Untitled Document

New Releases

A Passing Fancy
S-T
PS, US Revised & expanded version of the much beloved Canadian pop-psych album. Tough garage rock ("I'm Losing Tonight"), beat music influence ("A Passing Fancy," "You're Going Out Of Your Mind") & a great acid rock meltdown ("Your Trip").
LionProductions
CD
$15.00

Abe Vigoda
Reviver
PS, US Cantankerous shoegaze poplosion! Washing & slipping through certain moments where "Skeleton" only touched on, this 5 song EP slows the mood, & crashes over your senses, getting more experimental but oddly more catchy. Squirming in a stunning act of pureness, a calming sound overtakes the senses & they destroy it all beautifully & bring it back again.
PostPresentMedium
CD5
$9.50

Abe Vigoda
Reviver
PS, US VINYL VERSION.
PostPresentMedium
LP
$9.75

Aethenor
Faking Gold & Murder
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
VHF
LP
$21.50

Aethenor
Faking Gold & Murder
PS, US 3rd Earth-shattering full-length by Vincent De Roguin (SHORA), Stephen O'Malley (SUNN0))), KTL) & Daniel O'Sullivan (GUAPO)
VHF
CD
$14.25

Afterhours
#25 Winter 2009 (2 CD + 1 DVD)
PS, JAPAN Sounds See The Light On A Long, Dull And Dark Night Issue. Special Feature Adventures in Wonderland Baltimore! HYBRID WAVE OF MUSIC LAPPING ONTO THE HARBOR TOWN We cover Baltimore. Its music scene is now much talked about. From A to Z of this anything-goes crazy town, where the members of Animal Collective were brought up and Matmos moved to. Special Feature In A Transport of Underground London. A FLOWER BLOOMING in DESOLETE LONDON, WHERE ALTERNATIVE MUSIC DECLINED. We have never featured this business town London before, but something is happening to its alternative music scene. We also introduce its pubs, cafes, record shops as well as labels and artists!! SPECIAL PROGRAM: Welcome to My space NON-DOT-COM MySpace, THIS IS MY WORKPLACE. Beginning from visiting the studios of Mice parade, F.S. Blumm and ISO68, covering hand-made CDs that Pastaca's working on with lots of color pages! LET MUSIC AT LARGE, A MUSICAL NOMAD TELLS HIS STORY. One record shop came into existence in Shimokitazawa. Why did he start it in this hard times, what did he think, how did he start it? We cover from its preparation to the very opening. The Take Away Shows. WE DELIVER YOU FRESH MUSIC. A French movie director starts a strange project of shooting a live in the filed on a one-camera/one-shot procedure. VISITING AN HERMIT IN THE FOREST OF RECORDS. A memory of a guy in search of alternative for 40 years. We visit a music writer, Mr. Shin'ichi Ishikawa, whose house some say is stuffed with records. He selected 54 must albums with comments to all of them. Rock'n'roll responsibilities. Members of Kimi records start off on Iceland domestic tour!! We cover their bus tour, which Mum's Orvar joined as well. They rock with the matching sportswears in pre-default Iceland! BONUS 2CD + 1DVD: CD1 Adventure In Wonderland, Baltimore! Deluxe omnibus of 16 artists in Feature 1. CD2 In A Transport Of Underground London and more... London feature, corresponding to the article [Welcome to My space]. DVD The Take Away Shows and more... [The Take Away Shows], promos of Baltimorean artists.
AfterHours-25
ZINE
$21.75

Ala Muerte
Santa Elena
PS, US Debut full-length from this solo venture of BIANCA BIBILONI, is a rich, ethereal excursion filled w/beautiful sadness. Conceptually moving from the apocalyptic to a state of new beginning, this explores solitude & personal growth through melodic tension & environmental metaphor. Layers of guitar & vocals swirl beneath softly sung lyrics. Gentle vocal melodies float atop dissonant sound collages. Tension ebbs & flows throughout, only to explode w/ an introduction of a full drum kit on the closing track. All instruments - guitar, double bass, mixing bowl, alto & soprano recorder, viola, drums, & 10-string cuatro, a traditional Puerto Rican instrument that is a relative of the flute - were played by Bianca.
PublicGuilt
CD
$12.25

American Football
American Football EP
PS, US First time on vinyl! In their brief history together, American Football crafted two releases that left an undeniable mark on independent music. Despite being released nearly a decade ago both releases are consistently among Polyvinyl's top selling titles. Fronted by Mike Kinsella (Owen, Joan of Arc, Cap'n Jazz), American Football created the kind of songs that held new discoveries upon each listen. These three songs along with the nine that appear on the band's full-length are the only American Football songs ever released. This release features all new album artwork, is on high quality 180-gram vinyl and includes a digital download of the entire release.
Polyvinyl-019
12
$8.75

An Albatross
The An Albatross Family Album
PS, US PITCHFORK: "Robo-spazmatazz genre-splicers An Albatross pack more riffs, time changes, and esoteric rock references in one song than many bands jam into an entire album. Fitting for a bunch of dudes whose credo is some sort of mystical mumbo jumbo of cosmic love, fantasy animals, sci-fi weirdness, and-- as the new album expounds on-- space pilgrimages in search of world peace and harmony. And yet, I think they're serious! These love-in rambles only give the ballistic tunes that much more cheeky appeal. For their third full-length, The Family Album, AA continue their psychedelic aural terror, but dig deeper into the annals of kraut and classic rockdom."
Eyeball
CD
$15.00

Anahita
Matricaria
PS, US Tara Burke (FURSAXA) & cellist Helena Espvall (ESPERS). A beautiful, laboriously created, floating affair of skeletal organ drones, ceremonial singing, & subtly frantic instrumental accompaniment that conjures up a natural woodland romp & stomp.
Important
CD
$13.25

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
The Century of Self
PS, US New album from Brooklyn-via-Texas avant-argonauts. 15 years into their career, Trail of Dead continues to innovate and grow. At a point where many other bands would be resting on their laurels and half-heartedly tossing off greatest hits comps, Trail of Dead are just getting started.
RichterScale/Justice
CD
$15.25

Andalusians
Do The Work
PS, US Song-writing vehicle for Basla Andolsun, who has played in BEAUTY PILL, DEL CIELO, & currently tours w/ EDIE SEDGWICK. This 3-song 7 inch comes w/ an MP3 download coupon that also features 3 extra tracks from the same recording session.
Dischord
45
$4.00

Ant
These Long Dark Country Roads
PS, SPAIN Antony Harding was the drummer of Hefner, the British indie cult band. After releasing a couple of low key singles in 1999, ANT released a series of mini albums, albums and compilations, plus a live session with John Peel, before moving to Sweden and retiring for a while to take care of his family. After a few years of silence, ANT comes back now with a new 6 song mini album for Acuarela which features collaborations with former Hefner members Darren Hayman and Jack Hayter as well as help from members of Cornershop.
Acuarela-066
CD
$8.25

Antennas
Feeling Feline Tonight [plus bonus remix EP]
PS, US New album from Swedish soul-pop instigators. With "Feeling Feline Tonight" Antennas debut their new sound: a bit more electronic, urban and darker but it still hold all the melody you associate with Antennas.

IT'S A TRAP! REVIEW: "Antennas do not lend themselves easily to comparisons -- there are elements of the pop structures of Shout Out Louds, of the angular nature of Laakso's approach, among other such attempts to define their sound, but very few of these associations hold up as you move through the tracklist. "The collector" is kitschy-chic, like a Weeping Willows ballad hijacked by CDOASS. "Lies" has far more soul and funk in its composition than three Swedes should be able to manifest in song; "Youngbloods" channels a bit of Brit-rock suave before throwing itself recklessly down dance-punk avenues; "Upwardly mobile" could almost be a Hot Chip track..."

SPECIAL OFFER: Bonus EP features "Lies", remixes of same by Radio LXMBRG and Oscar Tillman (Holiday For Strings), plus a cover of the song by The Baboon Show. Free with 'Feeling Feline Tonight', while supplies last.
Novoton
CD/CD5
$13.00

Appleseed Cast
Sagarmantha
PS, US 6th studio album from the Lawrence, Kansas group.
MilitiaGroup
CD
$13.75

Apse
Eras
PS, US 180g vinyl. Hand numbered limited edition of 425. All Tomorrow's Parties recording artists Apse have produced an unofficial follow up to their critically acclaimed debut album Spirit (Acuarela 2006/All Tomorrow's Parties 2008). A work recorded and produced entirely at home between the months of January and August 2007, Equation Records proudly presents Eras - an exclusively vinyl-only release limited to 425 copies. While maintaining common threads with its predecessor, Eras is a highly sophisticated, wildly versatile and strikingly mysterious affair - delving much deeper into the genre-splicing and marching-to-the-beat-of-its-own drum that the band has always been revered for. Each listen encourages a deeper investigation as the album embodies a comprehensive selection of multi-faceted material culled from a larger body of work - blended into a record that can truthfully merit the commonly misplaced maxim: 'a genre all its own'. As the band prepares its official follow-up to Spirit, to be released on ATP/R this summer, Eras functions as the fabric between the two. Finished in August of 2007 and set on the shelf for 18 months, Eras is an artifact all its own. The album is due out on February 14th via Equation Records, limited in quantity and exclusively distributed as the vinyl object itself. The record is pressed on 180 gram virgin vinyl, and comes in beautiful packaging including a heavy-gauge card gatefold sleeve, printed inner sleeve with lyrics and artwork, and a charming hand-numbered card insert. SPIN Magazine's Kenny Herzog said of their first album: "Spirit is the deathnail for the labored beast that is 'postrock,' revealing the much more alluring potential that always lurked around its sinister corners." - If that is the case, Eras marks the next step in this journey: An exploration that further delves into those realms, leaving any semblance of 'post-rock' in its wake, searching for something far greater, far more gorgeous and alien."
Equation-019
LP
$17.75

Arborea
House of Sticks
PS, SPAIN Arborea is Buck Curran and Shanti Curran from Lewiston, Maine. Buck plays guitars, bowed strings, flutes and some banjo, and Shanti provides banjo, bowed strings, and percussion, they both sing; though Shanti sings the majority of the songs. Their songs are low-key intimate spell casting affairs; the fact that they are a couple might help to explain the seamless organic blending of their music together. Conjuring truly transportational magic out of the simplest ingredients, Arborea songs might be a hundreds of years old, and there's little here to lock them into any moment other than forever. Alligator sounds like Fred Neil backing Marissa Nadler. They also bring to mind Josephine Foster, Vashti Bunyan, Linda Perhacs, the folky side of MV & EE, Timothy Renner's various incarnations, and other similar magician/musicians. A beautifully recorded acoustic-based gem of an album with no weak track amidst the ten they grace us with.
BorneRecordings/Acuarela-002
CD
$12.25

Architecture In Helsinki
That Beep
PS, US Coming off the heels of commercial success in Australia, Architecture in Helsinki are set to release a brand new song in the states. The song is called "That Beep" and it is the most straight forward, 80's inspired pop tune the band has ever created. With a hook so instantly gratifying, the US is likely to follow Australia's lead in making AiH a household name. "That Beep" is a teaser single from the brand new, as-yet-untitled Architecture in Helsinki fulllength that will land on the shores of America in late summer 2009. "That Beep" has widely been covered on the web by outlets like Pitchfork, Gorilla vs. Bear, Fluxblog, You Ain't No Picasso, and Stereogum to name a few, and the video for "That Beep" premiered on Pitchfork.tv. Features 3 bonus tracks, including a Radioclit remix.
Polyvinyl-174
12
$9.00

Area C
Charmed Birds Against Sorcery
PS, US The album recalls more the crystalline, kaleidoscopic webworks of the first Area C record than the ragged organ workouts of "Haunt." Glacial harmonics drift in & out of each channel, skittering, modulated notes pulse & surge, sputtering suddenly to luminescent manifestation before disappearing just as quickly. The title track is w/o question the album's apex & constitutes a formal peak in Carlson's discography, as brilliant, bright guitar lines tread effortlessly in a sea of tranquil pulses & disembodied percussive elements. LIMITED TO 500
StudentsofDecay
CD
$10.50

Asobi Seksu
Hush
PS, US LP 180 gm vinyl. A critically acclaimed band with glowing press from such outlets as the New York Times, Nylon, Under the Radar, YRB, XLR8R, and many more, NYC's Asobi Seksu make their stunning Polyvinyl debut with their much anticipated third album Hush. Known for their captivating live shows, Hush captures that energy and transforms it into something new - something different. Shimmering, dew-draped riffs and spiral staircase melodies are blurred by bits of guitar violence and sputtering drums bolstered by the ethereal vocals of vocalist Yuki Chikudate.
Polyvinyl-170
LP
$14.75

Asobi Seksu
Hush
PS, US A critically acclaimed band with glowing press from such outlets as the New York Times, Nylon, Under the Radar, YRB, XLR8R, and many more, NYC's Asobi Seksu make their stunning Polyvinyl debut with their much anticipated third album Hush. Known for their captivating live shows, Hush captures that energy and transforms it into something new - something different. Shimmering, dew-draped riffs and spiral staircase melodies are blurred by bits of guitar violence and sputtering drums bolstered by the ethereal vocals of vocalist Yuki Chikudate.
Polyvinyl-170
CD
$13.25

Astral Social Club
Octuplex
PS, US NEIL CAMPBELL returns w/ an album of squelching, restless ambience. The CD is split roughly in half between Harmonia/Voigt-style chuggers & sweeping swirls of instantly recognizable dronage. Includes contributions from RICHARD YOUNGS, JOHN CLYDE-EVANS & SPIDER STACY (POGUES).
VHF
CD
$14.25

Auerbach, Dan
Keep It Hid
PS, US VINYL VERSION, comes with CD.
Nonesuch
LP/CD
$19.75

Auerbach, Dan
Keep It Hid
PS, US On his solo debut, Black Keys singer and guitarist Dan Auerbach takes a simple approach: 'I just wanted to do the things I loved.' For Auerbach, that means combining elements of bluegrass a la the Stanley Brothers, mournful country balladry, Memphis-style R&B, fuzzed-out psychedelic rock and low-down blues on this collection of 14 original tunes, which Auerbach self-produced and recorded with friends and family at his family at his newly built studio, Akron Analog.
Nonesuch
CD
$15.25

Azita
How Will You?
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
DragCity/Twos&Fews
LP
$15.50

Azita
How Will You?
PS, US A collection of songs that range from sun-bright & poppy to deep-focus, torrential. AZITA stuck to straight-ahead voicings in her chords to bring heaviness to the sound, working with bassist Matt Lux (Iron & Wine, Plush) and drummer John Herndon (Tortoise) to arrange her songs with the strength of a rock & roll band throughout the album. Compelling pop music, approaching in fun, with beats, and then sinking deep & growing within you. The songs of How Will You? take a new approach for AZITA, with more space in them, more room for the melody lines to echo out, haunted & haunting.
DragCity/Twos&Fews
CD
$13.25

Bad Dudes
Eat Drugs
PS, US Incorporating blistering guitar riffage, Devo-esque synth lines, shimmering melodies, shifting time signatures & impossibly tight drumming, this expands upon MIRACLE CHOSUKE's hypertech synthpunk sound & conjures up what devoted followers have dubbed "party-prog"
KillShaman
LP
$13.50

Baker, Keef
Pen Fifteen
PS, GERMANY Mighty sub-bass drones, driving, energetic beats, wonderful piano lines, atmospheric keyboards, doomy guitars, occasional vocal work - Pen Fifteen is another journey into Keef Baker's world, where unequal musical styles like trip hop, electronica and even metal are used as base plates and sometimes merge within a single note - just check out what starts as a distorted guitar and ends as click'n'cut in 'dead end'. Instead of 'eclecticism' a logical extrapolation of varied influences is displayed, whether it is post-rock, intelligent dance music, dub... in the end they become one style that can only be called Keef Baker. 11 songs of melodic harshness - loud and powerful even in their quietest moments. Expect your expectations to be confounded! CD2 'light city' - intended to be listened to without interference or pauses - a trip into sudorific clublife that keeps you moving for more than an hour. An astounding mix with well-placed increasing and decreasing speed, ranging from dubstep to techno to drum and bass to breakcore and back. This is Keef as he sounds while performing live - a great addition to a fantastic album.
Hymen-771
DCD
$17.50

Barn Owl
From Our Mouths A Perpetual Light
PS, US Originally released on vinyl by the good folks at Not Not Fun, this is an epic offering to the sun gods. This San Francisco-based duo have crafted something impeccable here full of spectral blues & subterranean drones that rival anything else happening today. Epic doom-tinged guitars explode like a phoenix impaling itself on a nuclear missile bathing everything in glorious, gluttonous black. There is nowhere to hide from these menacing sounds, but even if you could, why would you want to? Limited to 500
Digitalis
CD
$11.00

Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique: 20th Anniversary Edition
PS, US Special 20th anniversary version of 1989's Paul's Boutique. The album was run through a 24-bit remastering process and will be released as an eight-panel digipak. Fans can also download a track-by-track audio commentary from the Boys, which syncs with the album.
Capitol
CD
$17.75

Beat Boys
S-T
PS, US Along w/ Os Mutantes, the group represented the most radical element in Brazilian rock: their intense fuzz guitar raves were a fierce indicator of a rebel spirit.
They were at the very epicenter of the movement of rupture, that bringing together of electricity & avant-garde erudition that has come to be known as "Tropicalia". They backed Caetano Veloso & Gilberto Gil for their defining moments as artists- both live, & in the studio.
LionProductions
CD
$15.00

Black Candy
PS, US Limited Qty.
Krecords-006
LP
$10.25

Beirut
March of the Zapotec & Realpeople Holland
PS, US New album. For the past year, Beirut has alternated between touring in support of 2007's much-lauded The Flying Club Cup and writing a wealth of new material. With no sense of a release in mind, bandleader Zach Condon recorded in any style that struck his fancy. Some early discussions about recording material for a film being shot in Mexico morphed into a new idea: What about finding a local band in a small city in Mexico, hiring them to play some new material, and recording the result?

It was a sincere challenge every step of the way. Condon had to find the band, which he did through a bandmate's mother who has connections in Oaxaca. To communicate with the performers, he hired a translator, who had to be able to speak English, Spanish, as well as Zapotec, the band members' native language. From there, he flew down to Oaxaca, traveling a half-hour out of town to the tiny weaver village of Teotitlan del Valle, where he met the nineteen members of The Jimenez Band. The ensuing weeks of recording, rewriting, and relating are documented in a series of short films (being released online in the weeks before and after the release date for March of the Zapotec).

All well and good, but the six songs found on March of the Zapotec are only a part of what this release has become. Before recording as Beirut, Condon went by Realpeople for his bedroom recordings, and he has revived the name for the second half in this collection, Holland. As opposed to March of the Zapotec, Holland collects a series of songs conceived and completed at home. One song, "Venice," appeared on a compilation by The Believer magazine, while "My Night with the Prostitute from Marseille" was on the Big Change digital-only charity compilation on iTunes.

Together, this album-length double release represents the totality of Condon's work over the past year. March of the Zapotec is further testament toward the inventiveness and intimacy he creates as Beirut, a band which started as one person sounding like twelve, and has developed into a particular style and sound. No matter what inspirations jumpstart any one particular song, underlying it all is the realization that Condon is a singular artist creating an original sound. What may appear at first to be two disparate paths are in reality joined by Condon's ability to craft simple melodies that sound both unique and unforgettable. It would be a misconception for Beirut's sound to be considered a dabble in various styles, folk sounds, and music histories, because one could never confuse Condon's music for the original inspiration; all his songs on this release carry more in common with each other than they do their original source of inspiration. And whether he's being inspired by Balkan folk, French chanteuse, Mexican troubadour, '80s synth pop, or '90s house, the common thread remains Condon's ability to personalize the sound.
Pompeii
DCD
$14.25

Beirut
March of the Zapotec & Realpeople Holland
PS, US Vinyl format.
ObeyYourBrain
2X12
$15.75

Believer
February 2009
PS, US Mock Action in St. Paul, Literature After teh Crash, The Best Kind of Self Conscious Fiction, Old Zeal. Interviews with John Ashberry, Heather Chaplain, Mary Gaitskill, David Levine.
ZINE
$8.00

Believer
February 2009
SP, US Mock Action in St. Paul, Literature After the Crash, The Best Kind of Self Conscious Fiction, Old Zeal. Interviews with John Ashberry, Heather Chaplain, Mary Gaitskill, David Levine.
ZINE
$8.00

Belmez
Apariciones
PS, SPAIN Jaime and Jose began the Bélmez project back in 2004, while they were working on their other band 12twelve. Marc, member of Dolores and Teresa, joined them in 2005 completing the final trio, brought together by their love of American rooted slowcore. In August 2007 they recorded with Paco Loco on analog tape and 100% live what is their first album, Apariciones, mastered by Bob Weston (Shellac) in Chicago, to be released on the Spring of 2009. A combination of powerful yet minimalistic sound, with no effects, but in which every note and every bang is fundamental.
Acuarela-1089
CD
$12.25

Ben, Jorge
Forca Bruta
PS, US REISSUE on 180gm vinyl! Originally released in 1970, this is an absolute classic from one of Brazil's most consistently great artists. Despite being embraced by the Tropicalia movement (w/ Caetano Veloso & Gal Costa both covering his songs) there are no psychedelic meandering to be found w/in these grooves, this set is pure samba-soul. BEN is backed here by the innovative Trio Mocotó who never overplay & allow his soulful vocal delivery & samba guitar to be the centerpieces. This was recently reissued on CD on the great Dusty Groove record label & its a pleasant surpise to see it now available on vinyl again! A musthave. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
4MenwithBeards
LP
$16.75

Beneath Oblivion
S-T
PS, US Cincinnati, Ohio's finest in raw doom, sludgy despair & stripped down futility. Crawling forward, white-knuckled, w/ down-tuned guitar riffs that leave you unnerved & anxious, bass lines that thud hard enough to leave you nauseous, & drums that thump one minute in a tribal, trance-inducing cavalcade & the next come crashing down w/ the power of a mountain splitting in two. RIYL: Ocean SunnO))), Buried At Sea. Limited to 500
MyleneSheath
10
$15.50

Bergman, Borah Trio
Luminescence
PS, US Takes his lyrical cross hands contrapuntal technique into the dynamic context of the classic piano trio. Influenced by the exotic melismas of cantorial singing, the counterpoint of Bach & the harmonic beauty of Alban Berg & Bill Evans, he forges a new language of joy & sadness, firmly rooted in the Jewish tradition. JOHN ZORN appears on one track.
Tzadik
CD
$15.25

Bibio
Vignetting The Compost
PS, US Seamlessly amalgamating nature and electronics, Vignetting The Compost, the third full-length release from Bibio, channels instruments and vocals from a bygone era through a futuristic digital portal. History may credit Edison with the phonograph but, in truth, the first such device mysteriously washed up on the shores of England in 1876... playing Bibio. Vignetting The Compost is at once timeless and innovative; 60s-esque folk guitar and mechanic manipulations of sounds whose instruments of origin are less important than the feelings they evoke, layer upon each other with ease and intricacy. Just when you expect to hear Nico's moan escaping your stereo, Bibio himself comes through with a voice that could have sung next to her on "These Days." Truly, this is an album for the ages. Producer Stephen Wilkinson is a self-taught musician from an area in central England often referred to as the Black Country. His love for sound and noise led him to the University of London and the study of Sonic Arts where he discovered experimental electronic acts such as Aphex Twin, Autechre, and most importantly Boards Of Canada. His own musical identity was christened Bibio, in honor of a fly his father had insisted on using during the fishing trips to Wales that were so influential in establishing his love of the sounds of nature. Focusing on location recording using cassettes, a half-broken sampler, Dictaphones, and experimental ways of affecting sounds, Bibio has crafted a unequalled style that is as subtle as it is powerful.
Mush-263
CD
$9.00

Bird and The Bee, The
Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future
PS, US The Bird and the Bee emerged from their retro nest in 2006, flaunting a sort of contemporary space-age pop that relied on Inara George's voice -- a jazzy, soft soprano in the vein of Norah Jones and Priscilla Ahn -- and Greg Kurstin's production chops. The combination celebrated outmoded genres without losing a modern edge, and the Bird and the Bee scored a chart-topping club single ("F***ing Boyfriend") while simultaneously courting the NPR crowd. Several years later, the Bird and the Bee take a grounded approach to their sophomore effort, Ray Guns are Not Just the Future, which sports nary a club single (much less an expletive-filled song title). This is pure NPR music, all neo-jazz melodies and martini-lounge flourishes without the sly bite of its predecessor. George is still a cunning vocalist, pledging her evergreen love to David Lee Roth on "Diamond Dave" and courteously seducing her listener on "Polite Dance Song" ("I try to be as coy as I can, but I want to see your naughty bit"), yet her melodies remain reliant on Kurstin's orchestrations, which sound considerably more relaxed this time around. He churns out retro-minded backdrops like a hipster Burt Bacharach, veering between elegant orchestration and dancefloor percussion (with an emphasis on the former), and his productions are striking in spite of the band's general rallentando. Nonetheless, it's hard to shake the notion that he gave his best hooks to Lily Allen, whose own sophomore album (featuring Kurstin's production and co-writing credits) was released two weeks after Ray Guns. Those in the market for fast songs will find a few here, most notably "Love Letter to Japan" and "Meteor," but the album's true gems are its slightly slower numbers: the elegiac "My Love," "Birthday," "Polite Dance Song," and the stringed splendor of "Baby." ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide

"Angelic-voiced singer Inara George and multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurstin create space-age pop that cunningly combines bossa nova languidity with Beach Boys-style lushness." - Entertainment Weekly

"Greg Kurstin ("bee") and Inara George ("bird") make syncopated danceable pop that sounds like audible sunshine." - Rolling Stone
"The bird and the bee put a playful spin on lush retro-pop." - The New York Times
BlueNoteRecords
CD
$16.25

Bisbee, Sam
Son of a Math Teacher
PS, US Veteran newcomer Sam Bisbee may be best known for producing and arranging the Cat Power version of Blondie's "Hanging On the Telephone" for that Cingular commercial, but it's his incredibly personal stories set to music that will keep you coming back for more. Son of a Math Teacher, his first release for Le Grand Magistery, features guest appearances by Leona Naess, Lucie Wainwright Roche, Mike Viola and Liz Tormes, and was co-produced with Britt Myers (Essex Green, Robbers On High Street, Sam Champion) and Bo Boddie. Two songs from the album have already been seen on the FX show "Damages" starring Glenn Close. "Clever lyrics, crisp guitar-rock instrumentation, and subtle, yet insinuating hooks." - Billboard Magazine "Our favorite new New York City singer-songwriter" - Paper Magazine "Sam Bisbee's lyrics are insightful, poetic and humorous when read on their own. Stylistically chartering a meeting point between new wave, hip-hop and pop/rock, this is one of the better and more original surprises you are likely to come across this year." - Harp Magazine "Literate but not pretentious, emotional but never cloying, inevitable but never predictable, Bisbee's songs don't wilt in the spotlight, but flourish." - Boston Herald
LeGrandMagistery-047
CD
$12.25

Bjork
Dull Flame of Desire
PS, US Taken from the album "Volta" w/ "Sun In My Mouth" taken from "Vespertine" & "Sod Off" previously unreleased
SlowToSpeak
12
$15.75

Black Lips
200 Million Thousand
PS, US
Vice
CD
$14.00

Black Moth Super Rainbow
Don't You Want to Be In a Cult [picture disc]
PS, US Amazing picture disc awesomeness from Pittsburgh's weirdest. A rad picture disc, this record marks the first new material following the band's acclaimed 2007 release Dandelion Gum and the "Zodiac Girls" 7" on Suicide Squeeze. Features "Don't You Want to Be in a Cult" b/w "Feel the Drip". Limited to 1000. Includes a download card.
MexicanSummer
12"
$15.00

Bleaks
Haste, Error
PS, US Trio of Jeremy Lemos (WHITE/LIGHT & WHITE/LICHENS), Kyle Bruckmann (EKG, PINK MOUNTAIN, LOZENGE) & Steve Silverstein (CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS)
Wodger
LP
$19.00

BMX Bandits
The BMX love EP
PS, SPAIN LIMITED EDITION 600 COPIES. Red vinyl. Elefant are congratulating ourselves on the release, for the second time, of the exclusive 7" of one of the most vital and active groups of the Scottish pop scene. Duglas T. Stewart put together a handful of unreleased songs in this item that marks the sepia tinted memory of the most elegantly poppy seventies, led by the piano, evoking the halo of composers like Burt Bacharach or Henry Mancini and artists like Dusty Springfield or Françoise Hardy. From the new version of "Our Secret Life" in French, rebaptized here as "Quand il n'y a plus d'amour" (with the French adaptation by Nick Garrie) to the closing gem of the EP, a version of "Hopelessly Devoted to You" that Olivia Newton-John sang in "Grease", on of our favorite films, which Duglas deliciously recreates with the collaboration of the Scottish band THE ATTIC LIGHTS. The single is completed with two very recent recordings, the unreleased "I Can Wait Forever", intimate folk pop marked with elegant melodies and vocals, and a version of "You Don't Want to Be My Girlfriend, Phoebe" by MY LITTLE AIRPORT. When Duglas received MY LITTLE AIRPORT's album, published by Elefant, he fell instantly in love with the song. He played it live a few days later and soon after decided to record it in the studio, the magnificent result of which is here. A precious collection of songs with the indelible stamp of one of the most gifted minds in pop of the last 25 years at the controls. As always, Duglas, it's a pleasure.
Elefant-268
45
$7.75

Bodies Obtained, The
From the Top of My Tree
PS, US The path that leads to The Bodies Obtained is a long one. Conceived in Detroit, MI, not much is known of the extremely elusive duo (there isn't even an existing photograph of the artists) other than the fact that they took their name from the Joy Division song "Day of the Lords", and whatever other little bits of information they make available to the public via cryptic press releases sent to the media from within the band's camp. The Bodies Obtained are of indiscriminate age, and only now fielding their first album, From The Top Of My Tree to the greater public. A timeless piece of music, ...My Tree could have been conceived in 1978, 1988, 1998 or 2008: it's the sonic documentation of an ongoing project that spans electronica, experimental rock and synth-pop from a group who have experienced it all. With songs akin to those of Brian Eno, the Residents and Fad Gadget, TBO use their anonymity to lead the listener to explore a realm that could be associated with those bands: an obscure place where nothing is quite what to expect around the next bend. Discord and discomfort are as important as reward and satisfaction, and the album is a living, breathing testament to that rhetoric. The music itself is heavier than most electronic bands out there, more synths, more echo, more ether, more meaning. One member of TBO attests: "For us the band's name also ties into our reason for making music. Due in part, to that perfect act of nature that put us here, in this body, at this time and place. Finding music attractive, it has forced us to express our 'art damaged' selves through it". Song titles like "Let the Worm Seize the Day" and "The Pig that I Am"; channeling even more '80s electro gloom, validate the band's statements off the bat.
FindingYouAttractive
CD
$10.00

Bodychoke
Cold River Songs
PS, US Formed by members of SUTCLIFFE JUGEND & WHITEHOUSE, this was a noisy rock anomaly as powerful & provocative as its name would suggest. Their material was dark, violent, strangely hypnotic & defied categorization. This long out-of-print unheralded classic has been given the deluxe treatment; now remastered to include 3 bonus tracks. RIYL: Swans, Nick Cave/Birthday Party, Joy Division, Throbbing Gristle.
Relapse
CD
$14.75

Bones, Mike
Fool For Everyone
PS, US "A Fool For Everyone was made in April 2008 at a place called The Seaside Lounge. A few musicians joined me, old and new friends. Recording took four days. I don't particularly enjoy being in studios, but this time was easy. Decisions presented themselves naturally and we got good takes. Everyone was on top of his or her game. All these songs were written after June 2007, except "Everybody's Always Coming Down On Me" which is quite an old song. I wrote one on the beach in Spain, the rest at my desk in New York City. Other songs were written in that time and in those places. Those aren't on A Fool For Everyone. Most songs exist because of beautiful women and existential despair, but that's no surprise. There are a lot of guitars on A Fool for Everyone, not just mine, but Matt Sweeney's too. Our moves go well together. My last record purposefully had no guitar solos, this one purposefully does. Intention is important when making things, having complete understanding of one's intentions less so. I heard my father doesn't like the cover of this record because it's a naked picture of me. It's OK, I sort of knew he wouldn't. I like the picture and I like the girl who took it. I have my reasons. All of the above is factual as far as I can tell. Memory is a tricky thing, but you know that. We've probably read the same books. Good night." - Mike Bones "Anthemic doesn't have to mean overblown you know. Mr. Bones can do it with swooning casualness, sieving the twee from Sufjan Stevens and Belle & Sebastian, leaving only heart and soul." - NME "Mike Bones is the favorite guitarist of every musician you like in New York. He's the New York music-geek world's secret weapon." - Vice Magazine "Bones is a guitar hero inside and out, master apprentice of a steel-eyed, determined blues first informed by punk, not the sallow, honeyed agony seeping out of our most emotionally isolated singer-songwriters." - Dusted
TheSocialRegistry-072
CD
$11.50

Bones, Mike
Fool For Everyone
PS, US "VINYL VERSION!!!
TheSocialRegistry-72
LP
$12.25

BPA
I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
PS, US The legendary forgotten sessions of the BRIGHTON PORT AUTHORITY, recently uncovered! Genre bending music that was ahead of it's time features collaborations w/ IGGY POP, DAVID BYRNE, JAMIE T & MARTHA WAINWRIGHT
SouthernFried
CD
$12.00

Broken Spindles
Kiss/Kick
PS, US This is more No Wave than New Wave - & is JOEL PETERSEN's strongest work to date. With four Broken Spindles albums & five FAINT albums under his belt, he has found his voice, & has learned how to reduce songs to their basic barts w/o losing the power & excitement of great production.
blank.wav
CD
$12.00

Brotzmann, Peter/Nilssen-Love, Paal
Sweetsweat
PS, NORWAY Recorded live at Sting Jazzklubb in Norway during the Maijazz Festival in 2006. The godfather of European free-jazz, Peter Brotzmann, is joined by respected Scandinavian percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love to form a musical partnership of rare & beautiful balance.
SmalltownSuperjazz-143
CD
$15.25

Browns
Family History
PS, US Each vinyl piece incl. a copy of a portrait taken by Elizabeth Fritts w/ a Polaroid land camera. Like their West Coast brethren The Muslims, Browns sound hardlyoverdriven & hardly-caring, the kind of band that might rather play for 3 than 300 & have a better time doing so. "Two Of You" & "Dreamers" are the strongest cuts from the EP, the latter closing out the record w/ steady, soft blows & scraps of brittle guitars. "Dreamers" precedes it, a notably faster & more direct tune that sounds like it's arguing against the idea of big aspirations. Way to underachieve, guys! It worked! - RCRDLBL
1928Recordings
LP
$12.00

Browns
Family History
PS, US Like their West Coast brethren The Muslims, Browns sound hardly-overdriven & hardly-caring, the kind of band that might rather play for 3 than 300 & have a better time doing so. "Two Of You" & "Dreamers" are the strongest cuts from the EP, the latter closing out the record w/ steady, soft blows & scraps of brittle guitars. "Dreamers" precedes it, a notably faster & more direct tune that sounds like it's arguing against the idea of big aspirations. Way to underachieve,
guys! It worked! - RCRDLBL
1928Recordings
CD
$10.50

Bulldog Breed
Made In England
PS, US Amazing 1969 UK odd/psych/freakbeat rarity featuring members of T2 and The Flies. This is the first time it has been reissued officially on CD -- and it's taken from the original DECCA master tapes. Comes complete with new sleevenotes, photos and bonus tracks including the mega-rare single 'Halo in My Hair' b/w 'Portcullis Gate'. A classic album finally gets proper recognition.
AcmeGramophone/LionProductions
CD
$15.25

Buried Inside
Spoils of Failure
PS, US 8 epic tracks that marry dense, riff-heavy layers of instrumentation & caustic vocal bellows w/ the deeply introspective & thoughtprovoking lyrics that have become their trademark. RIYL: Neurosis, Big Business, Mogwai, Pelican
Relapse
CD
$13.25

Burning Hearts
Aboa Sleeping
PS, US Finland's Henry Ojala (Cats on Fire) & Jessika Rapo (Le Futur Pompiste) as Burning Hearts might be greeted as a marriage of the best elements of both members' other bands, but this is truly a matter of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Full of subtle detail & a uniformly warm sound, this is a dream of idealized pop: beautifully understated vocals, melodies as reassuring as a lover's embrace & a tone of intimacy that could only come from collaboration that is fully simpatico. Listen to the heart-tugging chorus of "Iris," the stately lockstep interplay between vocal & rhythm-track on "A Peasant's Dream," or the fade-to-black melancholy of the title track, and hear that same indefinable, inexplicable musical alchemy that is their homeland's claim.
Shelflife
CD
$12.25

Burst, Charles
Come Home & Feast
PS, US As a distinguished engineer, he has worked on records by the New Pornographers, Gang Gang Dance, Takka Takka, Crystal Stilts & Black Dice. As a performer, he has played in THE OCCASSION. His first solo album tones down the more psychedelic aspects of his past endeavors, w/ stripped down instrumental passages & a dark lyrical approach laced w/ just a hint of humor.
ErnestJenning
CD
$10.00

Buzz Or Howl + Astro
Western Mystery School
PS, US This collaboration was born at the UFO Club in Tokyo. Buzz or Howl (Bruce McKenzie and Eric Nielsen) met Astro (Hiroshi Hasegawa) through mutual friend Junzo Suzuki. after a face-melting set by that duo and a celebratory, raucous set by Bruce and Eric's other band Maquiladora (with Phil Beaumont) - during which they were joined by Saya and Ueno from the Tenniscoats and Koji Shimura from Acid Mothers Temple and White Heaven - music was exchanged and plans were hatched to combine forces somehow. The music Astro took home that night was by Buzz or Howl, a fierce improvisatory psychedelic duo from southern California, using guitars, violin, synth, and lapsteel to create long tracks exploring time and tide. And tone. Through continuously evolving, fugue-like riffage drone and feedback. For the purposes of this collaboration a new instrumentation was found. After an initial flirtation with guitars, the Californians decided on a markedly more pastoral direction and an arabo-andalusian flavor for the music they had been given. Over two tracks of Astro's synth textures the same instrumentation - mandolin, strum stick, and voices, - is radically transformed by electricity. Track one is spare and celestial, a delicate acoustic track that employs spare free improvisation and a repeating ancient-sounding chord progression as a basis for both Astro's sonic flights and a lilting wordless melody. Track two explodes with feedback and a crunching assault develops from exactly the same elements, electrified. One would never know that the sonic roar is created by electric mandolin and modified vocals atop brother Astro's synthesizer. Musical imaginations have reached across the pacific for this combination of filigree and mutilation.
LotusHouse-13
CD
$9.75

Buzzcocks
Singles Going Steady
PS, US RESURFACED WAX!!!
Capitol
LP
$16.00

Cardopusher
Unity Means Power
PS, GERMANY Cardopusher's long awaited second album is to be taken literally. Uniting a heavy but fresh blend of dubstep with exhilarating Breakcore and mash up, Cardopusher delivers a passionate and highly efficient album as only this incomparable musician could deliver. Original, hot, anthemic, and masterfully executed. "Unity Means Power" is a coming of age and a perfect example of Cardopusher's current display of insolent talent. Dance floors unite! Cardopusher has gone a long way, and not only geographically. Three years have passed since the smashing and very remarked début album by this then-Venezuela based musician on France's prestigious Peace Off label. Followed by a couple of Ep's, this warm mixture of breaks, samples and dance floor tunes could somehow announce Cardopusher's later mutation. Starting with his "Down To The Wire" 12" (Terminal Dusk, 2008) and coinciding with his relocation to Barcelona, Luis Garbán started to come up with slower tracks, which lead to a barrage of dubstep records on such labels as Hyperdub, Lo Dubs and Ruff. With one foot strongly set in the breakcore scene and the other making a much deserved splash in the dubstep one, Cardopusher may very well be the only producer who can work at the same time with such names as Sickboy and Rotator on the one hand, and Starkey or Quarta330 on the other hand. It is this collection of high contrast (but always high energy) tracks that seduced Ad Noiseam into releasing "Unity Means Power" in a luxury double pack.
Adnoiseam-109
DLP
$20.25

Chauveau, Sylvain
Black Book Of Capitalism
PS, US His first album, now remastered & repackaged. This portrays a rare playful side to the composer as he flirts w/ Gallic classical music, electronica, jazz & even indie rock. Beginning w/ a cloud of smoky ambience, piano, strings & the atmospheric field recordings that frame the record, we are dragged into his noir-esque world. This sets the scene for the entire album which drifts through the kind of piano-led classical vignettes popularized by Max Richter & more recently Goldmund, yet punctuates these w/ doomy jazz & lighter pieces such as the guitar-led "Dialogues Avec Le Vent"
Type
CD
$15.50

Chemicals
S-T
PS, US After a long string of houseparty quasi-performances across the greater Champaign-Urbana area, innumerable changes in membership and instrument assignments, and a horrible bout of whooping cough, four members arose from the ashes of their rocky past, fusing into the band you know (and love) today. August of 2004 was the first live performance of the Chemicals by official name and lineup. Since then, the Chemicals have shared the stage wtih acts including Earlimart , Apollo Sunshine, the M's, Via Satellite, and varoius apperances with locals Mad Science Fair, the Frame, Headlights, Green Light Go, Terminus Victor, the Living Blue, and many more.
Chemicals
CD
$5.50

Chicago Thrash Ensemble
Demon Cassette
PS, US There is no irony, no pretension. It's just a group of guys playing thrash metal in the heart of the Windy City. Simple. Immediate. Almost confrontational even. Then why the elusiveness of this brash & brave 5? How do they end up on year-end lists when Google brings up nary a release? No longer! LIMITED TO 100 ON BLOOD-SPATTERED GREY TAPE
Plustapes
CASS
$5.00

Chico Magnetic Band
S-T
PS, PORTUGAL Chico Magnetic Band's eponymous album, released by French Vogue subsidiary Box Office label in 1971, defines the term 'heavy psychedelia.' These bunch of freaks, led by Algeria-born Mahmoud 'Chico' Ayari, were clearly influenced by the Jimi Hendrix Experience but somehow they created a song of their own: violent, trashy, stoned as hell heavy psych featuring demented vocals, furious guitars, a loud rhythm section and mindblowing studio effects including phasing, backwards tapes, and weird and groovy electronics. Eight killer tracks including their insane fuzzed-out deconstruction of Hendrix's 'Crosstown Traffic' and cult classics like 'Pop Pull Hair,' 'Explosion,' and 'Pop Orbit.' This reissue includes a good number of bonus tracks (a total of 8 on the CD making this their complete recordings). Features an insert with full band story and rare photos. Edition of 600 papersleeve CDs.
NoSmokerRecords
CD
$22.50

