio Baile Funk Breaks
LP (MAN 024LP) 21.00
A true supergroup of DJs has teamed up for the release of Rio Baile
Funk Breaks, the world's first-ever battle vinyl exclusively dedicated
to baile funk -- the mad beats from Rio. This transnational DJ
cooperation presents the best beats and elements, and the most sampled
voices, breaks and loops of baile funk's rich musical history. The
release contains more lock grooves and skipless beats for the advanced
turntablist, made entirely of original Rio funk. This is the essential
baile funk source material -- the first and only one of its kind. DJ
Sandrinho is currently one of Rio de Janeiro's hottest DJs. Playing
the tough Rio favela circuit for more than a decade, he's one of the
top cats in the game. In spring 2006, Sandrinho released the seminal
first volume in the Baile Funk Masters series, and remixed M.I.A.,
Bonde Do Role, Tag Team, Gotan Project, Edu K and more. In 2005,
Sandrinho started to spin internationally, being one of the few Rio
funk DJs regularly visiting Europe. On his side, Sandrinho presents
the trademark grooves of baile funk, spiced up with sounds and effects.
Berlin-based Daniel Haaksman is Europe's leading baile funk DJ and
impresario. He's the compiler of the genre-defining compilations Rio
Baile Funk: Favela Booty Beats, Vols. 1 and 2 on Essay Recordings,
which introduced baile funk to the world. He is the label boss of Man
Recordings and conceived both the acclaimed Funk Mundial and Baile
Funk Masters serieses, and has helped the international career launch
of Edu K. As a DJ with almost 20 years of club experience, Daniel
Haaksman regularly spins across Europe as an ambassador of funk and
other unclassifiable grooves. For Rio Baile Funk Breaks, Haaksman
opened his funk archives and provided many of the loops and sounds. DJ
Beware is Hong Kong's three-time Technics DMC champion. This radio DJ,
remixer and globe-trotting party rocker is a dedicated fan of Rio's
mad beats. Currently based in Vienna, DJ Beware hosts a daily mix show
on acclaimed radio station FM4. DJ Beware came up with the idea of the
baile funk battle vinyl record, and arranged DJ Sandrinho's and Daniel
Haaksman's material to be ready for the jam-rocking business. This is
an absolutely essential DJ tool and an irreplaceable archive of the
best baile beats for your own personal favela party.
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MARRIAGE RECORDS |
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VA: The Second Marriage Records Compilation 2CD (MAR 038CD)
32.00
"Marriage Records offer a second compilation documenting the rude
health of this Portland, OR based community. The first noticeable
difference between this collection and the previous compilation from
2004 is the extra disk. Marriage have grown up, cherishing the artists
it set up to serve while welcoming new voices into their crucial
discussion. Disc one represents the more psychedelic elements of the
Marriage stable; the windy tones of the opening track by Privacy, the
purple wash of Adam Forkner's White Rainbow and the scaling folk of
Adrian Orange all sound different but somehow make sense in their
shared home at Marriage. Disc two stands as a testament to the open
philosophy of the Marriage family; The Watery Graves' lounge-punk
homage to Portland shares a journey with the enigmatic figure of Rob
Walmart and his warped hip-hop jams. This is a collection of people
who collaborate and support one another through art and are excited to
share their work with the rest of the world. The outcome is joyous and
essential."
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VALET: Naked Acid LP (MAR 048LP) 22.00
"Naked Acid is the second solo release from Portland artist Valet, aka
Honey Owens. She states: 'these songs were inspired by the Pacific
Northwest landscape, semi-conscious dream states and the idea of one's
DNA code being accessed as eternal memory. I started off with the idea
to make a 'songs' record but it really didn't turn out that way.
Instead, the record became its own story. Track one is a static beach
journey duet with Adrian Orange, and tracks 3, 4 and 5 are
collaborations with Mark Evan Burden (Silentist) on drums.' From the
gentle narcotic haze of the album opener 'We Went There,' which is
dissected by Honey's trademark incendiary guitar work, to the lazy
alien country blues of 'Fuck It,' and through the hyperventilating
rhythmic distortion of the closer 'Streets,' Naked Acid is a fever
dream of ghostly incantation and smudged psychedelia." CD is on Kranky.
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PANTHER: 14 Kt. God LP (MAR 052LP) 22.00
"Panther is the two-headed effort of Charlie Salas-Humara (The Planet
The) on vocals, cello, guitar, and keys and Joe Kelly (31 Knots) on
drums. But even when it was Charlie's solo effort, he was never really
alone. Whether live or on record, there was a sense that Panther was
being overtaken by something, not an alter-ego, this was something
else. Think Ian Curtis' convulsive intensity and James Brown's spastic
swagger, and you still won't have Panther, but a sense of
what-the-fuckness that all of them seem to call up. The early
recordings born in the basements and warehouses of Portland, OR around
2001 brought a new brand of broken electro that when coupled with the
lunatic immediacy of his modern dance meltdowns, defied categorization
entirely. Panther landed on bills as varied as opening slots from
Peaches to Wolf Eyes. The monstrous throb of the beats matched by
Charlie's intensity bring a sense of religious visitation to any room
Panther humps the floor in. His panic-driven falsetto howling
non-sequiturs about paranoid sexuality make his jams hysterical,
compelling, but most importantly, danceable."
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METATRON RECORDINGS (GERMANY) |
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HEIL & CHRISTIAN PASS, JOHANNES: Faith 12" (MTR 002EP)
12.00
"After a long break, Johannes Heil and his old friend Christian Pass
came together to create another masterpiece of electronic music.
Johannes 'the paranoid dancer' Heil needs no further introduction as
he has released on such loads of famous labels that he should be known
to everyone. Christian Pass was a member of the formation Total Planet
Refreshment who dropped with Birds of Pressure on Kanzleramt 10 in
1996 -- a huge club hit which was an inherent part of the club night
sets from Sven Väth and DJ T for a long time. Now, 12 years later, he
still has not lost the faith in electronic music, and together with
Johannes Heil, they express this faith in musical respect with this
massive EP."
