5/29/20 NEW RELEASES
BATHS – Pop Music / False B-Sides Vol. I & II LP (Basement’s Basement) cream vinyl
Will Wiesenfeld has been making bedroom electro-pop for the past decade, all with a warmth and ease that can remind us of the gentler moments of SUFJAN STEVENS’ “The Age of Adz”. Along with the remastered version of “Pop Music / False B-Sides”, he finds some incredible BATHS from around the same time to bring to a second volume. It’s remarkable that this music hadn’t been released before, but we’re happy to hear some more of BATHS at the top of his game. Really great stuff that is nice to now see on vinyl.
FLYING LOTUS – Flamagra: Instrumentals 2LP (Warp)
A year after the release of his landmark double-album “Flamagra”, FLYING LOTUS brings us an instrumental version, ripe with hazy, off-kilter beats and spacious soundscapes that draw equally from hip-hop, house, jazz and IDM. A required cop! RECOMMENDED!
CALEB LANDRY JONES – The Mother Stone 2LP (Sacred Bones) baby blue vinyl
“The Mother Stone” is the debut album from Caleb Landry Jones, someone you might know better from his acting in “Twin Peaks: The Return” & “Get Out.” Making your musical debut with a double LP is pretty bold but a lot of things about this record are kind of over the top. The music is flamboyant & sprawling, sort of like glam show tunes or a demented musical. Think Lennon’s most tripped-out when he was the Walrus, Kevin Ayers, Tom Waits etc…
LUSTRE – Ashes of Light LP (Nordvis)
“The Ashes of Light” is the 2020 album by the Swedish one man atmospheric black metal project LUSTRE. We’ve been kind of of obsessed with this album since it popped up on Bandcamp earlier this year. Mid-tempo to slow songs that have an almost ambient quality to them with sequenced synth melodies, washes of digital strings instead of guitars & what sounds like programmed drums. We suppose you could call this dark ambient, but we’ll say ambient metal. Think Badalamenti Twin Peaks style synth songs or “Disintegration” era CURE with slow plodding beats & occasional screeched DEAFHEAVEN sounding vocals. Recommended for those of you that like your metal on the more depressing side…
MAGNETIC FIELDS – Quickies 7” boxset (Nonesuch)
Stephin Merritt & MAGNETIC FIELDS give us something to be thankful for during these tough times with 28 short little ditties spread out over 5 7″ singles. With song titles like “The Biggest Tits in History”, “Bathroom Quickie”, “You’ve Got a Friend in Beelzebub” you know this is gonna be good!
MAC MILLER – Circles 2LP (Warner)
Losing an artist with as much potential as the Pittsburgh singer Mac Miller is always devastating. It was clear that he was accelerating creatively & that almost anything could be possible. He was deep into working on this record with producer Jon Brion when he died & finishing it was very important to Brion. Miller was clearly moving into a less rap oriented direction on “Swimming” & that continues here with him exploring many different songwriting styles & genres. RIP MAC MILLER.
Other important new releases:
THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT – Hollywood Park 2LP (Rounder)
BEN LUKAS BOYSEN – Mirage LP (Erased Tapes)
CEREMONY – Zoo LP (Matador) back in print
CHOIR BOY – Gathering Swans LP (DAIS) clear blue vinyl
FIRE-TOOLZ – Rainbow Bridge LP (Hausu Mountain) “Breakfast” blue vinyl back in stock!
J DILLA – Donuts LP (Stones Throw) THE CLASSIC finally back in print
TOMMY McGEE – I’m A Stranger 2LP (Numero)
NOVA ONE – loveable LP (Community) peach vinyl
PET SHOP BOYS – I Don’t Wanna LP/CD (X2)
RUSH – Permanent Waves: 40th Anniversary Edition 3LP (Anthem)
RVG – Feral LP (Fire) yellow vinyl
SWEET WHIRL – How Much Works LP (Chapter) white vinyl
TALsounds – Acquiesce LP (NNA) blue vinyl back in stock!