Cindytalk
Silver Shoals of Light
PS, US Limited to 500 one-sided 10" w/screen-printed b-side. 3rd release in Blue Sanct's "Art Singles" series. Drum machine ticks along w/gorgeous bass that pulses up against Gordon Sharp's vocals, leading to a climax of bliss & dissonance. Sharp was at one time perhaps best known for lending his angelic voice to several tracks on This Mortal Coil's classic masterpiece "It'll End In Tears." The sound straddles several genres at once - ambient, abstract, industrial, cinematic, glitch, post-punk. These will not be around for long, so act quickly!
BlueSanct
10"
$16.00

City Center/Grouper
Split
PS, US LIMITED TO 500! Self-released tour 7"! "Here we have a small slice of hazy gold from two of the best underground solo artists currently making the rounds, namely Grouper (Portland's Liz Harris), and City Center (a/k/a Other Music's own Fred Thomas); they have bestowed upon us one exclusive track each on clear vinyl, and they're both stun-ners... If you connected with the Grouper releases of last year, or if you're a fan of the school of deep, dark psychedelic solo pop coming out of the indie world at the moment, you need this. It's also a nice teaser for the heavy dose of quality that is City Center's forthcoming debut album, hopefully to be released in the coming months. This bad boy is limited to 500 copies, so don't sleep!"
Self-Released
45
$5.50

Cleaver/Parker/Taborn
Farmers By Nature
PS, US A fully improvised communion of 3 of America's masters of music. The manifest intent: sowing seeds of sound & bringing them to full blossom. Abstract, organic, & fully inviting. Recorded live at NYC's The Stone in June of 2008, this was the 3rd meeting of drummer GERALD CLEAVER, bassist WILLIAM PARKER, & pianist CRAIG TABORN. An immersive experience yielding magic & inducing a calming mystical ambience. "Improvising in long, fluid ideas, Mr. Taborn's solos were housewreckers." - NY Times
AUMFidelity
CD
$12.75

Clem Snide
Hungry Bird
PS, US The mystery of indie rock semi-legends Clem Snide's missing 6th recording 'Hungry Bird' is finally solved as the much anticipated album will finally see the light of day. Self-described by Barzelay as a 'loosely-conceived, post-apocalyptic fairytale'.
429Records
CD
$13.75

Cline, Alex
Continuation
PS, US Twin brother of Nels Cline (Wilco) steps into the limelight w/ a beautiful recording featuring Cline on drums.
Cryptogramophon
CD
$17.50

Cline, Nels
Coward
PS, US WILCO guitarist presents a brilliant solo album that covers an extraordinarily broad range of musical styles, w/ a surprising acoustic sensibility. This blends improvisation & composition w/ a huge & constantly changing emotional & timbral palette
Cryptogramophone
CD
$17.50

Cloak/Dagger
Untitled
PS, US Two new songs from Richmond, VA's Cloak/ Dagger. Continuing in the Swiz and Drive Like Jehu fashion the Daggers deliver a couple of new driven anthemic tunes. Since forming in 2006, they have toured a bunch with the likes of Paint it Black, Kill Your Idols and many other contemporary punk icons. This single comes with an MP3 download coupon for all you portable punks too.
JadeTree
45
$4.00

Cluster
Grosses Wasser [re-issue]
PS, US Originally released in 1979, this is CLUSTER's last great album. Combining the ambient space rock of early albums on some songs w/ a more updated, beat-driven, dare I say space-disco? sound on others, it at times sounds like the best of both worlds. They were probably the most influential & ground-breaking group to come out of Germany in the '70s (no small feat) & every one of their records is pure trailblazing musical history.
Water
CD
$14.50

Cola Jet Set
Guitarras y Tambores
PS, SPAIN "Guitarras y Tambores" is the long awaited new album by COLA JET SET, the second in their career and their first with Elefant Records. It is a disc of wide horizons, on which the group, lead by Felipe (LOS FRESONES REBELDES, LES TRÈS BIEN ENSEMBLE) and Ana (LA MONJA ENANA) have scrutinized other stylistic limits: here we find ye-ye, sixties pop, disco, soul, indie and touches of psychedelic pop, all done with renewed intentions, as we can see on the opening track, "El Sueño de Mi Vida", when it says: "I dreamed of conquering / unexplored continents / and still I don't know where I'm going to live". After some difficult line-up changes, and certain instabilities created by musical situations (record label changes, parallel projects) as well as by personal situations (which has left the band with the definitive line-up of Felipe, Ana, Joan, Alicia and Cristina), "Guitarras y Tambores" is the album that reflects this period, these comings and goings, these triumphs and failures, the malaise and the happiness of a long period in which sometimes some people won the coin toss and other times other people won, and sometimes it wasn't so clear who won. And all of those references, all of the music that has played during this period of time, have only helped solidify the result.
Elefant-1141
CD
$16.25

Connelly, Chris
Lost Episodes
PS, US Connelly's 2007 album The Episodes was criminally underappreciated. Enigmatic and hypnotic, Connelly crafts a densly acoustic sound that crosses the paths of Scott Walker, Van Morrison, Tindersticks and John Martyn without falling in line behind any style in particular. Lost Episodes includes alternative takes of three songs from the album recorded during a late-night outdoor session in a chilly Wisconsin forest with the help of a slew of fellow experimental Chicago musicians. The tape rounds out with two incredible live renditions of "Mirror Lips" and "Henry vs Miller," which features Connelly in top form as he is joined by BEN and ADAM VIDA, TIM and NATE KINSELLA, JOSH ABRAMS and vibraphonist JASON ADASIEWICZ
Plustapes
CASS
$5.00

Connors, Loren
The Curse of Midnight Mary
PS, US In 1981 guitarist Loren Connors took his tape recorder to the graveyard where the legendary Midnight Mary's grave lies in New Haven, Conn. The curse is: Anyone who gets caught in her graveyard past midnight will die the next day. But Connors, like a young fool, taped in that place, making this album that was lost and forgotten until uncovered in 2008. Recorded between Connors' eight volume Unaccompanied Acoustic Guitar Improvisations LP series and the folk albums he would make with Tom Hanford and Kath Bloom, these nine pieces meld those distinct forms. Connors, singing in a trance like moan, reforms the Mississippi Delta blues on his acoustic guitar with flashes of melodic hooks and a percussive guitar style that erupts into boogie-woogie riffs and other world spirituals. It's an album for fans of Connors' solo avant work and collaborations with Jim O'Rourke or Jandek; and will enthrall devotees of early the 20th Century blues of Blind Willie Johnson and Charlie Patton. A rare and essential peak into the still mysterious early years of this American guitar master. Recorded March 1981, at the Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven, Conneticuit.
FamilyVineyard-64
CD
$11.50

Costa, Gal
S-T
PS, US REISSUE on 180gm vinyl! Originally released in 1969, COSTA's 2nd album is one of the finest releases to come out of Brazil's Tropicalia movement. Feat. songwriting & vocal help from 2 of the original Tropicalismos, CAETANO VELOSO & GILBERTO GIL, she flows effortlessly between shredding psychedelia & smooth bossa nova. An essential record for anyone that appreciates the far reaches of Brazilian popular music. Incl. the classic trks "Baby" * "Não Identificado." Such a pleasant surpise to see this available on vinyl again! RECOMMENDED!
4MenWithBeards
LP
$16.75

Cotton Jones
Paranoid Cocoon
PS, US This is an album full of quiet, wooden psychedelia that reflects the duo's casual pursuit of comfort & freedom under the mountains of Cumberland, Maryland. In "By Morning Light," Nau (PAGE FRANCE) & McGraw's voices draw each other out of a contemplative melancholy & into a state of amazed gratification; the music here shimmers, always - the snare cracks against the tug of the guitar - reaching the sublime crush of Yo La Tengo's "And Then Nothing
Turned Itself Inside Out." It's simple, understated perfection.
SuicideSqueeze
CD
$13.25

Crewe, Sally & The Sudden Moves
Your Nearest Exit May Be Behind You
PS, US Even before her auspicious 2003 debut full-length, Drive It Like You Stole It, Yorkshire's Sally Crewe proved herself to be a songwriting master of economy, combining a classicist's touch of pop history with a decidedly modern, lean approach to the Next Wave Of New Wave (after The Last Wave). And while 2005's Shortly After Take-Off was a slightly more expansive take on things, musically and lyrically, powerhouse album numero 3, Your Nearest Exit May Be Behind You has proven far superior to both, with Crewe proving she can cram twice as much information into each composition if merely allowed to stretch the length from two minutes flat to 2:30. Stylistically, she's bent but not broken a winning formula, and while Your Nearest Exit... is the most varied Sudden Moves effort to date, both rhythmically and lyrically, the bon mots flow very quickly and rarely overstay their welcome. Unlike, say, Turkey's occupation of Cyprus.

Based in Austin, TX for the past four years, Sally's prowess onstage and in the studio is due in some portion to the most empathic and telepathic rhythm section she's recruited to date: drummer George Duron (Roky Erickson, Dumptruck, Jon Dee Graham) and bassist Matt Baab (The Distant Seconds). Though with all due respect to the capitol city's most propulsive rock trio, it's her songs and voice that set The Sudden Moves apart from the legion of merely competent hopefuls that litter the nation's indie circuit.

Recorded throughout 2007 in separate sessions with Spoon's Jim Eno at Public Hi-Fi, (and subsequently with Jim Vollentine at Mob House), Crewe's latest collection of tunes, while unmistakably in her patented style, have never been as catchy, complex nor as anthemic. Nor as well recorded.

Though sporadically touring with friends like Spoon, Mission of Burma and John Vanderslice, to name a handful, The Sudden Moves have until this point generated more goodwill than money. With the band making a hard fought transition into something approaching a full time-y endeavor, the trio are very poised to flip that equation around. (Ideally, they'd like to avoid the bad will).

Like many other brilliant bands that are either 5 or 5 million minutes ahead of their time, Sally Crewe & The Sudden Moves have yet to approach household-word status (save for their own households). Said situation is likely to be sorted out shortly, but until then, you have the unique opportunity to tell your friends how terrific 'Magnet' and 'Sleepyhead' are a good few weeks before they've either been leaked or blogged-2-death.I don't wanna say such chances come along once in a lifetime - for all I know, you could be 300 years old - but songwriters this witty, confident and cool are awfully rare. - Gerard Cosloy
8TrackMindRecords-001
CD
$10.50

D. Rider
Mother of Curses
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Tizona
LP
$17.00

D. Rider
Mother of Curses
PS, US A new rock band founded & fronted by guitarist/singer Todd Albert Rittmann founding member of US MAPLE. Off-kilter rhythms & counter-intuitive guitar lines.
Tizona
CD
$15.00

Daily Void
(Surprise Surprise) You've Lost Your Eyes b/w In the Year Zero
PS, US
HoZacRecords
45
$5.25

Dakota Suite
End of Trying
PS, US This is the first release for Liverpool's Dakota Suite on the Karaoke Kalk label. Chris Hooson is the main singer/songwriter for the trio and it is an extremely personal guitar project that deals with tragedies in Chris' life and the constant ups and downs in the success of his favorite team, FC Everton. One thing's for certain, we're not talking about happy music here. The track titles on the albums Alone With Everybody (1996), The Way I'm Sick (2002) or Waiting For The Dawn To Crawl Through And Take Away Your Life (2007) on Glitterhouse Records already point out some of this sensitive man's feelings. Deeply sad melodies and melancholy pain are also the main emotions on The End Of Trying, but we're not talking about sadness in the form of self-pity. Hooson focuses on understated sounds like flowing piano chords and a flexible cello arrangement, while fellow members David Buxton and Colin Dunkley take turns on the piano. American cellist David Darling wonderfully accentuates Hooson's harmonic sadness with his stylish string instrument. Darling has made soundtracks for Wim Wenders and also was nominated for a Grammy Award for his album Cello Blue. Together, Dakota Suite and Darling form a striking ensemble which by no means only have depressing moments -- their music is very soothing, too. The recordings were made in various houses in Leeds and at Darling's home in Goshen, Connecticut. Chris realized a life long dream recording the album with his all-time favorite cellist. He doesn't usually find life so great. He only gets the strength to survive from collaborations like this, a healthy portion of cynicism which he otherwise channels into his lyrics, and above all, through his peaceful and sentimental sound experiences.
KaraokeKalk
CD
$15.00

Dalek
Gutter Tactics
PS, US One of the heaviest hip-hop groups ever, & one of the few to consistently fuse extreme metal textures w/ hip-hop
beats & radical politics. "[This is] more about us continually doing some early hip-hop shit but w/ the attitude of the Melvins or Black Sabbath" - MC DALEK
Ipecac
CD
$16.25

Death
For The Whole World To See
PS, US Classic proto-punk from 1970s Detroit. Raw with little polish, the record showcases the organic power relationships within the trio of brothers. The Hackneys were first influenced by soul & funk music but it all changed when they saw Iggy and the Stooges. Inspired by The Who, Alice Cooper & Led Zeppelin; the brothers finally see their first full length release, remastered & ready for the world to hear.
DragCity/Twos&Fews
CD
$13.25

Death
For The Whole World To See
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
DragCity/Twos&Fews
LP
$14.75

Decemberists
Tain/5 Songs
PS, US 180 GRAM VINYL!! A combination of new & old, of where The Decemberists have been & where they're headed. The A-side is made up of the new, a short form concept, record called "The Tain", based on what most consider the Illiad of Irish myth. While keeping the signature Decemberists sound intact, the band gives a significant nod to such '70s progrogressive rockers as Deep Purple & Iron Butterfly. "The Tain" was recorded over an intensive 4 day period during which the band actually slept on the floor of the recording studio, & captured & brought to light w/the help of Christopher Walla (Death Cab For Cutie Cutie) at the venerable Hall Of Justice in Seattle. The B-side is a vinyl release of the band's 1st EP "5 Songs". It is simpler & less adorned, but still a marvelous collection of characters trapped in song, clawing & cooing their way out.
JealousButcher
LP
$11.75

Deerhunter
Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.
PS, US VINYL VERSION.
Kranky
DLP
$15.75

Dench, Judi/Michael Hordern/Rod Edwards/Roger Hand
The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast
PS, UK Narration by Judi Dench and Michael Hordern, music and vocals by Rod Edwards and Roger Hand. "This beautiful recording was first released with the original publication of the best selling book, The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast, and is not to be confused with the Roger Glover album of the same title. It has been digitally re-mastered from the original tapes and features new material. The appeal of the well known book is expanded further by this interpretation, which places the entire text in a musical setting by composers Rod Edwards and Roger Hand previously of legendary UK psychedelic pop bands The Picadilly Line and Edwards Hand. Rod Edwards was also one third of the UK '70s folk rock band Jade. Some of the poems are sung, with haunting melodies and fascinating sounds; while the others are effortlessly and incomparably narrated by Judi Dench and the late Michael Hordern, within a sympathetic, descriptive, orchestral tapestry. Highlight of the album, 'The Most Wonderful Tune In The World,' is a classic piece of orchestrated harmony drenched progressive pop from the pen of Edwards and Hand. A lost concept album from the 1970s now at last available again in its entire child like shimmering beauty!"
WizardPresents
CD
$19.75

Derek Trucks Band
Already Free
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
RCA
DLP
$20.00

Diplo
Decent Work for Decent Pay Volume 1
PS, US This provides an overview of what he has been up to for the last four years, starting w/ classic tracks & out-takes from "Florida," taking in production work on such huge records as M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes," Kano's "Reload It," & Bonde Do Role's album for Domino, plus a host of remixes for the likes of CSS, Spank Rock, Bloc Party, Hot Chip, Black Lips, & Peter Bjorn & John.
BigDada
DCD
$17.25

Diplo
Blow Your Head
PS, US This is the label run by Mr. Popularity...DIPLO! After producing huge tracks like MIA's "Paper Planes," & remixes for heavyweights like Coldplay, Radiohead, Feist, Hot Chip & The Black Lips, as well as releasing mix CDs like 'Santogold in Dub.' "Blow Your Head" is a remix of DIPLO's own production "Wassup Wasshup" feat. RYE RYE. This is the 1st vinyl release from Diplo in 2 years! Feat. remixes from CROOKERS, BART BMORE & DJ SEGA. Full color picture sleeve & comes w/ free MP3 download coupon of the entire EP.
MadDecent
12"
$8.50

Drones
Havilah
PS, US VINYL VERSION. An album of contradictions, where bombast meets beauty, melancholy wrestles w/ violent guitars & singer Liddiard's incendiary voice lights up his angular poetry. There are vaguely familiar nods to Neil Young's paint-stripping guitar spasms on "Supercargo" & "Oh My," while the deliciously meandering pop dirges of Suicide & the Velvet Underground echo in "Careful As You Go" & "Luck In Odd Numbers".
AllTomorrow'sParties
DLP
$18.00

Dutchess & The Duke, The
Never Had A Chance b/w Scorpio
PS, US
HoZacRecords
45
$5.25

Eluvium
Life Through Bombardment (7XLP) (ON SALE)
PS, US *LIMITED EDITION! Highly anticipated and long-overdue, Life Through Bombardment collects virtually every Eluvium song ever released (plus a bunch of rare and unreleased non-album tracks) into one stunning 7xLP set, all on vinyl for the first and only time. Each record is packaged in its own full-color jacket, featuring exquisite new artwork from Jeannie Lynn Paske, drawn exclusively for this set. The seven jackets are then bound into a beautiful dark green hardbound, linen-cover book, with metallic gold foil stamping and embossed text on the spine, and a beautiful full-color print embossed into the front cover. The inside front cover includes a removable old-fashioned library card, complete with dated, personalized signatures from the artists and designers involved in the creation of this package. The inside back cover includes a mind-blowing 12x36" foldout double-sided full-color poster insert, featuring more artwork from Ms. Paske. Each copy of this set will include a unique digital code to download high-quality mp3s of the entire box set collection. This is limited to a one-time pressing of 1,000 copies, pressed onto 100% virgin black vinyl. "Eluvium is going down in history as one of the innovators of contemporary ambience." - Drowned In Sound "The best contemporary ambient musician." - Pop Matters "Needless to say, Life Through Bombardment is limited to 1,000 copies and will probably sell out faster than you can say Merzbox." - Pitchfork
TemporaryResidenceLtd.-119
7XLP
$150.00

English, Lawrence
It's Up to Us to Live
PS, PORTUGAL Sirr is very proud to present Lawrence English new album "It's Up To Us To Live", which follows the excellent album on Touch. This work unfolds and reveals Lawrence's delicate sense of textural depth while exploring densities and flows (in his own words, "only offering the occasionally moment to surface for air". A beautiful work where the sounds "emanate from distant calls of guitar, sharply cracked electronics, alien field recordings and a variety of other less identifiable sources." The cover art by renowned Australian photographer Marian Drew, from her 'Still Lives' series. It's Up To Us To Live is a distorted sonic distress beacon. It suggests a possible mapping of the increasingly cluttered sound spaces that find themselves associated with human habitation and expansion.
Sirr-032
CD
$16.25

Faunts
Feel.Love.Thinking.
PS, US With its effervescent guitars, mathematic loops & synthesizers, surging drums, & seemingly nomadic bass lines, this is both more ambitious in its conception & more focused in its execution than anything the band has done before
FriendlyFire
CD
$12.75

Fitness Forever
Personal Train
PS, SPAIN LIMITED EDITION 500 COPIES. White vinyl. FITNESS FOREVER says that their debut album is a homage to their country, Italy, to the musical tradition that gave way to marvelous pop artists from the 60s to the 80s. But the group, led by Carlos Valderrama (VALDERRAMA 5), with this goal in mind, has achieved something much more important: to make this homage extend to music in general, embracing an infinite amount of references, styles and sounds, regurgitating them coherently and with its own personality, without dispersion or eclecticism, showing pop's common essence, independent of the epoch or the country it comes from. It just has to have that touch of magic that makes the melodies work, makes the arrangements surprising, and makes the whole exciting. And in this first album from the Italian quartet, "Personal Train", there is much more than this compressed into 30 minutes and just 12 songs. A titanic work that took over a year to record, using a recording method similar to what composers from the sixties used: hours and hours in the studio, trying out arrangements, instrumentation and melodies. In addition to all of this, there is also the humor they present their project with. They say, on myspace: "The producer, composer, ex-underwear model, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Carlos Valderrama (one of the worst dancers and singers in the music industry) started FITNESS FOREVER in Naples (Italy) shortly after realizing that love does not last forever. That's why, unfortunately, he couldn't call the band LOVE FOREVER". Which is where the homage to fitness begins, which is reflected in the very title of the album, the declarations in interviews, or on the album cover. In any case, this album is full of songs to dance to, because in the end, that counts as exercise too, doesn't it? There are so many bands to reference, so many groups to evoke, so many styles to pay homage to, that we can't do anything but propose a little trip, song by song, through the whole album, because it is by far the best way to get inside all of the different paths that are opened up by listening to the album, written by Valderrama (drums, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, glockenspiel, percussion, lead vocals and chorus), Paster (lead vocals and chorus), "Big Tony" Fresa (piano, fender rhodes, organ, synthesizer, voice and clapping) and Scialdone (bass, lead guitar, 12 string guitar and vocals).
Elefant-1139
CD
$16.25

Fitness Forever
Personal Train
PS, SPAIN LP LIMITED EDITION 500 COPIES. White vinyl.
Elefant-1139
LP
$16.25

Flaherty, Paul & C. Spencer Yeh w/ Greg Kelley
New York Nuts And Boston Baked Beans
PS, US Violinist/vocalist C Spencer Yeh & unrivaled saxophone elder-titan Paul Flaherty team up without the assistance of acclaimed drummer Chris Corsano for the first time. Along for the Jamz Is Bonkers Boston trumpeteer Greg Kelley. After performing numerous times and honing a distinct group dynamic as a trio over many years with celebrated percussionist Chris Corsano, Yeh and Flaherty decided to try it out one-on-one. The record comprises of the best from two live sets from a short duo tour in the Northeast -- at the celebrated venue Issue Project Room in Brooklyn, and Nom D'Artiste in Boston. With minimal editing, this is the sound of two people tearing at the limits of their instruments, these iconic configurations of metal and wood; hurling their respective accumulated life experience into one another, exposed and raw. The duo is likely one of the most dangerous configurations for people to interact within, musical or otherwise. Greg Kelley on trumpet is added to the mix and the results mutate into an even more mysterious form - the trumpet is indistinguishable from the vocals; the saxophone creaks so the voice doesn't have to.
Important-195
CD
$13.00

Flamin' Groovies, The
Flamingo/Teenage Head [re-issue]
PS, UK 2009 digitally remastered two-fer from the American Underground rockers, containing a pair of their early albums on one CD: Flamingo (1970) and Teenage Head (1971). The Groovies carried the untamed spirit of Rock 'N' Roll from their San Francisco Psych/Jugband origins, to the proto-Punk streets of New York and London, to their undisputed throne as Power Pop kings! Here are two of their seminal albums (and two of the most seminal albums ever!), caught in the middle of their flawless trajectory, released on Kama Sutra because they wanted to be on the same label as The Lovin' Spoonful, and exuding the same instant legend, pure joy and Rock 'N' Roll vibe as their label-mates...but even more so! The song 'Teenage Head' itself is one of the founding classics of Punk Rock to be sure, as much as The Modern Lovers' 'Roadrunner' or MC5's 'Kick Out The Jams'... and here are a whole bunch more!
Rev-Ola
CD
$17.75

Fol Chen
Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made
PS, US "You know that mysterious black object that the creepy family is staring at on the cover of Led Zeppelin's "Presence" album? Fol Chen sound like that. But we don't sound like Led Zeppelin. (We actually do a little.) Instead, we sound like Prince with Amon Duul II and a children's religious revival, not to mention Hot Chip, Pink Floyd, Gwen Stefani, Pere Ubu, Danielson Famile, Scritti Politti, Boards of Canada, The Blow, and Pulp. (Mostly.) We are using secret powers and the guidance of legendary DJ Donna Donna to combat our nemesis, John Shade. We are cryptic and joyful and we would like you to dance."
AsthmaticKitty-53
CD
$11.50

Folds, Ben
Stems & Seeds (Way To Normal [expanded])
PS, US Special, re-titled re-release of BF's 'Way To Normal'. Disc one featured the remixed, remastered, re-sequenced original album. Disc two featured files from the sessions that listeners can upload to "Garageband" and remix themselves.
Epic
DCD
$16.00

Formerly Fat Harry
Mariachi Riff Live and Free Music
PS, UK Second archival release in one year by this fabled late '60s band, featuring Bruce Barthol -- ex-Country Joe & the Fish. Formed in Croydon, Surrey, UK in 1969 by Barthol and two mates from Berkeley, California, Gary Peterson and Phil Greenberg, Formerly Fat Harry were managed by the legendary Blackhill Enterprises (Peter Jenner and Andrew King, original managers of the Floyd) -- they played many gigs in the UK before their demise in 1972, such as two of the Hyde Park free concerts, Phun City, and the 1970 Bath Festival, as well as many college and club gigs. The band's one and only eponymous LP on Harvest Records didn't really reflect their true capabilities (Hux released a far more interesting selection of material from the group's own archive early this year Goodbye For Good) -- a fabulous mix of country, blues and psychedelia. This Shagrat LP reflects another side of the band -- FFH could also be very experimental, playing in odd time signatures and they were completed by a series of the greatest UK jazz drummers -- Laurie Allan, Alan Jackson and John Marshall. Side two of this limited edition 500-only vinyl LP features two free music tracks recorded in 1969 -- something the band rarely did live. Side one features a 24-minute version of their much-loved favorite 'Mariachi Riff,' which has been favorably compared to the best live work by both the Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service -- an epic acid-rock tour de force. It was recorded live at Aylesbury Friars in December 1970. The original tapes have been digitally transferred and mastered by Ron Geesin. Packaged in a beautifully mind-blowing sleeve by legendary British psychedelic designer Mike McInnerney (who designed the sleeve for The Who's Tommy), the LP comes with a nice insert with photos, gig adverts from the era and an evocative essay about the band by long-time fan, Colin Hill. Limited run of 500 copies.
Shagrat
LP
$25.75

France Has the Bomb
Invisible Angle b/w GrimTrigger
PS, US 2nd single of prime stuff from these Chicago via Minneapolis or vice-versa dudes. While the 7" single may not be the best medium for these guys (you should read that as "bring on the full length.") that doesn't mean that this thing isn't gonna pay off in spades down the line (and I'm not talkin' about eBay!!?@#%.)
HoZacRecords
45
$5.25

Franz Ferdinand
Tonight
PS, US
Epic
CD
$16.00

Freezepop
Form Activity Motion EP
PS, US
Blistering
CD5
$8.25

Friends
Fragile
PS, UK An album so incredibly rare (only a single acetate exists), that many collectors have doubted the album's existence -- until now! The rarest, and I would dare to say best, folk/psych album from Peter Howell and John Ferdinando, musical brainchildren behind Ithaca, Agincourt, Alice Through the Looking Glass, and Tomorrow Come Someday. This fifth Howell & Ferdinando album had just been completed in or around 1974 when the partnership came to an end. Howell had been working at the BBC as a studio manager since 1970 (he'd provided a stiff upper lip voiceover for John Peels Top Gear shows), but he was now offered a position with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, which he accepted, and still holds. Taken from the master tapes, so no annoying scratchy acetate sound.
AcmeGramophone/LionProductions
CD
$15.25

Frumpy
Frumpy 2 [re-issue]
PS, US ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "Inga Rumpf's Frumpy was among the most startling bands on the entire German rock scene of the early '70s, an act so diametrically opposed to the Krautrock boom beloved by critics elsewhere that first impressions of their music always leave listeners scratching their heads. If Frumpy has any role models, it is a collision between Meddle-era Pink Floyd and a less-precocious Uriah Heep. Frumpy 2, unsurprisingly their second album, features just four tracks, but all are soaring slabs of emotive guitar and keyboards, deeply progressive of course, but unquestionably pop as well... Rumpf herself, meanwhile, has a range and depth comparable to Curved Air's Sonja Kristina, with an emotive strength which seems all the more remarkable when you remember that English is not her native language... The guitar and keyboard solos and duels which take place above the tumultuous rhythms are as spectacular as anything else in the genre. But even while you're sitting slack-jawed in awe, it is very difficult to play favorites. Frumpy, like Rumpf's Atlantis after them, has antecedents aplenty, and their influences peep out behind every corner. But the manner in which they've been sewn together owes little to any Anglo-American role models and little to any Krautrock basics, too. Quite simply, Frumpy 2 is the prog album you'll be returning to long after the others have all dulled into wallpaper."
Revisited
CD
$19.00

Frumpy
All Will Be Changed [re-issue]
PS, US No other artist has had as lasting an influence on German rock music as Inga Rumpf. Her smokey, bluesy voice, influenced by icons such as Mahalia Jackson and Nina Simone, fills fans all over the world with enthusiasm to this day. Her seemingly limitless stylistic range has rightfully earned Inga Rumpf a reputation as Germany's no. 1 rock vocalist. 1970's All Will Be Changed saw the newly formed band gear their music to established international sounds, but they immediately found their own style thanks to the ever-present drone of a Hammond organ and Rumpf's unique voice. They initially worked without a guitarist, allowing keyboardist Jean-Jacques Kravetz to rotate the powerful Leslie rotor. The national press initially eyed Frumpy with the typical scepticism of that time towards anybody who made rock music on German shores. Unimpressed by such ambiguities, Frumpy continued to work on their career and influenced countless other bands and vocalists over the years. Their now legendary debut album is being released completely remastered in digipak format with exclusive liner notation and rare photos.
Revisited
CD
$19.00

Fun Machine
Sonnen Huhn
PS, US At times dramatic, at turns relentlessly aggressive, the jagged rhythmic path emits an electric kick to the senses while a joyous confusion fills the ears. Breathless precision filled w/ organized chaos transcends into a screaming keyboard solo swaying in ecstasy behind lush walls of spiraling vocals encapsulated by vintage synths that glide imperceptibly into quiet, ambient beauty.
BNSSessions
CD
$9.00

Future Of The Left
Last Night I Saved Her From Vampires
PS, US Super limited stock on the remaining copies of the ultra hot Future of the Left live album that was previously only sold on the US dates of the bands tour with Against Me. When they are gone they're gone.
4AD
CD
$5.00

Gala Drop
S-T
PS, US Synthesizer orchestras, German Kraut & kosmische musik, the keyboard hell of French unit Heldon, psych/free percussive tribalism, a deep understanding of decades of dance music, Jamaica's dub processing techniques, an extraordinary sensibility for sound resources & additional mixing, & finally, the mastering skills of Rafael Toral. The metrics of the groove & backbeat in the drum work, & the ululating understanding of the synthesizer & keyboard phrases reveal a completely familiar yet alien alternate universe of space-y sound that is too good to be just druggy. Utterly zoned-out keyboard & dub astral projection through new jungles of sound.
GalaDrop
CD
$18.00

Gang Gang Dance
God's Money
PS, US Restocked.
TheSocialRegistry-19
CD
$11.50

Garrie, Nick
49 Arlington Gardens
PS, SPAIN Our story begins way back, specifically in 1969, when an English university student picked up his guitar and began playing in the south of France, spurred on by his passion for Dylan and for surrealism. The story ends with this student, our Nick Garrie, recording an album for the French label DiscAZ (home to Brigitte Bardot and Michel Polnareff among others) with the producer Eddie Vartan (brother of Sylvie Vartan and renowned producer of the time). The result, recorded with a 56-musician orchestra, is "The Nightmare of J.B. Stasnislas," a marvelous collection of perfect melodies wrapped in a psychedelic pop with majestic results. However, in one of those strange twists that fate so often gives us, the head of the label and the person in charge of the project, Lucien Morisse, commits suicide just a few days after the album's release, leaving the project orphaned and with no promotional plan. The result? "The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas" becomes cursed, but over time grows into a cult item, with people paying more than 1,200 euros for each of the limited copies, which are almost impossible to find. A disc that, of course, Elefant is re-releasing in 2009 as a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of its publication. Meanwhile, our musician distances himself, disappointed, from the music industry and decides to earn a living however he can. In 1976 he meets the composer Francis Lai (who won an Oscar for "Love Story" and wrote the scores for, among other movies, "A Man and A Woman," "Live for Life," "Bilitis," "Dark Eyes" and "Emmanuelle"), with whom he will work on diverse projects over the course of the years. In a rush of inspiration he goes back to the studio, with part of Cat Stevens' band, to record "Suitcase Man," this time under the name Nick Hamilton, an album that will reach number one on Spanish lists thanks to the single "Back to 1930" and which will allow him to tour the country with Leonard Cohen, who will declare that he wished he had written some of Garrie's songs. The impulse isn't strong enough to keep him permanently in the music world, and despite a few different attempts in 1994 ("The Playing Fields") and in 2002 ("Twelve Old Songs"), he still hasn't found his place. In the meantime, without knowing its creator, "The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas" continues nourishing its legend, giving the definitive push to fame when Phil Smee (photographer and album cover designer for groups in the 70s like THE YARDBIRDS or Syd Barret) includes a song from this disc, "Wheel of Fortune," on one of his famous compilations, "Circus Days" (a compilation on which LOS BRINCOS also appear). This is all a surprise for Garrie when, in 2005, half joking, googles himself and discovers everything that's happened with "The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas". This motivates him to start singing again, and he enters a contest for singer-songwriters, which he wins, and whose prize is a web page to use for publicity for his music. The music industry is reintroduced to Nick Garrie, and he is flooded with offers to reissue "The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas". Joe Foster, head of the Rev-ola label and previously of Creation Records (one of the most important and influential independent labels in the world, that had signed artists such as PRIMAL SCREAM, FELT, THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, OASIS, RIDE, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, HOUSE OF LOVE, TEENAGE FANCLUB, THE BOO RADLEYS, ST ETIENNE, THE PASTELS, MOMUS and PACIFIC) takes the bull by the horns and rereleases the mythic 2005. Nick Garrie goes back on the road, playing songs from the album as he had always intended them to be: acoustic. Foster introduces him to the Scottish singer Ally Kerr who invites him to play in Scotland. That night led to a recording session, months later, in the Riverside studios in Glasgow, with a group of musicians from the Scottish scene. Recording the new songs with Nick Garrie were important artists like Norman Blake (TEENAGE FANCLUB), Francis McDonald (NICE MAN, TEENAGE FANCLUB, BMX BANDITS), the very Ally Kerr, Duglas T. Stewart (BMX BANDITS) exquisitely producing the album, and Duncan Cameron (DELGADOS, TRAVIS, TRASHCAN SINATRAS) as the sound engineer, along with the still unknown DOGHOUSE ROSES, Spain's Sandra Belda Martínez (CALIFORNIA SNOW STORY, SUPERÉTÉ), Rachel Allison, Iona McDonald and many other characters from the Scottish indie pop scene. Aside from the "Scottish Sessions," the disc includes the marvelous "Lovers," written with Francis Lai for the soundtrack to the film "Plastic Tree" and "Stay Till the Morning Comes," recorded in Villafranca (Portugal) with the Portuguese producer Quim Correia. It is a delicious disc that combines precious arrangements with the off-beat and elegant melodies of Garrie. From the dreamy romanticism of "Lovers" to the clear Frenchification of "Le pont Mirabeau," the precociousness of "Twilight," the incredible voice of Rachel Allison in "When Evening Comes" and the country folk of "On a Wing and a Prayer". It's one of those discs that sees the light of day thanks to the support of a new generation of musicians, admirers of the British singer-songwriter. It's an honest, intimate, elegant, precocious disc that maintains a marvelous balance between arrangements and melodies. Just under thirty minutes of dreamy compositions, of pop and tight folk that deals humbly and candidly with human nature with the surprising element of juvenile fantasy that is "The Clockmaker." This will be the album that musical history uses to pay its dues to Nick Garrie. There are too many reasons for it to be so - the marvelous harmonies added by the Scottish scene, an astonishing collection of musical compositions, a deeply romantic song co-written with a master like Francis Lai, the fact that "The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas" is living this small moment of glory that chance took away from it originally and, above all, a singer-songwriter, Nick Garrie, with a precious voice full of solemnity and a classic pop feeling, in the best sense of the word, enjoying a moment of brilliant inspiration.
Elefant-1140
CD
$16.25

Garrie, Nick
49 Arlington Gardens
PS, SPAIN LP LIMITED EDITION 600 COPIES.
Elefant-1140
LP
$16.25

Gaslight Anthem, The
'59 Sound
PS, US In 1988, Jon Bon Jovi was being interviewed by a reporter for Spin Magazine when he was asked if he was a fan of Bruce Springsteen. Bon Jovi replied "In New Jersey, if you don't like Springsteen they raise your taxes." Listening to the Gaslight Anthem's second full-length album The '59 Sound, it's pretty clear that leader Brian Fallon doesn't have to worry much about his tax bill in the Garden State. Hailing from New Brunswick, NJ, the Gaslight Anthem are that rare punk band that displays a strong and unmistakable Springsteen influence, and while Fallon's vocal resemblance to the Boss is clearly coincidental (he has more than a bit of Bruce's throaty gravity without the grit), the boys-and-girls-on-the-backstreets tone of his lyrics is not, especially when stray fragments from Springsteen's lyrics pop up in Fallon's songs (cue up "Meet Me by the River's Edge" and "High Lonesome" for evidence). If Fallon often comes off as a youthful Springsteen wannabe on The '59 Sound, he also happens to be pretty good at it; the force and sincerity of his songs roll over the occasional clunky spots, and the band brings this music across with a strength and urgency that suggests a heartland rock version of Social Distortion, with Alex Rosamila's guitars and Benny Horowitz's drumming brimming with fire and energy. The Gaslight Anthem are far too good to be the New Millennium's answer to John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band, but it's all but impossible to listen to The '59 Sound without being aware of this band's key influence; even if they never grow out of their Springsteen obsession, they're worth hearing, but it's hard not to hope they'll develop a stronger identity of their own with time...though they may want to warn their tax accountant before that happens.
~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide
Side One Dummy - USOD71358.2
CD
$13.25

Genghis Tron
Dead Mountain Mouth
PS, US REPRESS of this 2LP vinyl release in gatefold sleeve - 2 years of being out of print! A ferocious & unnervingly innovative record - a
relentless cacophony of the huge metal riffs & ambient electronics that have earned them worldwide acclaim. At the time, this was hailed as one of the best records of the year by Exclaim!, Decibel & Rock Sound - as well as strong praise from NY Times, Kerrang, etc.
LovepumpUnited
LP
$14.75

Gentleman Reg
Jet Black
PS, US Gentleman Reg has been performing in Canada since the turn of the millennium, garnering attention for his two acclaimed full-lengths, 2002's Make Me Pretty and 2004's Darby & Joan. With a voice from the heavens and an unforgettable look, Gentleman Reg is set to make his U.S. debut in 2009 with the release of Jet Black, which features guests Bryan Webb (CONSTANTINES), Elizabeth Powell (LAND OF TALK), & Katie Sketch (ORGAN). Gentleman Reg has made fans of some of Canada's best talent, performing and touring with such acts as Tegan and Sara, Broken Social Scene, Stars and The Hidden Cameras. In the U.S., Reg is best known for being featured in the 2006 John Cameron Mitchell movie, Short Bus, in which he made a brief cameo and contributed to the film's soundtrack.
Arts&Crafts
CD
$15.00

Gibson, Laura
Beasts of the Seasons
PS, US Steeped in the fingerpick-guitar rudiments of folk music, inspired by the expressionism of classic jazz vocalists, & finding common ground in the minimal-ism & ear-taunting of the avant-garde. Collaborators include RACHEL BLUMBERG (M. WARD), NATE QUERY (DECEMBERISTS), LAURA VEIRS & DANNY SEIM (ME-
NOMENA).
JealousButcher
LP
$11.75

Goblin Cock
Come with Me If You Want
PS, US VINYL VERSION.
Robcore
LP
$13.25

Goblin Cock
Come with Me If You Want
PS, US "Rumored" to be the brainchild of Rob Crow of indie wunderkinds PINBACK (Oh, it's him all right). This follow-up to their mammoth debut "Bagged & Boarded" is yet another brave step in the re-definition of true metal. Equal parts melodic & punishing. At times this sounds like Failure reincarnated as a stoner rock band...one that loves the crushing riffs of Big Business/Karp.
Robcore
CD
$13.25

Golden Boots
The Winter Of Our Discotheque
PS, US This Southwest alt-country band mixes psychedelic rock, folk, and country which has drawn comparisons to Alex Chilton, The International Submarine Band, Beck, and The Monkees. A blend of pop-folk with distortion-laden breaks, fuzz guitar, primitive keyboards, and the unique clarity of unencumbered experimentation.
ParkTheVan
CD
$13.00

Golden Triangle
S-T
PS, US This amazing band has toured with the likes of The Black Lips, King Khan, Quintron and Miss Pussycat and play damaged psyched out garage rock w/ dual female vocals. Contains six new tracks and a Redd Kross cover! Limited to 500, pressed on gold wax, duh. Includes download card.
MexicanSummer
LP
$15.00

Grateful Dead
American Beauty [Bonus Tracks] (Remastered)
PS, US Unfuckwithable.
Rhino
LP
$17.00

Grave Blankets
Our Love Is Real b/w Trip Wire
PS, US Final (?) release from these mid-west scuzz freaks. If this is it for them then they are definitely going out on a high note. We also still have a handful of the Grave Blankets / Touch-Me-Nots 7" that I'd highly recommend.
HoZacRecords
45
$5.25

Groundhogs
Scratching the Surface
PS, US This raw, rootsy album ranks among the finest albums to emerge from the British blues-rock boom, Matching TONY MCPHEE's memorable original tunes w/ a blistering reworking of the Muddy Water's classic "Still a Fool"
Sundazed
CD
$16.50

Groundhogs
Blues Obituary
PS, US This finds the group beginning to stretch beyond traditional blues forms, as demonstrated on the seven-minute epic "Light Was the Day." This marks the group's first effort as a power trio, the format in which the band would do its most acclaimed & popular work.
Sundazed
LP
$16.50

Guggenheim Grotto
Happy the Man
PS, US Irish folk-rockers' new album.
UnitedOpportunity
CD
$15.00

