8/20/21 NEW RELEASES
BEACH BOYS – Feel Flows: Sunflower & Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971 LP/CD/LP BOX SET/CD BOX SET
A serious deep dive into the fertile late 60s/early 70s era of THE BEACH BOYS that resulted in the classic albums “Sunflower” & “Surf’s Up”. The group’s popularity was on the wane at the time & Brian Wilson was entrenched in his legendary dark period. The other members brought in their songs & combined with some Brian classics they made some of their finest recordings. “Sunflower” is a warm & sunny soft pop album & “Surf’s Up” is a darker, more introspective album & they’ve both aged incredibly well. The albums are remastered & sound fantastic, there are alternate versions, unreleased songs & more. RECOMMENDED.
BIG RED MACHINE – How Long Do You Think it’s Gonna Last LP/CD/TAPE (Jagjaguwar) limited color or black vinyl
Justin Vernon aka BON IVER & Aaron Dessner of THE NATIONAL are back with their 2nd album as BIG RED MACHINE. Both artists have played on Taylor Swift’s albums & Tay returns the favor guesting on a few songs along with FLEET FOXES, Anais Mitchell, Sharon Van Etten, Ben Howard & more. You know you want to hear it so do it!
INDIGO DE SOUZA – Any Shape You Take LP/CD/TAPE (Saddle Creek)
Following the slow-burn success of “I Love My Mom”, Asheville singer-songwriter INDIGO DE SOUZA uses this 2021 record to develop her sound rather than depart from it. The visceral, existential storytelling here is adorned with a wide variety of sounds, from groovy electro R&B to cacophonous sound collage to punchy, 90s-influenced college rock. Shades of LOMELDA, JULIAN BAKER and indie darling PHOEBE BRIDGERS can be found in the raw-nerve expressionism of DE SOUZA’s writing, but “Any Shape You Take” has a singular sound, taking an intrepid path through arrangements that reflect the album’s high-wire balance act of emotional expression.
RICK DEITRICK – Coyote Canyon LP (Tompkins Square)
Early/mid 70s guitar meditations from the Los Angeles based guitarist. His style is a little more rough around the edges than Fahey or Basho but that’s what we did about it. The songs have a loose quality to them as some of them were improvised while recording.
STEVE GUNN – Other You LP/CD (Matador)
Guitar wizard STEVE GUNN has certainly dabbled in a bit of singing, and on “Other You” he brings us an extended collection of acoustic songs and sketches as gorgeous as they are low key. Drawing from late 70s & early 80s English folk-rock a la MICHAEL CHAPMAN and JOHN MARTYN, as well as some ALICE COLTRANE spiritual jazz arrangement (replace COLTRANE with MARY LATTIMORE on harp on here), GUNN thrives on airy rhythms and dreamlike textures for this gloriously leisurely sixth album. On Matador & RECOMMENDED.
SPACE AFRIKA – Honest Labour LP/CD (Dais) limited color or black vinyl
SPACE AFRIKA is a production duo from Manchester. Their music combines elements of contemporary electronic production, hip-hop & dance music. We hear similarities to artists we love such as ACTRESS, Andy Stott & even SLEAFORD MODS. Really cool stuff.
OTHER IMPORTANT NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS
MARISA ANDERSON & WILLIAM TYLER – Lost Futures LP/CD (Thrill Jockey)
ASHE – Ashlyn LP (Mom + Pop)
BORIS – Flood LP (Third Man) limited color or black vinyl
BORIS – No LP (Third Man) limited color or black vinyl
THE BUG – Fire LP/CD (Ninja Tune) limited color vinyl
CHUBBY & THE GANG – The Mutt’s Nuts CD (Partisan) vinyl coming later this year
CHVRCHES – Screen Violence LP/CD (Glassnote) limited color or black vinyl
COLD HEART – Every Day is a Day LP (Epitaph)
J COLE – Off Season LP
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – The Georgia EP 12” (Barsuk) limited peach vinyl
DEATH VALLEY GIRLS – Glow in the Dark LP (Suicide Squeeze) color vinyl reissue
HALSEY – If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power LP/CD (Capitol)
KAYTRANADA – 99.9% LP (XL)
MAMAKI BOYS – Patriote LP/TAPE (Sahel Sounds)
EPHAT MUJURU & THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE – Mbavaira LP/CD/TAPE (Awesome Tapes From Africa)
NATIONAL – Alligator LP (Beggars Banquet)
NITE JEWEL – No Sun LP (Gloriette)
PARDONER – Came Down LP/TAPE (Bar None)
PEACHES – Pussy Mask 7” (Third Man)
PENTANGLE – Basket of Light LP (Renaissance)
PENTANGLE – Cruel Sister LP (Renaissance)
PENTANGLE – Pentangle LP (Renaissance)
A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS – Hologram 12” (Dedstrange)
POWER TRIP – Nightmare Logic LP (Southern Lord)
JASON SHARP – The Turning Centre of a Still World LP/CD (Constellation)
SQUID – Near the Westway 12” (Warp)
LAURA STEVENSON – Laura Stevenson CD (Don Giovanni) vinyl coming later this year
THALIA ZEDEK BAND – Perfect Vision LP/CD (Thrill Jockey)