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MISSISSIPPI RECORDS |
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PHILLIPS, WASHINGTON: What Are They Doing in Heaven Today?
LP (MR 006LP) 21.00
2nd edition with regular printed jacket. Original recordings from
1927-1929, with Phillips perhaps accompanied on the Dolceola
(miniature piano-like instrument). "Beautifully haunting music from
Phillips. His sweetly-sung Christian blues, bathed in a celestial haze
of notes from an instrument that sounds like a child's music box,
stand out amongst the work of guitar evangelists and street corner
Scripture-ites of the era. Phillips' sacred porch songs provide
evidence of a higher power, for how could man alone create music for
the angels? These recordings sound remarkable from being from the
1920s."
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VA: I Don't Feel at Home in this World Anymore 1927-1948 LP
(MR 013LP) 21.00
2nd edition with regular printed jacket. "This compilation is our
tribute to the music made in the U.S. between 1927 and 1948. We
decided not only to focus on traditional genres (blues, old-time,
Cajun), but to also show the music that was brought by the boatloads
of immigrants coming to these shores. Their music influenced and still
affects our culture today. The album starts off with a heavenly
example of Greek rebetica from Marika Papagika. Also featured is early
Tex-Mex pioneer Lydia Mendoza and gospel duo Two Gospel Keys. The
latter gives us our title track. Louisiana Cajun music is beautifully
executed by artists Cleoma Falcon and Blind Uncle Gaspard with Dela
Lachney. The Blue Sky Boys may be considered old-time, but their
haunting, melancholic harmonies belong in their own genre. The
Caresser and Wilmouth Houdini bring on the Calypso with that New York
jazz flavor. Hawaiian slack key guitar is demonstrated by Mike Hanapi's
Ilima Islanders and Mme. Riviere's Hawaiians. Aside from Calypso, NY
was also a big hub for Jewish klezmer, as shown by Jacob Hoffman
playing with Henry Kandel's Orchestra. Sexteto Bolona is a great
example of the roots of salsa and there's even a mystery track by an
unknown Indonesian folk singer of the time. The comp ends with blues
performer Big Boy Cleveland with his oddly original 'Quill Blues.' A
beautiful record from beginning to end."
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VA: Life Is A Problem LP (MR 017LP) 21.00
2nd edition with regular printed jacket, no longer comes w/ a bonus
7". "Compilation of raw electric guitar-based gospel recorded between
1949 & 1976. Hard to find & unreleased gospel that makes most rock &
roll sound weak & contained. Features Utah Smith, Rev. Lonnie Farris,
Sister O.M Terrill & many lesser known artists. Fourteen tracks in all."
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MU (ITALY) |
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ZAUBER: Zauber LP (UM 104LP) 35.00
"Another group from Torino were Zauber (which were actually active
until the late '90s). This is their brilliant, impossible to get first
album, from 1978. It was a 500 units pressing, locally distributed by
the small label MU. It's a truly fantastic album. One thing that
easily differs from most Italian prog albums is the production, as
this is a low-budget one and you will see the sound is not crystalline.
Their sound is compared to Pierrot Lunaire, and the album features 7
nice songs with acoustic guitar, keyboards and strong use of flute.
This wonderful, very very rare album had never been reissued on vinyl
before, so this is a very welcome release for all Italian progressive
lovers. Label's replica, 180 gram vinyl and with the original printed
inner sleeve."
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NUMERO GROUP |
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VA: Eccentric Soul: The Big Mack Label 2LP (NUMERO 009LP)
30.00
Double LP version. "The fourth volume in our Eccentric Soul series
examines the oil-stained underside of the Motor City sound. There are
no gold records, million dollar buyouts, or quaint museums at the end
of the story, just a handful of four figure 45s, a box of photographs,
and a condemned building. If Detroit was once an ocean of soul, the
Big Mack label was certainly an island. Big Mack lasted an incredible
20 years without so much as a sniff of a hit. Dogged by lack of
airplay, distribution, and a general lack of understanding of the
music business, the label failed on almost every level except where it
counted; the music. From soulful doo-wop to blistering garage funk, a
left at sultry R&B and then a quick dodge into budget Hendrix wailing
over a steel drum break, this disc is the epitome of Eccentric Soul.
Artists include Bob & Fred, the Manhattens, Edd Henry, Ms. Tyree Jones,
Essence, Performers, Mae Young, Soul President, Sleepwalkers, Grand
Prix's, and L. Hollis & the Mackadoos."
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OFF (BELGIUM) |
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COLORLIST: Lists CD (OCD 005CD) 21.00
The debut release by Colorlist is an ongoing compositional project
based in Chicago, developed piece-by-piece in an honest and
improvisational way. The community explores current hybrid musical
territory, concerned with structure and intuition. Charles Rumback and
Charles Gorzcynski have performed live duo sets with saxophones,
percussion, and electronics. Their new album Lists delves farther into
programming and collaboration, welcoming engineers Brian Bullard and
Matthew Gagnon into the group, as well as guest bassists Matt Lux and
Jason Ajemian, cellists Ellen O'Hayer and Sarah Biber, bass
clarinetist Jason Stein, guitarist Bill Mackay, as well as Erhu and
mastering by Josh Eustis. Lists is a mixture of repetitive sax and
synths, organic drums and percussion, ranging stylistically from
avant-jazz and improvised music to post-rock.