Gun Outfit
Dim Light
PS, US
PPM
CD
$10.25

Gun Outfit
Dim Light
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
PPM
LP
$10.25

Haptic
Medium
PS, US Flingco SS is the new label from Kranky founder/righteous dude Bruce Adams. Creating densely textured works that can range from stark minimalism to violent, carefully directed chaos, Haptic combines a rigorous attention to sonic detail with restless experimentalism. The Medium consists of two sidelong tracks & includes contributions from Boris Hauf, Olivia Block & Tony Buck. LIMITED edition 180 gram vinyl with download coupon.
FlingcoSoundSystem-005
LP
$21.75

Harper, Roy
Bullinamingvase
PS, US Roy Harper followed HQ with another superb rock-oriented classic, the interestingly-titled Bullinamingvase. First released in 1977, the album was recorded at Roy's home, borrowing gear and people from the legendary Abbey Road studio. Once again, it features a whole host of stars including Ronnie Lane, Alvin Lee, B.J. Cole and uncredited vocals from Paul & Linda McCartney." Includes a 16-page booklet.
ScienceFriction
CD
$21.00

Harpoon
Double Gnarly/Triple Suicide
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Interloper
LP
$11.50

Harpoon
Double Gnarly/Triple Suicide
PS, US Drum machine project from Dean Costello & Toney Vast-Binder. Contains songs from their '07 demo along
with three new tracks. A mix of grind & punk with drum machine. A loud, confrontational, aggressive record with lots of screaming. Shield the children's ears.
Interloper
CD
$9.00

Heartless Bastards
Mountain
PS, US The album weaves in an adventurous sonic evolution, expanding their 3 piece rock by adding pedal steel, madnolin, banjo, strings, & Erika's transcendent voice. ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "After cutting their first two albums as a lean but muscular power trio, the Heartless Bastards have grown into a somewhat different creature on their third LP, The Mountain. Vocalist and guitarist Erika Wennerstrom is the only survivor from the group's original lineup, and after leaving behind her hometown of Cincinnati, OH for Austin, TX, she's assembled a new version of the Heartless Bastards. Along with new members Billy White on bass and Doni Schroader on drums, The Mountain features violins, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, and banjo as well as a few guest guitarists, and though this music is still rooted in Wennerstrom's full-bodied vocals and thick, no-frills guitar work, The Mountain is a more introspective and rootsy sounding album than this group has released to date. Wennerstrom has a voice that can shake apart a room when she's of a mind, but she takes a more subtle approach here, slipping in a few acoustic tunes that allow her to explore the softer side of her instrument... The Mountain is a more diverse set than the old Heartless Bastards gave us, it's still rooted in the same emotionally direct songwriting and performing that is this band's trademark, and for all that's changed with the band, Wennerstrom has held on to her core virtues -- this is fierce, heartfelt rock & roll that tells stories you can believe in and lets the music sing out with a power that's all the more compelling for being firmly rooted in the real world."
FatPossum
CD
$15.50

Helen Love
Calm Down Dad
PS, SPAIN LIMITED EDITION 1000 COPIES. Orange vinyl. We're in luck - HELEN LOVE are back! Our favorite Bubblegum-disco-punk group is better than ever and they have a splendid collection of new songs that half the planet is going to go crazy over. "Calm Down Dad" is the first advance single from the flaming new album, "Stick It", that will soon be released on Elefant Records. While we're waiting for that moment to arrive, and to ease the long wait, we have this appetizer with three great songs. "Calm Down Dad" is pure energy, catchy indie-punk-pop that talks about the differences between a father and his daughter. She wants to have fun, go out at night, sleep with a boy, dress up like a vampire without being looked at strangely at home, travel the world, try new things and even sing like Kate Nash, but with a more working class accent. Like a mix between Jilted John and THE WAITRESSES, on this limited edition, orange colored vinyl single HELEN LOVE jump from punk to pop to indie, with realist, sarcastic and fun lyrics. The melodies are as sweet as candy, but an orange flavored candy that's as bittersweet as real life. The single is finished off with two fast-beat, punk-pop songs. "John Peel Roadshow" talks about how to work up enough courage to give your demo to a radio show host. HELEN LOVE, loved and supported throughout the years by John Peel, recorded a "Peel session" in 1997, which was, for them, one of the high points of the group's history, as was the summer afternoon on which John Peel, after playing "Does Your Heart Go Boom", said with a sardonic laugh, "That's HELEN LOVE... the sarcastic bastards"'. "Candeelips" closes the advance single with a sweet story about a boy with the sweetest and most desired lips in the neighborhood!!!.
Elefant-267
45
$7.75

Hellberg, Mattias & The White Moose
Out of the frying pan, into the woods (DELAYED: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, SWEDEN VINYL VERSION! Deluxe, gatefold, 180g double LP, includes bonus track "Lady Disgrace" which ain't on the CD! Plus download codes so you can take The Moose into the woods with you! Come on, like this retro-rock bongfest won't sound totally boss pressed into wax? And you know you need that trippy-dippy cover art in large format.
PlaygroundMusicSE
DLP
$18.00

Here We Go Magic
Here We Go Magic
PS, US Developed over a two-month period of stream-of-consciousness recording in Greenpoint, Brooklyn Luke Temple's self-titled debut under his new moniker Here We Go Magic is a remarkable departure from his signature singer-songwriter material. Luke recorded the album at home using analog synths, a cassette 4-track, and his trusty SM-57 mic, coloring the sound with warmth and creating textures you want to wrap yourself in. The album opens with the trance-inducing polyrhythms and gorgeous multi-layered vocals of "Only Pieces. " What follows is an album oozing with sounds maternal and subconscious...like floating in amniotic fluid, ripe, hiccup-y and desperate to emerge. Many of the songs pulse with infectious afro-beat and kraut-rock influenced grooves, calling to mind classic albums like Remain in the Light and Graceland. In contrast, the instrumental tracks conjure mystical introspective landscapes reminiscent of Popol Vuh's unforgettable ambience. Despite the album's murky aquatic underpinnings it's hard to resist shakin what you got to ebullient blissed-out tracks like "Fangala" and "Tunnelvision." The album closes with "Everything's Big", a bleak commentary on weakness and fear birthed of opulence and gluttony. Luke's fragile tenor delivers this absurd carnival waltz with the fervor and abandon of a teetotaler under the influence, never breaking the spell of the album's mood of rejuvenation and release.
WesternVinyl-57
CD
$11.50

His Mischief
Summer's Eve
PS, US Debut CDEP feat. members of Sean Na Na is a mix of garage and 60's rock that draws comparisons to Spoon & The Who. "Their choppy, invigorating Jawbox-meets-Sonics garage & post-punk reaches full throttle explosiveness" - Big Takeover
ModernRadio
CD
$7.75

Hitchcock, Robyn
Goodnight Oslo
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
YepRoc
LP
$16.50

Hitchcock, Robyn
Goodnight Oslo
PS, US Stabbing horns from compatriot TERRY EDWARDS swim alongside gorgeous harmonies throughout this 10-track snapshot of his version of pop music in a perfect world. Features guest vocals from COLIN MELOY, SEAN NELSON & MORRIS WINDSOR. An album of nearly unwavering positivity.
YepRoc
CD
$14.50

Honest Engines
Don't Talk Of California
PS, US "Akin to the Flaming Lips, Electric Soft Parade, and Robyn Hitchcock, one of Chicago's finest indie bands has mastered the art of modernizing classic pop song-craft with an idiosyncratic panache, and has also figured out a way make it sound as if this engaging EP was recorded in a major studio with a noted producer." -Tom Semioli
Amplifier Magazine
HonestEngines-001
CD
$7.00

Honeychurch
Early Times: 2001-2004
PS, US 'Early Times is an anthology of tracks from Honeychurch's critically acclaimed and criminally unavailable records Calling Me Home (2001) and Makes Me Feel Better (2004). Twelve remastered songs, plus two previously unreleased demos - 14 tracks of what Miles of Music called 'rapturous, romantic, blissfully transcendent, sweetly reverent, sun-drenched pop' "Imagine if The Red House Painter's Mark Kozelek added harmonies out of Mojave 3 and the Byrds....the singing, strings, and lap steel are exquisite. Like the Pernice Brothers, you suspect these guys dig Bread as much as Gram Parsons, hooked on the elegiac sweetness of old songs." -Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover
All-new record will be out in 2009!'
SirenElectric
CD
$10.25

Horntveth, Lars
Kaleidoscopic
PS, NORWAY Follow-up to the critically acclaimed debut album, Pooka, by Jaga Jazzist leader. Kaleidoscopic consists of one 37 minute long composition & was recorded with 41 members of the Latvian National Orchestra (34 string players, 3 percussionists, clarinet, flute, bass trombone & one harp), with Lars Horntveth himself playing piano, horns & clarinets. Lars' dogma in creating this album was to write the music chronologically into an open, endless score, similar to a diary. Intending for the music to flow from idea to idea, Lars wanted the score to grow 7 develop along with his state of mind. The album is a journey in sound, its form fitting somewhere between Steve Reich's Music For 18 Musicians & KLF's Chill Out. It is a musical experience from start to finish, an auditory trip into very different rooms & moods, with great contrast & surprises from one musical genre to the next.
SmalltownSupersound-097
CD
$15.25

Hospitals
Hairdryer Peace
PS, US After a nearly Chinese Democracy situation, the new Hospitals LP "Hairdryer Peace" is finally here. "Hairdryer" is a ripper/apology for the band's previous two albums. Scott Simmons had this to say about it: "Doesn't really matter whether you loved or hated The Hospitals before, cuz this is some year zero shit. This is the most psychedelic fucking record in a long time and there are no rainbows - no feather earrings - no beards. Mixed for maximum hallucinations, it has the stoned riffs of a killer rock record, totally cracked pop, pure headfuck, but more than anything else just an all around perfect album. It's Chief Hospital Adam Stonehouse with oringal Hospital co-founder (and now EAT SKULL member) ROD MEYER, along with ROB ENBAUM (also Eat Skull) and Chris Gunn from an island off the coast of the future. Sounds nothing like any bands or anything else.. Seriously, if a better record comes out this year, next year, whenever.... I promise. Don't be an asshole." Vinyl only, homemade covers, 500 copies.
Hospitals
LP
$12.00

Hot Panda
Volcano...Bloody Volcano
PS, US Comparisons to giant luminaries such as Daniel Johnston & Talking Heads have been swirling about as the group has left behind the frozen garage jam sessions in which their musical explorations began. Here, the group creates a unique blend of Britpop, Gypsy swing, glam, & lo-fi indie.
Mint
CD
$16.75

Howlies
Trippin' With Howlies
PS, US An unexpected re-interpretation of garage, doo-wop, powerpop & rock 'n' roll.
OverUnder
CD
$11.00

Humcrush
Rest At Worlds End
PS, NORWAY VINYL VERSION. 500 copies only limited edition 2LP that is comprised of 7 bonus tracks not on the CD version.
RuneGrammofon
DLP
$25.75

Humcrush
Rest At Worlds End
PS, NORWAY This is the third full-length album from Norway's Humcrush (Thomas Strønen and Ståle Storløkken). Rest At Worlds End was recorded live at various European venues, although the high level of musicianship and focus on detail could easily lead you to think it would be a meticulously assembled studio recording. With this record, the duo continue adventurous explorations of abstract grooves and atmospheric moods. Thomas Strønen has studied music and composition and is a regular member of several bands, most notably Food, Maria Kannegaard Trio and Parish, the quartet led by Swedish ace pianist Bobo Stenson. As is the case for most Norwegian jazz musicians of his generation, he has played with just about everybody and has been a frequent performer on the Norwegian and European festival circuit for several years. Ståle Storløkken is a founding member of Supersilent, Elephant9, and played on Terje Rypdal records, but was first noticed with freeform trio Veslefrekk with fellow Supersilent members Arve Henriksen and Jarle Vespestad. He is probably the most versatile and adventurous electric keyboard player within the Norwegian scene at the moment. Rest At Worlds End perfectly showcases each artist's individual technical virtuosic talent -- Strønen's percussion is textured, precise and surprising, while Storløkken's keyboard work is diverse and varied, using daubs of sound across a colorful sonic spectrum. Sometimes frenetic, sometimes meanderingly contemplative, Rest At Worlds End stimulates your nerve-endings and fires neurons you never even knew existed.
RuneGrammofon
CD
$16.25

Idle Times
Get Your Feet Off The Ground
PS, US Debut release from 27 year old Brian Standeford. After the quick dissolution of his previous band Tall Birds, Standeford began recording songs onto cassette in his Seattle home using a Tascam 4-track, practice amps and a toy drum kit. Loner bedroom psych at its best.
Woodsist
45
$5.25

Infinity Window
Artificial Midnight
PS, US New York synth duo Infinity Window have been crafting their game for well over a year without much documentation. Comprised of Dan Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never) and Taylor Richardson (Prehistoric Blackout), this LP shows them at the pinnacle of self-realization. Equally influenced by John Carpenter and the Taj Mahal Travellers, they create traveling music; music that has the power to transport and overwhelm the listener with vibes outside of those presently available to them. The A-side consists of two tracks, both clouded in a heavy haze of fog, dark and heavy though their clarity exists underneath the shroud. The B-side's lone track 'Skull Theft' is the full circle realization of the first two tracks: a light is illuminated and the fog begins to clear. Mastered by Keith Fullerton Whitman. In an edition of 500 LPs with full color pro-printed cardboard sleeves and printed labels with art by Robert Beatty (Hair Police / Burning Star Core).
Arbor
LP
$13.75

Iran
Dissolver
PS, US Indie rock buried in fuzz & hiss - the group takes ultra catchy pop, & drags it through the detritus of lo-fi noise rock, picking up an ungodly assortment of buzz & blur & scuzz. Imagine a Pavement record on Stilbreeze. Or old Smog covering Skullflower.
Narnack
CD
$14.50

Irisarri, Rafael Anton
Hopes & Past Desires
PS, US Packaged in full-color heavy stock jacket, LIMITED TO 500 COPIES WORLDWIDE. 2 tracks clocking in at 12 minutes, this is his first new material since his 2007 debut "Daydreaming." Irisarri's music is a dual perspective close-up focus on the micro textures of rustling static-filled sonic surfaces w/ the wide-open distant tree lined horizons of sunset at dusk. He recently released "Glider" as SIGHT BELOW on Ghostly International.
Immune
45
$8.00

Jaina, Nick
Narrow Way
PS, US A full-band album featuring agressively memorable songs recorded in a unique way to capitalize on the energy of the live performance skills of Nick's band. This album was played entirely by ten musicians in the same room at the same time, all mixed live to 1/4" analog tape. If one person out of the ten missed a note or played the wrong part, the whole take had to be done over. This lack of a safety net gave the recordings a heightened sense of focus & purpose. Every instrument leaps off the tape with immediacy & humanity. Meanwhile, the lyrics of the songs deal w/the narrow path that people must take to do right in the world. There is fear all around; fear of being different, fear of being the same--& in the middle is the narrow way, a small path that is hard to stay on, but which leads to very good things.
JealousButcher
LP
$13.25

Jam, The
All Mod Cons
PS, US RESURFACED WAX!!!
Polydor
LP
$18.00

Kashiwa, Daisuke
5 Dec.
PS, JAPAN "Program Music I", released approximately a year and a half ago introduced audiences to a musical interpretation of two Japanese literary classics, "Night on the Milky Way Railroad" and "Run Melos!" and revealed the rich musical talent of Kashiwa Daisuke. As we enter the final one digit year of the new millennium, we are proud to release "5 Dec.", an album that drops hints of what's to come in the next 10 years. Kashiwa's first album released from German label, Onpa, in 2006 won rave reviews from many artists including Ryuichi Sakamoto. In his second album, "Program Music I" released the following year, Kashiwa Daisuke defined his presence once again in the world of music. The artist's lyrical melody and dynamic and inventive musical arrangements have led his work to new frontiers in TV commercials and fashion shows. Kashiwa casts also off a powerful presence on the online world through his musical + visual collaboration with Koji Nishida of RAKU-GAKU, the artist behind Kashiwa's album jackets. In his third album, "5 Dec.", Kashiwa Daisuke makes yet another step into a new horizon. In this album, the artist's signature melody with its flowing, oriental taste hides behind the shadows to be replaced by tearing voice samples and noisy and metallic guitar sounds thrashing almost violently on top of colorful uplifting beats such as break core, down tempo, bleep techno, and drum n' bass. In contrast to the aggressive sounds of the first half, the second part of the album starting with the 6th track, "Silver Moon" guides audiences to a minimal world created through electronic sounds and the piano. As a whole, the album portrays a brilliant contrast of sound. The melody of this album does not impose sentimentalism or nostalgia onto its listeners but rather, it takes them on a journey into rhythm from beginning to end. Even amidst the violent and excessive elements, there is always a composed eye seeing into the passion that lies beneath, there is a self-disciplined, strict interpretation of the world, a sublime and metallic texture... this is what the artist Kashiwa Daisuke may be all about. Turn your ears and experience the fruit of Kashiwa Daisuke's new challenge and step with him into a whole new level of musical originality.
Noble-1246
CD
$17.00

Keene, Tommy
In the Late Bright
PS, US A wide range of songs from the rollicking opener "Late Bright," to his first recorded instrumental "Elevated" & the wistful "Save This Harmony"
SecondMotion
CD
$14.50

Kemp, Rose
Unholy Majesty
PS, US ROSE KEMP came to the attention of Aurora Borealis when she thrust an advance CD in our hands at a Grave Temple show in London after her telling us how much she loves DEAD RAVEN CHOIR. Upon listening to the first 60 seconds of the album it became clear that we were dealing with something quite remarkable and got on the phone. Some wrangling and legal shennanigans later, the vinyl was confirmed for an Aurora Borealis release Undoubtedly something of a curve ball for fans of Rose's work up until now, "Unholy Majesty" represents a type of coming of age, a bold step out into the landscape of musics less travelled. From the heavy, prog influenced stomp of "Dirt Glow" through to the wavering cries of the penultimate track "Milky White", this is the sound of an artist following her own ear. Some AB adherents may be aware of Rose from her work on the second ATAVIST album, so perhaps her wide musical palette is not such a surprise. That love of sheer heavy power comes through in "Unholy Majesty" time and time again, and dovetails seamlessly with the more gentle moments on offer: without darkness, there can be no light. Part of folk-rock heritage, Rose is the daughter of Maddy Prior and Rick Kemp from seminal, pioneering British band Steeleye Span. As a young teenager she sang and toured and occasionally wrote with her parents various different projects including Steeleye Span (who still gig today), and her life on the road began when she was knee-high, accompanying her parents on tour.
AuroraBorealis
LP
$16.00

Kerretta
Antient
US, AUSTRALIA For those who have seen their blistering live show, Kerretta will no doubt be high on the "to see" gig agenda. Those yet to experience the propulsive, driving rock of this instrumental three-piece have a chance to see them push the envelope of tone & dynamics with their sometimes ambient & occasionally earsplittingly heavy brand of molten-core, Antient will appeal to fans of Isis, Sigur Ros & Bailterspace, but discerning listeners will know the trio peddle a uniquely atmospheric take on angular rock. The Antient 12" contains 4 new songs at a classy 28 minutes, exclusive to the 12" on tasty coloured grey & with free download codes!
Midium
LP
$13.50

Khan of Finland
S-T
PS, GERMANY The I'm Single label releases the eponymous debut CD from Berlin-based Khan of Finland. Centered around the figure of mega-producer Can "Khan" Oral (aka Captain Comatose), Khan Of Finland are a trio in the traditional sense of the word who make a sound that is anything but. Using just vocals, piano and a human beat-box, they play all-acoustic electronic blues, but also switch roles and improvise. The piano becomes a percussive instrument. The beat(box) melodic. The vocal full-blooded. From the blues to a howl. The sound veering from metal-heavy riffs to dubbed-out cabaret. These 9 songs were all recorded live at a defunct gas station in Berlin-Wedding with a few additional over-dubs recorded at various other spectacular locations such as St. Clara Church in Berlin-Neukoelln. Weirdly swank, electro-tinged, and decidedly energetic odes to loving life.
I'mSingle
CD
$15.00

Kilbey, Steve
Painkiller
PS, US Vast & immediate, lyrically intoxicating, musically loose & rocking or spacious & trippy. It swings from delicate psychedelic pop songs to radiotronic space rock monsters. A must listen for all Church or Kilbey fans.
SecondMotion
CD
$14.50

Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble, The
Mutations EP
PS, GERMANY A bridge between their first album on Planet Mu and the forthcoming second one on Ad Noiseam, the "Mutations EP" is The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble's coming of age. Profound and organic but dark and impressive, it is a perfect rendition of the ensemble's live shows and the proof that there is still something fresh to be done at the meeting point of post-rock, jazz and drones. A deeply emotional and original trip.
AdNoiseam-105-2
CD
$13.00

Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble, The
Mutations EP
PS, GERMANY Now available on vinyl. A bridge between their first album on Planet Mu and the forthcoming second one on Ad Noiseam, the "Mutations EP" is The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble's coming of age. Profound and organic but dark and impressive, it is a perfect rendition of the ensemble's live shows and the proof that there is still something fresh to be done at the meeting point of post-rock, jazz and drones. A deeply emotional and original trip.
AdNoiseam-105-1
LP
$13.00

Kinks, The
Picture Book [Box Set] (6 x CD)
PS, UK "The first three CDs, covering the years between 1963 and 1971, are a sheer delight: a master-class in garage rock, social observation, and how to expand the language of popular music in one hard-earned lesson."
-Mojo
"Arguably more succinctly than any of their 60s hit-making contemporaries, The Kinks chronicles the times with a succession of stunning vignettes about everyday life." - Record Collector
SanctuaryUK
CD-BOX
$79.75

Kottke, Leo
6 And 12 String Guitar
PS, US Leo Kottke's debut came about after he sent a cassette to John Fahey's Takoma label. Not surprisingly, it recalls Fahey's work in a number of respects: the synthesis of numerous influences from blues, pop, classical, and folk styles, the weirdly titled instrumentals, even the tongue-in-cheek liner notes. Kottke's brand of virtuosity, however, is more soothing and easy on the ear than Fahey's. It's far from sappy, though, the rich and resonant picking intimating some underlying restlessness, like peaceful open fields after a storm. Establishing much of the territory Kottke was to explore throughout his career, this release was also one of his most popular, eventually selling over 500,000 copies. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
Takoma TKA6503.2
CD
$13.40

Kweller, Ben
Changing Horses
PS, US ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "After flirting with country music throughout his solo career, Ben Kweller embraces his Texas roots with Changing Horses, an earthy record filled with pedal steel guitars and honky tonk storytelling. Kweller's southern pedigree has always made itself known -- in the twang of his acoustic guitar, in the lilt of his voice -- but Changing Horses shines a spotlight on those nuances, replacing the heartland rock & roll of his past albums with a healthy dose of Americana. This is saloon-styled songwriting, complete with flashes of close harmony and images of Greyhound stations, starry skies, and homebound highways. Kweller sounds confident throughout, playing the rustic raconteur like a twentysomething Leon Russell, but the album's secret weapon is newcomer Kitt Kitterman, whose pedal steel riffs and Dobro arpeggios lend some authenticity to Kweller's southern state of mind."
ATO
CD
$12.25

Ladyfinger
Dusk
PS, US Nods & winks to the past meet a sound of the not-too-distant future, w/ one foot in the sounds of early 70's classic rock & another in the punk & hardcore scenes of the late 80's & early 90's. The dynamics of each song & across the album are more evident, from the opening 1-2 punch of "Over & Over" & the bass growl of "ADD," through the sharp riffs & aggressiveness of "Work Party," the plaintive "Plans," & into the hit-in-the-making "Let's Get Married"
SaddleCreek
CD
$12.50

Lemonade
S-T
PS, US The San Francisco group's eclectic offerings are coarse with psychedelic textures and light on the easy fixes-the percussion crosses continents, the vocals are tangles of guttural exclamations, and the melodies spring from all over. The closest connections the tracks bear to modern music are to artists like Black Dice, Gang Gang Dance, and Sunburned Hand of the Man-fervent experimentalists deep below the dance charts. Live, it's an intoxicating bit of voodoo; Pasternak will later tell me that his favorite description of Lemonade's sound is 'a techno-Brazilian samba line on mushrooms.'-SF Weekly. Received a "Recommended" rating by Pitchfork.
TruePanther
CD
$13.25

Leno
Vida e Obra de Johnny McCartney [re-issue]
PS, US The album has a sound that has more to do w/ bands such as Sly & The Family Stone, the Beatles (post 1967), Cream, & Steppenwolf, & features contributions from music legends MARCOS VALLE, RAUL SEIXAS, hard psych rockers A BOLHA, & members of LOS SHAKERS & RENATO E SEUS BLUE CAPS. One of the most singular records of the 1970's rock era in Brazil.
LionProductions
CD
$15.00

Lights
Lights [Underground Operations] EP
PS, US Sure as aliens have laser guns and princesses have crowns, listening to Lights will bring you back to your innocence in an instant. Mind you, an innocence accompanied by musical adventure and observations way beyond the years of its creator. At the age of 21, the sparkling songstress sculpts music from her bedroom that is fresh, enchanting and infectious, drawing influences from such artists as Bjork and Annie Lennox. Her song "February Air" was featured in an Old Navy commercial.
WB514280.2
CD5
$6.70

Lincoln
Prelude to the Presidency [documentary]
PS, US As a lawyer traveling Illinois' Eighth Judicial Circuit, Abraham Lincoln made two simultaneous journeys. He gained respect as a skilled attorney and mesmerizing speaker, but he also built a political base and refined his views on the important issues of the day, many of which he would face in the White House. His experiences from 1837 to 1860 on muddy roads, in homes of friends and in courtrooms on the circuit guided him when he became president. WILL-TV's Lincoln: Prelude to the Presidency tells the story of the cases he tried and people he met during this critical period of his life. DVD features reenactments of Lincoln as you've never seen him before: defending a slaveholder trying to reclaim a slave named Jane Bryant and her children; brandishing a sword on the banks of the Mississippi River at dawn before being talked out of fighting a duel; and crossing the prairie reading a book atop his horse, Old Tom. Features interviews with experts, including Doris Kearns Goodwin, Edna Greene Medford and Orville Vernon Burton, who describe how the circuit built the skills Lincoln used as president.
WILLPublicMedia
DVD
$24.95

Lindh, Lasse
You Wake Up At Sea Tac
PS, US Though Lasse Lindh's second record is his first sung in English, he sounds as if he's been singing this way all along. In fact, he resembles Elliott Smith fronting Travis or Coldplay, leaving little to indicate that he is Swedish. His lamentations about heartache and lost relationships have all kinds of metaphors for the stomping of his heart, though his tearjerkers are bigger and more rock-oriented than his Swedish counterparts. "Walk With Me" and "Computerwelt" drift away from indie pop, moving into grandiose rock ballads. No one, however, could be more of a hopeless romantic than Lindh, as his heart gets dragged around in almost every verse. He suffers mentally ("the heart is old and the pain must grow") and physically ("it's the broken jaw, it's the cut from the saw"). Lindh is lonely and abandoned, though it sure resulted in a commendable album. The U.S. release includes three bonus tracks.
-All Music
AHiddenAgendaRecord-034
CD
$10.00

Lithops
Ye Viols!
PS, US LTD ED OF 1000 comes packaged in matchbook flip-top style package printed on recycled paper w/ fold-out poster! On this release, LITHOPS (aka JAN ST. WERNER of MOUSE ON MARS, MICROSTORIA, VON SUDENFED) presents a selection of installation soundtracks assembled from several recent exhibitions. This can be seen as background noise for a visual utopia: a recombined industrial iconograhy of spatial adventures, futuristic collages & phantasmagoric scenes. Full of fun danceable beats w/ plunderphonic complexity, textural density & layered details.
ThrillJockey
CD
$13.00

Lithops
Ye Viols!
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
ThrillJockey
LP
$13.00

Loney Dear
Dear John
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Polyvinyl-171
LP
$12.50

Loney Dear
Dear John
PS, US Loney Dear is the recording name for multi-instrumentalist and Swedish home-recording phenom Emil Svanängen. Recorded alone in Emil's tiny Stockholm studio apartment and in the comfort of his parents' house in Jönköping, Dear John is an album of contrasts. It will cozy up next to you through the bleakest of winters and be your shade in the blistering summer sun. It is an album that has been on Emil's mind since the inception of Loney Dear. With his first four albums, Emil has always aspired to perfection; he has always promised a masterpiece. Dear John is that record. "Despair has never sounded so sweet." -SPIN "He wraps the ups and downs of a whirlwind romance into tiny packages. You're left hungry, fully certain that 34 minutes-- let alone five-- will never be enough of this very, very good thing." --Pitchfork
Polyvinyl-171
CD
$12.50

Lost Sounds
Memphis is Dead
PS, US Big Neck presents the 4th pressing LIMITED reissue of 1000 copies on MIXED COLOR vinyl. This was the very first foray by JAY REATARD and Alicja Trout (THE FITTS, DESTRUCTION UNIT). Their apocalyptic nightmare of digital music and garage rock are disturbing w/ their frothing rage, unrestrained beauty and wild abandonment.
BigNeck
LP
$12.00

Lover!
No More Reasons b/w All Alone
PS, US Limited red vinyl repress. If you're not hip Lover! is Rich Crook, formerly of the Lost Sounds and he's been making some noise as Lover! for a couple of years now and has been getting stronger with each release. Don't wait for the next full length to "catch you by surprise" as this is here now. USGR alert. (Ugly sleeve, great record.)
HoZacRecords
45
$5.25

LSD March
Under Milk Wood
PS, US With grace (in the rock sense), style, humor, & the perfect touch of heavy riffage, this tremendously unique recording is a classic of the new Japanese underground. A fascinating, ghostly rock album featuring TAKAHASHI IKURO's drumming - it isn't until midway through the record that the heavy riffage begins, though it is slowly buried beneath the white blizzard blanket that is the remainder of the album
Important
CD
$13.25

M. Ward
Hold Time
PS, US Well I think we can safely say that since M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel's breakout album of last year, She & Him Vol. 1, Matt Ward is now pretty much a household (read: Starbucks' and soccer moms') name. This dude is EVERYWHERE. His records continue to grow in sales and it was just announced he will be playing Coachella this year.
Merge
CD
$13.25

M. Ward
Hold Time
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Merge
LP
$16.50

Magnetic Morning
A.M.
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
FriendorFaux
LP
$14.75

Magnetic Morning
A.M.
PS, US Magnetic Morning is the new band featuring Adam Franklin of Swervedriver and Sam Fogarino of Interpol.
FriendorFaux
CD
$11.00

Marching Dynamics
The Workers Party of Haiti
PS, GERMANY It was worth waiting more than a year for the second aural manifestation of S. Talada's darker self. M.D.'s unique mix of intelligent dance music, dark experimental sound layers and technoid beat'n'bass patterns enthused a large audience worldwide on the previous Nailsleeper release. Now it's the time for the workers party of Haiti to take over... Music as diverse as moody atmospheric dark ambient tunes, slow hop-beat-driven sub-bass monsters and fast dance tracks built upon hard hitting breaks. This album displays Talada's ability to merge all these styles into one instead of simply stringing them together. Crisp percussion blasts meet sound-trackish synth lines while aggravating your somatic responses - distortion from Detroit meets with Los(t) Angeles industrial gloom - dark complexity amalgamates with rhythmic intensity... "'The Workers Party Of Haiti' was my own exorcism from the demon that surrounded me and that was haunting me." (S. Talada) - join the exorcism!
Hymen-773
CD
$16.25

Maserati/Zombi
Split
PS, US Long in the making, this split LP finally brings together two similarly influenced and equally provocative groups: Athens, GA's Maserati - with their eternally driving, Krautrock-infused dance anthems - shares the record with Pittsburgh's favorite Italo-cinema fetishists, Zombi. Teaming up once again with longtime producer and friend Andy Baker (Brian Eno, Harvey Milk), Maserati contributes a pair of two-part epics that show the band progressing away from the sparkly-clean productions of their past in favor of a grittier, more experimental sound, occupying the unlikely space between the dark garage-pop infectiousness of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and the analog synth meditations of Harmonia. The result is Maserati's most unique and inspired material to date. On the flipside, Zombi offers a single 14-minute track that slowly and steadily amasses pile of analog synths to build a stage for an extended drum solo (imagine Goblin covering "Moby Dick" and you're almost there). With the synths providing the rhythmic foundation, the drums swirl about in a freeform ascent for over five minutes before patterns start to creep in, signaling the big payoff is imminent. Indeed, when the drums finally snap into an airtight locking groove with the thick bed of synths, the impact is downright euphoric. The song exits with a slow fade, as if to fittingly ride this high into oblivion. The marriage of these two bands couldn't be more perfect, and the inspiration they have brought each other is evident in both the creative exploration and the supreme quality of the tracks. Rather that deliver non-album toss-offs, both groups brought top-shelf a-sides, making this split an essential part of each artist's already rich catalog.
TemporaryResidence-143
LP
$11.50

Math Head
Stab City
PS, GERMANY With "Stab City", Math Head finally presents on wax a new testimony of his insolent skills at creating ever changing, massive dubstep. Never loosing the dance floor from its sight, but including a lot of innovative elements to this genre and not afraid of mixing the club appeal with wider sensibilities, he comes up here again with a highly impressive record that does justice to his extensive talent. Here comes highly efficient, fresh and hard dubstep record you have been waiting for.
AdNoiseam-98
12
$11.00

Mathieu, Stephan
The Key to the Kingdom
PS, GERMANY Limited/numbered 400. "The Key to the Kingdom" is Stephan Mathieu's tribute to the great gospel preacher Washington Phillips and the world of raw, early gospel on 78rpm platters. The 2-part suite, presented in the classic 10" vinyl format that comes in an authentic, individually stamped and numbered 78rpm archive sleeve, has been performed on a historic Phonoharp No.2 zither from the 1890s utilizing five E-Bows and entropic and convolution processes. "The Key to the Kingdom" is a spin-off of Mathieu's "Virginals" project, a solo recital of contemporary classics performed on historic instruments. Stephan Mathieu is a musician and sound artist based in Saarbrücken, Germany. Duri ng the last decade his music has been released on 16 critical acclaimed CDs, both solo and in collaboration with Douglas Benford, Ekkehard Ehlers, John Hudak, Janek Schaefer and Akira Rabelais on some of the finest electronic music labels worldwide (Die Schachtel, Häpna, Ritornell, Lucky Kitchen, HeadzŠ). His sound is largely based on early instruments, environmental sound and obsolete media which are recorded and transformed by means of experimental microphony, re-editing techniques and software processes involving spectral analysis and convolution and has been compared to the landscape paintings of Caspar David Friedrich and the work of Colorfield artists Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman and Ellsworth Kelly. Stephan is a collector of 78rpm records from the 1910s and 20s, the era of acoustic and early electronic audio recording. His most recent album "Radioland" made it into "Best of 2008" lists in The Wire, Dusted, Boomkat, Milkfactory and many others.
Dekorder-028
10
$11.25

Matthew & Arrogant Sea
Family Family Family Meets The Magic Christian (LP/CD)
PS, US Dreamy omnichord pop filled w/ hints of folk psychedelia. This evokes the experimental natures of the Flaming Lips & Animal Collective perched upon harmonies reminiscent of the Beach Boys & The Mamas & The Papas. W/free CD insert.
Junketboy
LP
$19.00

Mazes
S-T
PS, US While The 1900s make noises about recording the follow-up to their full-length 2007 album, Cold & Kind, front man Edward Anderson has readied a solo album for Parasol Records, under the moniker Mazes. In cahoots with fellow 1900s vocalist (and Ed's significant other) Caroline Donovan and their comrade Charles D'Autremont, Mazes is not so much departure from his hitherto verdant psych-pop meadow as a vehicle for Edward to explore further musical flora and fauna.
Parasol-CD-112
CD
$9.00

McPhee, Joe/Nilssen-Love, Paal
Tomorrow Came Today
PS, NORWAY Recorded in Olso's Grandsport Studio, an analog studio that perfectly captures the atmosphere & warmth of these improvisations. Free jazz legend Joe McPhee spent one day with drummer Paal Nilssen-Love in studio improvising direct to tape. The music is spontaneous, raw & groovy, but at the same time mellow, melodic & beautiful.
SmalltownSuperjazz-148
CD
$15.25

Medication
Don't Die b/w Fog
PS, US One of the best singles of last year, in fact the only reason it didn't make my year end list was that I didn't actually own a copy yet. Really, really strong loner fuzz vibes with songs to die for. One of the best HoZac releases for sure (and that's high praise.)
HoZacRecords
45
$5.25

Menton, Todd
Dolmen Field
US , PS In true genre-crossing fashion, Menton (BOILED IN LEAD) crosses delicate mandolins & whistles w/ snarling electric guitars, all alongside his powerfully written & played folk ballads. RIYL: Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom.
NewFolk
CD
$16.25

Merzbow
13 Japanese Birds Vol. 1
PS, US First volume of a 13-disc series of limited edition albums (1,000 copies). This 13-month series of releases was inspired by Olivier Messaien's "Catalogue D'Oiseaux." Author, activist, painter, & sound artist Masami Akita has been at the foreground of experimental music for over 25 years. Inspired by psychedelic rock, free jazz, early electronic composition, & the physical arts - especially Kurt Schwitters' "Merzbau" - Akita has created a musical language all his own.
Important
CD
$13.25

Mi Ami
Watersports
PS, US The second newest addition to our roster! San Francisco noise rhythm trio, Mi Ami, features two former members of Dischord cult band Black Eyes. The DC natives have graduated from the angular post h/c steeze into organic, hyper-percussive, post Arthur Russell territory. They have been featured in the Fader and last month's 12" was just reviewed in the New York Times yesterday. This is their first full length. They are on tour constantly and their live show (which frequently evolves into a full on post-Burning Man tribal drum circle) will blow your mind.
Quarterstick
CD
$12.00

Mi Ami
Watersports
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Quarterstick
LP
$13.25

Miller, Evan
Transfigurations On Lap-Steel Guitar
PS, US Iowa City's Evan Miller is never one to stay in the same rut for too long. His earlier releases were composed of Fahey-esque spells, heavily emotional acoustic guitar work emanating tones of nostalgia and simplicity. On Transfigurations On Lap-Steel Guitar, a new zone is crafted with lap-steel guitar and tape collage, creating equally nostalgic music from the other end of the spectrum: delicate, minimal drones. Tones interweave and textures evolve: it is Evan's most personally progressive work, combining past themes and reinterpreting them on another medium: electric lap-steel guitar. Mastered by Pete Swanson. In an edition of 450 full color pro-printed cardboard LP sleeves and printed labels designed by Jeff Witscher (Secret Abuse / Callow God).
Arbor
LP
$13.75

Miller, Niela
Songs Of Leaving
PS, US Culled from a warped acetate cut in 1962, this is the complete songbook of NYC folkie Miller. Claim to fame: she wrote "Baby Don't Go To Town," a song that boyfriend Billy Roberts would steal and "rewrite" as "Hey Joe." Inaugural release on Numero Group's new LP-only imprint. Impeccably designed, housed in thick jackets, & pressed on durable 150g vinyl, you'll know a Numerophon album when you see it, the same way you knew Folkways after that
1st thrift store find.
Numerophon
LP
$15.00

Minus The Bear
Acoustics
PS, US Originally released as a tour only cd, this album contains seven exclusive tracks of MTB doing acoustic (in case the title didn't give it away) versions of some of their classic material. Contains two Menos El Oso tracks (S047), three Planet of Ice tracks (S065), a track off Highly Refined Pirates (S021) and one BRAND NEW SONG.
SuicideSqueeze
LP
$10.75

Mojo
#184 (March 2009) [Magazine + CD]
PS, UK
ZINE
$10.25

Morrison, Van
Astral Weeks
PS, US RESURFACED WAX!!!
WarnerBros
LP
$23.00

Morrissey
Years of Refusal
PS, US PITCHFORK: "Morrissey and his Tormentors continue their 21st century winning streak with a record that, while offering no new twists or surprises, finds the former Smiths co-leader in strong voice-- both as a singer and songwriter."
LostHighway
CD
$15.00

Morrissey
Years of Refusal [deluxe edition]
PS, US Deluxe version of new CD comes w/ a bonus DVD of videos, live performances and an interview w/ Russell Brand.
LostHighway
CD/DVD
$19.00

Morrissey
Years of Refusal
PS, US VINYL VERSION.
LostHighway
LP
$10.75

Mothlite
The Flax of Reverie
PS, US Debut from the wonderfully cinematic Mothlite. The six pieces encompass elements as diverse as choral madrigals cascading with strings, the melody and dissonance of Arvo Part & Moondog and the cinematic, studio-as-instrument manipulationsof Pink Floyd, Coil, Cocteau Twins & late period Talk Talk.
Southern
CD
$15.00

Mountains
Choral
PS, US VINYL VERSION, limited to 1000 worldwide, includes 2 vinyl-exlcusive tracks and a download coupon.
ThrillJockey
DLP
$14.50

Mountains
Choral
PS, US BRANDON ANDEREGG & KOEN HOLTKAMP seamlessly blend pastoral electronic sounds with both field recordings & a plethora of acoustic instruments. The resulting soundscapes are broad in scope & rich in detail, often compared to artists such as Brian Eno & Fennesz. CD version is
presented in a 4-panel mini-LP style jacket.
ThrillJockey
CD
$13.00

