3/26/21 New Releases
EL MICHELS AFFAIR – Yeti Season LP/CD/BOX SET (Big Crown) limited blue, black or red vinyl box set with coloring book
The 2021 album from EL MICHELS AFFAIR hooks you right away with the awesome “Unathi” that features the vocals of Piya Malik of THE SHACKS singing in Hindi. The song has a great groove & a 70s Turkish funk vibe. The rest of the album is a mix of classic E.M.A. style instrumental that blend elements of funk, Middle Eastern music & hip-hop & along with a few more vocal tracks that are just as catchy as the opener, especially the song “Murkit Gem” which expands on the Turkish funk sound even more. Fans of the other albums, vintage Middle Eastern funk/psych, KHRUANGBIN etc… should check this out. RECOMMENDED.
FLOATING POINTS & PHAROAH SANDERS w/ THE LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Promises LP/CD (Luaka Bop) 180g coming hopefully in April!
What an incredibly exciting collaboration we have here between free jazz legend PHAROAH SANDERS & electronic producer FLOATING POINTS, who, backed by the London Symphony Orchestra, have made a magisterial nine-part odyssey through spiritual jazz and modern classical. Meditative, swirling, grandiose and intimate in equal measure — this will certainly be one of our favorite releases of 2021. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!
LUNGFISH – Love is Love LP (Dischord) red vinyl
The classic 2003 album by the D.C. area drone punks LUNGFISH is available once again, remastered & on red vinyl. This record caused quite a stir when it was released back then & thankfully now you can get it again after being out of print for many years.
MOUNTAIN GOATS – Songs for Pierre Chuvin LP/CD (Merge) limited pink vinyl
Originally released in March of 2020 as a streaming & tape-only album, “Songs for Pierre Chuvin” harkens back to John Darnielle’s salad days as a songwriter, with each of the ten tracks recorded into the same Panasonic boombox used for the first MOUNTAIN GOATS releases. In recapturing the rustic and shambolic feel of his early work, Darnielle translates his developed craft for song in a more immediate context. Available now for the first time on vinyl a year later, this is an obvious get for fans and a solid entry point into their vast catalog. RECOMMENDED.
MANSLAUGHTER 777 – World Vision Perfect LP/CD (Thrill Jockey)
Drummer collab between THE BODY’s Lee Buford and Zac Jones of BRAVEYOUNG, mixing sampled beats with live percussion to explore the territories of industrial, dub, hip-hop and broken beat. This is all unified by textures of static and hiss, making this reminiscent of the harsher side of ATARI TEENAGE RIOT. MARVELOUS.
RENEE REED – RENEE REED LP/CD (Keeled Scales) limited gold or black vinyl
Renee Reed is a singer/songwriter from Louisiana. With tight & efficient fingerstyle acoustic playing & folk songs with a 60s/70s British psych/folk influence, this makes us think of everything from Roy Harper to George Harrison with some vocal similarities to Angel Olsen but really this is some pretty unique stuff.
SERPETWITHFEET – Deacon LP/CD (Secretly Canadian) limited brown or black vinyl
Josiah Wise returns as SERPENTWITHFEET in 2021. On his first album, Wise attempted to balance his religious upbringing with his sexuality. On “Deacon” he explores similar themes & the album feels even more gospel influenced than the first in some ways. This album has a more mellow & positive feel, sort of like a soulful version of BJORK’S “Homegenic” with some similarities to BLOOD ORANGE, D’ANGELO etc…
WRITHING SQUARES – Chart for the Solution LP/CD limited “hyperdrive” color vinyl or black
WRITHING SQUARES is a duo from Philadelphia featuring Kevin Nickles on sax, flute & synth & Daniel Provenzano or PURPLE HISS on bass & vocals. Their sound is a mix of 70s proto-punk ala CHROME, SUICIDE inspired post-punk, no wave, BIG BLACK, STOOGES, early
TRANS AM etc…
NEIL YOUNG – Young Shakespeare LP/LP box set/CD (Reprise)
We’re the biggest Neil fans on the planet & when we heard about this one coming out we wondered if we needed to hear more early 70s shows or not & you know what, WE DO. This show was recorded after the release of the legendary “After the Gold Rush” & just a few days after the now legendary Massey Hall show. Neil is in top form here singing & playing wise & some of the earliest known versions of songs like “Old Man”, “Needle & the Damage Done”, “Heart of Gold” etc… are featured on here. Another essential release from Neil’s vast archives. RECOMMENDED.
OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES
THE ANTLERS -Green to Gold LP/CD (Anti-) limited color or black vinyl
THE CLEAN – Mister Pop LP (Merge) first domestic US pressing
THE CLEAN – Unknown Country LP (Merge) first domestic US pressing
GALDRE VISIONS – Galdre Visions 12” (Leaving)
FREDDIE GIBBS/MADLIB – Pinata: 1974 Version (Madlib) RSD version with different cover art available again!
SLIM HARPO – Scratch My Back Baby LP (Americana Anthropology) mono reissue
JAMES MCALISTER – Scissortail LP/CD (37d03d)
ANTHONY MOORE – Out LP (Drag City)
ENNIO MORRICONE – Exorcist II (soundtrack) LP (Jackpot) color vinyl remaster
PEACERS – Blexxed Rec (Drag City)
POPCAAN – Fixtape LP (Ovo Sound)
PYLON – Pylon Box (4CD) New West w/ free signed original show poster while supplies last (at Wicker Park only)
PYLON – Chomp LP (New West) indie exclusive color vinyl w/ free signed original show poster while supplies last (at Wicker Park only)
PYLON – Gyrate LP (New West) indie exclusive color vinyl w/ free signed original show poster while supplies last (at Wicker Park only)
SAULT – Sault 5 CD (Forever Living Originals) BACK IN STOCK!!
SAULT – Sault 7 CD (Forever Living Originals) BACK IN STOCK!!
SAULT – Untitled (Black Is) LP/CD (Forever Living Originals) BACK IN STOCK!!
SAULT – Untitled (Rise) LP/CD (Forever Living Originals) BACK IN STOCK!!
SPOON – Gimme Fiction LP (Matador) remaster color or black vinyl
JOE STRUMMER – Assembly: The Collection LP/CD (Dark Horse) color or black vinyl
AARON LEE TASJAN – Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! LP (New West)
JANE WEAVER – Flock LP (Fire)
WITCH – In the Past LP (Now Again) color vinyl
XIU XIU – Oh No LP/CD (Polyvinyl)
V/A – Edo Funk Explosion Vol 1. 2LP (Analog Africa)