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PLAIN RECORDINGS |
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CHAPIN SISTERS, THE: Lake Bottom LP CD (PLAIN 130CD)
21.00
"L.A.'s The Chapin Sisters (three actual sisters) wed lilting voices,
dynamically complex vocal harmonies, and folk-influenced melodies to
dark, wryly sarcastic lyrical content. Their words express heartbreak,
love lost and disillusionment from different and unique angles, while
their singing expresses an exultant celebration of life. The
arrangements are sparse yet rich, showcasing the sisters'
sophisticated vocal harmonies supported by Abigail and Lily's subtle
acoustic guitars and the occasional accent of bass, percussion,
electric violin and singing saw. Produced by Thom Monahan (Devendra
Banhart, Vetiver, The Pernice Brothers) and Mike Daly."
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PLAYHOUSE (GERMANY) |
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VILLALOBOS, RICARDO: Alcachofa CD (PLAY 008CD)
21.50
Repressed; genre-defining album from Villalobos, circa 2003. "Welcome
to the New Profundity. Ricardo Villalobos is one of the foremost
producers in that Zone That Has No Name -- minimalism that's too
rosy-cheeked to be minimal, techno too slinky (and dare we say:
feminine) to be techno, house too adamantly anti-anthemic to be called
house. On singles for Playhouse, Perlon, Frisbee Tracks and more,
Villalobos -- both under his own name and as half of Ric Y Martin,
alongside Martin Schopf (aka Dandy Jack) -- has broken open techno's
crank-case and reconfigured its motor to run on nothing but pebbles
and honey, silicon and grass. Less minimalist than profoundly, proudly,
regally restrained, his music is full of pauses, patience and white
space; he overlaps genres until only their outlines remain, like a
kind of subtractive synthesis used to blot out all but the essence of
a given combination of tones. Which brings us to Alcachofa, an album
that, like its namesake -- the humble artichoke -- peels away in
layers, stripping back rubbery leaves to reveal a sweet, pulpy
interior crowned by a halo of thorns. 'Easy Lee,' the album's opener,
is perversely delicious, pure dancefloor introversion. Graced by
plangent, computer-modified vocals, the tune -- a staple in Richie
Hawtin's afterhours sets -- is at once stark and darkly romantic,
surface-bound and curiously hollowed, hyper-sexed and dead to the
touch. It expands upon Villalobos' interest in processed vocals,
introduced with 'What You Say Is More Than I Can Say' on an earlier
12" Play 62 -- here in an edited version, which offsets rubberized
techno stomp with delusional robot groans to produce a uniquely
sensual disorientation. Not all of Alcachofa is so introverted, but
most of it is marked by the same kind of restraint, not hesitation. 'Theogenese'
juggles South American syncopations, minimalist click-tracking, and
'80s synth-drums, all suffused in a delicate sunrise aura, until every
beat glows golden. 'Bahaha Hahi,' traveling under a name suggesting
some tropical imbalance, dresses up subconscious vocals in clicks and
gurgles -- the sound of snorkeling while stoned. A simpler rhythmic
experiment is 'I Try To Live (Can I Live),' an excursion into
flattened-out funk and artificial mouth harp. But the record's
crowning glory must be 'Dexter,' which steadily cycles through a
series of improbable chord changes like a cat prowling one of M.C.
Escher's surreal staircases. Pensive, poignant, moving like water
under ice, the track sucks you in and holds you deep in the heart of
things -- and in the heart of Alcachofa. This isn't techno as we knew
it; it's a biological experiment, a Petri dish of private elation and
muttered damnations, a morphology of voices and tones and exhalations
rubbed raw with salt and gravel. Alcachofa presents metamorphosis in
play: restless, irrevocable. Wrapped in rubber, green and meaty, the
world sounds different now."
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PSI (UK) |
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PARKER, EVAN: Conic Sections CD (PSI 08.01CD)
23.00
"Soprano saxophone solos recorded in 1989 in the Holywell Music Room,
Oxford by the late Michael Gerzon -- the follow up to The Snake
Decides (psi 03.06). Reissue of ah um 015."
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FURT: Plus Equals CD (PSI 08.02CD) 23.00
"Furt: Richard Barrett and Paul Obermayer (electronics), trios with
John Butcher (soprano & tenor saxophones), Rhodri Davies (harps), Paul
Lovens (drums), Phil Minton (voice), Wolfgang Mitterer (piano,
electronics), and Ute Wassermann (voice). "This is the second release
recorded at the SWR New Jazz Meetings in December 2005. Furt is
expanded into electro-acoustic trios with each of the other members of
the fORCH octet heard on Spin Networks."
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REV-OLA (UK) |
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VA: Psychedelic Jumble Volume One CD (CRREV 217CD)
21.00
...What's The Rush, Time Machine Man? "From the producers of
recently-lauded Brit-psych releases by Turquoise, Octopus, Tony
Hazzard, Jawbone, The Knack, Graham Gouldman and Tuesday's Children
comes this first-time archival collection of lost masters, demos and
acetates from the late '60s; the first in a series if we have things
our way. Most of the acts here need little introduction -- here's a
few: Tintern Abbey's lone 1967 single 'Beeside'/'Vacuum Cleaner' is
legendary; here are both sides of its scrapped follow-up and a brace
of contemporary demos. The Majority are fast becoming favorites of
many collectors following the reissue of their later recordings as
Majority One and the cult status of their classic 'One Third'; here
are four previously-unreleased tracks that will elevate them even
further. The Paradox are best known for recording the song 'Mary
Calinto' before The Ugly's made it one of the rarest Brit-psych
singles of all time; here it is along with three previously-unreleased
cuts including the stupendous 'What's The Rush, Dillbury?' The Penny
Peeps cut the classic single 'Model Village' and numbered future
Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre in their ranks; here are three more
slices of cranked-up flower pop. Twenty slices of impossibly rare
British pop-psych, all previously-unreleased at the time! Features
such luminaries as Tintern Abbey, Rupert's People, Honeybus and The
Majority! Curated by Stefan Granados and Andy Morten -- you know it
makes sense! Beautifully restored from a bewildering selection of
acetates, tapes and wax discs and dazzlingly packaged in the tried and
tested Rev-Ola fashion! A must for all fans of British pop, psych,
freakbeat, blue-eyed soul and general weird 'n' wonderful archival
recordings from the original psychedelic era!"