Move, The
Anthology 1966-1972 (4 disc import)
PS, UK Apparently, the Move's discography is so complex that not even a lovingly compiled, rarities-laden, career-spanning box set like Salvo's 2008Anthology 1966-1972 can fit everything within the confines of four discs. The devil is in the licensing, as it always is, something that always plagues Move compilations because their last album, Message from the Country, was on Harvest, while their first two -- The Move and Shazam -- were on EMI and the third, Looking On, was on Fly. Typically, the first three albums are grouped together -- as they were on WestSide's 1997 box Movements -- with Message from the Country left lingering on its own, a situation Salvo almost avoids on Anthology by cherry-picking the low-riding heavy blues-rocker "Ella James" and loading up the fourth disc with the wonderful post-Message singles that captured the band at some kind of a zenith: "Tonight," "Do Ya," "Chinatown," "California Man." Although there are parts of Message that are sorely missed, this is enough to help Anthology paint a portrait of the band's full career, but it's a portrait that's slightly skewed, largely because the set relies so heavily on alternate takes and rarities. This approach makes Anthology manna for collectors -- who very well may be the only audience for such a comprehensive box set in 2008 -- as this piles on different mixes, markedly different alternate versions such as an "early piano version" of "Fire Brigade," and a simple acoustic version of "Flowers in the Rain," a bevy of single edits, and a few enhanced stereo takes, plus studio chatter from producer Tony Visconti. It's such a twisting maze that a good guide is necessary and the liner notes by Mark Paytress provide just that with a biographical overview and track-by-track liners. Yet even that is an indication that this box set is intended not as a one-stop for neophytes but a supplement to Salvo's expanded reissues (and EMI's expansion) of Message, as a whopping 30 of the 62 tracks here are previously unreleased, with another seven making their CD debut. Of course, many of these are alternate mixes and takes, but there are some nice unheard items too, including the two-part "Second Class" the early version of Roy Wood's "She's Too Good for Me," and, best of all, four pre-debut tracks that find the band sounding like a Tamla-influenced British beat band, something they never quite were in their art-terrorist incarnation. But in addition to these alternate takes comes an entire disc's worth of unreleased music from the band live at the Marquee in 1968, which is another huge incentive for collectors to pick this up. Some of this was excerpted as the Something Else EP but this gives up a full 12 tracks of the Move at the peak of their powers and they sound monstrous: huge, lumbering, loud, as progressive and primal as the Who, but at once stranger and more of a down and dirty rock & roll band, kicking out versions of "Somethin' Else," "Stephanie Knows Who," "Piece of My Heart," "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher," and "So You Want to Be a Rock & Roll Star." The power of this set, along with the blistering version of "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" and the Nazz's "Open My Eyes" from the Fillmore West in 1969, may be the biggest revelation of the set, and it's also why this collector-bait heavy box isn't just for collectors. Sure, this is loaded up with rarities, but it does give the arc of the band's career, contains most -- but certainly not all -- of their great songs, and provides jolt after jolt of weird, wild, wonderful rock and pop, music that still has the power to intoxicate all these years later. If you're already one of the converted this is essential, but if you haven't learned how to love the Move, this box may still be necessary as there is no one album that contains all their sounds in one place. Besides, the Move were too big to be contained by one box -- at least this one comes the closest to getting it all right. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
SLVO406BX.2
CD-BOX
$48.50

Mr. Bungle
Disco Volante [vinyl re-issue]
PS, US One of the most uncompromising & adventurous major label releases of the '90s featuring vocalist MIKE PATTON (x-FAITH NO MORE). Their 2nd album, originally released in 1995, is an "alternative" record only in the vaguest sense of the word. Incorporating death metal, techno, 50's space age pop & Italian avantgarde. This is probably the most important & groundbreaking release of Patton's storied career, & that's saying a lot. Think Faith No More, John Zorn, Frank Zappa, & Ennio Morricone rolled into one sick stew.
Plain
LP
$16.75

Murder By Death/O'Death
Split
PS, US LIMITED ONE TIME PRESSING! This is 2nd in a series of 7" featuring Murder By Death collaborating w/ other well known indie rock artists. Side A: Murder By Death performing O'Death's "Home" Side B: O'Death performing MBD's "Brother"
MurderByDeath
45
$7.50

Murder City Devils
S-T [re-issue]
PS, US
Subpop
LP
$12.50

Murder City Devils
Empty Bottles Broken Hearts [re-issue]
PS, US
Subpop
LP
$12.50

Murder City Devils
Thelema [re-issue]
PS, US A departure of sorts, the six songs on Thelema (five new and one, "364 Days," taken from the b-side to a limited Paper Bag Series 45) find the six-piece exploring musical terrain that is as informed by the obstacles of their past as it is by an ambitious quest for the unconquered. It's a sound that can't be compared to the influences constantly referenced in early reviews of the band. Having served their purpose, those influences and markers have crumbled away and with Thelema The Murder City Devils have honed a vitality and style entirely their own, one that is elastic in structure, profound in its lyrical content, and melodic-yes, melodic-in tone.
Subpop
12
$9.75

Murder City Devils
In Name & Blood [re-issue]
PS, US On this their third full-length record, The Murder City Devils demonstrate the notion or Rock and Roll as a life or death proposition: tales of love lost (or destroyed), the doomed romanticism of the road (and an innate inability to deny its call), and suffering the slings and arrows of fate (outrageous or otherwise...). "With head, heart and hands - in name and blood."
Subpop
LP
$12.50

Muslims
S-T
PS, US Hot new garage-rock 4-piece out of San Diego drawing comparisons to Modern Lovers and Velvet Underground. This 10-song LP includes a coupon for digital download, & feat. bonus tracks "Nightlife, "Bright Side," & "Extinction." The vinyl jackets & sleeves were silk screened by the band & the jackets were shot by a former NYC Police Officer. Wild. RIYL: Black Lips
1928Recordings
LP
$15.50

My Cat Is an Alien & Mats Gustafsson
Cosmic Debris, Vol. 4
PS, US Experimental powers united!
ASilentPlace
CD
$16.25

Naked Raygun
All Rise
PS, US The 1985 Chicago punk classic. NAKED RAYGUN's 2nd album... RE-MASTERED and sounding better than ever back on wax. Includes bonus remastered versions of their 1987 smash 7"'Vanilla Blue'. 12x18 2 sided color poster full of unreleased photos, lyrics and more. Another one of the greatest punk albums of all time here. Essential!!
HauntedTown
LP
$14.50

Nanda Devi
Fifth Season
PS, US Members of ALTER OF EARTH & HELLAS MOUNDS. Drawing influences from Neurosis, Khanate & Red Sparowes, this is one hell of an evil record.
Cavity
CD
$10.75

New Ruins
We Make Our Own Bad Luck (ON SALE)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Limited to 500, pressed on brick red wax.
AHiddenAgendaRecord-092
LP
$10.00

New Ruins
We Make Our Own Bad Luck (CD/Vinyl Package) (ON SALE)
PS, US CD/LP
AHiddenAgendaRecord-092
CD/LP
$16.50

New Ruins
We Make Our Own Bad Luck (ON SALE)
PS, US We Make Our Own Bad Luck is the new album from Illinois paranormal act New Ruins, the follow-up to their first release, The Sound They Make, from 2007. Droning acoustic/electric rock haunted by rural spectres, songs rendered in sepia-tone, but updated with DIY studio machinations. Since their debut the original duo of songwriters J. Caleb Means and Elzie Sexton has expanded into a quintet, featuring bassist/multi-instrumentalist Paul Chastain (Velvet Crush, Matthew Sweet), drummer Roy Ewing (Braid, Very Secretary), and Andrew Davidson (Tractor Kings, Chemicals) on bass and auxiliary percussion. New Ruins is a band as comfortable in a stage-shaking three-guitar line-up as it is in a more intimate stripped-down acoustic setting.
ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "Dark-hued pop music that strikes a balance between melody-driven pleasure and guitar-fueled malaise."
AHiddenAgendaRecord-092
CD
$9.00

Nice Face
Exterminator b/w F.U.B.A.R. Over You
PS, US In a lot of ways the world can be boiled down into two sorts of people. Those who are gonna be revolted by the cover of this single and those who will be like "Oh, cool the new Nice Face single!" Once you get past the cover the 2nd Nice Face single might be even better than the first one (on Sacred Bones).
HoZacRecords
45
$5.25

Nickel Eye
Time Of The Assassins
PS, US Solo project of STROKES bassist Nikolai Fraiture. Guest appearances by Nick Zinner (YEAH YEAH YEAHS) & REGINA SPEKTOR. Musically influenced by artists such as Neil Young, Frank Black, Leonard Cohen & The Kinks.
Rykodisc
CD
$12.00

Nobunny
Give It To Me b/w Motorhead With Me
PS, US Hot on the heels of the re-issue of the essential "Love Visions" full length comes two more one man wonder punk rock dream tunes. Equal amounts of fun, dumb and essential.
HoZacRecords
45
$5.25

Nous Non Plus
Menagerie
PS, US The band dabbles in their 60's French pop influences but also explore a new sonic landscape mixing Moog synthesizers w/ string sections, horns w/ distorted guitars. Imagine Gainsbourg & Bardot as indie rockers in 2009
Aeronaut
CD
$13.50

NOVA
NOVA: Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives
PS, US Follow EELS front man Mark Oliver Everett on his quest to comprehend the theory of parallel universes while unraveling the remarkable life story of his iconoclastic father Hugh - creator of the radical quantum physics theory - in this installment of the popular PBS series, Nova. Dubbed "one of the most important scientists of the 20th Century" by Scientific America, Hugh Everett III proposed the controversial Many Worlds Theory back in 1957. The basis of that theory is the idea that parallel universes are constantly spinning off from reality as we know it. Though generally ignored at the time, that theory has gone on to become not just a popular topic of study among respected physicists, but the inspiration for such popular films, television shows, and books as Star Trek and The Golden Compass. As a young boy growing up, Mark never understood why his father was so distant. It wasn't that Hugh didn't care about his family, just that his brain was constantly swirling with ideas and concepts, and that anything that pulled him out of his own thoughts was considered something of a distraction. Now the last surviving member of his troubled family, Mark interviews his father's old college friends, colleagues, and admirers - including MIT physicist Max Tegmark - in an emotional journey to not only better understand the man he barely knew in life, but also gain a greater understanding of the ideas that still inspire physicists to this very day. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
WGBHBoston
DVD
$42.00

Odawas
The Blue Depths
PS, US At first glimpse of the album art - details from Helen Maurene Cooper's Birds Of Appetite series - it becomes apparent that a certain surreal quality will mark the contents within The Blue Depths. A sense of longing and desire is buried within the dizzying layers. Odawas heighten the more subtle components of previous efforts, unashamedly giving into their love of Vangelis' romanticism, Eric Serra's dusky mysticism, and the sweeping, Southwestern strings of Jack Nitzsche. They demonstrate their mastery of nudging to the edge of the over the top with enchanting results. The Blue Depths is an album for warmer places, a balmy haze habitat for headphone meanderings. This is a dream world where Neil Young and Jimmy Webb float in the reverb saturated summer breeze. The solemn harmonies of "Moonlight/Twilight" drift between sheets of stirring bowed bass murmur as shimmering guitar notes ebb and flow underneath. Bursts of yearning harmonica arc over ethereal soundscapes in "The Case Of The Great Irish Elk." The jubilant piano of "Harmless Lover's Discourse" gives way to the most startling pop moment of the album, a soaring bed of synth propelled by a driving bass line and vibrant rhythms. Pulses of light extend towards the murky crevasse of the subconscious: these depths never looked so enticing. - Joel Beeman
Jagjaguwar-138
LP
$11.50

Of Montreal
Jon Brion Remix EP
PS, US Grammy-nominated producer Jon Brion has worked with Spoon, Kanye West,
Elliott Smith, and Fiona Apple, as well as scored the films Magnolia, Synechdoche
NY, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. An Elurdian Instance is Brion's most recent masterpiece and finds him reinterpreting two cuts from of Montreal's most recent album Skeletal Lamping. These are by no means remixes, as Brion literally reinterprets the songs by taking the basic tracks and adding more instrumentation and backing vocals, including the work of Nickel Creek vocalist and mandolin-player Chris Thile.
Polyvinyl-172
CD
$6.75

Olson, Mark & Gary Louris
Ready for the Flood
PS, US New collaboration from Jayhawks duo! Although they've toured together and renewed their friendship, this is the first recording by Olson and Louris since Olson left the Jayhawks in 1995. What would become READY FOR THE FLOOD was recorded at Sage & Sound Studios in Hollywood with friend Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes. Louris had called in Robinson, who happened to be in town at that point, for vibe support and he ended up producing the album; he also appears on the album playing harmonica and contributing backing vocals.

READY FOR THE FLOOD captures the stripped down, fingerpicked guitar playing and Laurel Canyon sound of an earlier time, with allusions to English folk Bert Jansch, Nick Drake, John Renbourne, whom both Mark and Gary had both been getting into independently and a simpler, live recording technique where capturing the right vibe was as important as the sound. It s an album that only two career musicians and friends could make organic, intuitive and loosely confident, heartfelt and moving, echoing with the combined experience of two kindred spirits reuniting to do what they do and love best.
NewWest
CD
$17.75

One Up Downstairs, The
The One Up Downstairs
PS, US The One Up Downstairs is members of American Football, Owen, and Very
Secretary. For years The One Up Downstairs was discussed on message boards and became the frequent recipient of questions sent to the Polyvinyl info e-mail account: were they actually a band, did they sound like American Football, did they ever record? The answers to all of these questions are a resounding "yes." In an effort to make the songs available to fans Polyvinyl released the band's only recorded output a few years ago, which led to another question: would the songs ever see a proper release as a 7"? Long sought after, these songs are now available as a 7" that includes a digital download code for the entire release.
Polyvinyl-112
45
$4.00

Orka
Livandi Oyoa CD+DVD
PS, FRANCE Hailing from the remote cliffs, panoramic views and "hidden" civilization of the Faroe Islands, Orka was always bound to be different but the fact that these boys build their own instruments is what makes them truly unique.
LciD'Ailleurs-050
CD/DVD
$16.25

Orka
Livandi Oyoa
PS, FRANCE Hailing from the remote cliffs, panoramic views and "hidden" civilization of the Faroe Islands, Orka was always bound to be different but the fact that these boys build their own instruments is what makes them truly unique.
Icid'Ailleurs-050
LP
$16.25

Our Love Will Destroy The World
Stillborn Plague Angels
PS, GERMANY The gates of Birchville Cat Motel crack, creak wide, and crash, unleashing a gush of soul-fried bleakness and love-damage stained with a defiantly metallic pose. Thats 'METALLIC... as in, has the surface qualities of metal' not 'METAL... as in, has the surface qualities of Metallica'...step back you freaks. Although the broken bricks of BCM are still plain to see amid the burning wreck and ruin, 'Stillborn Plague Angels' represents the first fully formed sentence in a new chapter of Campbell Kneale's ongoing tome of star-spangled, psychedelic, noise-OM. Cholesterol shaving guitar peeks over the trench to survey an adrenalized landscape of endless roaring catastrophe... Everything louder than everything else! Our Love Will Destroy The World is the new one-man project by New Zealander Campbell Kneale after disbanding BIRCHVILLE CAT MOTEL. In the past Kneale has released albums on Ecstatic Peace, Corpus Hermeticum, Last Visible Dog, Conspiracy and his own Celebrate Psi Phenomena label. He has collaborated with Lee Ranaldo, Neil Campbell, Bruce Russel, John Olson (Wolf Eyes), Yellow Swans, has toured throughout Japan, Europe, America and Australia and also records und the names Black Boned Angel and Ming. "Stillborn Plague Angels" is the debut LP by this new project.
Dekorder-030
LP
$13.50

Outrageous Cherry
Universal Malcontents
PS, US This new set of pop songs once again showcases the band's distinctive mid-seventies sensibilities. The album is evocative of artists such as early Roxy Music, Mott the Hoople, Sparks, 10cc & Eno, & meanders at times into the improvisation realms charted by Amon Duul 2, Man, & early Soft Machine. They have reached well-deserved cult status by releasing amazing psych/pop albums on labels such as Bar None, Mind Expansion, & Alan McGee's Poptones.
Alive
CD
$13.50

Owen
(The EP)
PS, US Owen is Mike Kinsella (American Football, Joan of Arc, Cap'n Jazz). Previously only available as a CDEP and import-only 12", (the ep) is the usual blend of beautiful acoustic work and wry lyrics that fans have come to expect from Owen. What separates (the ep) from previous Owen titles is the subtle yet intricate inclusion of Cale Parks (Aloha) on drumming and vibraphones along with Jen Tabor on strings and the pedal steel work of Bob Hoffnar (Nora Jones, Ryan Adams). (the ep) continues Polyvinyl's efforts to release Owen's back catalog on high quality 180-gram vinyl. Digital download codes of (the ep) are included in all vinyl. Includes bonus track.
Polyvinyl-70
12
$10.25

Owen/Joan of Arc/Make Believe/The Love Of Everything
The Association of Utopian Hologram Swallowers (2X7)
PS, US Repress. The Association of Utopian Hologram Swallowers signifies the collaborative efforts of a group of Chicago musicians whose involvement with one another has spawned a host of influential bands, each connected to the other. Includes new songs from • Joan of arc, owen, make Believe, and the love of Everything as well as one surprise bonus track. Second pressing, on colored vinyl (purple and green) for the first time ever. • Double 7" with gatefold cover. • Includes digital download of all the songs.
Polyvinyl-090
45
$7.25

Owl Service
A Garland of Song
PS, US THE OWL SERVICE was formed by STEVEN COLLIN in 2006 as a vehicle to explore his love of British films and television of the 1960s and '70s, the great outdoors and the sound of the English folk revival. A Garland of Song was recorded and mixed almost entirely at home, with a group of like-minded collaborators, between December 2006 and June 2007; it fuses traditional British folk ballads with elements of psychedelic rock, occasionally bordering on a doom-laden garage sound, and is interspersed with Steven's original instrumental compositions. It recalls the great acid-folk bands of the late '60s/early '70s but never once sounds contrived or overtly retro.
Southern
CD
$14.50

Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
S-T
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Slumberland
LP
$11.00

Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
S-T
PS, US Since forming in early 2007, THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART have become one of the most talked-about pop bands in years. Their distinctive style tidily distills all the great noise-pop precedents-early My Bloody Valentine, House of Love, Pale Saints, Rocketship-with incredible exuberance and energy in every song. Following the band's ace Everything With You single and whirlwind Swedish tour, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart is an instant classic, packed with brilliantly executed pop gems that blend the rush of youthful enthusiasm with crafty arrangements, well-honed tunes and buckets of guitar racket. One instantly identifiable thing about a Pains record is the essential "rightness" of their tunes. They have captured the attention of pop fans around the world and raised anticipation levels for this album to a near-fever pitch. Touted by Pitchfork as one of the top 5 to watch in 2009.
Slumberland
CD
$12.00

Paisley, Doug
S-T
PS, US An album of folk songs that represent the American malaise. Sure, PAISLEY is Canadian (Toronto, to be exact) but so was Neil Young & 4/5 of The Band, & that didn't stop them from tapping into the collective psyche of the continent. Recalls an era fo songwriting that was more simple, more honest, more modest. A time before ipods & myspace, when making a good album was simply enough. Doug has toured recently w/ Bonnie "Prince" Billy under the pseudo name Dark Hand & Lamplight, a collaboration between himself & visual artist Shary Boyle. Shary creates live drawings & animates pre-drawn images on an overhead projector - all projected on a screen, on the wall, Doug, & other available surfaces. On NO QUARTER Recs (home of Endless Boogie, Laddio Bolocko, etc). CD comes in deluxe old-style tip-on gatefold sleeve.
NoQuarter
CD
$13.00

Pan American
White Bird Release
PS, US VINYL VERSION.
Kranky-128
LP
$11.50

Pan American
White Bird Release
PS, US The sixth album from Labradford founder Mark Nelson's longtime solo project. PITCHFORK: "White Bird Release is Mark Nelsons sixth solo album and continues with a basic Pan American formula of slow moving evocative ambient, combining acoustic instruments, drones, glitch and dub. The biggest alteration in Nelson's latest work is a greater emphasis on the organic electroacoustic part, where instruments takes a more central stage over dub and glitch elements present in past releases."
Kranky-128
CD
$12.25

Panda and Child
We Must Avoid These Dangers
PS, US Six piece brain child of disaffected indie rockers & radicals from the East Coast, draw musical inspiration from the likes of Sonic Youth, Mogwai, Pavement, Tchaikovsky, Fugazi & Rancid. The sound is broad, ambitious, thoughtful, eclectic, playful, sometimes ramshackle & consistently mindful of the importance of melody over cool.
WoodenMan
CD
$10.00

Parker, Evan / Jaker Flaten, Ingebrigt
Brewery Tap
PS, NORWAY Brewery Tap is the duo of free jazz saxophonist Evan Parker & Norwegian bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten. The recordings on this disc were recorded live at Oslo Jazz Festival the 13th of August 2007 at the Belleville venue.
SmalltownSuperjazz-160
CD
$15.25

Pegasuses-XL
Electro Agitators
PS, US Featuring members of DISBAND, WE VERSUS THE SHARK, DARK MEAT, CINEMECHANICA & BOMB THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. This compilation of the group's first 3 self-released EPs is a synth fueled punk rock experiment w/ nods to 90's hip hop & Kraftwerk. Since the initial release of the EPs, the band has toured the US w/ Girl Talk & Pattern Is Movement.
Ernest Jenning
CD
$10.00

Phantom Band
Checkmate Savage
PS, UK This is where Beefheart meets Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, where Neu! meets nick Cave. The end result however is truly special, bringing to mind the beat savvy of The Beta Band, the other-worldliness of Super Furry Animals & the mood of Hallowed Ground-era Violent Femmes.
ChemikalUnderground
CD
$14.25

Phosphorescent
To Willie
PS, USVINYL VERSION!!!
DeadOceans-013
LP
$12.25

Phosphorescent
To Willie
PS, US In 1975 Willie Nelson recorded the album To Lefty FromWillie, 10 songs in which Nelson pays homage to Lefty Frizell, reinterpreting his favorites from the Frizzell catalog and stamping them with his own unique voice, reshaping them into his own new classics. Now Phosphorescent has done the same for Willie Nelson by bringing us To Willie. Here, Matthew Houck has selected 11 of his favorite Willie Nelson songs and does much more than just simply cover them. He has not selected the greatest hits, but rather digs deep, offering renditions of hidden Nelson gems and lost classics. The songs collected here seem cracked from Phosphorescent's proprietary mold with Matthew Houck's unmistakable voice leading the way. They feel lived in, they feel weathered and they feel just like Phosphorescent. Phosphorescent's 2007 breakthrough album Pride sounded best at the latest of hours-it was narcotic, dreamy and fraught. Following the release of this insomniac masterpiece, Houck toured relentlessly with a solid rock band, turning the meditations of Pride into another beast entirely. Loose and booze-fueled, Phosphorescent put on electrifying performances night after night in which Houck stepped out as confident frontman and band leader. Without question, those hard-living months on the road greatly impacted the To Willie sessions. Houck's swagger and confidence shines through like never before-on songs like "Reasons to Quit" and "I Gotta Get Drunk" Phosphorescent rumbles with a soulful groove that was a fixture of the live show, but was never touched upon in previous recordings. Recalling the finest moments of the late-'70s work of Waylon Jennings and Nelson himself, Phosphorescent has delivered a glorious hangover of an album. It is so much more than a collection of Willie Nelson cover songs-it is a full-blown new classic. But this is not a musical reinvention of the band - Phosphorescent returns with all acknowledged charms in tow; the gentle duet of "It's Not Supposed to be ThatWay," the hauntingly beautiful choir of "Can I Sleep In Your Arms," and the spacious, synth-heavy "Permanently Lonely" all work to pull this album together as a cohesive statement. As the liner notes of Nelson's To Lefty FromWillie simply state: "This album is an unabashed musical love letter. From one towering talent to another."We couldn't have said it better ourselves.
DeadOceans-013
CD
$11.50

Plastic Constellations
Crusades
PS, US Whereas TPC bounced between Pavement-inspired jangle & big rock anthems in the past, Crusades wastes no time establishing the latter over the former. Firmly a rock record; firmly unrelenting. Listen to the lyrics & you'll find the band fighting, uniting, & conquering on each track. Couple that w/ hyper-kinetic guitar work & a thunderous rhythm section, and you'll find TPC recontextualizing heavy music in the indie rock realm, thrusting them above so many less inspired bands.
ModernRadio
LP
$12.00

Point Juncture, WA
Heart To Elk
PS, US The group keep their focus towards modern classics like Yo La Tengo's "I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One" & the Jogges "Solid Guild" while creating something that sounds fresh & entirely exciting.
Mt.Fuji
CD
$12.75

Point Juncture, WA
Heart To Elk
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Mt.Fuji
LP
$16.75

Primus
Saling the Seas of Cheese
PS, US 180gm vinyl LP! Another alternative classic originally released in 1991, available on vinyl for the 1st time since its initial release. The 3rd album from LES CLAYPOOL & co., & 1st for a major label, is a twisted mix of prog rock, funk & punk, w/ a taste for Frank Zappa's humor & Captain Beefheart's guttural growl. One of few bands to have the bass as the prominent instrument, w/ Claypool alternating from funky slaps to throbbing power chords to heavy, heavy solos, the guitar providing almost dissonant texturing beneath the bass' shredding. Feat. the MTV hit "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver," this is an alternative classic that stands up next to the best work of folks like Jane's Addiction & Nirvana.
Plain
LP
$16.75

Punk Rock Fun Time Activity Book
S-T
PS, US Fast-paced send up of punk rock's best bands from the past & present, this fun-filled activity book is more exciting than a night at CBGB. Help Siouxsie Sioux apply her makeup, draw Henry Rollin's tattoos, give Ian Mackaye hair, & complete word searches & drawing games.
ECWPress
BOOK
$8.50

Quad
S-T
PS, UK Also known as No. 1, the material recorded by Sun Dial approximately between 1990-1997 under their alter-ego Quad has been among the most elusive prizes for fans of modern psychedelia, as it was issued many moons ago as an extremely limited transparent LP in a clear plastic sleeve. Mesmerizing, drugged-out and trippy at all times, with sitar and guitar floating in and out and up and down in the mix over some decidedly funky grooves. If there was ever music for DJs to sample, and yet also for heads to enjoy at home, this is it." Comes with elaborate liner notes by Gary Ramon (the whole history of Modern Art & Sun Dial, etc.).
AcmeGramophone/LionProductions
CD
$10.25

Rabid Rabbit
S-T
PS, US Vinyl with free download code! What began as a two piece instrument of terror between Mike Tsoulos & Andrea Jablonski
quickly grew & the buzz saw guitar antics of Gregg Prickett were enlisted. Arman Mabry joined the ranks shortly after on second bass & Rabid Rabbit was spawned. Giving nods to such influences as Sea of Tombs, Earth, Jucifer & Harvey Milk, the band weaves arrangements of doom, rock, jazz & always the heavy low end groan of dual bass.
Interloper
LP
$12.50

Ratatat
Mirando
PS, US Brand new single from last summer's still hot "LP3" LP/CD that features a Yacht remix as well as a remix by Animal
Collective.
XL
12
$6.25

Record Collector
#359 (February 2009)
PS, UK
ZINE
$10.25

Red Light Driver
And Now We Can Be Ourselves
PS, US This atmospheric blend of pop jumps between '70s post-punk (Joy DIvision, Wire), '80s alternative (The Church, Echo & the Bunnymen), & '90s Britpop (Stone Roses, Ride).
MFT
CD
$13.75

Rodriguez-Lopez, Omar
Old Money
PS, US New album from that Mars Volta guy, who's getting almost Pollard-esque in his release schedule, pretty prolific!
StonesThrow
CD
$15.25

Romance of Young Tigers
Marie
PS, US The group guide us through an all-consuming, inherently powerful two-part symphony of glacial-paced chord shifts, electromagnetic static, rumbling surface reverberations & resonating warmth. At times, the sound generated resembles that of an angelic choir, as the apparitional, slow-motion melodic drones thaw, melting layer upon layer of sound into pindrop silence & back again into monolithic walls of noise. Fans of Machinebabriek take note.
MagicBullet
CD
$14.50

Romweber, Dex Duo
Ruins of Berlin
PS, US This promises to be the greatest of Dex's post-FLAT DUO JETS releases thus far, and an exemplary addition to his long and storied career. Here, Dex is joined by his sister Sarah (formerly of LET'S ACTIVE and SNATCHES OF PINK) in a true return-to-form from the man who paved the way for mega-popular two-piece garage engines like Black Keys and the White Stripes. Also included here are duets with such luminaries as CAT POWER, NEKO CASE, and EXENE CERVENKA.
Bloodshot
CD
$12.75

Rose, Ethan
Oaks
PS, US Drawing from his interests in musique concrete, chance operations, & American minimalism, he creates shifting sound experiments that merge the old w/ the new. Much of his recent work has centered on instruments from eras long past, including music boxes, player pianos, carillons, & theater organs. However, he is interested in pulling new sounds & ideas out of these antiquated devices rather than treating them w/ a sense of preservation.
Holocene
CD
$15.75

Roses Kings Castles
S-T
PS, US Adam Ficek's (BABYSHAMBLES) new album of quixotic, chiming, & blissfully astute acoustic pop songs. Lost somewhere between Belle & Sebastian's pastoral warmth & the hallucinatory six-string invocations of Syd Barrett, a typical track is buoyed by the finest elements of classic British songwriting - by turns wry, bizarre and beautiful.
SycamoreClub
CD
$16.25

Sand Pebbles
A Thousand Wild Flowers
PS, US A "best of" compilation from the Australian psych-rock outfit. Influences range from Stones to Spacemen 3 to Stooges to Alice Coltrane, sometimes they sound like Sonic Youth, sometimes like the Byrds
DoubleFeature
CD
$13.50

School of Seven Bells
Alpinsims
PS, US 180 gram gatefold vinyl. Includes CD version inside. LIMITED TO 1000!
GhostlyInternational
LP
$12.75

School Of Seven Bells
Alpinisms
PS, US 180 gram gatefold vinyl. Includes CD version inside. LIMITED TO 1000!
GhostlyInternational-081
LP
$14.00

Sholi
S-T
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Quarterstick
LP
$13.25

Sholi
S-T
PS, US The very newest addition to the Quarterstick/ TG family is also a three piece from San Francisco (like Mi Ami, below). Payam Bavafa (vox, gt) and Jonathan Bafus (drums) started playing music together while studying at UC Davis, by 2006 they had solidified their line-up with the addition of bass player Eric Ruud. They recorded a demo and sent it to Greg Saunier of Deerhoof, who in turn produced this, their first full length album. Equally assured and introspective, Sholi present a stunning debut. Their record release show will be inaugurated at SF's Noise Pop Festival on Feb.28th at Bottom of the Hill.
Quarterstick
CD
$12.00

Sickboy
Time To Play vol. 1
PS, GERMANY People asked for it, it was announced, and here it is: the first of the two vinyl 12" presenting Sickboy's "Time To Play" album on wax, featuring this musician's most infectious, catchiest and most efficient material. While the noise might be gone for good, Sickboy's new clothes are of the colorful party kind. Mixing old school rave, new school electro, breaks and madness, Sickboy hits the nail on its head and invites everybody to play, rave and party non-stop. Refreshing! Featuring big format artwork by Droon and Emily Hasselhoof.
AdNoiseam-107
12
$11.25

Silk Flowers
S-T
PS, US This is a limited edition of 500 7" from NYC's artiest new band and PPM's newest roster addition, Silk Flowers. Ex-members of Soiled Mattress and the Springs, Corpse Kisser, and Emergency bring some 4 track magic that sounds kinda like a chopped and screwed Kraftwerk, with some definite nods to their NYC contemporaries on the Sacred Bones roster (Nice Face, Factums, Blank Dogs, etc..). Expect a full length on PPM this year and hopefully some tour news in the near future.
PPM
45
$4.50

Skull Defekts
Waving
PS, US Limited edition of 300. Screen printed heavy duty jackets. The Skull Defekts is a band from Sweden in the very North of Europe. Their intense, monotonous, rhythmic and sexual out rock has since their start in early 2005 been spreading energies of various kinds to welcoming audiences and listeners. The DFX have also been exploring worlds of noise, the drone and psychedelic electronics on waves on releases for labels like Riot Season, iDEAL, Release The Bats and Conspiracy Records. Their upcoming album for Important Records - "The Temple" (February 2009) can be seen as the follow up to last years "Blood Spirits & Drums Are Singing" (Conspiracy/Nail) but it's deeper, harder, more sex, more occult. A 7" from the album entitled "Waving" with an exclusive B-side is released in 300 copies for their October 2008 tour, also on Important. The tour is their first one in North America but they have played all over Europe and the Skulls have only hit Chicago before... It's time for others to get DFXed. DFX is sex, rhythm and the power of sound.
Important-235
45
$11.50

Sleeper
Behind Every Mask
PS, US Sleeper's latest instrumental release, Behind Every Mask, is a tour de force of digital intrigue, all thick percussion bombs and mysterious electronic pranks showcasing creativity on full tilt. Bypassing most of the stock studio tools of his trade, he has constructed the album using personally modified electronics, sound generators, and effects units, and even turned a dot matrix printer into a drum machine. A light snare might appear amidst juggernauts of hissing, lo-fi samples while patches of sonic luminance amidst the grainy din to keep you guessing. More meditative than maudlin, Behind Every Mask is simply further proof that Sleeper can weld mood and music with the best of Sleeper is an auteur of claustrophobic, sample-based hip-hop production. His work, both as an accomplished musician, and as a respected tattoo and visual artist balances a breadth of spirit with worldly, emotional depth. Finding influence and community in the worlds of classic hip-hop and artistic, experimental rock, Sleeper fills his tracks with sound, but when working with an MC, has a gift for leaving the MC just enough room to create or with the luxury of saying more by saying less. His music is lo-fi with purpose: grainy sounds are used to lend atmosphere to larger, modern electronic sound collages, grimy drums sound out familiar hip-hop patterns beneath thick layers of sound. Sleeper is a craftsman in the truest sense of the word.
Mush-257
CD
$9.00

Sleepover Disaster
Hover
PS, US "Layered soundscapes of guitars married to some pounding post-shoegazer rock" - The Big Takeover
DevilintheWoods
CD
$11.75

Slim Twig
Derelict Dialect
PS, US A chameleonic artist in the tradition of Bowie or Beck, Slim is a performer based out of Toronto. Inspired by pillars of music
and film avant garde like Scott Walker, Nick Cave, Godard and Lynch, Twig's sound has morphed several times from hish early apocalyptic folk incarnation to a fuller art-pop sound to the grittier self-coined genre of "concrete rockabilly." Now collected in 2 EPs, Derelict Dialect and Vernacular Violence..
PaperBag
CD5
$7.50

Slim Twig
Vernacular Violence
PS, US A chameleonic artist in the tradition of Bowie or Beck, Slim is a performer based out of Toronto. Inspired by pillars of music
and film avant garde like Scott Walker, Nick Cave, Godard and Lynch, Twig's sound has morphed several times from hish early apocalyptic folk incarnation to a fuller art-pop sound to the grittier self-coined genre of "concrete rockabilly." Now collected in 2 EPs, Derelict Dialect and Vernacular Violence.
PaperBag
CD5
$7.50

Slowblow
S-T [re-issue]
PS, ICELAND 2004 release, repressed. The Icelandic duet, Slowblow (Orri Jónsson and Dagur Kári Petursson), has been active for over a decade. They have made their mark on the Icelandic underground scene with a certain kind of friendly dust-music. They exhibit a uniquely Icelandic aesthetic of home-made, lo-fi analog tinkerings, which both musically and lyrically blend together the everyday and the fantastic. On the album, Slowblow match the gentle hum of ancient amplifiers and the tinkling hammers of an old upright piano with the soft squeaking of pump organ pedals or the sound of mechanical sewing machines; for them these are not unwanted artifacts, but the very essence of their sound.
Mobile
CD
$15.00

Smith, Elder Utah
I Got Two Wings (BOOK/CD)
PS, US Incidents and Anecdotes of The Two-Winged Preacher & Electric Guitar Evangelist Elder Utah Smith. Despite waxing 3 of the hottest electric guitar records of the pre Rock & Roll years, almost nothing has been known about the life of sanctified electric guitar preacher Elder Utah Smith. Until now. Years of research have produced a remarkable biographical study finally shining a light onto the preaching, healing & guitar playing ministry of this path breaking performer, whose revivals & appearances were as well known & anticipated in his time as any other sacred or secular musician or performer. 128pg book features rare & unpublished photographs & an 18-track CD that includes 5 previously unknown songs"
CaseQuarter
BOOK/CD
$18.00

Sok, G.W. (The Ex)
Into The Gravy
PS, US For this booklet (#45) we reprinted essays by G.W. Sok, a member and vocalist of the Dutch music group The Ex. This 1989 essay was originally published in the book "Threat by Example" which is out of print and will not be reprinted. The essay includes a funny and caustic take on the corporate music industry as well as wonderful reflections on The Ex's group practice and their efforts to build and work in an ethical and independent international network. G.W. Sok has written a new introduction to the text and designed all new layout for the booklet. The Ex continue to inspire us all the time with new and exciting collaborations. A fascinating group that is not to be missed live and has an endless and rich back catalog of great recordings. Visit www.theex.nl to learn more and hear some of their music.
ZINE
$3.00

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin/Puzzle
Split
PS, US Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin is a critically acclaimed, blog-adored band that have shared the stage with Mute Math, of Montreal, Sound Team, Catfish Haven, Chin Up Chin Up, and more. They've headlined in Europe and even made their way to their namesake's homeland of Russia. Spin declared them the band that "could succeed The Shins," and enthusiastic press rolled in. After releasing their sophomore album, Pershing, earlier this year, the band has raised the bar even higher and gained the attention of many listeners, drawn to their massive hooks and quirky melodies. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin entered the studio yet again to record these two exclusive 7" songs, and asked their friends from the band Puzzle to do the same. Puzzle is a four-piece band from Liverpool, England that ShoutandTwist.com calls "feel-good indie pop but in a really amazing magical way." Every 7" includes a free digital download code.
Polyvinyl-159
45
$4.00

Sound Of Arrows, The
M.A.G.I.C.
PS, SWEDEN The Sound of Arrows has gathered a young chanting school class, a girl singer from Tokyo and a handful of well-hidden un-cleared samples, which they've mixed with bouncy analogue synthesizers, soulful guitars and orchestral instruments over a hundred recording channels. The result is a marvelous mix of old TV shows for children, old school hip-hop, new disco and timeless pop hits! The Sound of Arrows debut EP "Danger!" gave them a minor indie hit on both the domestic and the international scene. The song was used in one of the world's most popular TV series, Gossip Girl, reached #1 on the Elbo.ws chart and got them touring halfway across the world. But ToA is not the kind who becomes stressed by success. The new single "M.A.G.I.C." clearly proves they've already improved and developed further since the debut and that the future definitely belongs to The Sound of Arrows. The title track comes in five different versions and they throw in a cozy little track called "Smalltown lullaby" in which a storyteller is backed up with angelic vocals, falling stars and jingle bells. The remixes encompasses several decades. They enter the 70s with the circus sounding version from Ice Cream Shout, the 80s with the up and coming NYC-retro-duo Let's Get Invisible, the 90s is delivered with breakbeats and trip hop sounds of the Uffie och Pharell-remixer Curtis Vodka. And finally, the 00_s and the future are presented by the CSS of Spain, Cof Cof. The Sound of Arrows is right now working on their debut album that will be out in the spring of 2009.
Labrador-119
CD5
$9.50

Soundtrack of Our Lives, The
Communion [domestic vinyl version] (ON SALE)
PS, US VINYL VERSION! Translucent wax in a swank double-gatefold jacket, comes with download codes, made in USA. Domestic DCD will be released March 3rd.
YepRoc/Akashic
DLP
$21.00

Spiritual Singers
Ntsamina
PS, US Teenage Congolese gospel group from the early '80's. Male & female vocals. From slow dirges to fast African rockers. A truly unique record. Beautiful tip-on sleeve might be one of Mississippi's finest yet.
Mississippi
LP
$12.75

Stars Of The Lid
Music for Nitrous Oxide
PS, US Repress/reissue. DEBUT OF THE CLASSIC FROM THE POST-ROCK DRONE MASTERS. NEW VERSION RE-MASTERED WITH NEW COVER ART. This was sedimental's first cd release back in 1994. Robert Ovetz (Ultrasound) mentioned this guy Adam who was doing amazing 4-track stuff at home. I think the name of the tape he gave me was called "Ombudsman". The success of this release was a nice surprise and certainly having Joel at Cargo champion it, who was just getting Kranky going as well, certainly put us both out there. Ultimately, SOTL ended up at Kranky and are still making amazing recordings for them. Many say this is still their favorite Lid release, although I am partial to the "Ballested Orchestra" too. It certainly remains a powerful touchstone for and precursor to, the post-whatever independent music scene and still sounds incredibly solid and undated today. Though Stars founder Adam Wiltzie has admittedly distanced himself from the release in terms of artistic terms he felt it was time to re-visit and re-fresh the work with a new mastering job, as well as having new artwork designed by longtime visual collaborator Craig McCaffrey. Sedimental has always kept the document in print in its original form with a remarkably steady stream of sales, but we welcomed the opportunity to update the release and make it more widely available to a new generation, so to speak. Below are excerpts from the original press release which still seem quite relevant and accurate: Sedimental announces the first CD from Austin drone stars Stars of the Lid, an amazing 4-track recording that is created in the spirit of Eno, Main, and Spacemen 3. Produced without keyboards, this lo-fi ambient journey employs predominately guitar, avoiding typical rock elements while still possessing the "home" recorded feel of so much independent music. Being based in Austin, a town loaded with so many heavy guitar bands, one wonders how they came to make such hypnotic and engaging sounds. Especially when Stars mastermind Adam Wiltzie is involved with so many "rock" bands himself, having recorded Ed Hall's Motherscratcher and its forthcoming release, the Flaming Lips Peel Sessions, as well as running sound for Bad Livers, and Doo Rag tours. Citing Cage, Spacemen 3, Robert from Main and Loop, nitrous oxide, and Bedhead as artistic inspirations, he also comments the group is a reaction against the "muscle" rock and C&W that dominates the Austin music scene and a way to withdraw from it. Despite their current unknown status, we at Sedimental were so impressed by the music of Stars of the Lid , we felt it worthy of our first CD release. After giving this a few listens (especially the brilliant trio of tracks 7,8, and 9), we are sure you will think they belong on the same plateau as EAR, Labradford, Main, and Organum.
Sedimental-023
CD
$12.25

STNNNG
Fake Fake
PS, US Dual-shock guitars of ADAM BURT & NATE NELSON rounded by the ranting & writhing of CHRIS BESINGER are what STNNNG fans have come to know & love. 10 tracks w/ breakneck force. RIYL: The Fall, Shellac, US Maple, early SST. "The group doesn't perform a 2-guitar, 100-proof brand of angular punk as much as it unleashes it" - Punk Planet
ModernRadio
CD
$10.25

STNNNG
Fake Fake
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
ModernRadio
LP
$13.50

Strand Of Oaks
Leave Ruin
PS, US Debut full length takes cues from luminaries such as Nebraska era Bruce Springsteen and a burgeoning Neil Young.
LaSocieteExpedion
CD
$12.00

Strings Of Consciousness & Angel
S/T
PS, US Featuring members of Pan Sonic & Mum! This is collaboration between Angel (containing members of Mum and Pan Sonic) and Strings Of Consciousness. This dense and droney construction echoes platinum reflections with warm fluidity and delicate detail. The more attention you'll bestow on that record, the more unsuspected new paths you'll be invited to wander about. This is an intricate and imaginative soundtrack with several layers of sound, gathering both organic and sonic elements to assemble a post-industrial sound structure. The latter will give life to a noisy magma where unexpected clicks stumble over interferences, where digital accidents happen and where drones, acoustic resonance fill the space in time. A multitude of digital notes will slowly stretch to reach a dark-grey chaos, a pure and clean big bang echoing and calling lost sound memories. ANGEL: Ilpo Väisänen (Finland), worked with Ultra 3, Sinø and is half of world famous duo Pan Sonic Dirk Dresselhaus (Germany) releases under the pseudonym SchneiderTM who are signed to City Slang and Mute America. Hildur Gudnadottir plays cello for Mum, Johannes Johannsson, Stillupsteypa, BJ Nilsen, and has a prominent feature on the recent Pan Sonic CD. ... As Angel they have released albums on BiP_Hop and Oral. And now signed to Mego.
Important-227
CD
$13.00

Subtle Turnhips
F* the People F* the Power, F* the People to the Power b/w Dinner Time" & "Summer Wine
PS, US
HoZacRecords
45
$5.25

SubtractiveLAD
Where the Land Meets The Sky
PS, US Bonus CD is limited to 1000. Producing five albums of high quality in only five years is a monumental task. Yet, this is precisely what Stephen Hummel, who records as SubtractiveLAD, has done and with seeming ease. With "Where The Land Meets The Sky", Hummel's fifth full-length for n5MD, the SubtractiveLAD sound has been perfected to such effect that it allows Hummel to concentrate on conveying his deepest feelings rather than the processes that go into music making. The album serves as an extension of Hummel's previous album "Apparatus" (2008) and effortlessly flows between such genres as shoegaze, armchair electronica, post-rock, and classic ambient. Stylistically it seems far away from his debut "Giving Up The Ghost" and in theory it is. Yet, Hummel has led us on a journey that for the patient has yielded great rewards. The first 1000 copies of "Where The Land Meets The Sky" come with a bonus disc of over 45 minutes of SubtractiveLAD style classically influenced ambient.
n5MD-165
DCD
$14.00

Suburban Kids With Biblical Names
#4
PS, SWEDEN Oh, how we've been waiting for this moment! A three years long hiatus is finally over and Suburban Kids with Biblical Names return to exceed every expectation. #4 is four-track-smash-hit-EP that introduces a wide range of new delicate musical flavors. The Kids mix British soul, tropical rhythms and Turkish disco with a bittersweet taste of lonely afternoons listening to Swedish radio. Nothing less than brilliant! Suburban Kids with Biblical Names' debut #3 was released in 2005 and received amazing reviews in Sweden and was even nominated for a Swedish Grammy. The album was later released on Minty Fresh in North America (2006) and Yesboyicream in the UK (2007) that further spread the word about their playful, catchy and highly unique pop sound. Listening to the band's new songs three distinct changes in sound instantly comes to mind; they've multiplied the number of instruments in their line-up, they've introduced soul and they sing in Swedish well, (at least on one of their songs!). Suburban Kids with Biblical Names in 2009 produce their music with chaotic playfulness. The songs seem to be living a life of their own, going through a large number of transformations before being finished. One and the same song usually passes around five different versions (a song might start as a slow country and western ballad and end up as energetic Afro pop) before the band is happy and the song is finished. It's definitely not a time efficient way of working. But, it does seem to make wonders for the final result.
Labrador-107
CD5
$9.50

Super Vacations
S-T
PS, US Limited to 500, with a somewhat tenuous Wavves connection! Based out of Norfolk, VA, The Super Vacations provide a great body high with their circa The Who meets Dick Dale meets pure timeless pop tunes with a lo-fi recording. Their sound is akin to seminal "nuggets" less aggro Black Lips, and a whole lot of 13th Floor Elevators. "Everybody loves vacations. especially super ones. And if everyone loved gritty lo-fi pop music, that would be cool too." - BmoreMusic Blog
Shadowplay
LP
$11.00

Svarte Greiner
Kappe
PS, US LP version. Erik Skodvin's (DEAF CENTER) second full-length. His debut "Knive" was a milestone in doom music - kick-starting a sub-genre as he used cello, violin & rattling miscellanies to conjure up blood-curdling soundscapes. This continues his blackened underworld cruise, furthering his mysterious, cinematic sound. Four fated psalms in honor of the dark Northern lords.
Type
LP
$19.75

Temporary Conversations
Temporary Conversations: The Dicks
PS, US This booklet, #82, is the third in our interview series Temporary Conversations. Some excerpts from the introduction:

"The Dicks were confrontational right out of the gate. A seminal band, and not just because singer Gary Floyd sometimes threw condoms filled with fake cum into the crowd.

