9/18/20 NEW RELEASES
ARCA – &&&&& LP (Pan)
The 2013 mixtape by the Venezuelan producer has been reissued by Pan. ARCA has worked with Bjork, Kanye & Frank Ocean to name a few & has released some really strong albums since then. This is more minimal & straight-ahead than the most recent release “Kick I” but no less engaging.
SARAH DAVACHI – Cantus, Descant 2LP/2CD (Late Music) limited clear vinyl edition
The talented, prolific composer SARAH DAVACHI releases her fourth album of 2020, and first on Warp imprint Late Music, as an exploration of drone using the pipe organ. DAVACHI traveled to churches in Chicago, LA, Vancouver, Amsterdam and Copenhagen to record each of the organs within and capture their subtleties and idiosyncrasies. These compositions are adorned with minimal arrangements of piano, Mellotron, synthesizer, strings and on occasion her own voice. A fantastic drone collection that reminds us of KALI MALONE’s spartan organ music. RECOMMENDED.
DEAR NORA – Three States: Rarities 1997-2007 3LP box set (Orindal)
Vinyl reissue of the 2008 career spanning compilation CD by the Portland indie-pop group DEAR NORA led by Katy Davidson. It’s no surprise that DEAR NORA has found a new audience as bands like BEACH BUNNY, Phoebe Bridgers, JAPANESE BREAKFAST, JOYCE MANOR & so many others have become incredibly popular writing songs in a similar style. Limited & recommended.
MARTIN DENNY- Exotica LP (Jackpot) limited edition color vinyl reissue
MARTIN DENNY- Hypnotique LP (Jackpot) limited edition color vinyl reissue
MARTIN DENNY- Quiet Village LP (Jackpot) limited edition color vinyl reissue
The late 50s albums by Martin Denny, the father of the “Exotica” movement, are available once again this time on limited color vinyl on Jackpot Records. Lounge/tiki records seem to have a resurgence every 10 years or so & after Numero released their excellent “Technicolor Paradise” compilation a few years back it seemed like people were ready to dig in again. There’s a reason these records are considered classics so there’s no time like the present to get loungey! RECOMMENDED!
MJ GUIDER – Sour Cherry Bell LP/CD (Kranky)
The New Orleans musician Melissa Guion returns to Kranky as MJ GUIDER. We loved the first album & its nods to greats like COCTEAU TWINS. There are similar moments here but this one is darker & more mysterious, at times like a techno 12″ played at 33RPM & a cavernous sound at times, like standing in an alley outside a dance club at 4AM & hearing the muffled music from inside. RECOMMENDED.
MUSICA TRANSONIC – Musica Transonic LP (Black Editions)
Black Editions continues their fantastic vinyl reissue campaign with this fuzzed out classic featuring members of ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE, RUINS & HIGH RISE. Like HIGH RISE, these recordings are totally blown-out & there’s tons of furious soloing & heavy grooves. TOTALLY MIND-BLOWING & RECOMMENDED!
VALIUM AGGELEIN – Black Moon LP (Numero Group)
Right around the same time the San Jose band DUSTER recorded “Stratosphere”, they recorded this more spaced-out album under the VALIUM AGGELEIN moniker. This is in a similar slowcore style to DUSTER but more instrumental leaning & jammy. If you’re into DUSTER & stuff like BEDHEAD & Chicago’s ZELIENOPLE then you need to check this out.
RUN THE JEWELS – RTJ4 2LP/4LP DELUXE ED./CD/TAPE (BMG) on magenta vinyl or indie only clear/pink, the 4LP deluxe is VERY LIMITED
El & Mike’s 4th LP together is putting them in the Hallowed ranks of the Greatest Hip Hop Duos in the history of the game. There’s nothing difficult to understand about the die-hard following they’ve built, or the amazing chemistry they display on these records. Both are MCs’ MCs, the kinda guys who hear a beat & tear into it like hungry bears & with El-Producto’s ability to craft some of the most bombastic, bass heavy, speaker blowing beats this side of the Bomb Squad, they find each beat here thick & juicy. Here’s a final survey for you if you’re trying to decide whether or not you want to get this record: Do you like dope rhymes? Do you like dope beats? If you answered yes, why are you still reading this? Go find the loudest set of speakers you can & crank this record!
V/A – Soul Love Now: The Black Fire Records Story 1975-1993 2LP/CD (Strut)
Absolutely bangin’ compilation from Strut, covering one of the most important black-owned independent labels in the US: D.C.’s Black Fire. Showcasing a mixture of spiritual jazz, soul, disco & African funk, Black Fire was responsible for some of the biggest grails in album collecting, including underground classics from ONENESS OF JUJU, EXPERIENCE UNLIMITED and WAYNE DAVIS. These tracks represent some of the best this label had to offer all in one place. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES
ANJIMILE – Give Taker LP/CD (Father/Daughter) black or limited color vinyl
AVETT BROTHERS – Third Gleam LP (Loma Vista) we have a few signed copies while supplies last!
BLACK CROWES – Croweology 3LP (Silver Arrow)
BLITZEN TRAPPER – Holy Smokes Future Jokes LP (Yep Roc) limited splatter vinyl
DAVID BOWIE – Young Americans LP (Parlophone) gold vinyl 45th anniversary
CHARLIE XCX – How I’m Feeling Right Now 12” (Asylum) neon green
JOHN COLTRANE – Giants Steps: Deluxe Edition 50 Years (Rhino) w/ outtakes
CULTS – Hosts LP (Sinderlyn) black or limited color
DEAR NORA – Three States: Rarities 1997-2007 3LP box set (Orindal)
DEMON FUZZ – Afreaka LP (Music on Vinyl)
DOORS – 13 (Elektra)
FLAMING LIPS – American Head 2LP (Warner) indie only color vinyl now in stock!
FLEETWOOD MAC – Then Play On 2LP (BMG) half-speed remaster
HELIOCENTRICS – Telemetric Sounds LP (Madlib)
HIGH SPIRITS – Hard to Stop LP (HR) Chicago heroes return!
KAZUO IMAI – Far & Wee: Soloworks LP (Black Editions)
KNUCKLE PUCK – 20/20 LP (Rise)
L7 – Smell the Magic LP/CD (Sub Pop) first press Loser Edition on color vinyl
LOS RETROS – Everlasting LP (Stones Throw)
MINISTRY – Everyday is Halloween: Greatest Tricks LP (Cleopatra)
THELONIOUS MONK – Palo Alto LP (Impulse)
IGGY POP – Gimme Some Skin 7×7” box set (Cleopatra)
JOHN PRINE – John Prine LP (Rhino) essentials finally available again
JOHN PRINE – Diamonds in the Rough LP (Rhino)
JOHN PRINE – Sweet Revenge LP (Rhino)
JOHN PRINE – Common Sense LP (Rhino)
OTIS REDDING – Best of Otis Redding LP (Atlantic)
DANIEL ROMANO – How Ill Thy World is Ordered LP (You’ve Changed)
SLOWDIVE – Pygmalion LP (Music on Vinyl) clear/green vinyl 25th anniversary
TOHO SARA – Toho Sara LP (Black Editions)
ANNA VON HAUSWOLFF – All Thoughts Fly LP (Southern Lord)