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RRYGULAR (GERMANY) |
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KNOPF, MARCEL: Thinkaboutyou 12" (RRY 021EP) 10.00
"Marcel Knopf is more a DJ than a producer. You'll notice that fact
while listening and dancing to his sophisticated DJ sets, but also
when looking up his release history to date. Knopf is definitely not
one of these guys who release their umpteenth record on the umpteenth
label. Haste makes waste... that's the plan as it seems. One
and-a-half years after his debut on Rrygular, Thinkaboutyou marks his
second more floor-oriented record on the label. On the A-side, the
title track follows his prior Lloyd & Narain release, but it reveals
an improved arrangement and the vocal sample used here is a tidy
ear-catcher. On the B-side, Knopf's 'Clickdub' shows that it's time
again to bring more punchy techno to the label's musical output. A
stomping bass drum provides the foundation for this loopy and straight
forward oriented power bar kind of track."
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SHASAM (SPAIN) |
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LEFT BANKE, THE: Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina LP (SAM
27088LP) 29.00
"Labeled a 'Baroque rock' band, the Left Banke's output is recommended
to all fans of '60s pop, garage or beat, and has created legions of
fans since its release. Full of beautiful vocal harmonies, incredible
songwriting and very, very catchy melodies, this first Left Banke
album was, allegedly, the most expensive record produced at that time.
Created in New York by Michael Brown, son of a respected musician, the
Left Banke based their sound in their vocals and some cleverly used
orchestration and studio techniques, resulting in their unique sound.
Now reissued with remastered sound, respecting the original artwork,
and limited to only 500 copies, here's your chance to get one of the
key albums from the '60s!"
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SWEET DANDELION (UK) |
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ANTOINE RENCONTRE LES PROBLEMES: Antoine Rencontre Les Problèmes
LP (SWDDL 712LP) 29.00
"For the first time reissued on vinyl, this is a piece of scorching
French '60s garage punk. Don't be fooled by Antoine's name, this has
nothing to do with his latter contributions to French sissy pop.
Antoine sings on four of the songs in this album. With Les Problèmes,
we're talking garage music at its best here, with fuzz and distortion
everywhere, rough sound and haunting fuzz riffs, but each song has its
own charm without being repetitive. Our favorite garage French-sung LP
(it beats all the Québec-produced albums!) by far, we just can't
understand why this hasn't been reissued until now. Included also as
bonus tracks are two non-LP tracks from Les Problèmes' rare first EP,
with the killer 'Passe Ton Chemin.' Remastered sound, original artwork
and strictly limited to 500 copies!"
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SWILL RADIO |
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IDEA FIRE COMPANY: The Island of Taste LP (SWILL 026LP)
21.00
"IFCO follows up our highly ignored Stranded LP with an equally, if
not more so, strong statement. Core members Karla Borecky and Scott
Foust are joined by an all-star cast: Meara O'Reilly and Jessi Leigh
Swenson from Stranded, as well as Frans de Waard, Graham Lambkin, and
Dr. Timothy Shortell. The Island Of Taste depicts a manoeuvre in which
the beauty becomes more beautiful as the desperation becomes more
desperate. A stark and romantic mission to the rocks. Lavish package
featuring an excellent Karla cover painting as well as a booklet
presented as a set of 5 x 7 art cards with another Karla painting,
band photos, and an essay of mine. Perhaps The Island Of Taste is the
first LP to make explicit a certain nostalgia for itself. Along with
The Shadow Ring's Swill Radio trilogy (Lighthouse, Lindus, I'm Some
Songs), I'd put IFCO's trilogy (Anti-Natural, Stranded, The Island Of
Taste) up against anyone's three LP run."
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SWORDFISH (UK) |
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ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE & THE MELTING PARAISO U.F.O.: Never Ending
Space Ritual - History of Acid Mothers Temple 2DVD (SFAMT 001DVD)
42.00
...& The Melting Paraiso U.F.O.. "Disc 1 tracks the band through the
first decade from 1998 to 2007, through rare footage featuring guest
appearances from members of Guru Guru, Afrirampo, Ruins and others.
Disc 2 features a historic performance of La Novia featuring Occitan
Queen of Songrosina De Peira, many takes of other AMT classics, and an
in-depth interview with Kawabata Makoto. Other AMT offshoots - Acid
Mothers Gong, AMTSWR and AMTGuru Guru are also featured." Booklet
includes photographs and a band chronology. NTSC Region 0.
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THE WIRE (UK) |
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WIRE, THE: #290 April 2008 MAG (WIRE 290) 8.50
"All copies of this issue will come complete with an exclusive free CD
stuck to the cover: The Wire Tapper 19, a special 10th anniversary
edition of our acclaimed series of new music compilations. The Wire
Tapper 19 is the latest volume in The Wire's ongoing series of
exclusive new music compilations, the first volume of which was issued
10 years ago with The Wire's April 1998 issue. As with previous
volumes, The Wire Tapper 19, which has been compiled by Shane Woolman,
Lisa Blanning and Andy Tait, will contain a range of new, rare or
exclusive tracks from across the spectrum of the kind of
underground/outsider musics covered in the magazine. Packaged in a
gatefold sleeve with artwork by The Wire's art director Ben Weaver,
the CD will be given away free with every copy of the April issue
worldwide. Artists include: Our Sleepless Forest, Snorkel, Nico Muhly,
G.F. Fitz-Gerald & Lol Coxhill, X.A. Cute (feat. Mike Ladd), Daniel
Figgis via Somadrone, Fluorescent Grey, Kaffe Matthews, Alexei Borisov
& Anton Nikkilä, Talvin Singh, Illusion Of Safety, The Master
Musicians Of Hop-Frog, Phog Masheeen, Setsubun Bean Unit, Pink Skull,
LowDynamicOrchestra with Stefano Scodanibbio, Lars Akerlund, Tangtype,
Yellow6, Never Enough Hop. On the cover: Gudrun Gut (From Malaria!,
Mania D and Neubauten to Ocean Club radio and Monika Enterprise, this
'dilettante' has genially hosted Berlin's new music scene for 30 years.
