5/7/21 New Releases
NATALIE BERGMAN – Mercy LP/CD (Third Man) limited edition color vinyl
“Mercy” is the debut solo album by Natalie Bergman, one half of duo WILD BELLE born in Chicago with her brother Elliot. The origin of this record is based in tragedy when Bergman’s life changed the day she learned that her father & stepmother had been killed in a car crash. Bergman retreated to a monastery in New Mexico to grieve in near isolation. This is a record about faith inspired by gospel music & the songs are a mix of traditional sounding gospel, 60s girl groups & soul & some subtle reggae nods.
DJ BLACK LOW – Uwami LP/CD (Awesome Tapes From Africa)
“Uwami” is the 2nd album on Awesome Tapes From Africa that we’ve carried in the South African style of dance music called Amapiano. Similar to the first release by TENO AFRIKA, this one by DJ BLACK LOW highlights the minimalist style of production with minimalist house/footwork style beats & repetitive samples. We’re really loving these sounds & hope there’s more to come.
DRAMARAMA – Cinema Verite LP (Pasadena)
FINALLY!! There hasn’t been a proper vinyl reissue of the debut album by the New Jersey band DRAMARAMA since 1990. The AllMusic description really nails it by referring to this as “probably the greatest rock release from 1985 that almost no one has ever heard.” They had some success with the HUSKER DU meets AGENT ORANGE song “Anything, Anything” & they touch on a lot of styles including ‘STONES-y scuzz, power pop ala PLIMSOULS, hints at what AFGHAN WHIGS would become, a similar Americanized take on the British Invasion that BIG STAR did so well etc…AN UNDERRATED CLASSIC!
KHRUANGBIN – Dearest Alfred (My Joy)/ Father Bird, Mother Bird remix 12” (Dead Oceans)
Limited edition, already out of print 12” of remixes by KNXWLEDGE & KADHJA BONET.
***1 PER CUSTOMER, NO HOLDS, IN STORE SALES ONLY***
MASASHI KITAMURA + PHOTOGENIX – Prologue for Post-Modern Music LP (Ship to Shore)
First ever reissue of this classic Japanese ambient experimental album from 1984 courtesy of Ship to Shore. With nods to both Eno’s ambient & pop sides, hints of YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA & 20th Century minimalism, this record covers quite a bit of styles in 39 minutes. Those of you that have been enjoying the Japanese ambient & city pop reissues on this label & Light in the Attic will want to check this out. RECOMMENDED.
ANGEL OLSEN – Song of the Lark & Other Far Memories 4LP box set (Jagjaguwar)
Limited edition 4LP box set that collects the “All Mirrors” & “Whole New Mess” albums along with some other songs, remixes & outtakes from those sessions along with a 40 page book with a ton of personal ephemera, photos & more. RECOMMENDED OR COURSE.
PAYSAGE d’HIVER – Geister LP/CD (Kunsthall)
Tobias “Wintherr” Mockl returns with his solo black metal project PAYSAGE D’HIVER for “Geister.” Following the theme of the other PAYSAGE…releases, “Geister” is another chapter in the ongoing story of “The Wanderer.” On this one, The Wanderer encounters beings from another dimension while in a dream. Those beings are from our world but The Wanderer thinks they are ghosts. The recording is a little more hi-fi on this one with more mid-tempo beats but it’s no less crushing & ice cold. RECOMMENDED.
REAL ESTATE – Half a Human EP 12” (Domino)
This new six-track EP from REAL ESTATE builds off of 2020’s “The Main Thing”, with bright guitar jangles intersecting over gentle harmonies that land somewhere between melancholy and bliss. Not a dud to be found on this EP! On Domino.
ANDY STOTT – Never the Right Time LP (Modern Love)
The Manchester musician Andy Stott returns with his 8th solo album “Never the Right Time.” The record starts with a wash of ambient synths & then sort of spills into a syrupy, beat-less vocal track that reminds us of CHROMATICS stint at David Lynch’s roadhouse with singing by Alison Skidmore. As a whole this record has a down tempo, almost somber vibe at times varying between reverb drenched post-techno instrumentals & minimal pop songs featuring Skidmore’s heavily affected voice. A new Andy Stott record is always cause for celebration at Reckless & this one is no different. RECOMMENDED.
MELVIN UKACHI – Evolution (Bring Back the Ofege Beat) LP (Tidal Waves)
Melvin Ukachi is best known as the singer for the 70s Nigerian group OFEGE. This solo album from 1981 is brilliant with hints of the OFEGE days, memorable tunes with great vocals & some fantastic afrobeat grooves. RECOMMENDED.
OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES
ALEX CHILTON & HI RHYTHM SECTION – Live on Beale Street LP/CD (Omnivore)
DRAMARAMA – Color TV LP (Pasadena)
DEXTER GORDON – One Flight Up LP (180grm remaster) Blue Note Tone Poet Series
ANDREW HILL – Passing Ships 2LP (180grm remaster) Blue Note Tone Poet Series
ICEAGE – Seek Shelter LP/CD (Mexican Summer) limited color or black vinyl
KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD – Demos Vols. 1 & 2 2LP (Drastic Plastic)
MATT JENCIK – Weird Times tape (Gilead Media)
NEW ORDER – Education Entertainment Recreation: Live at Alexandra Palace 2CD/2CD & BLURAY or 3LP box set (Warner)
HARRY NILSSON – Nilsson Schmilsson: Original Master Recording 2LP (Mobile Fidelity)
PHISH – White Tape LP (Jemp) reissue on color vinyl
RAG’N’BONE MAN – Life by Misadventure LP (Columbia)
MAGGIE ROGERS – Notes from the Archive: Recordings 2011-2016 LP (Debay Sounds)
SADE – This Far 6LP box set (Epic) back in stock!
CARTER TANTON – Carter Tanton LP (Western Vinyl)
KALI UCHIS – Sin Miedo (Del Amor Y Otros Demonios) LP (Interscope)
WEEZER – Van Weezer LP/CD (Atlantic) limited color or black vinyl
TONY JOE WHITE – Smoke From the Chimney LP (Easy Eye Sound)
AMY WINEHOUSE – At the BBC 3LP (Island)
FRANK ZAPPA – ZAPPA 2LP (Zappa)
FRANK ZAPPA – ZAPPA 5LP box set (Zappa)