By all accounts, the Dicks challenged their audiences and revealed new possibilities. They made their concerts a hell of an experience and created memorable political music with a sound that was completely their own.

The Dicks formed in Austin in 1980. They relocated to San Francisco and changed personnel halfway through the duration of the group, before breaking up in 1986."

... "For this booklet we wanted to include not just members of the Dicks' Austin line up, but also hear from others who witnessed their Texas years. Tim Kerr of the Big Boys, a band that shared many shows and the aforementioned live split LP with the Dicks, offers a short but sweet recollection. Austin Chronicle writer Margaret Moser agreed to a full interview where she describes the musical landscape of Austin leading up the Dicks' formation, as well as the personal impact their music had for her. Photographer Bill Daniel sent us some photos from the Dicks' Texas years and Dave Ensminger and Ryan Richardson scanned examples from their flyer collections. The Dicks' singer Gary Floyd took some questions via e-mail and Dicks bassist Buxf Parrot was interviewed on the phone."
ZINE
$3.00

Temporary Conversations
Temporary Conversations: Tim Kerr
PS, US This booklet, #81, is the second in our interview series Temporary Conversations. Some excerpts from the introduction:

"Tim Kerr is a musician, studio engineer and visual artist based in Austin, Texas. He played guitar in the Big Boys, an Austin band that was heavily responsible for putting Texas on the map in the punk and hardcore underground.

The Big Boys lasted from 1979-1984. Kerr went on to play in numerous other bands, including Poison 13, Bad Mutha Goose and the Brothers Grimm, MonkeyWrench, Jack O' Fire, Lord High Fixers, King Sound Quartet, the Now Time Delegation, and most recently, Total Sound Group Direct Action Committee. He has also recorded and produced (or, as he modestly says, "... [B]een a guidance counselor,") for dozens of bands on nearly 150 releases.

In addition to all of that, Kerr has increasingly immersed himself in painting and drawing. Since 2000, he has widely exhibited his works, which commonly pay tribute to exactly the kind of musical, social and political revolutionary ass-kickers that one would expect a trailblazer like Kerr to be inspired by.

If Tim Kerr had only played in any one of his bands, or recorded a few of the great records he's helped bring into existence, he would have paid his musical dues and then some. Thankfully, he remains as creatively hyperactive as ever, while paying the bills by working for the University of Texas (UT), along with his wife Beth, where he digitizes audio and video collections for the archives of their libraries."

This is easily one of the most extensive interviews with Tim Kerr that we have ever seen. He has an incredibly positive and inspiring approach to life, creativity, and working with others that we are excited to be able to share. In addition to the interview, this includes photos by Bill Daniel, Tim's wife Beth Kerr, and others. It also features multiple illustrations of Tim's art, as well as punk fliers that he designed in the early 1980s. Now what are you doing to participate?
ZINE
$3.00

These Are Powers
All Aboard Future
PS, US Don't fear the future. These are Powers have come to conjure the new musical golden age you've been waiting for-one of insistence, intensity, and light. And yes, you can dance to it. These Are Powers are known for the dissonance of their early recordings, a cacophony of rhythms and industrial/electronic experiments that recalled Throbbing Gristle one moment, DNA the next. Once rule-breakers, the band is now rewriting those rules with a newfound focus: behold All Aboard Future. Exotic, abstract, handcrafted sounds-made, found and electronically born-underscore each of these nine songs. Some wail from Pat Noecker's prepared bass; others stem from the idiosyncratic vocal and guitar style of Anna Barie. The two trade off vocal duties, and in the process dissonant sounds become melodies held together and torn apart in fits by Bill Salas' electro-acoustic beats. At first listen, much of Salas' rhythmic contribution sounds as if it could be pre-programmed, but these abstract rhythms are all performed live, interspersing nods to Timbaland with an appreciation for a car crash's metal-on-metal grind. Ferocious and unhinged, when These Are Powers perform live, it is a kind of spiritual journey, a futuristic fire dance hailing from Chicago and Brooklyn. The bass smolders, topping its low-end sub-rumble with a high-end flutter; abstract beats emanate from the electro-acoustic stand-up drum kit. And piercing through is Anna Barie's guitar while she and Noecker call and respond. Barie blasts through a litany of expressive guitar sounds and full-throated yelps and howls with a confrontational, explosive energy that often finds her entangled with audience members, leaping through the air, or sprawled on the floor in front of the stage. With All Aboard Future, These Are Powers have embraced collaborators, demonstrating their participating in not only a music community, but a community of ideas. The band invited 13 visual artists from Chicago, New York and Beijing to interpret All Aboard Future, either drawing from the musical ideas of the album or solely the album title. The artwork adorns the pages of All Aboard Future's accompanying booklet. Photography, painting, collage, text and more-the record becomes the collective expression of artists creating in many media. All Aboard Future was written and recorded in Chicago during the summer of 2008, and follows the band's 2007 debut LP, Terrific Seasons, and 2008's six song Taro Tarot. All Aboard Future is not just a new album from These Are Powers. It's a seismic shift. A new idea. And the sentiment is real. All Aboard Future!
DeadOceans-023
CD
$11.50

These Are Powers
All Aboard Future
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
DeadOceans-023
LP
$14.25

Thieves Like Us
Play Music
PS, US Vinyl. Thieves Like Us is a musical vehicle -- an elegant starship, pointed straight to the heart of the listener. Although
they encompass a variety of influences, they ultimately consider themselves to be a pop band. Yes, the production style is both disco & hip-hop, but the sheer strength of the melodies & emotional depth of the songs makes them classics (think LCD Soundsystem, New Order, Daft Punk, Digitalism). But no matter how you interpret Thieves Like Us if you have a pulse, you'll know their songs by heart already
Shelflife
LP
$12.25

Thirteenth Assembly, The
(un)sentimental
PS, US Though each member of the 13th Assembly is acclaimed in their own right (including Taylor Ho Bynum who has worked extensively with Anthony Braxton) this group is very much a singular musical experience. A planned NPR piece should help raise exposure for this sublime recording. The Thirteenth Assembly began as a touring collective made up of four musicians and four musically distinct small ensembles: Tomas and Taylor's duo; Mary and Jessica's duo; Taylor's trio with Mary and Tomas; and the collaborative quartet featured on this recording. The group is a microcosm of an exciting community of young New York musicians that is beginning to receive international attention, a new generation of artists comfortable referencing AACM and Morton Feldman, Otis Redding and the Melvins, yet dedicated to finding their own individual and collective voices. While each musician in the Thirteenth Assembly brings a highly varied and diverse set of influences and aesthetics to the table, the shared experiences and long friendships help create a powerfully unified ensemble sound. From the soul-inflected lyricism of Pavone's Hate Fields to the driving jazz energy of Fujiwara's Chantal to the distorted power chords of Halvorson's Pinched, (un)sentimental traverses many stylistic paths, but the album as a whole captures a snapshot of contemporary music at its most exciting. The Thirteenth Assembly began as a touring collective made up of four musicians and four musically distinct small ensembles: Tomas and Taylor's duo; Mary and Jessica's duo; Taylor's trio with Mary and Tomas; and a newly formed collaborative quartet. We see this project as a chance for us to pool our resources, to work together and support each other through all the creative and business complexities of music making. In live performances, each group performs a short set, but this CD focuses on the quartet music.
Important-231
CD
$13.00

Throw Me The Statue
Purpleface
PS, US Purpleface is the new EP from Seattle band Throw Me The Statue. The four-piece, led by founder/frontman Scott Reitherman, has spent the majority of 2008 touring the US and Europe supporting its critically acclaimed debut, Moonbeams. While on the road, TMTS has explored the depths of its sound, recreating its playful mystique, and emerging as a proficient and an even more engaging live act. Purpleface is the direct result of this time, albeit showing a bit of a softer side than its predecessor. Purpleface features three brand new songs-"Ship," "Honey Bee," and "That's How YouWin"- and a reworking of the Moonbeams cut, "Written In Heart Signs, Faintly." The EP's standout track, "Ship," is an understated yet inventive gem that offers the listener yet another glimpse of Reitherman's prowess and range as a songwriter.
SecretlyCanadian-198
CD5
$5.50

Tight Phantomz/Tornavalanche
Split
PS, US TIGHT PHANTOMZ are almost solely influenced by straight ahead rock, w/ nods to the best elements of AC/DC, Motorhead, & DLR-era Van Halen. TORNAVALANCHE grew out of the dissolution of TEN GRAND & FORSTELLA FORD, and this is their debut release. Dual drum attacks & jarring startstops exhibit their heavier, no-holds-barred rock empasis.
ModernRadio
45
$5.25

Tombs
Winter Hours
PS, US Also on LP. The austere & appropriately-titled album is a somber, sobering affair that brings together hypnotic
psychedelic harmonies, lush & introspective sonic textures, & a relentless intensity found in the most blackened metal to stunning effect. Whether through driving melodies, explosive noise, or the most fragile of interludes, this hits hard & resonates deeply w/in the listener. RIYL: Boris, Jesu, Mogwai, Rosetta
Relapse
LP
$20.50

Two Tongues
S-T
PS, US New emo/pop/punk effort by members of SAY ANYTHING and SAVES THE DAY.
Vagrant
CD
$15.00

Uncut
#141 (March 2009) [Magazine + CD]
PS, UK
ZINE
$10.25

Vampire Hands
Me & You Cherry Red
PS, US Hot Twin Cities band seamlessly blends psych, experimental, noise, garage, dub, glam, and pop leanings into something more satisying than simply the sum of those parts. RIYL: T. Rex, Panda Bear, Stooges. "Their guitar sound is like sweet blue smoke unfurling over a roomful of longhairs on velour pillows" - Chicago Reader
ModernRadio
12
$13.50

Vanisher
Tic-Tac Tactic
PS, US 2004 release in stock for the first time. Sweden's HAKAN LIDBO takes his devastating Stockholm sound to Spectral Sound under the guise of THE VANISHER dropping the thickest, deepest acid-funk track you'll hear this side of an old-school Manchester warehouse party. OSBORNE's "Simulacrum Mix" rounds out the 12-inch with a distinctly more upbeat sound, a perfect complement to Lidbo's darker tones.
SpectralSound
12
$13.00

Various
Money Will Ruin Everything: 2nd Edition (DCD/BOOK)
PS, US Rune Grammofon celebrates 5 more years of releases w/ the 2nd edition of "Money Will Ruin Everything," an incredible 2CD/book package, expanded & improved from the last edition into a 152-page hardcover book, designed by KIM HIORTHOY. Two CDs of new music from artists such as ULTRALYD, DEATHPROD, FOOD, SUSANNA & THE MAGICAL ORCHESTRA.
RuneGrammofon
DCD
$60.00

Various
Colorfield Variations
PS, US Colorfield Variations is a collection of audio/visual works reinterpreting the Color Field movement by an international array of critically acclaimed sound and new media artists and assembled by curator and sound artist Richard Chartier. Color Field painting, an abstract style that emerged as a new direction in American painting in the 1950s following Abstract Expressionism, is characterized by canvases painted primarily with stripes, washes and fields of solid color. An alternate but less frequently encountered term for this style is chromatic abstraction. As the first critically acclaimed art movement to originate in the United States's capital, the Washington Color School was key to the larger Color Field movement. As a reaction to the emotional energy and gestured surfaces of Abstract Expressionists, the Color Field artists broke away from the individual mark in favor of pure color itself becoming the main content of the work. By breaking painting down to its formal and fundamental elements, the Color Field artists created pure, simplified, large format, color-dominated fields on often monumental scale utilizing the full psychological power of color. Artists such as Clyfford Still, Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Helen Frankenthaler, Sam Gilliam, Larry Poons, Gene Davis, Jules Olitski, and others eliminated recognizable imagery from their canvas and presented abstraction as an end in itself with each work being a cohesive image. The Color Field movement can be seen as a precursor to the themes and aesthetics of the subsequent Minimalist movement. This program in its original form with special live audio/visual performances by Ernest Edmonds + Mark Fell and Sawako at the Corcoran Gallery of Art was commissioned by Washington Project for the Arts as part of the citywide ColorField.Remix events which took place in April-June 2007 in Washington, DC, celebrating The Washington Color School. Since its creation, Colorfield Variations continues to be screened internationally. TRACKS: STEVE RODEN dark over light earth * 13:00 ALAN CALLANDER CF01 * 04:52 FRANK BRETSCHNEIDER looping i-vi (excerpt) 12:00 STEPHAN MATHIEU Orange was the color of her dress * 10:00 SUE COSTABILE + BEEQUEEN AMP_SWELL 03:49 TEZ CF #1~2n * 05:10 TINA FRANK + GENERAL MAGIC Chronomops 02:00 BAS VAN KOOLWIJK FDBCK/AV - Silver 03:29 CHRIS CARTER + COSEY FANNI TUTTI Chronomanic Redux * 10:00 RYOICHI KUROKAWA Scorch 03:04 SAWAKO Flirting 07121602 * 03:15 EVELINA DOMNITCH + DMITRY GELFAND Ten Thousand Peacock Feathers in Foaming Acid 08:00 ERNEST EDMONDS + MARK FELL Broadway One (excerpt) 02:00 *created for Colorfield Variations.
Line-038
DVD
$20.25

Various
Just Like Heaven: A Tribute to The Cure
PS, US "Just Like Heaven - A Tribute To The Cure" features 16 new cover versions of Cure songs by The Wedding Present, The Brunettes, Devics, Dean & Britta (Luna), The Submarines, The Rosebuds, Grand Duchy (Violet Clark & Black Francis), Joy Zipper, Elk City , and many more. Produced by Joe Spadaro and Gwen Hysler (American Laundromat Records), mastering by Kim Rosen at Alan Douches' West West Side Music (Galaxie 500, Ben Folds Five, Luna, The Wrens), and original album art & design by Rhode Island Illustrator Melinda Rainsberger . Early press is fantastic for this one. Brought to you by the same label who produced the critically acclaimed Neil Young benefit CD "Cinnamon Girl - Women Artists Cover Neil Young For Charity", and the popular 80's tribute "High School Reunion - a tribute to those great 80's films!" All Music Guide called it "one of the finest tribute records ever produced" and went on to say "let this serve as a blueprint for all future tribute sets". Highly recommended for Cure fans or any of the bands covering the Cure on this excellent tribute compilation. Tracklisting: 01. "Just Like Heaven" performed by JOY ZIPPER 02. "The Lovecats" performed by TANYA DONELLY & DYLAN IN THE MOVIES 03. "Lovesong" performed by THE BRUNETTES 04. "In Between Days" performed by KITTY KARLYLE 05. "Friday I'm In Love" performed by DEAN & BRITTA 06. "Jumping Someone Else's Train" performed by LUFF 07. "Boys Don't Cry" performed by THE SUBMARINES 08. "Close To Me" performed by ELK CITY 09. "The Walk" performed by THE ROSEBUDS 10. "Pictures Of You" performed by ELIZABETH HARPER & THE MATINEE 11. "Let's Go To Bed" performed by CASSETTES WON'T LISTEN 12. "Catch" performed by DEVICS 13. "A Night Like This" performed by JULIE PEEL 14. "10:15 Saturday Night" performed by THE POEMS 15. "A Strange Day" performed by GRAND DUCHY (Violet Clark & Black Francis) 16. "High" performed by THE WEDDING PRESENT
AmericanLaundromat-018
CD
$13.00

Various
Factory Records: Communications 1978-92
PS, UK 4-CD boxset! Rhino Records UK is pleased to announce the release of Factory Records: Communications 1978-92. A Factory Box Set celebrates the label from the first release "A Factory Sample" through an extremely diverse roster of acts from the cutting edge post punk of A Certain Ratio, Cabaret Voltaire, The Railway Children, OMD, James and Joy Division to obscurities such as Section 25, Biting Tongues, Crispy Ambulance, Miaow and Swamp Children via early dance culture - ESG and 52nd Street, to the full flowering of the 'Madchester scene', ending fittingly with the last Factory release, "Sunshine and Love" by Happy Mondays.
Rhino
CD-BOX
$61.00

Various
Dark Was The Night: Red Hot Compilation
PS, US On the occasion of WORLD AIDS DAY today, December 1st a press announcement
was made with the complete list of participating artists and cover art for the upcoming 4AD release Dark Was The Night. Dark Was The Night will be released on February 17th, 2009. Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National produced the album, and John Carlin, the founder of the Red Hot Organization was the executive producer. A total of 31 exclusive tracks have been recorded for the compilation. It will be available as a double cd/triple viny and will benefit the Red Hot Organization - an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Red Hot was founded on the premise that even without a cure, AIDS remains a preventable disease - and music is a great vehicle to raise money and awareness for it. This is the 20th year of Red Hot, and this is the 20th release!

The complete list of artists (in alphabetical order) that recorded tracks for this release is:
Andrew Bird, Antony + Bryce Dessner, Arcade Fire, Beach House, Beirut, Blonde Redhead + Devastations, Bon Iver, Bon Iver & Aaron Dessner, The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez, Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti), Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues, The Decemberists, Dirty Projectors + David Byrne, Kevin Drew, Feist + Ben Gibbard, Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear + Feist, Iron & Wine, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Kronos Quartet, Stuart Murdoch, My Brightest Diamond, My Morning Jacket, The National, The New Pornographers, Conor Oberst & Gillian Welch, Riceboy Sleeps, Dave Sitek, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, Yeasayer, Yo La Tengo
4AD
DCD
$13.00

Various
I Woke Up One Morning In May
PS, US Sequel to Mississippi's stellar "Last Kind Words" comp. All country blues recorded between 1927-1R9e3c4o. rFdesat. favorites such as MEMPHIS MINNIE, LOTTIE KIMBROUGH, & ROBERT WILKINS. This slab also has a few of our favorite obscurities like LITTLE HAT JONES & LOUIE LASKY. 14 songs - ALL
Mississippi
LP
$12.75

Various
Mindrocker: Anthology of 60s U.S.-Punk Garage Psych
PS, US Originally released in 2002, now reissued. The Past & Present label presents a new kind of psych-rock compilation: Mindrockers. With the vast amount of '60s garage and psych compilations that have appeared from around the world in the last few years, it's easy to understand why so many fans of the genre have felt overwhelmed by the deluge. There are, however, a select group of compilations that are widely regarded as genuine must-haves for collectors of '60s singles. Alongside Nuggets, Rubbles, Pebbles, Endless Journey, Chocolate Soup For Diabetics and the Perfumed Garden, Mindrockers stands out as a treasure trove of '60s U.S. psych and garage music. Widely applauded for its high sound quality and detailed liner notes, courtesy of Hans-Herman Pohle, Mindrockers is widely-regarded as the launching-point of many a U.S. psych collection as well as an affordable way to locate rare singles by bands which went on to record classic albums for major record companies. Originally released as a 13 volume series of LPs between 1982-1986 on Line Records and Impact. Numbered limited edition boxed set of 1000 copies. Artists include: The Brogues, Chosen Few, The Au Go-Go's, Chris Morgan & The Togas, The Knickerbockers, The Tikis, Mark & The Escorts, The Other Half, The Jefferson Handkerchief, Peanut Butter Conspiracy, The Seeds, Fire Escape, The Lyrics, Fenwyck, The Del-Vetts, The Banshees, Saturday's Children, The Knaves, Pride & Joy, Sounds Unlimited, The Shadows Of Knight, Oscar & The Majestics, The Lost Agency, The Shady Daze, The Family, Cherry Slush, The Trolls, The Factory, The Charlatans, The Shades, The McCoys, The Myddle Class, The Next Five, The Everpresent Fullness, The Balloon Farm, The Shags, the Fifth Order, The Shape Of Things, The Marauders, The Gray Things, The Kords, The Moving Sidewalks, The Great Believers, Scott McKay Quintet, A-440, Johnny Winter, The Things, The Stoics, The Pandas, The Bad Roads, Satori, Lindy Blaskey & The Lavells, The Standells, Faine Jade, The Leaves, The Music Explosion, We The People, Lord & The Flies, Mathew Moore Plus Four, The Soul Trippers, The Thyme, The Warner Brothers, Capt Groovy & His Bubblegum Army, Gas Company, The Felicity, Lyme & Cybelle, The Fantastic Zoo, The Baroques, The Uniques, John Fred & His Playboys, The Group, The Lost Souls, Jamie Lyons, Randy Fuller, Mark IV, The Bad Seeds, The Surprise Package, The Playboys Of Edinburg, The Rising Sons, Larry Williams & Johnny Watson with Kaleidoscope, The Sparrow, The Denims, The Fugitives, The Bushmen, Family Tree, The Newports, Poother, Unlimited, The Aztecs, Joey Paige, The Minitmen, Head Lyters, The Beeds, The New Yorkers, Saturday's Garbage, The Others, Stained Glass, Liverpool Five, Stone Country, Bedforde Set, The Blue Things, King Bees, The Knight Riders, The Music Machine, The Royal Guardsmen, The Whether Bureau, The Uncalled For, Teddy & The Pandas, The Energy Pack, The Fallen Angels, Primrose Circus, The Wildflower, Euphoria, The Other Side, The Harbinger Complex, The Bold, The Outcasts, Thomas A. Edison Electric Band, The Rationals, The Dantes, The Yellow Payges, The Fabulous Pack, The Pack, The Zoo, ? And The Mysterions, Senator Bobby, Fever Tree, The Statesiders, Bob & The Avarones, Nooney Rickette & The Nooney Rickett Four, Rock 'N' Roll Gypsies, New Colony Six, The Others, Jeanne Piersol, Parrish & Wilde, Country Gentlemen, Joey Covington, Hoppi & The Beau Heems, Lance Fox & The Bloodhounds, The Sixpentz, The Clock-work Orange, The Patriots, 20th Century Zoo, Shane, Truth, The Bittersweets, The Bad Boys, and The Pasternak Progress.
Past&Present
CD-BOX
$91.50

Various
For Whom The Balls Toll
PS, RUSSIA File under: breakcore, mash-up. First release by the russian label Rednex Rampage, featuring new and unreleased material by Otto Von Schirach, Passenger Of Shit, Inshizzo and Marrow Explosion. Comes in full color sleeve. Tracklisting: A1. Otto Von Schirach - Another Night Another Rave A2. Inshizzo: Large Hadron Collider B1. Passenger Of shit: My Cock Wart B2. Severed Penis Orgy B3. Marrow Explosion: Oparysh
RednexRampageRecords-001
12
$11.50

Various
Effectuation
PS, AUSTRALIA The second 12" compilation from Midium Records Mountain includes new & exclusive tracks on black vinyl, from the likes of New Zealand's KERRETTA, AVOTOR & BLACK BONES ANGEL as well as a tasty KLUTE remix of JAKOB's Oran Mor and a tranquil cut by experimental UK extraordinaire,
ROTHKO. Exclusive to the compilation & limited to 300 copies worldwide!
Midium
LP
$12.75

Various
Dark Was The Night: Red Hot Compilation
PS, US TRIPLE VINYL VERSION!!! DAMN!
4AD
3XLP
$23.00

Various Artists
Cleaned Out! (A 7" Record of Clean Material)
PS, US 4 song 7" featuring Sleepyhead, Uncle Wiggly, Kickstand and Airlines covering songs of New Zealand band The Clean. Comes with a mini-flexi disc of the Giant Mums doing yet another Clean song.
dbc 002
45
$2.70

Velouria
Kiss it Better
PS, US Like XTC and The Replacements or Grandaddy, Los Angeles trio, Velouria, write powerful pop that can't actually be described as power pop. This hard rocking, yet sweetly sing-along outfit encapsulates all that is best and worst of the Silver Lake scene they sprang from: hardship and beauty. It took them 11 years to put out the follow up to their debut--but it certainly seems to those who like their melodies almost too catchy that it was well worth the wait.
TheEskimoRecordLabel-22
CD
$7.50

Vetiver
Tight Knit
PS, US Tight Knit is the fourth full-length album from Vetiver, singer/songwriter Andy Cabic's ever-evolving musical home base. Luminous and surprising, Tight Knit unfolds like a road trip down Highway 1, towards Cabic's home in San Francisco. It represents a summation of the different styles and directions heard on past Vetiver releases, while it introduces some unexpected twists. Recorded in Sacramento at The Hangar and in LA at Melva, Tight Knit was produced by longtime Vetiver collaborator Thom Monahan. Vetiver's songs have been described as "dreamy, gentle songs that George Harrison would have written in some sunny country garden." Happily, that element remains alive and well on Tight Knit, as evidenced in songs like album opener "Rolling Sea" and "Everyday." The album also introduces new aspects of the band's sound with the light bop of "Sister" and "On the Other Side," and the faraway and ethereal "Down from Above" and "At Forest Edge." Tight Knit is layered and rich, with subtleties and nuances that reveal themselves with repeated listening. While there's also more immediate gratification than on past Vetiver releases, Tight Knit is an album that rewards your attention.
Subpop
CD
$12.50

Vetiver
Tight Knit
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Subpop
LP
$13.25

Vibrarians, The
Red Light b/w Modern Walker & Woods
PS, US The Vibrarians, a trio from Olympia, Washington, have recorded the latest volume in our International Pop Underground series of 7" 45 rpm records. More than underground, the Vibrarians belong in a tunnel, a cement basement or any confined space that will bounce the Nuggets-style bass and hushed oh's and yeah's around. Cloaked in reverb and radiant fuzz, "Red Light" comes on like a sleepy runaway truck of bricks that hits the rumble strips. A total corker. The b-side traffics melody and noisy pop into the lopsided "Modern Walker," and the more sinister "Woods." Tunnel vision obscured by refrigerator hum.
Krecords-122
45
$3.75

Volcano Suns
Bright Orange Years
PS, US REISSUE. 1st time on CD! This was the band headed by PETER PRESCOTT (of MISSION OF BURMA). Originally released in 1985, this is VS's debut album & is chock full of so many catchy songs that it could be any other band's greatest hits album. Merging noise, agression & tunefulness seamlessly, it is a wonder they were not huge from the get-go. Remastered by legendary engineer BOB WESTON, feat. 9 bonus tracks (many unreleased previously) that adds 7-inch only tracks & radio sessions.
Merge
CD
$11.50

Volcano Suns
All-Night Lotus Party
PS, US REISSUE. 1st time on CD! This was the band headed by PETER PRESCOTT (of MISSION OF BURMA). Originally released in 1986, this is VS's sophomore album & is more rambunctious than their debut. They meld "hardcore punk & heartland rock" into a heavier, darker sound w/ more distortion on the guitars & more bass-heavy production. This is crisply remastered by legendary engineer BOB WESTON, feat. 11 bonus tracks (many unreleased previously).
Merge
CD
$11.50

Von Bondies
Love Hate and Then There's You
PS, US New album.
ShoutFactory
CD
$15.25

Ware, David S.
Shakti
PS, US First new studio recording in almost 6 yrs, & his 1st with a new group (feat. JOE MORRIS, WILLIAM PARKER, & WARREN SMITH) since his highly esteemed Quartet disbanded. Working w/ musicians (as he ever has) who fully understand the profound ebb & flow of his music, and who can trace the tendrils thereof as close to infinity as human fingers allow. "This is jazz that swallows all aesthetic distinctions." - Village Voice.
AUMFidelity
CD
$12.75

Wavves
California Goth II
PS, US As you might expect from a SoCal band named after ocean motion, this sounds like a living version of Thrilla Gorilla & Da' Boys. As you might not expect, it is made by one kid named Nathan who has a classic rap blog called "Ghost Ramp". Lo-fi somethingsomething, pre-order or cry.
FatPossum
45
$4.75

Weave!
S-T
PS, US Also on clear vinyl! Bizarre & blistering Afro-pop crossbred w/ precise & chilly New Wave. This debut breathes new life into the sound of groups like ESG, The Slits, The Mo-Dettes, Kleenex, The Raincoats, & Delta 5. The arty grinders have a respectable pedigree; their founders spent 2007 w/pickup members including Ariel Pink (Haunted Graffiti). They ultimately solidified their lineup w/ the addition of guitar & keyboard, adding a rhythmic presence to the femme-driven fervency. "A tambourine-ravaging set of Sonic Youth-meets-Talking Heads tinged sounds. The quartet definitely inject a sense of quirky fun into their hypnotic, dance-y yet vicious tunes" - LA Weekly / "Extremely rhythmic &, at times, deliciously poppy" - Flavorpill LA
PacificReasons
LP
$11.75

Weird Owl
Ever The Silver Cord Be Loosed
PS, US The group has crafted a sonic mindscape inspired by legendary acts such as the 13th Floor Elevators & Crazy Horse that states its relevance to modern-day masters Black Mountain, Dead Meadow & the Black Angels
TeePee
CD
$13.25

Weird Owl
Ever The Silver Cord Be Loosed
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
TeePee
LP
$15.00

West, Kanye
808S & Heartbreak
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Roc-A-Fella
DLP
$25.00

Whitmore, William Elliott
Animals in the Dark (Digipack Packaging)
PS, US
Anti
CD
$15.00

Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell
Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell (Widescreen)
PS, US With his documentary Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell, director Matt Wolf etches out a biographical portrait of avant-garde musician, artist, and disco producer Arthur Russell, who died of AIDS at age 40 in 1992. Though Russell was a classically trained composer and cellist with an almost encyclopedic knowledge of indigenous Indian music, this performer quickly branched off in a more offbeat and unusual direction. The Oskaloosa, IA, native fixated on such counterculture icons as John Cage and Timothy Leary at an early age, then ran away from home during adolescence and joined a Frisco-based Buddhist group. Russell became acquainted and associated with poet Allen Ginsberg, then moved to New York City, where (like Cage) he established himself as a veritable fixture in the underground music scene and worked as the music director for The Kitchen. By the mid-'70s, Russell began producing prescient disco records in the pre-Gibb days, under colorful pseudonyms such as Indian Ocean and Loose Joints. Unfortunately, he never culled the devoted following that he deserved until about 15 years after his death. Wolf employs a fractured film-essay style throughout the film, intercutting such materials as archival footage, extracts of musical compositions by Russell, and revealing interviews with Russell's family. Thematically, the director uses the tale of Russell's colorful life as a springboard into investigations of broader subjects and themes including gay lifestyles in the early AIDS era, the sociocultural landscape of Manhattan (and the cultural underground) during the 1970s and '80s, and the importance of staking out new directions in art and music for an innovative mind such as Russell's. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Plexifilm
DVD
$23.50

Windy&Carl/Heavy Winged
Monolith:Earth
PS, US The Monolith series combines two like-minded artists on the same one-sided, reverse-cut LP by hard-panning one recording to the right & the other recording to the left. By adjusting the panning controls on his or her turntable, the listener is free to control the degree to which the two recordings melt into one. Each edition in the series is limited to a one-time pressing of 500 picture disc LPs & includes a CD w/stereo mixes. This edition is the oxymoronic pairing of dreamcore drone legends WINDY & CARL & new school leaders of free rock HEAVY WINGED. Heavy Winged contribute one of their darkest, most oppressive tracks yet. The addition of W&C's purity creates something entirely different. It's no longer the sound of three bros busting out dark drone metal in some shed in snowy Vermont; it's now the sound of some communal artists busting out epic krautjams in the German hinterland. Primitive, vicious early man meets colossal pristine symbol of higher thought
MusicFellowship
LP/CD
$21.50

Wire Magazine
#300
PS, UK
ZINE
$10.25

Wolves in the Throne Room
Malevolent Grain
PS, US Vinyl only EP from the grimm Cascadia black metal horde. Two brand new songs (1 per side) that further solidify their death grip on the bejeweled throne of American Black Metal.
SouthernLord
LP
$13.75

Woolson, Raymond Scott
Broken Things Mended
PS, US Raymond Scott Woolson has been creating guitar-driven ethereal music for many years now. Broken Things Mended is his fifth full-length album of celestial shoegaze sound-scapes. A long year in the making, and several more months of perfecting during the mixing and mastering process, this release continues Woolson's exploration of soaring guitar epics and pastoral mood meanderings. A fair amount of variety went into the mix. Here a shimmer of dreampop, there a buzz of psychedelia. A brush of piano, a burst of drums, and on several occasions even a very commendable imitation of a string orchestra. Those are in fact guitars. An ocean of guitars. The songs of Broken Things Mended are bright and uplifting. There may be a passing touch of melancholy, a brief wistful feeling, but absolutely no doom and gloom. Woolson will not add to the burden of darkness in the world. His is the music of light and love, of faith and hope. These songs look forward and upward. Victories are won, promises are kept, and broken things are mended.
Clairecords-070
CD
$12.25

Wow & Flutter
Golden Touch
PS, US A collection of Phrygian mode jams, drones & ditties. Opening track "Red Face" is a taut-n-fuzzy rock blast which highlights the three-piece's loud-fast-simple side. "Car Crash" opts for a more restrained approach--until all hell breaks loose w/the de(con)struction of the titular event. "Solar" follows, w/a simple chord pattern repeating for three minutes under a coat of beautiful shimmer. "A Little Help" expands the sonic palette w/banjo & glockenspiel & a mass choir. "Heaven" opens side B; a Morricone-influenced intro complete w/trumpet & melodica gives way to a religious screed, which gives way to a drunken klezmer coda. "Flat White" intertwines sparse riffs over click-clack percussion along w/Amato's ruminations on betrayal. Synthetic slow-jam "Sugarbush" seduces w/snake charmer
guitar lines & earworm bass groove.
JealousButcher
LP
$13.25

Xela
The Illuminated
PS, GERMANY The music of Xela is not easily described. The alias of Type Records main-man John Twells, he has over the last decade moved through a dense fog of musical styles from abstract electronics to rusty soundscapes. In recent years his output has allied itself with darker realms, taking a liberal dose of influence from Norway's darker exponents, but retaining a deep and measured experimental focus. 'The Illuminated' was originally released on cassette, a format very fitting to the gloomy, waterlogged sounds; but having sold out in a matter of days it now receives the much needed deluxe re-issue treatment. Taking cues from the cracked black metal of Burzum and Striborg and fusing this with heavy, synthesized noise 'The Illuminated' is possibly Xela's darkest, most spine-chilling work to date. We are taken through chiming Nurse With Wound-inspired soundscapes into Middle Eastern marketplaces and through caverns of thick, buzzing synthesized noise on the album's first piece. Entitled 'Black Scripture' this takes the dank religious themes of 'In Bocca Al Lupo' and goes even deeper into the Church dungeons, digging up lost artifacts and the angry spirits that accompany them. The flipside extends this heresy with a throaty vocal and distorted electric guitar, leaving blackened corpses and the traces of a sleepy village in its wake. Devastating and dark material, listen if you dare...
Dekorder-031
LP
$13.50

Yagya
Rigning
PS, NETHERLANDS Yagya has made a new album for us. We can't think of any other way to start this new, promising year as delightful. "Rigning" is the Icelandic word for "rain" and is Aðalsteinn Guðmundsson's third full-length, the previous one "Will I Dream During The Process?" best-selling on Sending Orbs, the first one "Rythm of Snow" on legendary out-of-print status on Force Inc. Yes, we think this album is a new step forward for Yagya and we think this album has the prettiest and saddest melodies ever on a dub techno/ambient record, but we most kindly invite you to be your own judge. And by buying either the CD or 2x12", you may even stimulate the Icelandic economy along your way. We're just confident this is going to be your first great purchase in 2009.
SendingOrbs-011-1
DLP
$17.75

Yeasayer
All Hour Cymbals
PS, US Dear Friend, and Friend of Friends, It has been a little bit over a year since I last wrote to you about the debut document created by YEASAYER called "ALL HOUR CYMBALS." What a year it has been! Trips around the world. Playing shows in places you only dream of as a child. Meeting wonderful people from all over, possibly including you. Thank you. Most people will probably wonder why it took so long to release "ALL HOUR CYMBALS" in the vinyl format and why now? Over a year ago we were a mere village, five strong. Laborers without the finance to yet construct the citadel, we worked hard, and worked by hand and mouth to spread the word. We made friends who helped us along the way, who told their friends, who turned and told friends, family, and possibly enemies. It was this chain of mouth to mouth and hard work over an expanse of time that led us to this gift of sound spectacular in 180 GRAM LP format. Though the timing is not perfect in the sense of traveling and performing with merchandise, I promise our friends are thirsty for this artifact. In every village and town people ask for "ALL HOUR CYMBALS" on LP, in fact, they demand it's existence. I could cut and paste press quotes and where YEASAYER has been in print, but that is to cheapen the sell. We know "ALL HOUR CYMBALS" is a magnificent debut and that if you inhabit a record store you should have this album in stock. Someone hit snooze on the last go around causing a major piece of the pie being fed straight to CPUs across the land. Let us come out strong this time and give the citizens what they demand. The LP also contains a digital download for those first time buyers, or those conflicted with sounds past and present. Best. Sir James Winnie
WeAreFree-002
LP
$12.25

Yeh, C. Spencer/Sick Llama
Split
PS. US The malformed compositions of C. Spencer Yeh and Sick Llama come from opposing spectrums of noise music, though their similarities are undeniable. Whether it be Yeh's solo piece for violin or Sick Llama's gunked tape work, the spirit of improvisation shines through. On Yeh's track, the churning sounds of metal scrapes and light tinges, like crossed radio static and growing, buzzing drones are the result of one source: violin. His unique approach to the instrument marks him as one of the most exciting improvisers today whether it be with his solo work or through his work in Burning Star Core. Sick Llama's untitled track is one of his most varied and interesting tracks; like a cut up compilation of his brain damaged worked constantly flowing into new junkyard zones: crushing and dirty with the hiss of tape static. Coming from the stoned mind of Heath Moreland of Fag Tapes, the expected tape aesthetic is transferred to vinyl with a compilation of cut up compositions, evoking a series of mystery sound sources. In an edition of 400 7"s in pro-printed fold-over sleeves with art by Maya Miller of Heavy Tapes/Religious Knives."
Arbor
45
$6.25

Yelle
Ce Jeu EP
PS, US 1st ever commercial 12" single release from France's acclaimed electro-pop starlet YELLE. 4 trks feat. the original version, along w/ remixes by TEPR (Yelle's
studio collaborator) & 2 more remixes.
Astralwerks
12
$8.50