Features: Benga (Derek Walmsley meets dubstep's prince of darkness);
Religious Knives (Bruce Russell on dervish surgery in New York);
Robert Hood (Detroit Technocrat lights out for the South); Cross
Platform: Cory Arcangel (With homage to Glenn Gould and hacked video
games, this visual artist converts geekiness into media savvy);
Invisible Jukebox: Michael Rother; Henry Grimes (Lost to the world for
30 years, the free jazz bassist has belatedly restarted his
magnificent career in New York); J Dilla (Two years after his
tragically early death, Dave Stelfox pays tribute to the celebrated
hip-hop producer's ruff drafts, decaying textures and influential
lo-fi aesthetics); The Primer: Henry Cow (A user's guide to the
recordings of this nomadic, utopian outfit, including the extended
Rock In Opposition family of Slapp Happy, The Work, Art Bears and
more."
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TOMPKINS SQUARE |
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BLACKSHAW, JAMES: Celeste CD (TSQ 1837CD) 21.00
Reissue of this 2004 album, originally issued as a CD-R on Celebrate
Psi Phenomenon; half of this was also on the Bo Weavil Sunshine/Celeste
LP in 2005. "Guitarist/composer James Blackshaw's 2007 Tompkins Square
album, The Cloud of Unknowing, received 'Top 50 Albums of the Year'
honors from Pitchfork and Wire magazine. Fresh off a U.S. and UK tour
with Jose Gonzalez, and a bevy of year-end praise from the blogosphere
to The New York Times, Tompkins Square reissues four catalog titles
previously only available as tiny, limited edition CD-R pressings.
'Mr. Blackshaw plays 12-string acoustic guitar, picking endlessly
circling, intertwining arpeggios: stately, tolling ones on the lower
strings and faster ones, verging on tremolo, up above. Yet what
usually emerges from the welter of notes is not bustle but tranquility.
The music has the same contemplative scope that turns countless tiny
daubs into a Monet water lily.' --Jon Pareles, The New York Times, Dec
31, 2007."
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BLACKSHAW, JAMES: Sunshrine CD (TSQ 1844CD)
21.00
Reissue of this November 2005 release (originally issued on Digitalis
and Bo Weavil). "...Blackshaw has already mustered up enough talent on
the guitar to put many more renowned acts to shame. His gorgeous
finger picked melodies on 12-string guitar are incredibly affecting
and a stark contrast to the ragas and ragtimes of peer Jack Rose.
Instead of concentrating on replicating a specific era of music or
showing his technical prowess, Blackshaw aims straight for the heart
and listening to these two extended pieces is enough for you to be
transported into another realm entirely. One of the standout releases
in the now slightly bloated folk revival movement, Sunshrine is a real
pleasure to listen to and should be wedged firmly into any
self-respecting folk follower's CD shelf." --Boomkat
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BLACKSHAW, JAMES: Lost Prayers and Motionless Dances CD (TSQ
1851CD) 21.00
James Blackshaw's second release, originally recorded in October 2004
by John Hannon, NRS. Released as a CD-R on Digitalis December 2004. "An
absolutely monumental recording, Lost Prayers and Motionless Dances
re-examines many of the themes that were explored on Celeste and
distills them into one brilliant 35-minute composition that is full of
excitement and surprise. The piece begins with a harmonium drone and
acoustic 12-string, tuned to the guitar-unfriendly C-F-C-F-C-F (I can't
find any examples of this tuning being used elsewhere) and unfolds
beautifully. Blackshaw moves effortlessly from Takoma-inspired picking
into electroacoustic improvisation and concludes with 12-string,
harmonium and ride cymbal falling into a blissed-out circular folk
groove that is absolutely infectious." --Grown So Ugly.
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TOP SOUNDS (UK) |
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VA: Shapes and Sounds Volume Two CD (TSCD 003CD)
25.00
...Shades of Deepest Purple from the BBC Archives 1967-1971. "With
this second excavation of previously unreleased live BBC session
performances spanning the period 1967-1971, Shapes And Sounds becomes
a series and Volume Two features a completely different line-up of
bands from the previous set. Pride of place on this second edition
arguably goes to the Gun, with three astonishing performances that
were recorded nearly a year before 'Race With The Devil' which
illustrate their late '67 menu of mod and psych-pop, with cracking
versions of Rupert's Peoples 'Hold On,' Paul Simon's 'A Most Peculiar
Man' and a quite splendid airing of their legendary 'Light On The Wall.'
The Casuals surprise with the beat of 'Midnight Confessions' and 'Take
Me For A Little While' as well as a fine rendering of 'Jesamine,'
while the Mirage perform a live version of their May 1967 single, 'The
Wedding Of Ramona Blair.' The Alan Bown play an excellent take of
'Magic Handkerchief' and even more interestingly offer two numbers
that never appeared on any Bown release, with the self-penned
progressive popper, 'Movie Star Baby' and a brilliant interpretation
of the Association's 'Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies.' Also with
three tracks on Shapes And Sounds are Wales' Bystanders, who turn in a
lovely version of 'Royal Blue Summer Sunshine Day' as well as a
glorious homage to the Byrds with 'Renaissance Fair.' Even better and
long talked about in collectors' circles but never previously released,
is their absolutely stunning rendition of 'I Am The Walrus,' which Top
Sounds are sure will disappoint no one! Sourced from an off-air
recording of their only British television appearance on DDisco 2,
Killing Floor perform 'Milkman' from their Out Of Uranus LP in superb
quality (the TV show was wiped decades ago) and of similarly heinous
rarity are live tracks from Portrait and Katch 22, who turn in
forceful renderings of 'Born To Be Wild' and 'The Price Of Love'
respectively (the latter of which is better than the Status Quo
cover). The sound quality is absolutely superb throughout, with 12 of
the 16 tracks sourced from original BBC Transcription records. The
other performances have been taken from excellent off-air recordings
and similarly shine and though few of the tracks on the collection
needed much enhancement at all, all have nevertheless been
professionally restored and mastered. The presentation is immaculate
and as with the previous Shapes And Sounds release, Artholeghraphics
have designed a memorable period flavored package, including a 23-page
booklet packed with photos and information. Except for the Mirage
recording being bootlegged many years ago (in lesser quality), none of
the tracks have ever been commercially available and most have not
been heard in public since the '60s. Shapes And Sounds is a legitimate
limited edition release, licensed from the BBC with the blessing/co-operation
of many band members."
