8/6/21 NEW RELEASES
DARKTHRONE – Eternal Hails LP (Peaceville) limited green vinyl
“Eternal Hails” is the 19th album by the legendary Norwegian black metal duo DARKTHRONE. We’re not sure how Fenriz & Nocturno Culto manage to still sound fresh so deep in their career but they have done that on this fantastically titled 2021 album. The classic nods are there of course like MOTORHEAD & CELTIC FROST but we’re also hearing hints of SST Records like later Rollins BLACK FLAG & ST. VITUS. These guys never disappoint! RECOMMENDED.
ELUVIUM – Virga II LP (Temporary Residence)
We LOVED Matthew Robert Cooper’s return as ELUVIUM in 2020 with “Virga I.” That EP of deep, luscious drones was a perfect winter record & now over a year into the pandemic we can certainly use some more mind-altering & mellow ambient music. Beautiful loops & drones that continue on the path of the first volume & also remind us of APHEX TWIN’s legendary ambient pieces, Rafael Anton Irisarri etc…RECOMMENDED.
LINGUA IGNOTA – Sinner Get Ready LP/CD (Sargent House) limited red vinyl
Following up the beautiful and intense “Caligula” in 2019, Kristin Hayter returns for “Sinner Get Ready”. Drawing even more inspiration from Christian mysticism and zealotry to conjure the feeling of deep religious fervor, this balances a critique of corrupt American faith with an evocation of redemption (in the very bloody, “Catholic” sort of way). “Sinner” strips down the power electronics of previous LINGUA IGNOTA albums to rely on Hayter’s classically-trained voice and a more subtle, atmospheric sound design, resulting in a record that is metal-adjacent in spirit more than in sound. For fans of CHELSEA WOLFE, DIAMANDA GALAS, Gregorian chant, candles, nuns, etc. RECOMMENDED!
ALAN VEGA – After Dark LP/CD (In the Red)
Following up “Mutator” courtesy of Sacred Bones, In the Red also digs into the Alan Vega archives to release the final recordings with a live band by NYCart punk legend Alan Vega. Recorded in 2015 when Vega was 78 (!!) & after he’d mostly recovered from a stroke, “After Dark” has a loose, jammy feel not too dissimilar to the great “Cubist Blues” album. Sort of bluesy, sort of STOOGES-y with Vega’s legendary vocal delivery. Great stuff!
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Country Funk III: 1975-1982 LP/CD (Light in the Attic) limited color or black vinyl
Volume 3 of the great Country Funk series on Light on the Attic gets into the late 70s & early 80s so you know some disco is gonna be mixed in there. There’s some heavy hitters on this one including Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed, Tony Joe White, Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap & more. RECOMMENDED.
SVEN WUNDER – Natura Morta LP (PIano Piano)
The Swedish musician Sven Wunder returns with another brilliant album. “Natura Morta” (dead nature in Italian) is another term for still life painting. Wunder uses a variety of instruments to paint his musical still lifes including strings, flute, piano & various percussion. The results are a mix of 70s film soundtracks, Turkish music, 60s easy listening, bossa nova & composers like David Axelrod & Quincy Jones. RECOMMENDED!
OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS
BLOOD INCANTATION – Hidden History of the Human Race LP (Dark Descent) green or black vinyl
SONNY CLARK – My Conception LP (Blue Note) Blue Note Tone Poet Series
DAFT PUNK – Random Access Memories LP (Columbia)
ELEVENTH DREAM DAY – Since Grazed LP (Comedy Minus One)
FRANZ FERDINAND – Franz Ferdinand LP (Domino) back in print!
FRANZ FERDINAND – You Could Have It So Much Better LP (Domino) back in print!
FRANZ FERDINAND – Tonight LP (Domino) back in print!
GEORGE HARRISON – All Things Must Pass 3LP/5LP/8LP/2CD/3CD/5CD (Capitol)
MAC DEMARCO – Salad Days LP (Captured Tracks)
MAC DEMARCO – 2 LP (Captured Tracks)
J DILLA – Donuts LP (Stones Throw) smile cover
BRIAN JACKSON, ADRIAN YOUNGE & ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD – Jazz is Dead 8:
Brian Jackson LP (Jazz is Dead)
KRYPTOGRAF – Kryptograf LP (Apollon)
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – The Long Goodbye 5LP box set (DFA)
LIARS – The Apple Drop LP/CD (Mute)
RADIOHEAD – In Rainbows LP (XL)
SHITKID – Sort Stjerne! LP (PNKSLM)
THE STEOPLES – Wide Through the Eyes of No One LP (Stones Throw)
STR4TA – Aspects LP (Brownswood)
THE UMBRELLAS – The Umbrellas LP (Slumberland)
UNWOUND – Repetition LP (Numero) limited color or black
WHITE FLOWERS – Day by Day LP (Tough Love)
YARD ACT – Dark Days 12” (Zen F.C.)