Yellow Moon Band, The
Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World
PS, UK The Brother's dropped some mushroom's one afternoon after decided to experience the love behind the record of the year. Yes they would plot a histogram using Jaffa-cakes and pink wafers. During a distracted moment they pondered over the other important events in music. The Weeley festival 1971 (Juicy Lucy, demon fuzz and Hackensack and all for just £1-50); dancing in the mud in your underpants at Bickershaw to the Greatfull Dead; Cheech and Chong and Haydock Brass Band. Or what about climbing on army tanks to catch Roy Harper at the St. Helens Show. Great days with the endorphin rush of pure music jammed out by buzzing musicians. So here we have the debut album by The Yellow Moon Band. It follows two sold out sevens and some crazy shows at the Green Man Festival. Eight tracks of Instrumental wonk that's as darn exciting as discovering that rare side of wax that's sorta' Anatolian led rare groove in a bare chested wrestle with Be Bop Deluxe's 'Sunburst Finish' and pressed up on Vertigo. Well it might exist in the car boot of your dreams. More Hillage than Gong, more Hacket than Genesis, more Thompson than Fairport and certainly more Velvet Jacket than Leather jacket. The Freakzone friendly Yellow Moon Band will release their debut gatefold album on Static Caravan in November. Gatefold Card CD with artwork by Luke Insect.
StaticCaravan-173
CD
$16.25

You Say Party We Say Die
Remik's Cube
PS, US Reworkings of Vancouver's YSPWSD's critically acclaimed sophomore release "Lose All Time" Featuring
remixes by MONTAG, OCTOPUS PROJECT, WALLPAPER, and more!
PaperBag
CD
$13.75

Zanes, Dan & Friends
The Welcome Table! Songs of Inspiration, Mystery & Good Times
PS, US Dan Zanes and Friends The Welcome Table: Songs of Inspiration, Mystery, and Good Times is a collection of new and previously issued recordings for listeners of all-ages. The songs, mostly from various North American gospel traditions, include Home In That Rock, Working On a Building, Himno Guadalupano, Jesus On the Mainline, Granito de Mostaza, as well as Oseh Shalom and two new DZ originals. Among the guests joining Dan Zanes and Friends are The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, Basya Schechter, and Jamaican family music superstar Father Goose. Proceeds from The Welcome Table will benefit the New Sanctuary Movement and Families for Freedom.
FestivalFive
CD
$13.75

Zero Boys
History Of...
PS, US It came out of nowhere in 1982, this punk rock/hardcore fireball with the bright yellow sleeve. In one sense, The Zero Boys' Vicious Circle was yet another example of how U.S. punk seemed to peak coast to coast that year. But unlike most coastal punk, the Zero Boys were pointing the way to a scene that could accommodate heaping helpings of melody, intelligence, and rock 'n' roll sus, not just turbo-charged ferocity. From 1979 into '83, the Indianapolis based ZBs were the finest hardcore blitz in the Midwest if not all the lower 48 states. Proof is Vicious Circle and the two decades since of copyists, bootleggers, practitioners and reunion concert pogoers. Though before and after that LP's 1982 release they recorded the Livin' in the 80's 7", songs for three comps and released the post-mortem History Of cassette revealing their transformation into a toured band warming to the metaphysical and their demise while still waving torches of rock 'n' roll panache. Now, collected here and remastered from the original tapes is the proof, if more was needed, that their take of American hardcore wasn't all white bread numbers. Yeah, they played shows with Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Subhumans, and others but in Terry "Hollywood"Howe's guitar there was harmonious terror and unstoppable cadence. Terry's licks and chops - a leap beyond two or three chord punk - offered a zone and measured count for drummer Mark Cutsinger and bassist David "Tufty" Clough, a rhythm unit in par with the Minutemen if not The Meters, to run lines like quicksilver. Meanwhile, frontman, Paul "Z" Mahern provides a constant wash from beginning to end. When the Ramones lost it, the Zero Boys found it; Adding a slam brigade fist to the Blitzkrieg Beat. The Zero Boys managed to come with one of the best early 80's punk records, or one of the best records ever, period. Between Vicious Circle and History Of, the entire recorded output of this legendary Midwest punk band's original line up is, finally, collected. - Culled from liner notes written by Jack Rabid and EricWeddle.
SecretlyCanadian-189
CD
$11.50

Zero Boys
Vicious Circle
PS, US It came out of nowhere in 1982, this punk rock/hardcore fireball with the bright yellow sleeve. In one sense, The Zero Boys' Vicious Circle was yet another example of how U.S. punk seemed to peak coast to coast that year. But unlike most coastal punk, the Zero Boys were pointing the way to a scene that could accommodate heaping helpings of melody, intelligence, and rock 'n' roll sus, not just turbo-charged ferocity. From 1979 into '83, the Indianapolis based ZBs were the finest hardcore blitz in the Midwest if not all the lower 48 states. Proof is Vicious Circle and the two decades since of copyists, bootleggers, practitioners and reunion concert pogoers. Though before and after that LP's 1982 release they recorded the Livin' in the 80's 7", songs for three comps and released the post-mortem History Of cassette revealing their transformation into a toured band warming to the metaphysical and their demise while still waving torches of rock 'n' roll panache. Now, collected here and remastered from the original tapes is the proof, if more was needed, that their take of American hardcore wasn't all white bread numbers. Yeah, they played shows with Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Subhumans, and others but in Terry "Hollywood"Howe's guitar there was harmonious terror and unstoppable cadence. Terry's licks and chops - a leap beyond two or three chord punk - offered a zone and measured count for drummer Mark Cutsinger and bassist David "Tufty" Clough, a rhythm unit in par with the Minutemen if not The Meters, to run lines like quicksilver. Meanwhile, frontman, Paul "Z" Mahern provides a constant wash from beginning to end. When the Ramones lost it, the Zero Boys found it; Adding a slam brigade fist to the Blitzkrieg Beat. The Zero Boys managed to come with one of the best early 80's punk records, or one of the best records ever, period. Between Vicious Circle and History Of, the entire recorded output of this legendary Midwest punk band's original line up is, finally, collected. - Culled from liner notes written by Jack Rabid and EricWeddle
SecretlyCanadian-188
LP
$11.50

Forthcoming Releases

Allen, Cory
The Fourth Way (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US A collection of rich minimal ambient works that explore subtle variation in spectral counterpoint, silence, movement, and rhythm. "It is clear we have one of the best achievements of recent times in terms of ambient and sound design." - Fabian, goutemesdisques.com
QuietDesign-005
CD
$12.25

aMute
Infernal Heights For A Drama (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US An album full of introspective songs, psychedelic approaches, yet accessible compositions. Their music draws a thin line between indie-rock, post-folk & electronic. Loud, roaring, dark electronics, swathes of guitar wash, & echoing, disembodied vocals.
Stilll
CD
$18.00

Arbouretum
Song Of The Pearl (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US While 2007's "Rites of Uncovering" seemed to peer down from a vantage point far above, this reaches out from within the mire itself. The songs seem to have more immediacy and urgency, propelled by heavy guitar rythms that roll like waves against a levee until they finally burst through to unleash a flood of ferocious, acid-drenched solo passages. 4-panel mini-LP style jacket
ThrillJockey
CD
$13.00

Arbouretum
Song Of The Pearl (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
ThrillJockey
LP
$13.00

Baja
Aether Obelisk (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17th)
PS, US The Aether Obelisk is the fourth release in the Baja saga by composer Daniel Vujanic. It arrives at a broad musical horizon, touching the borderlines of forms ranging from chamber music and psychedelia, to pop/jazz-infected electronic music. The Aether Obelisk is unpredictable as ever, but definitely exploiting more vocal and repetitive elements than its predecessors. The overall mood is also less melancholic and nocturnal than previous Baja offerings. Some almost-tender sequences add more harmonic depth to the fractured signature sound of Vujanic´s suite-like compositions. It's loaded with acoustic and electric guitar textures ranging from folk to improv, synths, panoramic electronics, reverberating piano bits, horn sections, vibes, glockenspiel and multi-layered percussion - both live and programmed. "If the indie rock just isn't getting it done for you anymore, Baja's enveloping, intangible compositions may be just the guide you need to more engaging musical territory." - Tiny Mix Tapes "Vujanic is making music for the Shuffle generation, positing endless subdivisions that thus, beautifully, enable the listener to consider the music in almost anything." -Cokemachine Glow "Incredible, genre-melting... deconstructs rock norms." -The Tripwire
OtherElectricities-017
CD
$12.25

Balmorhea
All Is Wild, All Is Silent (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS, US Austin's BALMORHEA has always made beautiful music, but that pulchritude has often belied the underlying sensuality that makes their music so inviting. The band takes a giant leap forward, embracing that sensuality, on their bold and variegated new album "All is Wild, All is Silent". Now a six piece, the band known for their understated simplicity and restraint has produced an album as complex as the workings of the lonely human heart.
WesternVinyl-59
CD
$11.50

Battlefields
Thresholds of Imbalance (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US The missing link between Isis & Converge, their brutal hardcore-infused-doom metal is as head-explodingly heavy & visceral as it is soothing & cerebral. This straddles dreaminess & despair w/ equally vicious grace.
TranslationLoss
CD
$14.50

Bishop Allen
Grrr... (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS, US BISHOP ALLEN builds upon the extraordinary first years of their career with "Grrr...", which DEAD OCEANS will release March 10, 2009. The band fronted by Justin Rice and Christian Rudder is best known for making and self-releasing an EP each month for an entire year, then reworking some of the best songs for a highly acclaimed label debut ("The Broken String"). The rigorous EP project, and the extensive touring that has followed it, have allowed Bishop Allen to hone their craft: writing, performing and recording music. The resulting album, "Grrr...", reveals that after five years of comparisons to other artists-Jonathan Richman, The Kinks, Bright Eyes, Spoon, etc., in rave reviews from Rolling Stone, SPIN, Entertainment Weekly and many others-Bishop Allen has developed an artistry and sound that are unmistakably their own. One thing that distinguishes Bishop Allen's music is the quality of the writing. Rice's literate lyrics, which The Los Angeles Times has praised for their "poetic insight," have a universality that has made them resonant to listeners of all ages and earned them champions ranging from the young comic actor Michael Cera to the National Public Radio host Scott Simon. Each of the 13 tracks comprising "Grrr..." is a succinct composition, and yet the album also coheres seamlessly as a cycle of song. The melody and/or rhythm of one track is often contiguous with the next. As always, Rice and Rudder are responsible not only for the writing, but the lion's share of the playing and the recording: the guitars, pianos, marimbas, ukeleles and vocals.
DeadOceans-010
LP
$11.50

Bitter Tears
Jam Tarts in the Jake (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
CarrotTop
LP
$11.50

Bitter Tears
Jam Tarts in the Jake (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US "Jam Tarts in the Jake House" STREET DATE 3/3. Having staked their reputation on a sometimes lewd & always entertaining theatrical live show, The Bitter Tears use their new release to portray their creative growth as both musicians & storytellers. The album utilizes smart & direct pop structures to drive the menacing, old-school country twang of the songs. Known for being over-the-top, the ironic simplicity employed on tracks like "Slay The Heart Of The Earth" showcase the band's conviction. Just as in their live show, no one breaks character. The raw material for the record was written late at night & early in the morning, with a threepenny orchestra's worth of instruments to help the process along. The result sounds antique, without sounding antiquated. The bawdy tales of revenge, lust & corruption are backed by a dusty array of beat-up instruments: horns, oboes, violins...each helping to provide the same dramatic sparks that win people over on-stage. "...thank God for the creative, uber-feisty cabaret edge on this [Bitter Tears] local band's country-fried rock 'n' roll"-Chicago Tribune
CarrotTop
CD
$11.50

Blk Jks
Mystery EP (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS, US BLK JKS defy description. With a wrecking crew rhythm section, debonair vocals, and guitar concoction of one part shred and two parts soul, BLK JKS shoot an African music sensibility through the tenets of rock. On one hand it is easy to politicize BLK JKS; as seen on the cover of Fader, here is a band that is instantly young, black and fly even as they reclaim styles that have been stolen, watered down, and regurgitated for generations. And yet to get caught up in anything but their sound is to sell this phenomenon short, because as musicians-as artists-BLK JKS simply cook.
SecretlyCanadian-196
12
$7.50

Blood Money
Blood Brotherhood (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US Notably more song-based yet stays very close to the heart of the group: the intensity of noise, the freedom granted from improvisation, the power of rhythm, & the humanity of introspection.
KillerPimp
CD
$10.00

Bloom, Luka
Eleven Songs (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US On his eleventh record, the internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter returns to the raw live sound of his earlier releases, brimming with inspiring lyrics and sumptuous melodies. Contributors include Dave Hingerty (ex-Frames), Trevor Hutchinson, Liam O'Maonlai (ex-Hothouse Flowers), Paul Smith, Cora Venus Lunny, Ken Edge, and the Gardiner St. Gospel Choir, with backing vocals by Sinead Martin and Robbie Moore. Luka has toured with The Pogues, The Violent Femmes, Hothouse Flowers, and The Cowboy Junkies, and in all has enjoyed eighteen years of successful worldwide tours.
BarNone
CD
$12.50

Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Beware (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
DragCity
LP
$14.75

Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Beware (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH)
PS, US Though Beware shares spit with its immediate predecessor, Lie Down in the Light, its reach is longer, its arches more grandiose. Where fiddle & steel contribute their rustic timbre alongside guitars & voices, a thickening thud of low tone rolls beneath, giving the record a bottom that's fun to watch bounce in new clothes. This indensifies the air & heralds Beware as Bonny's most ambidextrous record to date. A listen or two through and you too may conclude that this could also be the great Bonnie 'Prince' Billy contempocountry record.
DragCity
CD
$13.25

Boratto, Gui
Atomic Soda (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US A taste of his forthcoming full-length "Take My Breath Away"
Kompakt
12
$12.50

Bosque Brown
Baby (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
BurntToast
LP
$14.25

Bosque Brown
Baby (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US Texas group Bosque Brown have been quietly working on their sophomore full-length with producer Chris Flemmons (BAPTIST GENERALS). A dramatic step forward from their debut, Plays Mara Lee Miller, Baby features a fuller sound and more expansive instrumentation. The album benefits from the band's ability to record closer to home, allowing them to take as much time as necessary. Baby's rich musicianship reflects Bosque Brown's increasing stature as a live band. Tip-on style thick carboard gatefold sleeves.
BurntToast
CD
$13.25

Boston Spaceships
Planets Are Blasted (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US VINYL VERSION.
GBVInc
LP
$17.25

Boston Spaceships
Planets Are Blasted (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US Chris Slusarenko (GBV) & John Moen (DECEMBERISTS) have never been so impressive. This nuanced & transcendent rock album culminates w/ four of ROBERT POLLARD's best songs yet.
GBVInc
CD
$15.25

Bushman's Revenge
You Lost Me At Hello (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
RuneGrammofon
LP
$19.50

Bushman's Revenge
You Lost Me At Hello (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US This record is probably most comparable to Scorch Trio & Motorpsycho. Metal crunch, bass meanderings, free jazz space drums, anthemic riffs, & bursts of scrawl & fire.
RuneGrammofon
CD
$18.00

Case, Neko
Middle Cyclone (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US Neko's many fans hang on her impressionistic lyrics, classic pop harmonics, and luxurious voice, and her new album revels in all three. "Middle Cyclone" fuses her longtime themes of nature versus man into a shining lyrical broadsword. Numerous guests include M. Ward, Garth Hudson of The Band, Sarah Harmer, and members of The New Pornographers, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Sadies, Visqueen, The Lilys, and Giant Sand.
Anti
CD
$15.50

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
Advance Base Battery Life - Singles Collection (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS, US From Kraftwerk to Leonard Cohen, The Smiths to Suicide, and Pet Shop Boys to Smog, Chicago's one-man musical army OWN ASHWORTH - a.k.a CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE - has been bracketed with all manner of illustrious names in the course of his eleven year career. But in collecting the 7-inch split-singles and compilation tracks he released from 2004-7 (all but two of them on CD for the first time), "Advance Base Battery Life" provides compelling evidence of the singular nature of this industrious film-school dropout's talent.
Tomlab-127
LP
$14.25

Chin Chin
Flashing, The Fancing (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US Featuring an impressive roster of side men & soloists, w/ credits including TV on the Radio, Medeski Martin & Wood, Spoon, Antibalas, Sinead O'Connor, Blonde Redhead, Cibbo Matto, Temptations, Delfonics, Glenn Miller Orchestra, & Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, this is as sophisticated as it is fun & catchy. Moody, world weary love songs sit comfortably in between psychedelic synth freak-outs & dance floor bangers.
DefinitiveJux
CD
$15.00

Circle
Hollywood (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US Finland's mighty masters of metallic hypno drone rock have been making some of the most original modern rock music since the beginning of the 90's. For fans of Krautrock, Acid.
Ektro
CD
$15.00

Circle
Saturnus Reality (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US The Finnegan's Wake of Finnish rock documentaries, & a fabulous cul-de-sac in stream of consciousness. This is not a concert film, but rather an intimate documentary which features the occassional live performance. A self-ironic vicious circle of a film that focuses on the curious worl of the band & it's musicians.
NoQuarter
DVD
$14.00

Culture Reject
S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 28TH)
PS, US Infectious, soulful melodies, syncopated guitars & easy grooves. Guests include JIM GUTHRIE (drums, vocals), KARRI NORTH (background vocals), & percussion virtuoso DAVE CLARK.
WhiteWhale
CD
$11.00

Davis, Miles
Bitches Brew (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US RESURFACED WAX!!!
Sony
DLP
$25.25

Davis, Miles
In A Silent Way (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US Listening to Miles Davis' originally released version of In a Silent Way in light of the complete sessions released by Sony in 2001 (Columbia Legacy 65362) reveals just how strategic and dramatic a studio construction it was. If one listens to Joe Zawinul's original version of "In a Silent Way," it comes across as almost a folk song with a very pronounced melody. The version Miles Davis and Teo Macero assembled from the recording session in July of 1968 is anything but. There is no melody, not even a melodic frame. There are only vamps and solos, grooves layered on top of other grooves spiraling toward space but ending in silence. But even these don't begin until almost ten minutes into the piece. It's Miles and McLaughlin, sparely breathing and wending their way through a series of seemingly disconnected phrases until the groove monster kicks in. The solos are extended, digging deep into the heart of the ethereal groove, which was dark, smoky, and ashen. McLaughlin and Hancock are particularly brilliant, but Corea's solo on the Fender Rhodes is one of his most articulate and spiraling on the instrument ever. The A-side of the album, "Shhh/Peaceful," is even more so. With Tony Williams shimmering away on the cymbals in double time, Miles comes out slippery and slowly, playing over the top of the vamp, playing ostinato and moving off into more mysterious territory a moment at a time. With Zawinul's organ in the background offering the occasional swell of darkness and dimension, Miles could continue indefinitely. But McLaughlin is hovering, easing in, moving up against the organ and the trills by Hancock and Corea; Wayne Shorter hesitantly winds in and out of the mix on his soprano, filling space until it's his turn to solo. But John McLaughlin, playing solos and fills throughout (the piece is like one long dreamy solo for the guitarist), is what gives it its open quality, like a piece of music with no borders as he turns in and through the commingling keyboards as Holland paces everything along. When the first round of solos ends, Zawinul and McLaughlin and Williams usher it back in with painterly decoration and illumination from Corea and Hancock. Miles picks up on another riff created by Corea and slips in to bring back the ostinato "theme" of the work. He plays glissando right near the very end, which is the only place where the band swells and the tune moves above a whisper before Zawinul's organ fades it into silence. This disc holds up, and perhaps is even stronger because of the issue of the complete sessions. It is, along with Jack Johnson and Bitches Brew, a signature Miles Davis session from the electric era. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
SONY
LP
$17.50

Davis, Miles
Sketches of Spain (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14th)
PS, US Along with Kind of Blue, In a Silent Way, and Round About Midnight, Sketches of Spain is one of Miles Davis' most enduring and innovative achievements. Recorded between November 1959 and March 1960 -- after Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley had left the band -- Davis teamed with Canadian arranger Gil Evans for the third time. Davis brought Evans the album's signature piece, "Concierto de Aranjuez," after hearing a classical version of it at bassist Joe Mondragon's house. Evans was as taken with it as Davis was, and set about to create an entire album of material around it. The result is a masterpiece of modern art. On the "Concierto," Evans' arrangement provided an orchestra and jazz band -- Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, and Elvin Jones -- the opportunity to record a classical work as it was. The piece, with its stunning colors and intricate yet transcendent adagio, played by Davis on a flügelhorn with a Harmon mute, is one of the most memorable works to come from popular culture in the 20th century. Davis' control over his instrument is singular, and Evans' conducting is flawless. Also notable are "Saeta," with one of the most amazing technical solos of Davis' career, and the album's closer, "Solea," which is conceptually a narrative piece, based on an Andalusian folk song, about a woman who encounters the procession taking Christ to Calvary. She sings the narrative of his passion and the procession -- or parade -- with full brass accompaniment moving along. Cobb and Jones, with flamenco-flavored percussion, are particularly wonderful here, as they allow the orchestra to indulge in the lushly passionate arrangement Evans provided to accompany Davis, who was clearly at his most challenged here, though he delivers with grace and verve. Sketches of Spain is the most luxuriant and stridently romantic recording Davis ever made. To listen to it in the 21st century is still a spine-tingling experience, as one encounters a multitude of timbres, tonalities, and harmonic structures seldom found in the music called jazz. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
SONY
LP
$17.50

Dengue Fever
Sleepwalking Through The Mekomg (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US The documentary follows the LA-based band on their 2005 journey to Cambodia to perform '60s & '70s Cambodian rock 'n' roll. Includes a CD of the band's new soundtrack for the documentary.
M80Music
CD/DVD
$20.25

Desario
Zero Point Zero (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH)
PS, US Named after Daniel Desario in the cult TV show Freaks & Geeks, Desario plays dark and sometimes threatening punchy indie-pop rock like The Smiths with balls or Felt if they were from the west coast or Modern English stripping down to Wedding Present vulnerability. Kids R.I.Y.L. Death Cab For Cutie, Built To Spill, The Shins. The band line up features former Holiday Flyer, California Oranges singer/songwriter John Conley and former Holiday Flyer, Rocketship members Mike Yoas, guitars, and Jim Rivas, drums. Mike Carr plays bass. EARLY PRESS: "I'm quite enamored with a self titled three-song disc by Desario, and if this is a taste of the forthcoming album the band's still working on (Zero Point Zero, due in October from once local indie Darla Records), it's gonna be a real peach. "Cane Cola" is all gleaming chrome over pastoral sweetness, more melodic and soaring than the reworked Joy Divisionisms of Interpol, with John Conley's friendly and inviting voice surfing over his and Michael Yoas' intertwined clean electric guitars, with bassist Mike Carr underpinning the song while drummer Jim Rivas splatters around like Moby Grape's Skip Spence on "Omaha." The second track, "Fine Time," continues the feel, while "Nautical Ways" has more jangle along with shouted background vocals. All three are winners; Desario has a sense of melody and dynamics that is captivating." Jackson Griffith, Sacramento News and Review
Darla-219
CD
$12.25

Doiron, Julie
I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS, US Everything is coming together in JULIE DOIRON's world, from embracing her electric past, to embarking on a new and energetic phase of her solo career with some of the most upbeat and inspiring songs of her recording career. "I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day" - which arrives on the heels of the album "Lost Wisdom", Doiron and her bandmate Fred Squire's recent critically-acclaimed collaboration with MT. EERIE - presents listeners with an album that reflects both her continued growth as an artist and a renewed optimism as a songwriter as well. As has often been the case, Doiron's songwriting is rooted in what's happening around her.
Jagjaguwar-131
CD
$11.50

Doiron, Julie
I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Jagjaguwar-131
LP
$11.50

Dollboy
A Beard Of Bees (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, UK Written and recorded by Oliver Cherer except "He Went Down To The Sea" which is by the Monks. Dollboy is Oliver Cherer, an English artist who makes quiet, reflective semi-organic music, a hybrid of analog electronic sounds, innovative sound processing and percussive acoustic instrumentation. A Beard of Bees is Oliver's first song based album, his previous releases, Plans for a modern city (2004, Different Drummer) and Casual Nudism (2006, Arable) being instrumental records on which he created lullaby-like structures, blending together old-fashioned folk melodies and warm electronic sound scapes, with Philip Glass-style loops interspersed with scattering beats. Interest in modal music, in particularly Miles Davis 1960s records, inspired Oliver to start learning about the melody, and made him switch from composing on a computer with a sequencer to writing more fully formed tunes using guitar or piano or even glockenspiel. Like an English Victorian artist, Oliver's curiosity has led him to exploring and mixing found and dusty instruments together with peculiar showpiece technology. From 1942 glass toy glockenspiel, Brixton market bongos, flute, viola, toy piano, 50s jazz guitar played with vibraphone mallets and questionable recordings of the Austrian flood warning siren and Stanstead Express, to Gnat, a strange little English synthesizer with no keyboard, VCS3 and Korg synths, the balance of instruments on this album leans towards the organic and acoustic. The inspiration for the album is varied and ranges from tea drinking (One Liner) and geographical references (California refers to a place in the Midlands called new Invention), to more ethereal matters such as drifting through life without aim (a beard of bees), and infinity / "bigness is frightening", another particular kind of particularly English view of the world (Endless). There are even songs about generation "gaps" (jet age kids), prog jokes (Lead Boots), and a sea-shanty written in response to Melville's Moby Dick (O Ahab!). Perhaps, the thread going through all the themes is Oliver's "meditation" on Englishness. Creating post-post-industrial urban-folk, Dollboy has existed in one form or another since the first show at The Garage in 1999, where the iconic performance included a saw, a vinyl killer, Japanese poetry and live eating of pork pies. As a live act Dollboy has developed into one of the The Big Chill and Arctic Circle favorites, performing as a seven piece band as well as a solo acoustic act, constantly morphing and developing.
StaticCaravan-179
CD
$16.25

Drones
Havilah (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US An album of contradictions, where bombast meets beauty, melancholy wrestles w/ violent guitars & singer Liddiard's incendiary voice lights up his angular poetry. There are vaguely familiar nods to Neil Young's paint-stripping guitar spasms on "Supercargo" & "Oh My," while the deliciously meandering pop dirges of Suicide & the Velvet Underground echo in "Careful As You Go" & "Luck In Odd Numbers". MAGNET: "Australia's The Drones slur their way through the dark side recalling the moodier madness of the Bad Seeds or maybe an edgier, more explosive American Music Club."
AllTomorrow'sParties
CD
$15.50

Elvis Perkins In Dearland
S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US The follow-up to the exquisitely melancholic and much hailed solo debut "Ash Wednesday". On this release, Elvis is joined by a talented trio of friends, all clearly influenced by a range of American roots music. At once raucous and profound, this record conjures both the greatest celebration and the saddest funeral, channeling an ageless wisdom that deepens with each listen.
XL
CD
$14.00

Elvis Perkins In Dearland
S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
XL
LP
$14.00

Envenomist
Helix (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US Dark ambient/death industrial, combining low-rumbling drones w/ extemporaneous noise bursts. Sourced solely using synthesizers to produce dark ambience heavily influenced by Maurizio Bianchi while bringing a lot of Tangerine Dream & Klaus Schulze into the mix. The intent was to create a series of transmissions from space. Not in the narrative sense, rather as a series of abstracted visions or moods from a lone traveler attempting to come to grips w/ the sublime.
KillerPimp
CD
$10.00

Extra Golden
Thank You Very Quickly (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
ThrillJockey
LP
$13.00

Extra Golden
Thank You Very Quickly (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US 6-song wonder of a record, whose joyous danceable anthems were crafted in the wake of political & economic upheaval in Kenya. While EG's 1st 2 albums served as thesis & antithesis, this TYVQ showcases a new level of artistry that could only be referred to as synthesis. No longer a 'collaborative
enconter', but a band. 4-panel mini-LP style jacket.
ThrillJockey
CD
$13.00

Fever Ray
S-T (ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH)
PS, US Fever Ray, aka Karin Dreijer Andersson, one half of THE KNIFE, is set to release her debut self-titled album. Fever Ray is the title, of both project and album, an evocation of the music's sound, intense and anxious, yet luminous. It's the culmination of work that began in 2007 when Karin and Olof, the brother-sister duo who are The Knife, decided to take time out following a handful of incredible live shows. After having her second child and eight months of the most productive daydreaming later, Karin had a batch of new songs and the raw materials for the production of Fever Ray. Unsure how to get them over the finishing line, she took half to Christoffer Berg (who mixed The Knife's work) and half to Stockholm production duo Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid for a final brush and tickle. The result is Fever Ray, an album that, while recognisably the work of the same artist, is dramatically different from The Knife. It's still constructed on electronic foundations and embellished with traditional instrumentation (guitar here, congas there). Despite some upbeat moments ("Triangle Walks," "I'm Not Done"), Fever Ray is starker, moodier, in places quite somber - less an invasion, more a slow process of colonization. Not that you'll find anything so literal in the lyrics. One thing's for sure - in a country with a wealth of leftfield pop artists, Karin Dreijer Andersson sounds like no one but herself. Constantly inventive, restlessly emotive, Fever Ray swaggers, broods, intrigues and dazzles without ever making concessions.
Mute
CD
$14.00

Fire on Fire
Orchard (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US Used to be art-punk-prog-chaos collective CERBERUS SHOAL, but they ditched their electric instruments, went into hiding for a while, & now play acoustic. They sound like a backwoods, fierce, psychedelic Mamas & the Papas or a crazed & joyously vengeful gospel string band.
YoungGod
CD
$16.00

Flipper
Public Flipper Limited (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH)
PS, US
4MenwithBeards
LP
$16.75

Flipper
Sex Bomb Baby (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH)
PS, US 180 gram vinyl. Another essential release from San Francisco legends FLIPPER. Originally released in 1987, 'Sex Bomb Baby' is actually a collection of material dated no later than 1982, comprised of singles, b-sides, & compilation trks. The single version of "Sex Bomb" is an all out clasic - a frenetic, yelping punk answer to "Louie, Louie" & the rest is no slouch either. Outrageous, harsh, sludge-punk from SF's finest.
4MenwithBeards
LP
$16.75

Flipper
Album - Generic Flipper (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH)
PS, US 180 gram vinyl. 1st classic record from the legendary San Francisco act, originally released in 1982. Post-hardcore? Post-punk? Art-rock? Despite being a part of SF's punk scene FLIPPER were really only punk in spirit, eschewing conventions & making no concessions. Sludgy, distorted, atonal, noise rock jams that sound as urgent & heavy as they must have 25 yrs ago. A huge influence on bands to come later like Nirvana & The Melvins.
4MenwithBeards
LP
$16.75

Franklin, Adam
Spent Bullets (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US The power & melody that has always coursed through the veins of Adam's (SWERVEDRIVER) electric songs is in full effect.
SecondMotion
CD
$16.75

Gainsbourg, Serge
Histoire De Melody Nelson (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH)
PS, US Limited Edition Vinyl LP feat. 180 gram wax, gatefold hand-numbered old school tip-on jacket, and liner notes. Limited to only 2,000 copies! Sex has always sold, but presented with a landmark musical backdrop, the combination is rare as finding the elusive "G Spot". Quite often, attempts fall flaccid, missing the titillating mark by a mile. But French icon and national treasure Serge Gainsbourg is no stranger to sexual proclivities, and with his 1971 Histoire De Melody Nelson he shared an erotic tale as seductive today as the day it was released. With help from actress, amour, and inspiration Jane Birkin, arranger/conductor and co-conspirator Jean-Claude Vannier (L'Enfant Assassins Des Mouches), not to mention a tight hand picked crew of top shelf UK session musicians, Nelson is often cited as Gainsbourg's master work, an essential album for the discerning music lover. Light In The Attic's reissue of Histoire De Melody Nelson finally gives this still radical record the respect and attention to detail it so rightfully deserves. For the first time ever, this lavishly packaged and true to the original artwork CD and 180 gram LP reissue contains extensive English language liner notes and informative content explaining the times and tales behind the making of this passionate platter. Dispelling the countless myths, hearsay, and rumors surrounding Nelson, New York-based writer Andy Beta contributes a stylish essay for your edification while Finders Keepers' honcho and Twisted Nerve founder Andy Votel shares his deep knowledge of Gainsbourg and the Gallic and UK music scenes with great insight - never before have these stories been told. The maestro himself even chimes in with a period Q&A interview from France's Rock N Folk Magazine, and printed lyrics (both with English translations). So as we said before, sex sells, and yes, we are buying. With Gainsborg, Birkin, Vannier and company supplying the mood, it's our artistic pop-rock duty to explore L'Histoire De Melody Nelson with fresh ears, eyes, and hands. With its massive inspiration reaching out to the quintessential rap of De La Soul and The Beatnuts to like-minded and eclectic singer-songwriter Beck, Nelson continues to entrance. Light In The Attic looks forward to continuing to spread Gainsbourg's provocative message to thrill seekers the world over... TRACKS: 1. Melody 2. LA Ballade de Melody Nelson 3. La Valse do Melody 4. Ah! Melody 5. L' Hotel Particulier 6. En Melody 7. Cargo Culte
LightInTheAttic-040
LP
$20.25

Gainsbourg, Serge
Histoire De Melody Nelson (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 27TH)
PS, US For the first time ever, this lavishly packaged & true to the original artwork CD reissue contains extensive English language liner notes & informative content explaining the times & tales behind the making of this passionate platter. Dispelling the countless myths, hearsay & rumors surrounding Nelson, New York-based writer Andy Beta contributes a stylish essay for your edification while Finders Keepers' honcho & Twisted Nerve founder Andy Votel shares his deep knowledge of Gainsbourg and the Gallic & UK music scenes with great insight - never before have these stories been told. The maestro himself even chimes in with a period Q&A interview from France's Rock N Folk Magazine, and printed lyrics (both with English translations)
LightInTheAttic
CD
$15.00

Green Pajamas
Hidden Minutes (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH)
PS, US A compilation of odds'n'sods that seemed to beg to be brought together into neat package for fans of Jeff Kelly's
fertile song-writing imagination & psych-pop recording stylings. Various singles that had been made available on the internet only needed a place on the "permanent record", and as Jeff's says "I have a double album's worth of stuff that doesn't really go together all that great. I've got the 'album' sort of tracks for a new release & then a whole other batch of songs that sound more like singles". So here you have it, a virtual cornucopia of tracks that in an ideal world would be spinning out of your car radio in classic 7" fashion.
CameraObscura
LP
$10.00

Gudnadottir, Hildur
Without Sinking (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US Classically-trained Icelandic cellist & composer, best known for her collaborations w/ MUM & PAN SONIC. Guest musicians include Skuli Sverrisson, JOHANN JOHANNSSON, & Gudni Franzson
Touch
CD
$16.25

Handsome Family
Honey Moon (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US The Handsome Family's eighth studio album, "Honey Moon," takes place under bowed branches & deep within winding
corn mazes. The release celebrates the duo's twentieth year of marriage with a series of love songs that sharply contrast the dark themes of their previous seven albums. "Honey Moon," is a headphone record with layer upon layer of cool, weird treasures waiting to be discovered with successive listens.
CarrotTop
CD
$11.50

Handsome Family
Honey Moon (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US Vinyl with free digital download!
CarrotTop
LP
$11.50

Handsome Furs
Face Control (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US Just so happens to be Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner and his fiancee, Alexei Perry. The second album by this Montreal band draws inspiration from Eastern Europe and re-maps Eastern Bloc surveillance state themes to contemporary life, showing the irony of our acceptance of self-monitoring through blogs, credit/debit accounts, surveillance cameras, and GPS devices. The album's juxtaposition of cold, metronomic, electronic beats with jagged, dissonant and frail guitars convey what it is to be human in the 21st century. At the same time, it provides the means to opt out.
Subpop
CD
$12.50

Handsome Furs
Face Control (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Subpop
LP
$12.50

Hecker, Tim
Imaginary Country (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 9TH)
PS, US An Imaginary Country continues from the trajectory of his last album, while also showing a few new tricks. Tim has incorporated more pulses into this work & also works with a sound pallete including overdriven mellotron strings & synthesizer. At times this album is less overtly aggressive than previous works, but the notion that this is pastoral work would be dead wrong as there are plenty of the agitated crescendos that he is know for. This music backs off from the void of immensity in favor of a terrain of lushness & warmth.
Kranky-130-2
DLP
$16.25

Houghton, Beth Jeans
"Golden" b/w "Night Swimmer" (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, UK In the past year, 18-year-old Newcastle based singer/songwriter Beth Jeans Houghton has garnered a reputation as an antidote to the current crop of acoustic songstresses. With her alternative blend of experimental folk, Beth has been hailed by the NME as "a Joni Mitchell for the anti-folk generation". With influences ranging from Frank Zappa, Vashti Bunyan, Fourtet and Love, Beth has cultivated a sound that is truly her own. Since her first performance in August 06 Beth has played alongside a diverse collection of artists such as Bon Iver, Adem, Imogen Heap, Fionn Regan, Jeffrey Lewis, Scott Matthews, Bowerbirds, Josephine Foster, Woodpigeon, White Magic, King Creosote, Alasdair Roberts, PG Six, Dead Meadow, Voice of the Seven Woods, Tom Brosseau, St Vincent, Euros Childs, Diane Cluck, Jack Savoretti and Stephen Fretwell amongst others. At last years Greenman Festival Devendra Banhart invited Beth to play one of her songs during his set on the main stage to an 8000 strong crowd describing her as, 'very lovely, a musical magician'. Beth's limited edition self-titled Debut EP is out now on Finders Keepers/Bird records, with another single due out on Static Caravan early '09 to be produced by Adem. Beth is currently writing/recording, and is gigging regularly throughout the UK Edition of 500 on 7" vinyl with 'give us a break' quiz card insert.
StaticCaravan-180
45
$6.75

Hussy's, The
Super Pro+ (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17th)
PS, JAPAN Do the departed listen to their T-Rex records in heaven? One of many questions posed on the second album by Glasgow's The Hussy's. A superabundance of hooks explains the handful of commercial licensing's already under The Hussy's belt (from Payless Shoes to MTV's The Hills and Paris Hilton's BFF), but for the rest of us, there's ALSO a solid dose of lyrical wit and humor. The punchy quintet features the sly yet substantial vocals of a lass called Fili and lead guitar of James McColl (ex-Supernaturals), while lyrical coverage takes in the semi-square, mods, roller discos, nuclear plant workers turned Russian beauty pageant contestants, and cross dressing nuns. This Japanese version of the album features "Rock Steady," "Jesus," and "Sister Mary Jo" as bonus tracks. Sorry folks, but 2007's "We Expected" mini-album is already sold out. Highly recommended.
QuinceRecords-066
CD
$13.50

Immaculate Machine
High On Jackson Hill (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 28TH)
PS, US Features Kathryn Calder (NEW PORNOGRAPHERS). "When Kathryn Calder (whose voice is a dead ringer for Neko Case's clarion call) mixes it up vocally w/ the boys, the result sounds like X if that band had been steered by pure '60s power pop" - Harp
Mint
CD
$14.75

Immaculate Machine
High On Jackson Hill (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 28TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Mint
LP
$18.50

Kebnekajse
S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, SWEDEN Their sound can be heard echoing in most Swedish psych/prog bands, & of course in Dungen, whose lead guitarist worked on the recording & production of this album. Known as the highest band in the land, they were pioneers w/ their instrumentals of electrified Swedish folk/fiddler music w/ psychedelic overtones.
SubliminalSounds
CD
$16.25

Koenjihyakkei
Nivraym (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US The band's purest, most uncompromising expression of Zeuhl music to date, blending progressive rock, symphonic rock, fusion, & neoclassicism w/ the energy of hardcore punk, the volume of metal, & the attitude of rock.
SkinGraft
CD
$14.75

Land of Kush
Against the Day (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US A complex, intense but accessible hour of hybrid, genre-defying music. The marriage of middle-eastern, North African & western modes & influences that evades categorization from one of Montreal's most challenging & prolific musical iconoclasts, SAM SHALABI. Inspired & named after the Thomas Pychon novel, the music is broken into five sections, named for the book's chapters.
Constellation
CD
$16.25

Last Days
The Safety Of The North (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US Graham Richardson's Last Days project returns with it's latest full-length The Safety of the North. Richardson has fully embraced his cinematic tendencies, expanding his creative palette to include spoken excerpts, a vocal collaboration with Fabiola Sanchez of Familiar Trees, and a "script-based" compositional approach. Drawing on a theme first explored in Sea's "Arrival at Jan Mayen" (in which its sailor is first excited by the prospect of a distant island home, then disappointed by its barren terrain), The Safety of the North tells the story of Alice, her parents and their relocation to a remote northern land. Disappointed with the trappings of the city, they wish for a simpler, more rewarding way of life. Their arrival promises clean air, miles of snow-covered fields surrounded by forests and mountains but above all, safety and a protected existence. As dark as it is light, the Safety Of The North explores relationships, loss, recovery and how hope is the only certainty in life.. With a strict script in mind, Richardson divided the album into 15 "scenes," scoring each with a new focus on the emotional states of his characters and the settings they inhabit. Using the same tools he employs on his previous albums (i.e. field recordings, song titles, and album art), along with snippets of dialogue, monologue and more diverse instrumentation, Richardson guides the listener through Alice's initial departure, hopeful beginnings and eventual tragedy in what may be Last Days most melodic work to date.
n5MD-166
CD
$12.00

Licht, Alan
YMCA (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS, US "YMCA" is guitarist ALAN LICHT's first solo release since 2003's "A New York Minute" double CD (on XI), and his first solo vinyl outing since 1994's long out-of-print "Sink the Aging Process" (on Siltbreeze). Largely recorded at a 2004 concert at a Cambridge Massachusetts YMCA by Keith Fullerton Whitman, "YMCA" documents Licht's solo guitar set of the time - a three-part structured improvisation that moves from mournful, layered sustained tones that sound more like a reed organ than a guitar, to a gently plucked middle section, to a final firestorm of loop processing that is a tour de force of "the changing same." Inspired by his friends Oren Ambarchi and Tetuzi Akiyama's then-current albums (Triste and Don't Forget To Boogie), Licht proposed "YMCA" to Idea Records to form a kind of trilogy with those releases. With Idea's subsequent demise, FAMILY VINEYARD has stepped in to bring this peak performance out as a special limited edition vinyl release, exactly as the artist originally conceived it. Limited to 500 copies.
FamilyVineyard-063
LP
$12.25