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VA: Shapes & Sounds: Orange & Red Beams from the BBC Archives
LP (TSLP 002LP) 28.00
LP version. Including a 16-page color booklet based on a vintage Radio
Times.
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VINYL LOVERS (RUSSIAN FEDERATION) |
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CREAM: Fresh Cream LP (VL 900167LP) 35.00
"When the band formed in 1966, Eric Clapton was already fairly well
known by this time, having already performed and recorded with the
Yardbirds and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. But it wasn't until Cream
that Clapton became a global superstar. Breaking free of the
traditional rock & roll song for a more improvisational/jazz-influenced
take, the band's long jams gave birth to a whole new approach to rock
music. When their debut album Fresh Cream was released in 1966, it
immediately became the standard by which all other bands of the era
were judged. Includes 5 bonus tracks." 180 gram virgin vinyl.
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MAYALL & THE BLUESBREAKERS, JOHN: A Hard Road 2LP (VL
900174LP) 50.00
"More than a compilation, this album is a complete document of the
Bluesbreakers' recordings with Peter Green, of which A Hard Road was
just the most prominent part. Sixteen bonus tracks, including several
non-LP singles (among them the 1967 B-side 'Rubber Duck,' which has
never before appeared on LP)." Gatefold cover, 180 gram virgin vinyl.
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TRAFFIC: Mr. Fantasy LP (VL 900181LP) 35.00
"Riding fairly high on the success of their singles, the band, whose
members included Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood and Dave Mason,
released its 1967 debut LP, which also soon shot up to the number 16
slot on the UK album charts. Aided by their use of unusual instruments
(Winwood played the organ, Wood played flute and Mason the sitar) they
created a hybrid of pop/blues rock with a sound that was somewhat
unique for the time and which soon made them international superstars.
This deluxe reissue includes 5 bonus tracks & a poster!" Gatefold
sleeve, 180 gram virgin vinyl.
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CREAM: Wheels of Fire 2LP (VL 900198LP) 50.00
"Like the band's previous two releases, Cream's third album, Wheels of
Fire (1968), also topped the charts. Although it was criticized at the
time for being a somewhat disjointed album, divided into one LP of new
studio material and one LP of live material, it redeems itself because
'White Room,' has gone down in the annals of history as one of the
Great Moments in Rock & Roll. Features 4 bonus tracks (including the
super rare 'Desert Ride')." Gatefold sleeve, 180 gram virgin vinyl.
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TYRANNOSAURUS REX: My People Were Fair And Had Sky In Their Hair...
LP (VL 900204LP) 35.00
...But Now They're Content To Wear Stars On Their Brows. "Before Marc
Bolan became the glam rock superstar behind T-Rex, he was just a hippy
boy with a guitar, writing fantastical Tolkien-inspired folk songs
populated by fairies and ogres. But thanks to producer Tony Visconti,
this boy & his trusty drum-playing friend Steve Peregrine Took soon
had a record contract and this, their debut album, actually made it to
the top of the British charts in 1967 when it was released. Stereo
version with 1 bonus track and lyrics insert." 180 gram virgin vinyl.
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OS MUTANTES: Mutantes LP (VL 900211LP) 35.00
"Fusing traditional Brazilian music, psychedelia, rock and a good dose
of pure experimentalism, with the release of their 1968 debut, Os
Mutantes quickly became giants in the outer fringes of pop music, soon
reaching mythic proportions. With their second album, Mutantes,
released in 1969, the band continued in this same vein of boundary
crushing, featuring tracks like the futuristic 'Dois Mil e Um.'" 180
gram virgin vinyl.
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CURE, THE: Faith 2LP (VL 900228LP) 50.00
"Recorded in 1981, this classic album took the band further down the
road of despair, initiated with Seventeen Seconds, with an album full
of mournful atmospheric tracks, including their hit single, 'Primary.'
Includes 6 bonus tracks from the CD deluxe version." Gatefold sleeve,
180 gram virgin vinyl.
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CURE, THE: Pornography 2LP (VL 900235LP) 50.00
"1982's Pornography, still considered by many to be their best, was
the band's darkest album to date, cementing their role as beacons of
the emergent gothic rock genre, with the band sporting their signature
red lipstick and big hair look for the first time during this tour.
Eight bonus tracks from the deluxe CD version." Gatefold sleeve, 180
gram virgin vinyl.
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STEWART, ROD: The Rod Stewart Album LP (VL 900242LP)
35.00
"Rod Stewart's 1969 debut album was critically-acclaimed in both the
UK and the U.S., and Rod was hailed as an inspired singer and
songwriter on the cutting edge of a new kind of folk rock. Features
Keith Emerson on organ!" Gatefold sleeve, 180 gram virgin vinyl.
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ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, THE: At Fillmore East 2LP (VL
900259LP) 50.00
"Considered by many to be one of the best live albums of all time,
this classic album by the Allman Brothers, recorded at the pinnacle of
their success, was a huge hit for the band. In 1971, the Allman
Brothers were already one of the most popular groups in America, but
by the time this album hit the streets, their brand of Southern rock
had become a national obsession. One of Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest
Albums Of All Time,' it was the band's last with guitar hero Duane
Allman who was killed in a motorcycle accident later that year.
Contains 2 bonus tracks." Gatefold sleeve, 180 gram virgin vinyl.
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CALE, JOHN: Slow Dazzle LP (VL 900266LP) 35.00
"After more than a decade spent in the USA, most prominently as a
member of The Velvet Underground, and producer of some of the most
important proto-punk albums of all time (the Stooges, Nico, the Modern
Lovers), Cale finally returned home to the UK to continue producing,
this time with Island where he began producing Patti Smith, Squeeze,
and Sham 69, among others. He also continued to write and play music
as a solo artist and 1975's Slow Dazzle is his second release on his
native soil, with guest appearances by fellow Island musicians Brian
Eno, Phil Manzanera, Chris Spedding, and Andy MacKay. With maybe just
a drop of dark nostalgia for the good ol' USA, the album features a
tribute to both the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson ('Mr. Wilson') & Elvis (with
his totally ill version of 'Heartbreak Hotel'). Contains 2 bonus
tracks." 180 gram virgin vinyl.
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CALE, JOHN: Helen Of Troy LP (VL 900273LP) 35.00
"Helen of Troy, featuring Brian Eno, Chris Spedding and Phil Collins,
and released in 1975, was Cale's third and final release for Island.
It is a dark and eclectic look into the soul of music on the dawning
of the punk rock era. Featuring a cover of Jonathan Richman's
brilliant 'Pablo Picasso' (which Cale himself originally produced).
Contains 2 bonus tracks." 180 gram virgin vinyl.
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WHO, THE: The Who Sell Out 2LP (VL 900297LP)
50.00
"The Who's legendary third album, released in 1967, was a concept
album of songs made into advertisements, with the cover art featuring
members of the band pretending to endorse various products. The band
actually was doing a few commercials at the time, so this album was
intended to poke fun at that. This was the first pop album ever not to
list the song titles on its cover. Featuring 10 bonus tracks from the
deluxe edition." Gatefold sleeve, 180 gram virgin vinyl.
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COPE, JULIAN: World Shut Your Mouth LP (VL 900303LP)
35.00
"By the time World Shut Your Mouth, Cope's solo debut, was released in
1984 (the Teardrop Explodes had only just disbanded). Cope by this
time had a considerable reputation as being a drug fiend and
borderline lunatic, but he knew how to use these qualities to his
advantage, both musically and in terms of PR. Cope knowingly launches
himself into an ethereal world -- at times wistful, at times
angst-ridden -- of inspired psych-influenced space pop. Contains 3
bonus tracks." 180 gram virgin vinyl.
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VINYL MAGIC (ITALY) |
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BASSO, LUCIANO: Voci LP (AMS 004LP) 38.00
"Finally available in vinyl edition, the debut album of acclaimed
keyboarder Luciano Basso, originally from 1976. This is a highly
appreciated instrumental effort, being cited by The Billboard Guide to
Progressive Music as one of the best-ever examples of
classically-influenced progressive rock, comparing it to the work of
such renowned bands as Focus, Clearlight and even Pink Floyd. Voci is
one of the few (and probably the best) Italian records dealing with
electronics, representing an interesting mix of classical-influenced
progressive music and avant-garde. The record contains five long
instrumental tracks, with keyboards to the fore and backing electric
instruments. Among the guest musicians on this album, the Nuvole di
Paglia bass player, Mauro Periotto. A long OOP title and therefore a
must-have for lovers of Italian prog!"
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PROCESSION: Fiaba LP (VM 123LP) 38.00
"Torino's Procession you already know from the previously reissued
Frontiera (their killer hard-prog debut, still available from us). But
on this second and last album, from 1974 and with a new line-up (only
keeping the guitarist and vocalist from their original line-up),
Procession made it different, and still much better. Fiaba is no
hard-prog anymore, but an astounding piece of progressive rock with a
slight symphonic feel, with guitar, bass, drums, flute and sax, and
occasional keys. Not as rare in its original format as the +$1000
Frontiera, but still a hard collectable item, now reissued in its
gatefold cover and also the label's replica."
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OSANNA: Palepoli LP (VM 127LP) 38.00
"Osanna are definitely one of the bigger names in Italian progressive,
and their albums were big hits in their country at the time they were
released. They were based in Naples, and they released four albums,
all on the Fonit label. Palepoli is their third, and arguably their
best one. In fact, it's often pointed to as one of the best-ever
Italian progressive rock albums. It was originally released in 1973,
and contains three long tracks only, the first of them an amazing
mixture of progressive rock with local Naples folk. The whole album
has excellent guitar and powerful rhythm section, and the production
of the record is fantastic. Now available again, with the original
gatefold cover, label replicas and the printed inner sleeve with the
lyrics as well. Limited to 500 copies."
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WATER |
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FAIRPORT CONVENTION: What We Did On Our Holidays CD (WATER
211CD) 21.00
"The second Fairport Convention album, originally released in 1969, is
the first to feature the beautifully haunting vocals of the legendary
Sandy Denny. What We Did On Our Holidays contains some of the Fairport
Convention's finest moments, including Denny's own 'Fotheringay,'
Richard Thompson's 'Meet Me On The Ledge' and their stunning take on
Bob Dylan's 'I'll Keep It With Mine.' This record finds the Fairport
Convention moving away from the California folk-rock of their debut
album towards a more British approach to similar material. It is also
the last full release to feature Ian Matthews on vocals and many
consider this lineup, which lasted only for this album and a portion
of the follow-up Unhalfbricking, to be the finest in the Fairport's
long and varied career."