Lothar
Montgolfier (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17th)
PS, JAPAN Snappy Swedish pop gets an uncharacteristic shoegaze treatment on the debut album by Lothar, a Stockholm 7-piece (4 guitars!) whose sound was purportedly changed when the members set up their rehearsal space next to a whirring, ticking, and buzzing power station on the outskirts of the city. "...[V]ery very good stuff recalling Blonde Redhead, Stereolab, Pia Fraus and the straightforward end of Deerhoof. The guitars are set to 'noisy', the songs are very catchy and very energetic and the singer is a lady. I'd heartily recommend this to those folks who are rather fond of early Lush records." - Clinton @ Norman Records
Quince-65
CD
$13.50

Lotus Plaza
Floodlight Collective (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Kranky
LP
$11.50

Lotus Plaza
Floodlight Collective (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH)
PS, US Lockett Pundt's (DEERHUNTER) first full length is an expansive meditation on the modern history of the pop song with an obvious appreciation for the atmospheric vocal harmonies of the 50's, the Brill Building writers of the 60's & the sounds of the early 80's postpunk uk scene. The production is multi-multi-layered with a seemingly endless amount of subtle detail in each track, while the vocals are generally low in the mix & add yet another layer to the sound.
Kranky
CD
$12.25

Lovetones, The
Dimensions (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE FEBRUARY 27TH)
PS, US "glorious psychedelic-pop wave... A trip from start to finish" - Rolling Stone. The Lovetones released their debut album, Be What You Want in 2002 through Bomp! Records creating a palpable buzz among critics from the likes of Creem and Rolling Stone magazine. The latter hailed mainman Matthew J Tow's songwriting worthy of Ray Davies, Bowie, Lennon and McCartney: a bold statement, yet in his case, completely justified. After enjoying the critical success of Be What You Want, touring Australia extensively and even supporting Morrissey during his first ever solo Australian tour, Tow joined The Brian Jonestown Massacre in 2003 and contributed two brilliant tracks to their sonic mastery, ...And This Is Our Music. Tow's opening track Starcleaner later also appeared on the The BJM retrospective Tepid Peppermint Wonderland. In the same year, UK based Fire Records invited The Lovetones to contribute to the James Joyce Chamber Music project alongside Mercury Rev, Sonic Youth and REM's Peter Buck. 2004 saw the release of the Stars EP, coinciding with The Lovetones supporting The Brian Jonestown Massacre on their infamous and now legendary tour of Australia. The second album Meditations was released through New York's Tee Pee Records in late 2005, revealing a stunning development in Tow's songwriting and providing a soundscape of radiant pop, ethereal psychedelia and truly remarkable vocal melodies that arched for the stars. Soulful and sincere, Meditations nodded gently and respectfully to the pop masters of the sixties whilst never lacking in original vision. Returning from triumphant shows in the US in late 2005 and also at SXSW 2006, The Lovetones toured to support Meditations' Australian release in May 2006. June 2006 saw The Lovetones complete a crazed European tour across 12 countries with The Brian Jonestown Massacre in support of Meditations' release there through Tee Pee/Cargo Records, culminating in a rave album review in respected UK magazine Uncut. The Lovetones also managed to record their third album Axiom during 2006 with fervent sessions split between Figment Studios in Hollywood and the Sydney Opera House Recording Studio. More extensive touring in the US and Australia followed. Set for a November 2008 release in Australia, Dimensions is The Lovetones' fourth studio album and the latest chapter in the indie psychedelic pop legacy of frontman Matthew Tow, who remains one of Australia's most underrated songwriters. The album was recorded in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, mixed in Los Angeles by Rob Campanella (Brian Jonestown Massacre/Quarter After/Black Angels) and mastered by William Bowden (one of Australia's finest mastering engineers). The Lovetones will be touring Australia in November/December before heading back to the US to support the album's North American release via Planting Seeds Records in early 2009.
PlantingSeeds-060
CD
$12.25

Low Frequency In Stereo, The
Futuro (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, NORWAY VINYL VERSION.
RuneGrammofon
LP
$17.75

Low Frequency In Stereo, The
Futuro (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, NORWAY This is the fourth full-length release from The Low Frequency In Stereo. Founded in 2001 in Haugesund on the west coast of Norway, they have been called the band with one foot in Pompeii and one in space. With their first three albums released from 2002 to 2006, they have developed from an instrumental lo-fi-post-rock band that Pitchfork dubbed "psych-garage dronemeisters" to a full-blown, focused and fresh-sounding rock ensemble with great songs and a mix of dark atmospheres and catchy choruses. From the Eastern-tinged pop flirt of "Starstruck" to the near 10-minute cosmic groove-trip that is "Solar System," the new album from this excellent group finds them in top form and taking a big leap from their previous, Norwegian Grammy-nominated album. A sharper and more focused effort without a weak track in sight, Futuro is both industrial and rough as well as polished and streamlined. There are nods to fellow Norwegians 120 Days as well as Stereolab, Can, Joy Division and even The B-52's, but first of all, this is a group that have perfected their own sound from album to album and through periods of extensive touring, working up some well-deserved hype in the process. Per Steinar Lie (bass, organ, voice, guitars), Ørjan Haaland (drums, percussion, organ, voice) and Hanne Andersen (organ, percussion, trumpet, voice, guitars) are founding members, while Njål Clementsen (guitars, organ, piano, voice) and Linn Frøkedal (organ, voice) both joined ranks before the recording of Futuro. Clementsen and Frøkedal are also members of up-and-coming group Megaphonic Thrift. Guest musicians include Rune Grammofon-affiliates Nils Økland and Kjetil Møster (Ultralyd) and the album is produced by wonderboy Jørgen Træen, who has also worked with Jaga Jazzist, Kaizers Orchestra, The National Bank, and Sondre Lerche.
RuneGrammofon
CD
$16.25

M. Ward
End of Amnesia (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US Available for the first time on vinyl! Creating gigantic compositions w/ little more than a guitar & sparse instrumentation, Ward was thrust onto the fertile singer/songwriter scen w/ this release. His music features deft, poised guitar playing, vivid lyrical imagery, & melodies that burrow into your brain - as if they'd been there all along.
FutureFarmer
DLP
$17.50

Machine Fabriek & Stephen Vitiello
Box Music (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE JUNE 10TH)
PS, US Rutger and Stephen sort of accidentally met through e-mail. A simple note regarding an ordering question for a CD led to an enthusiastic e-mail conversation and climaxed in a musical collaboration. This all happened in a very short period, both musicians being very inspired by the concept of "exchange," as a means to cross space and time -- Rutger living in the Netherlands and Stephen in Virginia. Most of the time, when (electronic) musicians work together it's a matter of swapping digital files. In this case they decided to do something different and sent each other a box full of (mostly non-musical, or musically non-functional) objects and recordings, with the "assignment" to make music with those objects and all as source materials. As the titles tell, we're talking about an egg cutter, thumb piano, a broken kraakle box, rice, chocolate sprinkles, old cassette tapes, a broken 7" record, etcetera, etcetera. Both musicians made two of their own solo tracks with the box they received, and the last track was done together by Rutger adding sounds and processing to a piece started by Stephen. For Rutger/ Machinefabriek this is part of his most delicate work. For Stephen, it was a new and extremely enjoyable form of long-distance collaboration. Machinefabriek: Rutger Zuydervelt, better known as Machinefabriek, lives in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Started as Machinefabriek in 2004, he released 40+ small run home-made cdr's as well as work for Type Records, Lampse, Digitalis, Staalplaat (Mort Aux Vaches) and now 12K. A double remix cd was released in 2007, with interpetations by Alva Noto, Pita, Mitchell Akiyama, Xela, Gert-Jan Prins and many more. Collaborations (live or recording) include Steinbrüchel, Jasper TX, Wouter van Veldhoven, Simon Nabatov, Frans de Waard, Aaron Martin and Peter Broderick. Stephen Vitiello: Stephen Vitiello is a sound and media artist based in Richmond, VA. CD releases include Bright and Dusty Things (New Albion), Listening to Donald Judd (Sub Rosa) and Untitled/Exchange, a collaborative CD with Michael J. Schumacher (A Question of Re-Entry). Solo exhibitions of Vitiello's sound installations, photographs and drawings have been presented at The Project, NY, Museum 52, London, the Texas Gallery, Houston, TX and Diapason, NYC. Group exhibitions include the 2002 Whitney Biennial and the 2006 Biennial of Sydney. Over the last 18 years, Stephen has collaborated with numerous musicians and artists including Scanner, Pauline Oliveros, Andrew Deutsch, Julie Mehretu and Tony Oursler.
12K-1048
CD
$12.25

McGill, Cameron & What Army
Warm Songs for Cold Shoulders (ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US warm songs for cold shoulders is the kind of record we hoped Cameron McGill would make for his Parasol debut; songs stripped down and stories laid bare. The songs show a similar vulnerability evident in many of McGill's recordings, though here he returns to the thoughtful folk musings he has made his signature. There is always enough pop to make the songs memorable, but this album deals a weightier hand than his last, the self-released Hold On Beauty (also highly recommended). Cameron is aided & abetted by vocalist Kathleen Bracken (Those Transatlantics) on a handful of duets and backed by What Army, comprised of Noah Harris (Elanors), Daniel McMahon (Wandering Sons), Rodrigo Palma (Judah Johnson) and Darren Garvey (Andreas Kapsalis Trio).
Parasol-CD-110
CD
$9.00

Mirah
(A)SPERA (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS, US The album holds many surprises within its undulating reverie. String sections shimmer in the opening track "Generosity" and in the impeccable "Education," a relentless fist pounds against a soundboard in the darkly powerful "The World Is Falling Apart." "Shells" offers a breathtaking vantage of Kane Mathis masterful playing of the mandinka kora, a street party emerges in full swing from the galaxy of Mirah s heart in "The Country of the Future," unexpected turns are taken in "The Forest," horns burst forth as quickly as they retreat back into the starscape on "The River." Kalimba, hurdy gurdy, bongos, horns, instruments for all worlds, all times.
Krecords-195
LP
$11.50

Monks, The
Black Monk Time (PRE-ORDER: APRIL 14TH)
PS, US Limited Edition Vinyl LP features 180 gram wax, gatefold hand-numbered old school tip-on jacket, lyrics, and notes. Today, "garage," "psych," and "punk" are three overused words to say the least. They're dropped from every direction to brand, market, and sell, but looking back to the mid-1960s, there was only one group of musical mavericks that clearly defined them. The Monks were five beat playing American GIs stationed in Germany who, after their discharge, decided to stay and continue their musical mission. Meeting up with a team of local managers, they transformed themselves and their sound into a holy racket like the world had never known. This five-person order literally birthed the above genres through a fuzz-drenched evolution of sound, bursting with social commentary and future primitive rhythms. Krautrock? It started here. Do we hear non-believers? We are NOT making this up. If you aren't already converted, it won't take long... Light In The Attic is ecstatic to present the Monks recorded legacy through two lavishly packaged and lovingly researched reissues (available on CD, LP, and digital download): The Early Years 1964-1965 as well as their landmark studio album Black Monk Time. Numerous period photographs (many unseen) and an extensive two-part essay by Canadian music journalist Kevin Howes (Jamaica-Toronto series) accompany both releases and tell the Monks story like it has never been told. Bonus material dating back to pre-Monks Torquays and up to post Black Monk Time 7"s are also included. From "Shut Up" to "Boys Are Boys", "Complication" to "Cuckoo," worlds will collide before you very eyes. Press play, drop the needle, zone in, and see for yourself. And while there's no need to shave your head, you'll certainly flip your wig. Come on everybody, its Monk Time! TRACKS: 1. Monk Time 2. Shut Up 3. Boys Are Boys And Girls Are Choice 4. Higgle-Dy - Piggle-Dy 5. I Hate You 6. Oh, How To Do Now 7. Complication 8. We Do Wie Du 9. Drunken Maria 10. Love Came Tumblin' Down 11. Blast Off! 12. That's My Girl Bonus Tracks: 13. I Can't Get Over You 14. Cuckoo 15. Love Can Tame The Wild 16. He Went Down To The Sea 17. Pretty Suzanne 18. Monk Chant (Live)
LightInTheAttic-042
LP
$21.75

Monks, The
Black Monk Time [re-issue] (PRE-ORDER: APRIL 14TH)
PS, US Rerelease of The Monks' notorious 1966 album, their one and only, lavishly packaged, lovingly remastered. The Monks were American G.I.s based in Germany who created batshit-primal garage-punk and dressed accordingly. Details, release date and price TBC.
LightInTheAttic
CD
$15.25

Monks, The
The Early Years 1964-1965 (PRE-ORDER: APRIL 14TH)
PS, US Collection of The Monks' singles anmd extraneous genius, lavishly packaged, lovingly remastered. The Monks were American G.I.s based in Germany who created batshit-primal garage-punk and dressed accordingly. Details, release date and price TBC.
LightInTheAttic
CD
$15.25

Monks, The
The Early Years 1964-1965 (PRE-ORDER: APRIL 14TH)
PS, US * Limited Edition Vinyl LP features 180 gram wax, gatefold hand-numbered old school tip-on jacket, lyrics, and notes. Tracklist - 1. Monk Time 2. We Do Wie Du 3. Boys Are Boys 4. Pretty Suzanne 5. Higgle-dy Piggle-dy 6. Hushie Pushie 7. Love Came Tumblin' Down 8. Oh, How To Do Now 9. Space Age 10. I Hate You Bonus Tracks: 11. Boys Are Boys 12. There She Walks
LightInTheAttic
LP
$21.75

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS, US On March 10th, a promise from big brother to little brother will be realized. Benjamin Verdoes (vocals, guitar, percussion) hoped to motivate his younger brother Marshall to push forward in his drum lessons. Once Marshall got good at drums, Benjamin vowed, they'd start a band together, and now-13-year-old Marshall would have naming rights. That promise is officially made good with the release of MT. ST. HELENS VIETNAM BAND's self-titled debut full-length. Co-produced by Scott Colburn (the Arcade Fire, Animal Collective), the album at first blush recalls Wolf Parade; the band's frayed melodic sensibilities and Benjamin's urgent, driven vocals in particular. Of course, Wolf Parade borrowed a few ideas from Modest Mouse, whose beginnings were indebted to the Pixies. This is the sort of musical lineage that creates the foundation for Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band's debut LP. But Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band are not solely inspired by their contemporaries; dig a little deeper and strains of Queen's over-the-top epic rock peers through, while exhilarating guitar work that nods towards Thin Lizzy appears in more than a few songs.
DeadOceans-011
CD
$11.50

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS,US VINYL VERSION!!!
DeadOceans-011
LP
$11.50

Mummies
Play Thier Own Records (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US After long years in remission, this release is back in circulation. By the turn of 1990, The Mummies were fed up with the records of their time. Not content to take things lying down, these cut-rate visionaries put out a bunch of their own. So pleased were they with those 45s, that they recorded a mix tape. In 1992, they convinced Estrus Records to release it as the standard long player, "The Mummies: Play Their Own Records," which sold out sometime in 2005. Relive those lazy, hazy, crazy days of the twilight years of the last century with this LP.
Estrus
LP
$12.00

My Bloody Valentine
Loveless [2009 expanded remaster] (DELAYED. PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 2009)
PS, UK New, expanded, digipak version of MBV's otherworldly 1991 shoegaze classic, digitally remastered by MBV honcho Kevin Shields. Second disc is reported to be a alternate and previously unreleased version of Loveless remastered from original analog tapes.
Sony
DCD
$23.00

My Bloody Valentine
Isn't Anthing [2009 remaster] (DELAYED. PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 2009)
PS, UK New, 2009 re-issue in a digipak, digitally remastered by Kevn Shields.
SonyBMG
CD
$21.75

Nadler, Marissa
Little Hells (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US A master of creating rich dreamscape atmospheres, Nadler's voice shines and glides even more with a full band accompanying her. Produced by Chris Coady, the starry musical guests include longtime collaborator Myles Baer, Simone Pace (Blonde Redhead), and Dave Scher (Farmer Dave). Few contemporary artists can match the stunning ride of Marissa's reverb vocals that are a journey into themselves on every rose tinged track. Little Hells displays a brighter leap in musical maturity and attention to detail, as the fantasmagoric sounds delve into melancholy nuggets, sometimes erotic, sometimes gutting, but filled with a gorgeous sense of serene hope more so than previous album, Songs III: Bird on the Water.
Kemado
CD
$13.75

Neva Dinova
S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US Originally self-released in 2001, this self-titled full-length debut is now re-issued with two bonus tracks. Their haunting, three-guitar swirling debut was heralded as a "Top 10 Release of 2002" by the LA Times. Following a split EP in 2004 with Bright Eyes ("One Jug Of Wine, Two Vessels"), and a second album, "The Hate Yourself Change" in 2005, the band released their third full-length, "You May Already Be Dreaming" last year.
SaddleCreek
CD
$10.00

Ocean
Pantheon Of The Lesser (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE NOVEMBER 11TH)
PS, US 2xLP to follow in about one month. Following their acclaimed breakthrough debut album that caught the ears of critics and fans worldwide, and became Important's highest selling album, Ocean has returned with their forward thinking, brutally heavy and purely minimalist sophomore album Pantheon Of The Lesser. Pantheon Of The Lesser was composed over a period of two years in Ocean's home studio in Portland, Maine. As the seasons passed each track was written, re-written, played and then re-played as layers were slowly stripped away until the true essence of the song was revealed. Once Ocean entered the studio it took another two years to deconstruct Pantheon Of The Lesser until they had found the essence of their writing. This disciplined deconstructionist approach to songwriting is how Pantheon Of The Lesser is how Ocean takes it to the next level of the abyss. The result of this compositional technique is over an hour of strictly bare instrumentation and a kind of natural heaviness that slowly rises and falls in a pure organic fashion. Everything in it's own time. Simply profound. Heavy like Schoenberg. While Ocean continues to explore and expand upon their "less is more" approach of profound musical minimalism and sheer heaviness, Pantheon Of The Lesser is a bit more musical than its predecessor. The Beacon, the opening track on Pantheon Of The Lesser, was played as Ocean's complete set on a recent US tour and on dates with Mono and Boris. Clocking in at 41 minutes on record and over an hour live; The Beacon evolves in 3 distinct movements with fleeting moments of hypnotic melody and earth shaking heavy dirges creating an all-encompassing tone of pure misanthropy. The second and final track on Pantheon Of The Lesser, titled Of The Lesser, carries a similar theme of misery. Written as an ode to distraction, chemical and otherwise, it is Ocean at their most personal: a pure sonic stream of consciousness in slow motion. Packaged in a deluxe foil printed heavy-duty cardboard jacket with art by renowned Maine illustrator Bruce Hutchison. The vinyl version is packaged in double 200 gram vinyl, packaged in deluxe letter pressed covers and limted to 500 copies.
Important-219
CD
$13.00

Old Canes
Early Morning Hymns (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US NOW ON VINYL! APPLESEED CAST frontman, Chris Crisci, departs from space rock & moody atmospherics fro a multi-instrumental fuzz-folk experience featuring the talents of Jordan Geiger (MINUS STORY) & Nathan Richardson (CASKET LOTTERY). Layers of home-recorded toy pianos, glockenspiels, children's xylophones, trumpets, & cellos combine w/ the traditional folk-rock instrumentation of acoustic guitars, banjos, & harmonica to form an eerie mix of Daniel Johnston, Van Dyke Parks, & Marc Olsen.
SecondNature
LP
$17.50

Papercuts
You Can Have What You Want (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Gnomonsong
LP
$17.00

Papercuts
You Can Have What You Want (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US Jason Quever delves further into epic dream-pop using mostly vintage organs, pulsing bass, Kraut-via-Ringo-inspired drum
rhythms, & soaring vocals draped in reberb gauze. This cuts across several eras of dreamy sound: '80s/'90s Creation/4AD Records, The Zombies, '60s French pop, even Can's "Future Days." For many, this will be the blissful/melancholy jam of the spring & summer.
Gnomonsong
CD
$14.25

Paramount Styles
Failure American Style (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE JULY 7TH)
PS, US This is the 1st solo outing from Scott McCloud (GIRLS AGAINST BOYS). Feat. Richard Fortus (PSYCHEDELIC FURS/GUNS N' ROSES), Alexis Fleisig (Girls Against Boys), & Angela McClusky. The sound of dark forces gathering in a radiant club, at times intimate & at others soaring, slow burns bend & swerve into panoramic lush walls of sound.
Konkurrent
CD
$13.25

Peter Bjorn And John
Living Thing (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US New album, details and price TBC.
AlmostGold/StarTime
CD
$13.75

Pontiak
Maker (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
ThrillJockey
LP
$13.00

Pontiak
Maker (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH)
PS, US A lifetime of shared experience informs the 3 Carney brothers playing as a band: Jennings' bass or Lain's drums often finish the thoughts of Van's guitar. CD version in 4 panel mini-LP jacket
ThrillJockey
CD
$13.00

Pree
Chopping Block (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH)
PS, US Pree's musical prowess evokes seductive & shadowy moods that call to mind Regina Spektor's imaginative narratives as well as Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock's rhythmic vocal stylings-- mixing haunting folk elements, unmistakable vocals, and a remarkable command of words to elicit a fare as delicate as it is powerful. Speaking through characters with fractured personalities and questionable motives, A Chopping Block examines the chaotic and often destructive relationships that take root when individual fails to adopt cohesive & socially acceptable identities-- raising the question of whether social boundaries will ever be able to quantify & contain any force as powerful & unstable, and as beautiful & reckless as the human psyche.
Kora
CD5
$7.25

Red Red Meat
Bunny Gets Paid (Deluxe) (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH)
PS, US Remastered by the group's own Brian Deck. W/ 7-song 2nd disc of alternate, demo & single versions of album tracks, plus b-sides, covers & a previously unreleased song from the same era.
Subpop
DCD
$14.25

Reichmann, Josh Oracle Band
Crazy Power (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US LIMITED edition LP returns to music w/ an entirely new lineup of collaborators, now gathering from a pool of soul, early-funk, roots and dark punk influences. Stevie Wonder meets the Stooges.
PaperBag
LP
$17.00

Roedelius
Jardin Au Fou (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
BureauB
LP
$18.00

Roedelius
Jardin Au Fou (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US Composer/poet Hans-Joachim Roedelius (CLUSTER, HARMONIA) is a key figure in the birth of Krautrock, synthesizer pop & ambient music. This is his 2nd solo album, originally released in 1979. CD version features 6 bonus tracks: 3 remixes of compositions from the LP & 3 new tracks that were recorded for the 1998 CD re-release.
BureauB
CD
$18.00

Royksopp
Junior (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH)
PS, US An inspired & ambitious musical confection fusing pure pop hooks w/ "technoperatic" dancefloor slammers.
Astralwerks
CD
$16.00

Russell, Arthur
World Of Arthur Russell (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US BACK IN PRINT!! ARTHUR RUSSELL holds a unique place in the history of dance music; besides gaining admiration from everyone from Philip Glass to Todd Terry as an artist, he also formed the seminal groups DINOSAUR L and LOOSE JOINTS in the 80s, redefining dance music as an intelligent & subversive form. This release features his classics, 'Go Bang', 'Is It All Over My Face', 'Wax The Van' etc. alongside impossible-to-find collectors tracks such as 'In The Light Of The Miracle' & the private-pressing 'Pop Your Funk'. This is the first collected work of Arthur Russell, who's been one of the most respected iconic artists in the history of dance music.
SoulJazz
3XLP
$17.75

Russell, Arthur
World of Arthur Russell (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US BACK IN PRINT!! ARTHUR RUSSELL holds a unique place in the history of dance music; besides gaining admiration from everyone from Philip Glass to Todd Terry as an artist, he also formed the seminal groups DINOSAUR L and LOOSE JOINTS in the 80s, redefining dance music as an intelligent & subversive form. This release features his classics, 'Go Bang', 'Is It All Over My Face', 'Wax The Van' etc. alongside impossible-to-find collectors tracks such as 'In The Light Of The Miracle' & the private-pressing 'Pop Your Funk'. This is the first collected work of Arthur Russell, who's been one of the most respected iconic artists in the history of dance music.
SoulJazz
CD
$16.25

Schaeffer, Janek
Extended Play [Triptych for the child survivors of war and conflict] (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE JUNE 10TH)
PS, US LIMITED EDITION 600. LINE is proud to release the latest audio work from British composer and installation artist Janek Schaefer based on his installation of the same title. Installation Reviews: "a piece to return to again and again... haunting and lulling" [The Wire, UK] "so inspirational, and in many ways very spiritual" [Gerry Turvey] "I was so deeply touched by your piece" [Mandeep Kaur Samra] Red is the colour of Life, of Death, and of Love. Scarlett, my first child, was born in 2005, and since then I have been very aware of how lucky we all are. have been constantly comparing this to the fact that my mother was born in Warsaw in 1942 - the epicenter of World War II. How opposite can two beginnings be? This inspired me to produce the Extended Play installation, which continuously and positively celebrates hope and new beginnings, for child survivors in all situations around the world. The original idea for the composition came from learning about the 'Jodoform' system of secret musical messages that were broadcast by the BBC Service, during music they played was given a particular meaning, which was interpreted by Polish Underground. Discovered from the original Jodoform logbook, that the lovely Polish folk song 'Tango Lyczakowskie', was broadcast on the day my mother was born. Song describes how children in 1918, had been forced to take up arms, in defense of their town. From this tune, chose a short rising musical phrase, and with my arranger Michael Jennings, developed a ten-minute score. Each of the three solo parts was then recorded separately, edited, and cut onto vinyl. In the gallery, 3 x Cello EP's, 3 x Piano EP's, and 3 x Violin EP's are played at either 33, 45, or 78rpm using nine retro record players. These play continuously, and each was modified to stop playing briefly in response to the audience moving around the exhibition. This has the effect of changing and extending the composition, so that it is never the same again.
Line-036
CD
$12.25

Sian Alice Group
Remix (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS, US Released as an extremely limited edition 12-inch, Remix features the reworking of three tracks from SIAN ALICE GROUP's debut "59.59" by Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip, Brian Degraw of Gang Gang Dance and Spring Heeled Jack.
TheSocialRegistry-068
LP
$7.50

Six Finger Satellite
Half Control (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
Load
LP
$12.50

Six Finger Satellite
Half Control (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH)
PS, US Archival 2001 recordings from Providence's finest square peg. Half Control veers sharply away from the krautrock stylings of 1998's Law Of Ruins with a lineup that is hotwired. The band is now a bastardly other brother, including LANDED's most regular rhythm section grafted onto SFS's singer Jay Ryan and drummer Rick Pelletier.
Load
CD
$12.50

Soundtrack of Our Lives, The
Communion [domestic version] (ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US Swedish power pop-psychedelicists The Soundtrack of Our Lives return in force with the Communion, a double album opus containing 24 tracks dedicated to the moods of each hour of the day and night. On Communion, their first album in nearly four years, caftan-sporting Norseman Ebbot Lundberg and company blast through a veritable pharmacopeia of musical medication for the often insidious symptoms of modern society. But here Soundtrack not only point out the ills experienced by modern man, they offer actual cures in the form of buzzing guitars and glistening pop rock anthems. Despite already counting Grammy nominations (Behind the Music, 2003) opening slots for the icons of rock (The Rolling Stones, U2, The Black Crowes, Oasis) and nearly never ending headlining tours of the world as career milestones, the breadth and intensity of Communion knows no equal in the band's catalog and reminds the world why The Soundtrack of Our Lives remains one of rock's most profound and eccentric voices.
YepRoc/Akashic
DCD
$15.00

Speck Mountain
Some Sweet Relief (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH)
PS, US Following their debut release of "Summer Above", Speck Mountain releases "Some Sweet Relief." Written about the rapture and consequences of desire, this album can truly relieve the mind with its beautiful simplicity. By combining the strength of Marie-Claire Balabanian's lungs with the intuitive, spiky rhythms of Karl Briedrick's guitar, the two writers have been called "musical soul mates." The songs have been filled out with piano, organ, sax, and vintage effects, the mixes booby-trapped all over with headphone-happy detail.
CarrotTop
CD
$11.50

Speck Mountain
Some Sweet Relief (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
CarrotTop
LP
$11.50

Speed Dating
No. 6 Records Compendium (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH)
PS, US From the infamous No. 6 Records label, released by TEENBEAT RECORDS. A 2-CD set of 13 vinyl singles on CD for the
first time. Includes the debut single from the DWARVES, DEAN WAREHAM's first recordings after Galaxie 500 plus two songs recorded with his first wife (Cagney & Lacee), the stateside debut of the TINDERSTICK's (Marbles, For Those), BEWITCHED, GREG DULLI with MARCY MAYS under the name ORNAMENT, a pair of A-siders from UNREST & more!
Teenbeat/No6Records
CD
$11.50

Spokes
People Like People Like (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US There is a rustic feel to their reverb-soaked, violin-coated sound, one that has been compared to Arcade Fire.
Counter
CD
$16.00

Stith, DM
Heavy Ghost (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th)
PS, US "Heavy Ghost" communicates a startling range-from earnest yearning to heartbreak, shimmering hopefulness to the brink of existential despair. DAVID STITH's ethereal voice communicates the unfathomable-mysticism, the commingling of water and fire, waking dreams, spiritual torment-with such reckless abandon that is rarely seen in many albums, let alone a debut work.
AsthmaticKitty-044
CD
$9.50

SubractiveLAD
Where the Land Meets The Sky (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US Bonus CD is limited to 1000. Producing five albums of high quality in only five years is a monumental task. Yet, this is precisely what Stephen Hummel, who records as SubtractiveLAD, has done and with seeming ease. With "Where The Land Meets The Sky", Hummel's fifth full-length for n5MD, the SubtractiveLAD sound has been perfected to such effect that it allows Hummel to concentrate on conveying his deepest feelings rather than the processes that go into music making. The album serves as an extension of Hummel's previous album "Apparatus" (2008) and effortlessly flows between such genres as shoegaze, armchair electronica, post-rock, and classic ambient. Stylistically it seems far away from his debut "Giving Up The Ghost" and in theory it is. Yet, Hummel has led us on a journey that for the patient has yielded great rewards. The first 1000 copies of "Where The Land Meets The Sky" come with a bonus disc of over 45 minutes of SubtractiveLAD style classically influenced ambient.
n5MD-165
DCD
$12.00

Sultan, Mark
Hold On (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US Sweet new 45 from the BBQ portion of KING KHAN & BBQ SHOW. The A side is a lilting garage gem & the B side is a tweaked out Joe Meek cover.
Subpop
45
$3.50

Taylor, Maria
Ladyluck (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US Features collaborations w/ MICHAEL STIPE, Nate Walcott (BRIGHT EYES), & Mckenzie Smith (MIDLAKE)
Nettwerk
CD
$18.00

Technical Itch
You Need Therapy (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE SEPTEMBER 9TH)
PS, US Technical Itch is the legendary drum n bass artist behind the worldwide phenomenon "THERAPY SESSIONS" club night. From London to Moscow to Philadelphia to Mexico City, Therapy Sessions is unrivaled for the sounds of the heaviest drum n bass music. Technical Itch is the godfather of the movement, with albums on Moving Shadow, and collaborations with Dieselboy, Dylan, Gein, and more. This mix is a stunning representation of the Technical Itch live set - 28 tracks packed into 80 minutes, masterful set programming with peaks, valleys, and change ups into rock and metal, highlighting the flexibility and integration of drum n bass into the musical landscape. Brutal, passionate, and perfect, this is at the level of the best mix output of Dieselboy.
OhmResistance-9M
CD
$13.00

Thieves Like Us
Play Music (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH)
PS, US CD version. Thieves Like Us is a musical vehicle -- an elegant starship, pointed straight to the heart of the listener.
Although they encompass a variety of influences, they ultimately consider themselves to be a pop band. Yes, the production style is both disco & hip-hop, but the sheer strength of the melodies & emotional depth of the songs makes them classics (think LCD Soundsystem, New Order, Daft Punk, Digitalism). But no matter how you interpret Thieves Like Us if you have a pulse, you'll know their songs by heart already.
Shelflife
CD
$12.25

Todd, Mia Doi
Morning Music (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US 1st album of instrumental music, featuring ANDRES RENTERIA on 2 tracks
CityZen
CD
$14.25

Ulterior
Kempers Head (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US Raw, electronic sounds, attacking drum machines & aggressive guitars compliment sloganeering lyrics. Their live reputation has helped cut a path through current UK scenes & gained them comparisons to JAMC, Big Black, early Manics & Suicide. This combines songs from their 1st 2 UK-only 12 " singles w/ some new tunes.
KillerPimp
CD
$10.00

United Bible Studies
Jonah (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH)
PS, US A cornucopia of sonic delights, traversing the spectrum from delicate folk to sprawling progressive rock. Richard Youngs'
progressive rock project Ilk provided the impetus for the band to make a "Prog Album" so they started with the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink opus "The Jonah". Running the gamut from delicate acoustic guitar to Sunn 0))) style doom metal & back again, it's an extraordinary feat of the imagination. Around this central track, a range of shorter tracks orbit, typically acoustic or folk-rock in nature with occasional experimental flourishes, they are characterized by glorious melodies & arrangements and a peerless array of guests. Current 93's Richard Moult provides synth & very David Tibet like vocals to opener "The Swallowing", and help
out with the space folk piece "A for Andromeda". Ex Mellow Candle singer Allison O'Donnell provides vocals for several tracks, including the climactic conclusion to a Dave Colohan & Sharron Kraus duet version of the traditional "Lowlands of Holland"
CameraObscura
CD
$13.25

Various
Spectra: Guitar In The 21st Century (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US This collection of works provides a contemporary perspective for the unconventional sounds that can be generated from the guitar. Artists include Tetuzi Akiyama, Cory Allen, Erdem Helvacioglu, Jandek, Kim Myhr, Duane Pitre, Sebastien Roux, Keith Rowe and Mike Vernusky. "Quite a strong compilation, a fine showcase" - Frans De Waard, Vital Weekly TRACKS: 1. Three Small Pieces - Tetuzi Akiyama 2. Six - Sebastien Roux + Kim Myhr 3. Nylah - Mike Vernusky 4. Music For Microtonal Guitars and Mallets [edit] - Duane Pitre 5. Fermion - Cory Allen 6. The End of the World - Erdem Helvacioglu 7. Fragment From A Response To Cardew's Treatise - Keith Rowe 8. The World Stops - Jandek
QuietDesign-007
CD
$12.25

Various
Acid Dreams (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH)
PS, US The opening track, WHITE LIGHT's "William," sets the standard for what's to come: a compulsive, classic, hard guitar-psych 45 rocker & 17 more psych diamonds follow in its wake. Other artists include: CARETAKERS OF DECEPTION, OUTCASTS, MUSIC MACHINE, MYSTIC TIDE, STEREO SHOESTRINGS, BEAUTIFUL DAZE, BALLOON FARM, & MINDS EYE.
Past&Present
CD
$18.00

Various
Local Customs: Downriver (CD/DVD) (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US Between 1967-81, Detroit's downriver neighbor Ecorse, MI had it's very own Moe Asch. Felton Williams chronicled the musical lives of Ecorse's citizins and issued them on the Solid Rock, Compose, & Revival labels. Compiled here are 24 of his most fascinating recordings, covering gospel, group soul, garage-punk, northern, jazz, & funk. Incl. DVD w/ over 200 sound recordings from Williams' archive and a 30-minute featurette on the making of this collection.
Numero
CD/DVD
$18.50

Wavves
Wavvves (ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH)
PS, US New album, new label. When not watching cops or drinking 40s in the park, Nathan Daniel William blogs on classic rap and records waves of effortlessly great slack / crust / beach / punk compressed onto 4 track cassette in his san diego bedroom. It's a room that most of us will only imagine. Thanks to the eager bloggers, you may have already heard Wavves. If you have not, we can say that few things are more annoying than reading a string of sound references. So how 'bout this : Wavves are exemplifying every musical pastiche of what anyone in their mid 20's has been through, and somehow, some that they have not. How a tune written by a 22 yr old can evoke this boyish reverie and reverence of thoughtful nostalgia is beyond me, but listen between the grooves and yr gonna hear it too. Wavves is the sound of today's american youth! It's a new day rising and as the Wavves get higher, they gotta converge. You can choose to stay down in the curl, but if you follow the winner, we can meet up on the crest.
FatPossum
CD
$13.00

Wavves
Wavvves (ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD)
PS, US VINYL VERSION.
FatPossum
LP
$16.00

Week That Was, The
S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE AUGUST 26TH)
PS, US 2008 debut album from the British Electro Pop outfit, chiefly Field Music dude David Brewis' big brother, and featuring contributions from Field Music colleagues. Musically the record is an expansive tribute, paying direct (and indirect) homage to the wildly ambitious Linn Drum and Fairlight experiments of Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, and Tin Drum-era Japan. Fused with typically detailed arrangements and a sense of drama, this makes The Week That Was a brain-shattering, 32-minute epic, straying far outside the conventions of most indie-guitar music.
MemphisIndustries
CD
$15.25

Weight, The
Are Men (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH)
PS, US In contrast to 2004's "10 Mile Grace", which found the group working within an alt-country framework executed by post-punk kids, "Are Men" brings a sense of lighthearted fun to the songwriting and execution - more country-rock block party, less alt.
TeePee
CD
$12.50

Whisper in the Noise
Dry Land (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE FEBRUARY 25TH)
PS, US Self described "orchestral garage rock'" band from Hanska, Minnesota give an extremely humble & personal touch to gorgeous, string-laden rock music.
Pretty, melancholic, sad & charming. for fans of Low, Arcade Fire, Guided by Voices.
ExileOnMainstream-030
CD
$13.50

Whitest Boy Alive
Rules (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST)
PS, US Indie-pop/disco!
Bubbles
CD
$17.00

Winter Gloves
About A Girl (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH)
PS, US Ten songs driven by the sounds of keyboards and drumes, all wrapped up in a constant buzz of bass and gritty
synths. Winter Gloves was voted best new band of 2008 on iTunes Canada.
PaperBag
CD
$16.00

Winter Gloves
About A Girl (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH)
PS, US VINYL VERSION!!!
PaperBag
LP
$19.00