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FAIRPORT CONVENTION: Unhalfbricking CD (WATER 212CD)
21.00
"Unhalfbricking, originally released in 1969, was a transitional album
for Fairport Convention, as vocalist (and American folk-rock
enthusiast) Ian Matthews left midway through the recording. As a
result, the band looked further into their own country's folk
traditions for influence, as their decidedly British style was
cemented by the addition of Dave Swarbrick's fiddle. This is not to
say that Unhalfbricking is a weak album, on the contrary, it is a
stone cold classic and includes some the band's finest material,
including their take on Dylan's 'Percy's Song,' the traditional 'A
Sailor's Life,' and one of Sandy Denny's finest compositions in 'Who
Knows Where The Time Goes?'"
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WEIRD FOREST |
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YELLOW SWANS: At All Ends LP (WEIRD 010LP) 22.00
"At All Ends is the third major record in the Yellow Swans vast body
of work. This record is an assured record of chiming drone and heady
pelvic sky fuckery. New sounds emerge from the Yellow Swans camp that
are more hushed, and whisper with the logic of deep space. Whereas the
last record was a laser beam-guided minimal transmission with dark
overtones, this new release injects sonic clouds full of pink
Oxycontin. Guitar lines sketch out a melodic vision that stupifies
with hypnotic repetition with layer upon layer of rich and dense
guitar chug build into multi-orgasm songscapes that leave the loins
sore and the mind spent. An exhausting journey into pleasure and
single-mindedness. Elements of lush drone stretch the proceedings in
vast strokes. Yellow Swans veer towards Krautrock territory with this
new record, and it will go down in the big books as their most
beautiful and vibrant record thus far. Limited to 1000 copies with
beautiful single pocket gatefold jackets with art by Jamie Potter."
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YELLOW SWANS AND MOUTHUS: Conan Island LP (WEIRD 012LP)
23.00
"An inevitable match made in Hades. Four titans workin' it out in the
primordial mulch and all the gods are cowering in their presence. The
dual intertwining guitar-attack impacts and fragments into the dense
concrete percussion forest surrounded by a shroud of pulsing
caterwauling skree. A harum-scarum locomotive ride of thick, bombastic
& heavy proportions... just like you want it to be. Play loud for
optimum effect! Cover art by Brian Sullivan. Limited to 500 copies."
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CAN'T: Private Time (Part 2) LP (WEIRD 022LP)
22.00
"For me, this is the ultimate Can't LP. It's a sound cornucopia of
everything Jessica Rylan does so beautifully... amazing scraped and
destroyed analog synth-laden vocals, lovely singer/songwriter stylings
with acoustic guitar, and Shaggs-style garage gusto! This record
features Jessica's own homemade synthesizers including the Little Boy
Blue! One of my favorite Weird Forest releases to date! Beautiful
color covers by Abide Visuals and a fabulous inner sleeve with artwork
by Jessica. Limited to 500 copies."
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SUGIMOTO, TAKU: Mienai Tenshi LP (WEIRD 042LP)
25.00
"This is Taku Sugimoto's very first solo release originally released
in 1988 by the artist himself in a small edition of 100 copies. Its a
far cry from his current style. Back then, Taku was very much
influenced by MC5 and The Velvet Underground. This is a fiery live
in-the-red solo electric guitar improv blowout! Fans of Masayuki
Takayanagi and High Rise take heed! Mastered from the original
reel-to-reel tapes. Faithful reproduction of the original insert and
the debossed handmade covers. Limited to 500 copies."
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XLR8R |
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XLR8R: #116 April 2008 MAG (XLR8R 116) 4.99
"America's definitive electronic music magazine, 116th issue. On the
cover: Bun B, The Mayor of the Dirty South Talks Politics, Pimp C, and
Getting His Ice Cube On. Contents: Droid Behavior, Shitkatapult, Bird
Peterson, Jeremy Jay, Kelpe, Miss Kittin, Ghostland Observatory,
Justus Köhncke, Bun B, M83, Jamie Lidell, Atmosphere, Paul Hartnett,
Style: Looking For A Modern Thump; Music Reviews, Music Columns, In
The Studio: Bogdan Raczynski, Artist Tips: Evol Intent, Components,
Vis-Ed: Chris Duncan, TBC: Southern Comforts. 128 pages."
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YETI |
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YETI: #5 BOOK/CD (YETI 005) 21.00
Book + CD; 226 pages, 6" x 9" book w/ metallic cover. "Yeti 5 features
musical contributions from and/or interviews with: Iron & Wine, Akron/Family,
Will Oldham, Dean and Britta (covering Galaxie 500 on the CD), Jeff
Mangum (who not only contributes visual art to the issue, but also
supplies us with four of his favorite, never anthologized sides from
old 78s for the CD); Deerhoof, D+, Mt. Eerie, Anglin Brothers, A Hawk
and a Hacksaw, the Spiritualaires, Cooper Moore, and more. Also:
Awesome travel journals from the Western Sahara by Sublime Frequencies
co-founder Hisham Mayet; Erik Davis on P.G. Six; Mike McGonigal on
Blind Willie Johnson's 'Dark Was the Night, Cold was the Ground';
Scott Seward on 'the marriage made in hell between folk music, dead
cultures, myth & highly technical modern extreme metal'; Luc Sante on
photography; drawings by German Surrealist Unica Zürn; an excerpt from
Meredith Brosnan's new novel; an interview with Nicola Bowery about
enigmatic '80s fashion icon Leigh Bowery; fiction by Kevin Sampsell (with
lithographs by Alan Griswold); AIM conversations courtesy of
BloodNinja; visual art from Saul Chernick (dig the pink bulldog on the
cover), Kevin Arrow, Kyle Field (from Little Wings), and Michelle
Blade. As usual, Yeti 5 will be a book + CD: a 226-page 6 x 9" matte
gloss journal with a gorgeous metallic cover (this time by Saul
Chernick)."
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