Parasol Picks, Recent Restocks, & Noteworthy Reminders

Bible of the Devil/ Valkyrie “Split” 45 $5.25

Blank Dogs “The Fields” CD $10.25

Bob Corn/Larry Yes “Love Calls” 45 $4.75

Bobby & The Soft Spots “Can't Get Her Off b/w I Don't Need You” 45 $5.25

Boredoms “77 Boa Drum [deluxe edition]” DCD/DVD $110.00

Catwalk “Past Afar” 45 $3.50

Constantines “Our Age” 45 $6.50

Current 93 “Nature Unveiled” CD $16.00

Current 93 “Dog's Blood Rising” CD $16.00

Doe, John “Golden State” CD5 $5.00

Faith/Void “Split” LP $11.00

Feathers, Charlie “Wild Side of Life” CD $16.63

Final “Dead Air” CD $15.50

Guild League “Speak Up” CD $12.25

Hardin, Tim “1” CD $14.25

Hermit Crabs, The “Correspondence Course” CD5 $6.50

Jandek “London Tuesday” CD5 $7.00

Long Winters “Live at the Showbox” DVD $14.50

Louris, Gary “Vagabonds” CD $16.00

Louvin, Charlie “Sings Murder Ballads and Disaster Songs” CD $15.25

Murcof “Versailles Sessions” CD $14.25

Nebula “Peel Sessions” CD $16.25

Psychic TV “Mr. Alien Brain Vs. the Skinwalkers” CD/DVD $25.00

Staples, Mavis “Live: Hope At The Hideout” CD $16.25

Susanna “Flower of Evil” CD $16.25

Tanks “Keep Breaking Down” CD $8.50

Twi The Humble Feather “Music For Spaceships & Forests” CD $9.50

Verlaine, Tom “Dreamtime” CD $12.79

Viking Moses! “Parts That Showed” LP $18.25

Viking Moses! “Parts That Showed” CD $14.25

Wavves “S-T” CD $11.25

Parasol New Arrivals • February 24, 2009
Howdy all, Per usual, this here list is chock-full of goods that will keep you busy this evening so we’ll keep it short and let you work your way down. Hit us up if anything looks good and we’ll check back in with you next week. Dream up, dream up, let me fill your cup with the promise of some jams. Late, Roy & Paul
Below is a list of new arrivals for this week. To search for a specific item or to browse our entire catalog click here. Or, click here to go back to the Parasol Home Page. Click here to see previous weeks new arrivals.
QUICK LINKS INTO PARASOL.COM DIGITAL UNDERGROUND: FREE PARASOL DOWNLOADS JIM's PICK: Great Music from Scandinavia Thrillsville: Parasol staffers' personal picks New Releases Mail Order Portal Gift Certificates
Parasol Mail Order Pick of the Week
	New Ruins " We Make Our Own Bad Luck" (A Hidden Agenda Record) CD $9.00 \| LP $10.00 \| CD/Vinyl Package $16.50 We Make Our Own Bad Luck is the new album from Illinois paranormal act New Ruins, the follow-up to their first release, The Sound They Make, from 2007. Droning acoustic/electric rock haunted by rural spectres, songs rendered in sepia-tone, but updated with DIY studio machinations. Since their debut the original duo of songwriters J. Caleb Means and Elzie Sexton has expanded into a quintet, featuring bassist/multi-instrumentalist Paul Chastain (Velvet Crush, Matthew Sweet), drummer Roy Ewing (Braid, Very Secretary), and Andrew Davidson (Tractor Kings, Chemicals) on bass and auxiliary percussion. New Ruins is a band as comfortable in a stage-shaking three-guitar line-up as it is in a more intimate stripped-down acoustic setting.
Thrillsville: Parasol staff's weekly picks
Jim picks: Triffids - Born Sandy Devotional [re-issue] CD My family's soundtrack for driving across central Florida each February. Angie picks: Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road - Deluxe CD I saw her 2x last weekend! hoot! Geoff picks: Eels - Blinking Lights CD On the recommendation of my friend Neela. Roy picks: Vetiver - Tight Knit CD
New Releases A Passing Fancy S-T PS, US Revised & expanded version of the much beloved Canadian pop-psych album. Tough garage rock ("I'm Losing Tonight"), beat music influence ("A Passing Fancy," "You're Going Out Of Your Mind") & a great acid rock meltdown ("Your Trip"). LionProductions CD $15.00 Abe Vigoda Reviver PS, US Cantankerous shoegaze poplosion! Washing & slipping through certain moments where "Skeleton" only touched on, this 5 song EP slows the mood, & crashes over your senses, getting more experimental but oddly more catchy. Squirming in a stunning act of pureness, a calming sound overtakes the senses & they destroy it all beautifully & bring it back again. PostPresentMedium CD5 $9.50 Abe Vigoda Reviver PS, US VINYL VERSION. PostPresentMedium LP $9.75 Aethenor Faking Gold & Murder PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! VHF LP $21.50 Aethenor Faking Gold & Murder PS, US 3rd Earth-shattering full-length by Vincent De Roguin (SHORA), Stephen O'Malley (SUNN0))), KTL) & Daniel O'Sullivan (GUAPO) VHF CD $14.25 Afterhours #25 Winter 2009 (2 CD + 1 DVD) PS, JAPAN Sounds See The Light On A Long, Dull And Dark Night Issue. Special Feature Adventures in Wonderland Baltimore! HYBRID WAVE OF MUSIC LAPPING ONTO THE HARBOR TOWN We cover Baltimore. Its music scene is now much talked about. From A to Z of this anything-goes crazy town, where the members of Animal Collective were brought up and Matmos moved to. Special Feature In A Transport of Underground London. A FLOWER BLOOMING in DESOLETE LONDON, WHERE ALTERNATIVE MUSIC DECLINED. We have never featured this business town London before, but something is happening to its alternative music scene. We also introduce its pubs, cafes, record shops as well as labels and artists!! SPECIAL PROGRAM: Welcome to My space NON-DOT-COM MySpace, THIS IS MY WORKPLACE. Beginning from visiting the studios of Mice parade, F.S. Blumm and ISO68, covering hand-made CDs that Pastaca's working on with lots of color pages! LET MUSIC AT LARGE, A MUSICAL NOMAD TELLS HIS STORY. One record shop came into existence in Shimokitazawa. Why did he start it in this hard times, what did he think, how did he start it? We cover from its preparation to the very opening. The Take Away Shows. WE DELIVER YOU FRESH MUSIC. A French movie director starts a strange project of shooting a live in the filed on a one-camera/one-shot procedure. VISITING AN HERMIT IN THE FOREST OF RECORDS. A memory of a guy in search of alternative for 40 years. We visit a music writer, Mr. Shin'ichi Ishikawa, whose house some say is stuffed with records. He selected 54 must albums with comments to all of them. Rock'n'roll responsibilities. Members of Kimi records start off on Iceland domestic tour!! We cover their bus tour, which Mum's Orvar joined as well. They rock with the matching sportswears in pre-default Iceland! BONUS 2CD + 1DVD: CD1 Adventure In Wonderland, Baltimore! Deluxe omnibus of 16 artists in Feature 1. CD2 In A Transport Of Underground London and more... London feature, corresponding to the article [Welcome to My space]. DVD The Take Away Shows and more... [The Take Away Shows], promos of Baltimorean artists. AfterHours-25 ZINE $21.75 Ala Muerte Santa Elena PS, US Debut full-length from this solo venture of BIANCA BIBILONI, is a rich, ethereal excursion filled w/beautiful sadness. Conceptually moving from the apocalyptic to a state of new beginning, this explores solitude & personal growth through melodic tension & environmental metaphor. Layers of guitar & vocals swirl beneath softly sung lyrics. Gentle vocal melodies float atop dissonant sound collages. Tension ebbs & flows throughout, only to explode w/ an introduction of a full drum kit on the closing track. All instruments - guitar, double bass, mixing bowl, alto & soprano recorder, viola, drums, & 10-string cuatro, a traditional Puerto Rican instrument that is a relative of the flute - were played by Bianca. PublicGuilt CD $12.25 American Football American Football EP PS, US First time on vinyl! In their brief history together, American Football crafted two releases that left an undeniable mark on independent music. Despite being released nearly a decade ago both releases are consistently among Polyvinyl's top selling titles. Fronted by Mike Kinsella (Owen, Joan of Arc, Cap'n Jazz), American Football created the kind of songs that held new discoveries upon each listen. These three songs along with the nine that appear on the band's full-length are the only American Football songs ever released. This release features all new album artwork, is on high quality 180-gram vinyl and includes a digital download of the entire release. Polyvinyl-019 12 $8.75 An Albatross The An Albatross Family Album PS, US PITCHFORK: "Robo-spazmatazz genre-splicers An Albatross pack more riffs, time changes, and esoteric rock references in one song than many bands jam into an entire album. Fitting for a bunch of dudes whose credo is some sort of mystical mumbo jumbo of cosmic love, fantasy animals, sci-fi weirdness, and-- as the new album expounds on-- space pilgrimages in search of world peace and harmony. And yet, I think they're serious! These love-in rambles only give the ballistic tunes that much more cheeky appeal. For their third full-length, The Family Album, AA continue their psychedelic aural terror, but dig deeper into the annals of kraut and classic rockdom." Eyeball CD $15.00 Anahita Matricaria PS, US Tara Burke (FURSAXA) & cellist Helena Espvall (ESPERS). A beautiful, laboriously created, floating affair of skeletal organ drones, ceremonial singing, & subtly frantic instrumental accompaniment that conjures up a natural woodland romp & stomp. Important CD $13.25 And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead The Century of Self PS, US New album from Brooklyn-via-Texas avant-argonauts. 15 years into their career, Trail of Dead continues to innovate and grow. At a point where many other bands would be resting on their laurels and half-heartedly tossing off greatest hits comps, Trail of Dead are just getting started. RichterScale/Justice CD $15.25 Andalusians Do The Work PS, US Song-writing vehicle for Basla Andolsun, who has played in BEAUTY PILL, DEL CIELO, & currently tours w/ EDIE SEDGWICK. This 3-song 7 inch comes w/ an MP3 download coupon that also features 3 extra tracks from the same recording session. Dischord 45 $4.00 Ant These Long Dark Country Roads PS, SPAIN Antony Harding was the drummer of Hefner, the British indie cult band. After releasing a couple of low key singles in 1999, ANT released a series of mini albums, albums and compilations, plus a live session with John Peel, before moving to Sweden and retiring for a while to take care of his family. After a few years of silence, ANT comes back now with a new 6 song mini album for Acuarela which features collaborations with former Hefner members Darren Hayman and Jack Hayter as well as help from members of Cornershop. Acuarela-066 CD $8.25 Antennas Feeling Feline Tonight [plus bonus remix EP] PS, US New album from Swedish soul-pop instigators. With "Feeling Feline Tonight" Antennas debut their new sound: a bit more electronic, urban and darker but it still hold all the melody you associate with Antennas. IT'S A TRAP! REVIEW: "Antennas do not lend themselves easily to comparisons -- there are elements of the pop structures of Shout Out Louds, of the angular nature of Laakso's approach, among other such attempts to define their sound, but very few of these associations hold up as you move through the tracklist. "The collector" is kitschy-chic, like a Weeping Willows ballad hijacked by CDOASS. "Lies" has far more soul and funk in its composition than three Swedes should be able to manifest in song; "Youngbloods" channels a bit of Brit-rock suave before throwing itself recklessly down dance-punk avenues; "Upwardly mobile" could almost be a Hot Chip track..." SPECIAL OFFER: Bonus EP features "Lies", remixes of same by Radio LXMBRG and Oscar Tillman (Holiday For Strings), plus a cover of the song by The Baboon Show. Free with 'Feeling Feline Tonight', while supplies last. Novoton CD/CD5 $13.00 Appleseed Cast Sagarmantha PS, US 6th studio album from the Lawrence, Kansas group. MilitiaGroup CD $13.75 Apse Eras PS, US 180g vinyl. Hand numbered limited edition of 425. All Tomorrow's Parties recording artists Apse have produced an unofficial follow up to their critically acclaimed debut album Spirit (Acuarela 2006/All Tomorrow's Parties 2008). A work recorded and produced entirely at home between the months of January and August 2007, Equation Records proudly presents Eras - an exclusively vinyl-only release limited to 425 copies. While maintaining common threads with its predecessor, Eras is a highly sophisticated, wildly versatile and strikingly mysterious affair - delving much deeper into the genre-splicing and marching-to-the-beat-of-its-own drum that the band has always been revered for. Each listen encourages a deeper investigation as the album embodies a comprehensive selection of multi-faceted material culled from a larger body of work - blended into a record that can truthfully merit the commonly misplaced maxim: 'a genre all its own'. As the band prepares its official follow-up to Spirit, to be released on ATP/R this summer, Eras functions as the fabric between the two. Finished in August of 2007 and set on the shelf for 18 months, Eras is an artifact all its own. The album is due out on February 14th via Equation Records, limited in quantity and exclusively distributed as the vinyl object itself. The record is pressed on 180 gram virgin vinyl, and comes in beautiful packaging including a heavy-gauge card gatefold sleeve, printed inner sleeve with lyrics and artwork, and a charming hand-numbered card insert. SPIN Magazine's Kenny Herzog said of their first album: "Spirit is the deathnail for the labored beast that is 'postrock,' revealing the much more alluring potential that always lurked around its sinister corners." - If that is the case, Eras marks the next step in this journey: An exploration that further delves into those realms, leaving any semblance of 'post-rock' in its wake, searching for something far greater, far more gorgeous and alien." Equation-019 LP $17.75 Arborea House of Sticks PS, SPAIN Arborea is Buck Curran and Shanti Curran from Lewiston, Maine. Buck plays guitars, bowed strings, flutes and some banjo, and Shanti provides banjo, bowed strings, and percussion, they both sing; though Shanti sings the majority of the songs. Their songs are low-key intimate spell casting affairs; the fact that they are a couple might help to explain the seamless organic blending of their music together. Conjuring truly transportational magic out of the simplest ingredients, Arborea songs might be a hundreds of years old, and there's little here to lock them into any moment other than forever. Alligator sounds like Fred Neil backing Marissa Nadler. They also bring to mind Josephine Foster, Vashti Bunyan, Linda Perhacs, the folky side of MV & EE, Timothy Renner's various incarnations, and other similar magician/musicians. A beautifully recorded acoustic-based gem of an album with no weak track amidst the ten they grace us with. BorneRecordings/Acuarela-002 CD $12.25 Architecture In Helsinki That Beep PS, US Coming off the heels of commercial success in Australia, Architecture in Helsinki are set to release a brand new song in the states. The song is called "That Beep" and it is the most straight forward, 80's inspired pop tune the band has ever created. With a hook so instantly gratifying, the US is likely to follow Australia's lead in making AiH a household name. "That Beep" is a teaser single from the brand new, as-yet-untitled Architecture in Helsinki fulllength that will land on the shores of America in late summer 2009. "That Beep" has widely been covered on the web by outlets like Pitchfork, Gorilla vs. Bear, Fluxblog, You Ain't No Picasso, and Stereogum to name a few, and the video for "That Beep" premiered on Pitchfork.tv. Features 3 bonus tracks, including a Radioclit remix. Polyvinyl-174 12 $9.00 Architecture In Helsinki That Beep PS, US Coming off the heels of commercial success in Australia, Architecture in Helsinki are set to release a brand new song in the states. The song is called "That Beep" and it is the most straight forward, 80's inspired pop tune the band has ever created. With a hook so instantly gratifying, the US is likely to follow Australia's lead in making AiH a household name. "That Beep" is a teaser single from the brand new, as-yet-untitled Architecture in Helsinki fulllength that will land on the shores of America in late summer 2009. "That Beep" has widely been covered on the web by outlets like Pitchfork, Gorilla vs. Bear, Fluxblog, You Ain't No Picasso, and Stereogum to name a few, and the video for "That Beep" premiered on Pitchfork.tv. Features 3 bonus tracks, including a Radioclit remix. Polyvinyl-174 CD5 $6.75 Area C Charmed Birds Against Sorcery PS, US The album recalls more the crystalline, kaleidoscopic webworks of the first Area C record than the ragged organ workouts of "Haunt." Glacial harmonics drift in & out of each channel, skittering, modulated notes pulse & surge, sputtering suddenly to luminescent manifestation before disappearing just as quickly. The title track is w/o question the album's apex & constitutes a formal peak in Carlson's discography, as brilliant, bright guitar lines tread effortlessly in a sea of tranquil pulses & disembodied percussive elements. LIMITED TO 500 StudentsofDecay CD $10.50 Asobi Seksu Hush PS, US LP 180 gm vinyl. A critically acclaimed band with glowing press from such outlets as the New York Times, Nylon, Under the Radar, YRB, XLR8R, and many more, NYC's Asobi Seksu make their stunning Polyvinyl debut with their much anticipated third album Hush. Known for their captivating live shows, Hush captures that energy and transforms it into something new - something different. Shimmering, dew-draped riffs and spiral staircase melodies are blurred by bits of guitar violence and sputtering drums bolstered by the ethereal vocals of vocalist Yuki Chikudate. Polyvinyl-170 LP $14.75 Asobi Seksu Hush PS, US A critically acclaimed band with glowing press from such outlets as the New York Times, Nylon, Under the Radar, YRB, XLR8R, and many more, NYC's Asobi Seksu make their stunning Polyvinyl debut with their much anticipated third album Hush. Known for their captivating live shows, Hush captures that energy and transforms it into something new - something different. Shimmering, dew-draped riffs and spiral staircase melodies are blurred by bits of guitar violence and sputtering drums bolstered by the ethereal vocals of vocalist Yuki Chikudate. Polyvinyl-170 CD $13.25 Astral Social Club Octuplex PS, US NEIL CAMPBELL returns w/ an album of squelching, restless ambience. The CD is split roughly in half between Harmonia/Voigt-style chuggers & sweeping swirls of instantly recognizable dronage. Includes contributions from RICHARD YOUNGS, JOHN CLYDE-EVANS & SPIDER STACY (POGUES). VHF CD $14.25 Auerbach, Dan Keep It Hid PS, US VINYL VERSION, comes with CD. Nonesuch LP/CD $19.75 Auerbach, Dan Keep It Hid PS, US On his solo debut, Black Keys singer and guitarist Dan Auerbach takes a simple approach: 'I just wanted to do the things I loved.' For Auerbach, that means combining elements of bluegrass a la the Stanley Brothers, mournful country balladry, Memphis-style R&B, fuzzed-out psychedelic rock and low-down blues on this collection of 14 original tunes, which Auerbach self-produced and recorded with friends and family at his family at his newly built studio, Akron Analog. Nonesuch CD $15.25 Azita How Will You? PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! DragCity/Twos&Fews LP $15.50 Azita How Will You? PS, US A collection of songs that range from sun-bright & poppy to deep-focus, torrential. AZITA stuck to straight-ahead voicings in her chords to bring heaviness to the sound, working with bassist Matt Lux (Iron & Wine, Plush) and drummer John Herndon (Tortoise) to arrange her songs with the strength of a rock & roll band throughout the album. Compelling pop music, approaching in fun, with beats, and then sinking deep & growing within you. The songs of How Will You? take a new approach for AZITA, with more space in them, more room for the melody lines to echo out, haunted & haunting. DragCity/Twos&Fews CD $13.25 Bad Dudes Eat Drugs PS, US Incorporating blistering guitar riffage, Devo-esque synth lines, shimmering melodies, shifting time signatures & impossibly tight drumming, this expands upon MIRACLE CHOSUKE's hypertech synthpunk sound & conjures up what devoted followers have dubbed "party-prog" KillShaman LP $13.50 Baker, Keef Pen Fifteen PS, GERMANY Mighty sub-bass drones, driving, energetic beats, wonderful piano lines, atmospheric keyboards, doomy guitars, occasional vocal work - Pen Fifteen is another journey into Keef Baker's world, where unequal musical styles like trip hop, electronica and even metal are used as base plates and sometimes merge within a single note - just check out what starts as a distorted guitar and ends as click'n'cut in 'dead end'. Instead of 'eclecticism' a logical extrapolation of varied influences is displayed, whether it is post-rock, intelligent dance music, dub... in the end they become one style that can only be called Keef Baker. 11 songs of melodic harshness - loud and powerful even in their quietest moments. Expect your expectations to be confounded! CD2 'light city' - intended to be listened to without interference or pauses - a trip into sudorific clublife that keeps you moving for more than an hour. An astounding mix with well-placed increasing and decreasing speed, ranging from dubstep to techno to drum and bass to breakcore and back. This is Keef as he sounds while performing live - a great addition to a fantastic album. Hymen-771 DCD $17.50 Barn Owl From Our Mouths A Perpetual Light PS, US Originally released on vinyl by the good folks at Not Not Fun, this is an epic offering to the sun gods. This San Francisco-based duo have crafted something impeccable here full of spectral blues & subterranean drones that rival anything else happening today. Epic doom-tinged guitars explode like a phoenix impaling itself on a nuclear missile bathing everything in glorious, gluttonous black. There is nowhere to hide from these menacing sounds, but even if you could, why would you want to? Limited to 500 Digitalis CD $11.00 Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique: 20th Anniversary Edition PS, US Special 20th anniversary version of 1989's Paul's Boutique. The album was run through a 24-bit remastering process and will be released as an eight-panel digipak. Fans can also download a track-by-track audio commentary from the Boys, which syncs with the album. Capitol CD $17.75 Beat Boys S-T PS, US Along w/ Os Mutantes, the group represented the most radical element in Brazilian rock: their intense fuzz guitar raves were a fierce indicator of a rebel spirit. They were at the very epicenter of the movement of rupture, that bringing together of electricity & avant-garde erudition that has come to be known as "Tropicalia". They backed Caetano Veloso & Gilberto Gil for their defining moments as artists- both live, & in the studio. LionProductions CD $15.00 Black Candy PS, US Limited Qty. Krecords-006 LP $10.25 Beirut March of the Zapotec & Realpeople Holland PS, US New album. For the past year, Beirut has alternated between touring in support of 2007's much-lauded The Flying Club Cup and writing a wealth of new material. With no sense of a release in mind, bandleader Zach Condon recorded in any style that struck his fancy. Some early discussions about recording material for a film being shot in Mexico morphed into a new idea: What about finding a local band in a small city in Mexico, hiring them to play some new material, and recording the result? It was a sincere challenge every step of the way. Condon had to find the band, which he did through a bandmate's mother who has connections in Oaxaca. To communicate with the performers, he hired a translator, who had to be able to speak English, Spanish, as well as Zapotec, the band members' native language. From there, he flew down to Oaxaca, traveling a half-hour out of town to the tiny weaver village of Teotitlan del Valle, where he met the nineteen members of The Jimenez Band. The ensuing weeks of recording, rewriting, and relating are documented in a series of short films (being released online in the weeks before and after the release date for March of the Zapotec). All well and good, but the six songs found on March of the Zapotec are only a part of what this release has become. Before recording as Beirut, Condon went by Realpeople for his bedroom recordings, and he has revived the name for the second half in this collection, Holland. As opposed to March of the Zapotec, Holland collects a series of songs conceived and completed at home. One song, "Venice," appeared on a compilation by The Believer magazine, while "My Night with the Prostitute from Marseille" was on the Big Change digital-only charity compilation on iTunes. Together, this album-length double release represents the totality of Condon's work over the past year. March of the Zapotec is further testament toward the inventiveness and intimacy he creates as Beirut, a band which started as one person sounding like twelve, and has developed into a particular style and sound. No matter what inspirations jumpstart any one particular song, underlying it all is the realization that Condon is a singular artist creating an original sound. What may appear at first to be two disparate paths are in reality joined by Condon's ability to craft simple melodies that sound both unique and unforgettable. It would be a misconception for Beirut's sound to be considered a dabble in various styles, folk sounds, and music histories, because one could never confuse Condon's music for the original inspiration; all his songs on this release carry more in common with each other than they do their original source of inspiration. And whether he's being inspired by Balkan folk, French chanteuse, Mexican troubadour, '80s synth pop, or '90s house, the common thread remains Condon's ability to personalize the sound. Pompeii DCD $14.25 Beirut March of the Zapotec & Realpeople Holland PS, US Vinyl format. ObeyYourBrain 2X12 $15.75 Believer February 2009 PS, US Mock Action in St. Paul, Literature After teh Crash, The Best Kind of Self Conscious Fiction, Old Zeal. Interviews with John Ashberry, Heather Chaplain, Mary Gaitskill, David Levine. ZINE $8.00 Believer February 2009 SP, US Mock Action in St. Paul, Literature After the Crash, The Best Kind of Self Conscious Fiction, Old Zeal. Interviews with John Ashberry, Heather Chaplain, Mary Gaitskill, David Levine. ZINE $8.00 Belmez Apariciones PS, SPAIN Jaime and Jose began the Bélmez project back in 2004, while they were working on their other band 12twelve. Marc, member of Dolores and Teresa, joined them in 2005 completing the final trio, brought together by their love of American rooted slowcore. In August 2007 they recorded with Paco Loco on analog tape and 100% live what is their first album, Apariciones, mastered by Bob Weston (Shellac) in Chicago, to be released on the Spring of 2009. A combination of powerful yet minimalistic sound, with no effects, but in which every note and every bang is fundamental. Acuarela-1089 CD $12.25 Ben, Jorge Forca Bruta PS, US REISSUE on 180gm vinyl! Originally released in 1970, this is an absolute classic from one of Brazil's most consistently great artists. Despite being embraced by the Tropicalia movement (w/ Caetano Veloso & Gal Costa both covering his songs) there are no psychedelic meandering to be found w/in these grooves, this set is pure samba-soul. BEN is backed here by the innovative Trio Mocotó who never overplay & allow his soulful vocal delivery & samba guitar to be the centerpieces. This was recently reissued on CD on the great Dusty Groove record label & its a pleasant surpise to see it now available on vinyl again! A musthave. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 4MenwithBeards LP $16.75 Beneath Oblivion S-T PS, US Cincinnati, Ohio's finest in raw doom, sludgy despair & stripped down futility. Crawling forward, white-knuckled, w/ down-tuned guitar riffs that leave you unnerved & anxious, bass lines that thud hard enough to leave you nauseous, & drums that thump one minute in a tribal, trance-inducing cavalcade & the next come crashing down w/ the power of a mountain splitting in two. RIYL: Ocean SunnO))), Buried At Sea. Limited to 500 MyleneSheath 10 $15.50 Bergman, Borah Trio Luminescence PS, US Takes his lyrical cross hands contrapuntal technique into the dynamic context of the classic piano trio. Influenced by the exotic melismas of cantorial singing, the counterpoint of Bach & the harmonic beauty of Alban Berg & Bill Evans, he forges a new language of joy & sadness, firmly rooted in the Jewish tradition. JOHN ZORN appears on one track. Tzadik CD $15.25 Bibio Vignetting The Compost PS, US Seamlessly amalgamating nature and electronics, Vignetting The Compost, the third full-length release from Bibio, channels instruments and vocals from a bygone era through a futuristic digital portal. History may credit Edison with the phonograph but, in truth, the first such device mysteriously washed up on the shores of England in 1876... playing Bibio. Vignetting The Compost is at once timeless and innovative; 60s-esque folk guitar and mechanic manipulations of sounds whose instruments of origin are less important than the feelings they evoke, layer upon each other with ease and intricacy. Just when you expect to hear Nico's moan escaping your stereo, Bibio himself comes through with a voice that could have sung next to her on "These Days." Truly, this is an album for the ages. Producer Stephen Wilkinson is a self-taught musician from an area in central England often referred to as the Black Country. His love for sound and noise led him to the University of London and the study of Sonic Arts where he discovered experimental electronic acts such as Aphex Twin, Autechre, and most importantly Boards Of Canada. His own musical identity was christened Bibio, in honor of a fly his father had insisted on using during the fishing trips to Wales that were so influential in establishing his love of the sounds of nature. Focusing on location recording using cassettes, a half-broken sampler, Dictaphones, and experimental ways of affecting sounds, Bibio has crafted a unequalled style that is as subtle as it is powerful. Mush-263 CD $9.00 Bird and The Bee, The Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future PS, US The Bird and the Bee emerged from their retro nest in 2006, flaunting a sort of contemporary space-age pop that relied on Inara George's voice -- a jazzy, soft soprano in the vein of Norah Jones and Priscilla Ahn -- and Greg Kurstin's production chops. The combination celebrated outmoded genres without losing a modern edge, and the Bird and the Bee scored a chart-topping club single ("F**ing Boyfriend") while simultaneously courting the NPR crowd. Several years later, the Bird and the Bee take a grounded approach to their sophomore effort, Ray Guns are Not Just the Future, which sports nary a club single (much less an expletive-filled song title). This is pure NPR music, all neo-jazz melodies and martini-lounge flourishes without the sly bite of its predecessor. George is still a cunning vocalist, pledging her evergreen love to David Lee Roth on "Diamond Dave" and courteously seducing her listener on "Polite Dance Song" ("I try to be as coy as I can, but I want to see your naughty bit"), yet her melodies remain reliant on Kurstin's orchestrations, which sound considerably more relaxed this time around. He churns out retro-minded backdrops like a hipster Burt Bacharach, veering between elegant orchestration and dancefloor percussion (with an emphasis on the former), and his productions are striking in spite of the band's general rallentando. Nonetheless, it's hard to shake the notion that he gave his best hooks to Lily Allen, whose own sophomore album (featuring Kurstin's production and co-writing credits) was released two weeks after Ray Guns. Those in the market for fast songs will find a few here, most notably "Love Letter to Japan" and "Meteor," but the album's true gems are its slightly slower numbers: the elegiac "My Love," "Birthday," "Polite Dance Song," and the stringed splendor of "Baby." ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide "Angelic-voiced singer Inara George and multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurstin create space-age pop that cunningly combines bossa nova languidity with Beach Boys-style lushness." - Entertainment Weekly "Greg Kurstin ("bee") and Inara George ("bird") make syncopated danceable pop that sounds like audible sunshine." - Rolling Stone "The bird and the bee put a playful spin on lush retro-pop." - The New York Times BlueNoteRecords CD $16.25 Bisbee, Sam Son of a Math Teacher PS, US Veteran newcomer Sam Bisbee may be best known for producing and arranging the Cat Power version of Blondie's "Hanging On the Telephone" for that Cingular commercial, but it's his incredibly personal stories set to music that will keep you coming back for more. Son of a Math Teacher, his first release for Le Grand Magistery, features guest appearances by Leona Naess, Lucie Wainwright Roche, Mike Viola and Liz Tormes, and was co-produced with Britt Myers (Essex Green, Robbers On High Street, Sam Champion) and Bo Boddie. Two songs from the album have already been seen on the FX show "Damages" starring Glenn Close. "Clever lyrics, crisp guitar-rock instrumentation, and subtle, yet insinuating hooks." - Billboard Magazine "Our favorite new New York City singer-songwriter" - Paper Magazine "Sam Bisbee's lyrics are insightful, poetic and humorous when read on their own. Stylistically chartering a meeting point between new wave, hip-hop and pop/rock, this is one of the better and more original surprises you are likely to come across this year." - Harp Magazine "Literate but not pretentious, emotional but never cloying, inevitable but never predictable, Bisbee's songs don't wilt in the spotlight, but flourish." - Boston Herald LeGrandMagistery-047 CD $12.25 Bjork Dull Flame of Desire PS, US Taken from the album "Volta" w/ "Sun In My Mouth" taken from "Vespertine" & "Sod Off" previously unreleased SlowToSpeak 12 $15.75 Black Lips 200 Million Thousand PS, US Vice CD $14.00 Black Moth Super Rainbow Don't You Want to Be In a Cult [picture disc] PS, US Amazing picture disc awesomeness from Pittsburgh's weirdest. A rad picture disc, this record marks the first new material following the band's acclaimed 2007 release Dandelion Gum and the "Zodiac Girls" 7" on Suicide Squeeze. Features "Don't You Want to Be in a Cult" b/w "Feel the Drip". Limited to 1000. Includes a download card. MexicanSummer 12" $15.00 Bleaks Haste, Error PS, US Trio of Jeremy Lemos (WHITE/LIGHT & WHITE/LICHENS), Kyle Bruckmann (EKG, PINK MOUNTAIN, LOZENGE) & Steve Silverstein (CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS) Wodger LP $19.00 BMX Bandits The BMX love EP PS, SPAIN LIMITED EDITION 600 COPIES. Red vinyl. Elefant are congratulating ourselves on the release, for the second time, of the exclusive 7" of one of the most vital and active groups of the Scottish pop scene. Duglas T. Stewart put together a handful of unreleased songs in this item that marks the sepia tinted memory of the most elegantly poppy seventies, led by the piano, evoking the halo of composers like Burt Bacharach or Henry Mancini and artists like Dusty Springfield or Françoise Hardy. From the new version of "Our Secret Life" in French, rebaptized here as "Quand il n'y a plus d'amour" (with the French adaptation by Nick Garrie) to the closing gem of the EP, a version of "Hopelessly Devoted to You" that Olivia Newton-John sang in "Grease", on of our favorite films, which Duglas deliciously recreates with the collaboration of the Scottish band THE ATTIC LIGHTS. The single is completed with two very recent recordings, the unreleased "I Can Wait Forever", intimate folk pop marked with elegant melodies and vocals, and a version of "You Don't Want to Be My Girlfriend, Phoebe" by MY LITTLE AIRPORT. When Duglas received MY LITTLE AIRPORT's album, published by Elefant, he fell instantly in love with the song. He played it live a few days later and soon after decided to record it in the studio, the magnificent result of which is here. A precious collection of songs with the indelible stamp of one of the most gifted minds in pop of the last 25 years at the controls. As always, Duglas, it's a pleasure. Elefant-268 45 $7.75 Bodies Obtained, The From the Top of My Tree PS, US The path that leads to The Bodies Obtained is a long one. Conceived in Detroit, MI, not much is known of the extremely elusive duo (there isn't even an existing photograph of the artists) other than the fact that they took their name from the Joy Division song "Day of the Lords", and whatever other little bits of information they make available to the public via cryptic press releases sent to the media from within the band's camp. The Bodies Obtained are of indiscriminate age, and only now fielding their first album, From The Top Of My Tree to the greater public. A timeless piece of music, ...My Tree could have been conceived in 1978, 1988, 1998 or 2008: it's the sonic documentation of an ongoing project that spans electronica, experimental rock and synth-pop from a group who have experienced it all. With songs akin to those of Brian Eno, the Residents and Fad Gadget, TBO use their anonymity to lead the listener to explore a realm that could be associated with those bands: an obscure place where nothing is quite what to expect around the next bend. Discord and discomfort are as important as reward and satisfaction, and the album is a living, breathing testament to that rhetoric. The music itself is heavier than most electronic bands out there, more synths, more echo, more ether, more meaning. One member of TBO attests: "For us the band's name also ties into our reason for making music. Due in part, to that perfect act of nature that put us here, in this body, at this time and place. Finding music attractive, it has forced us to express our 'art damaged' selves through it". Song titles like "Let the Worm Seize the Day" and "The Pig that I Am"; channeling even more '80s electro gloom, validate the band's statements off the bat. FindingYouAttractive CD $10.00 Bodychoke Cold River Songs PS, US Formed by members of SUTCLIFFE JUGEND & WHITEHOUSE, this was a noisy rock anomaly as powerful & provocative as its name would suggest. Their material was dark, violent, strangely hypnotic & defied categorization. This long out-of-print unheralded classic has been given the deluxe treatment; now remastered to include 3 bonus tracks. RIYL: Swans, Nick Cave/Birthday Party, Joy Division, Throbbing Gristle. Relapse CD $14.75 Bones, Mike Fool For Everyone PS, US "A Fool For Everyone was made in April 2008 at a place called The Seaside Lounge. A few musicians joined me, old and new friends. Recording took four days. I don't particularly enjoy being in studios, but this time was easy. Decisions presented themselves naturally and we got good takes. Everyone was on top of his or her game. All these songs were written after June 2007, except "Everybody's Always Coming Down On Me" which is quite an old song. I wrote one on the beach in Spain, the rest at my desk in New York City. Other songs were written in that time and in those places. Those aren't on A Fool For Everyone. Most songs exist because of beautiful women and existential despair, but that's no surprise. There are a lot of guitars on A Fool for Everyone, not just mine, but Matt Sweeney's too. Our moves go well together. My last record purposefully had no guitar solos, this one purposefully does. Intention is important when making things, having complete understanding of one's intentions less so. I heard my father doesn't like the cover of this record because it's a naked picture of me. It's OK, I sort of knew he wouldn't. I like the picture and I like the girl who took it. I have my reasons. All of the above is factual as far as I can tell. Memory is a tricky thing, but you know that. We've probably read the same books. Good night." - Mike Bones "Anthemic doesn't have to mean overblown you know. Mr. Bones can do it with swooning casualness, sieving the twee from Sufjan Stevens and Belle & Sebastian, leaving only heart and soul." - NME "Mike Bones is the favorite guitarist of every musician you like in New York. He's the New York music-geek world's secret weapon." - Vice Magazine "Bones is a guitar hero inside and out, master apprentice of a steel-eyed, determined blues first informed by punk, not the sallow, honeyed agony seeping out of our most emotionally isolated singer-songwriters." - Dusted TheSocialRegistry-072 CD $11.50 Bones, Mike Fool For Everyone PS, US "VINYL VERSION!!! TheSocialRegistry-72 LP $12.25 BPA I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat PS, US The legendary forgotten sessions of the BRIGHTON PORT AUTHORITY, recently uncovered! Genre bending music that was ahead of it's time features collaborations w/ IGGY POP, DAVID BYRNE, JAMIE T & MARTHA WAINWRIGHT SouthernFried CD $12.00 Broken Spindles Kiss/Kick PS, US This is more No Wave than New Wave - & is JOEL PETERSEN's strongest work to date. With four Broken Spindles albums & five FAINT albums under his belt, he has found his voice, & has learned how to reduce songs to their basic barts w/o losing the power & excitement of great production. blank.wav CD $12.00 Brotzmann, Peter/Nilssen-Love, Paal Sweetsweat PS, NORWAY Recorded live at Sting Jazzklubb in Norway during the Maijazz Festival in 2006. The godfather of European free-jazz, Peter Brotzmann, is joined by respected Scandinavian percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love to form a musical partnership of rare & beautiful balance. SmalltownSuperjazz-143 CD $15.25 Browns Family History PS, US Each vinyl piece incl. a copy of a portrait taken by Elizabeth Fritts w/ a Polaroid land camera. Like their West Coast brethren The Muslims, Browns sound hardlyoverdriven & hardly-caring, the kind of band that might rather play for 3 than 300 & have a better time doing so. "Two Of You" & "Dreamers" are the strongest cuts from the EP, the latter closing out the record w/ steady, soft blows & scraps of brittle guitars. "Dreamers" precedes it, a notably faster & more direct tune that sounds like it's arguing against the idea of big aspirations. Way to underachieve, guys! It worked! - RCRDLBL 1928Recordings LP $12.00 Browns Family History PS, US Like their West Coast brethren The Muslims, Browns sound hardly-overdriven & hardly-caring, the kind of band that might rather play for 3 than 300 & have a better time doing so. "Two Of You" & "Dreamers" are the strongest cuts from the EP, the latter closing out the record w/ steady, soft blows & scraps of brittle guitars. "Dreamers" precedes it, a notably faster & more direct tune that sounds like it's arguing against the idea of big aspirations. Way to underachieve, guys! It worked! - RCRDLBL 1928Recordings CD $10.50 Bulldog Breed Made In England PS, US Amazing 1969 UK odd/psych/freakbeat rarity featuring members of T2 and The Flies. This is the first time it has been reissued officially on CD -- and it's taken from the original DECCA master tapes. Comes complete with new sleevenotes, photos and bonus tracks including the mega-rare single 'Halo in My Hair' b/w 'Portcullis Gate'. A classic album finally gets proper recognition. AcmeGramophone/LionProductions CD $15.25 Buried Inside Spoils of Failure PS, US 8 epic tracks that marry dense, riff-heavy layers of instrumentation & caustic vocal bellows w/ the deeply introspective & thoughtprovoking lyrics that have become their trademark. RIYL: Neurosis, Big Business, Mogwai, Pelican Relapse CD $13.25 Burning Hearts Aboa Sleeping PS, US Finland's Henry Ojala (Cats on Fire) & Jessika Rapo (Le Futur Pompiste) as Burning Hearts might be greeted as a marriage of the best elements of both members' other bands, but this is truly a matter of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Full of subtle detail & a uniformly warm sound, this is a dream of idealized pop: beautifully understated vocals, melodies as reassuring as a lover's embrace & a tone of intimacy that could only come from collaboration that is fully simpatico. Listen to the heart-tugging chorus of "Iris," the stately lockstep interplay between vocal & rhythm-track on "A Peasant's Dream," or the fade-to-black melancholy of the title track, and hear that same indefinable, inexplicable musical alchemy that is their homeland's claim. Shelflife CD $12.25 Burst, Charles Come Home & Feast PS, US As a distinguished engineer, he has worked on records by the New Pornographers, Gang Gang Dance, Takka Takka, Crystal Stilts & Black Dice. As a performer, he has played in THE OCCASSION. His first solo album tones down the more psychedelic aspects of his past endeavors, w/ stripped down instrumental passages & a dark lyrical approach laced w/ just a hint of humor. ErnestJenning CD $10.00 Buzz Or Howl + Astro Western Mystery School PS, US This collaboration was born at the UFO Club in Tokyo. Buzz or Howl (Bruce McKenzie and Eric Nielsen) met Astro (Hiroshi Hasegawa) through mutual friend Junzo Suzuki. after a face-melting set by that duo and a celebratory, raucous set by Bruce and Eric's other band Maquiladora (with Phil Beaumont) - during which they were joined by Saya and Ueno from the Tenniscoats and Koji Shimura from Acid Mothers Temple and White Heaven - music was exchanged and plans were hatched to combine forces somehow. The music Astro took home that night was by Buzz or Howl, a fierce improvisatory psychedelic duo from southern California, using guitars, violin, synth, and lapsteel to create long tracks exploring time and tide. And tone. Through continuously evolving, fugue-like riffage drone and feedback. For the purposes of this collaboration a new instrumentation was found. After an initial flirtation with guitars, the Californians decided on a markedly more pastoral direction and an arabo-andalusian flavor for the music they had been given. Over two tracks of Astro's synth textures the same instrumentation - mandolin, strum stick, and voices, - is radically transformed by electricity. Track one is spare and celestial, a delicate acoustic track that employs spare free improvisation and a repeating ancient-sounding chord progression as a basis for both Astro's sonic flights and a lilting wordless melody. Track two explodes with feedback and a crunching assault develops from exactly the same elements, electrified. One would never know that the sonic roar is created by electric mandolin and modified vocals atop brother Astro's synthesizer. Musical imaginations have reached across the pacific for this combination of filigree and mutilation. LotusHouse-13 CD $9.75 Buzzcocks Singles Going Steady PS, US RESURFACED WAX!!! Capitol LP $16.00 Cardopusher Unity Means Power PS, GERMANY Cardopusher's long awaited second album is to be taken literally. Uniting a heavy but fresh blend of dubstep with exhilarating Breakcore and mash up, Cardopusher delivers a passionate and highly efficient album as only this incomparable musician could deliver. Original, hot, anthemic, and masterfully executed. "Unity Means Power" is a coming of age and a perfect example of Cardopusher's current display of insolent talent. Dance floors unite! Cardopusher has gone a long way, and not only geographically. Three years have passed since the smashing and very remarked début album by this then-Venezuela based musician on France's prestigious Peace Off label. Followed by a couple of Ep's, this warm mixture of breaks, samples and dance floor tunes could somehow announce Cardopusher's later mutation. Starting with his "Down To The Wire" 12" (Terminal Dusk, 2008) and coinciding with his relocation to Barcelona, Luis Garbán started to come up with slower tracks, which lead to a barrage of dubstep records on such labels as Hyperdub, Lo Dubs and Ruff. With one foot strongly set in the breakcore scene and the other making a much deserved splash in the dubstep one, Cardopusher may very well be the only producer who can work at the same time with such names as Sickboy and Rotator on the one hand, and Starkey or Quarta330 on the other hand. It is this collection of high contrast (but always high energy) tracks that seduced Ad Noiseam into releasing "Unity Means Power" in a luxury double pack. Adnoiseam-109 DLP $20.25 Chauveau, Sylvain Black Book Of Capitalism PS, US His first album, now remastered & repackaged. This portrays a rare playful side to the composer as he flirts w/ Gallic classical music, electronica, jazz & even indie rock. Beginning w/ a cloud of smoky ambience, piano, strings & the atmospheric field recordings that frame the record, we are dragged into his noir-esque world. This sets the scene for the entire album which drifts through the kind of piano-led classical vignettes popularized by Max Richter & more recently Goldmund, yet punctuates these w/ doomy jazz & lighter pieces such as the guitar-led "Dialogues Avec Le Vent" Type CD $15.50 Chemicals S-T PS, US After a long string of houseparty quasi-performances across the greater Champaign-Urbana area, innumerable changes in membership and instrument assignments, and a horrible bout of whooping cough, four members arose from the ashes of their rocky past, fusing into the band you know (and love) today. August of 2004 was the first live performance of the Chemicals by official name and lineup. Since then, the Chemicals have shared the stage wtih acts including Earlimart , Apollo Sunshine, the M's, Via Satellite, and varoius apperances with locals Mad Science Fair, the Frame, Headlights, Green Light Go, Terminus Victor, the Living Blue, and many more. Chemicals CD $5.50 Chicago Thrash Ensemble Demon Cassette PS, US There is no irony, no pretension. It's just a group of guys playing thrash metal in the heart of the Windy City. Simple. Immediate. Almost confrontational even. Then why the elusiveness of this brash & brave 5? How do they end up on year-end lists when Google brings up nary a release? No longer! LIMITED TO 100 ON BLOOD-SPATTERED GREY TAPE Plustapes CASS $5.00 Chico Magnetic Band S-T PS, PORTUGAL Chico Magnetic Band's eponymous album, released by French Vogue subsidiary Box Office label in 1971, defines the term 'heavy psychedelia.' These bunch of freaks, led by Algeria-born Mahmoud 'Chico' Ayari, were clearly influenced by the Jimi Hendrix Experience but somehow they created a song of their own: violent, trashy, stoned as hell heavy psych featuring demented vocals, furious guitars, a loud rhythm section and mindblowing studio effects including phasing, backwards tapes, and weird and groovy electronics. Eight killer tracks including their insane fuzzed-out deconstruction of Hendrix's 'Crosstown Traffic' and cult classics like 'Pop Pull Hair,' 'Explosion,' and 'Pop Orbit.' This reissue includes a good number of bonus tracks (a total of 8 on the CD making this their complete recordings). Features an insert with full band story and rare photos. Edition of 600 papersleeve CDs. NoSmokerRecords CD $22.50 Cindytalk Silver Shoals of Light PS, US Limited to 500 one-sided 10" w/screen-printed b-side. 3rd release in Blue Sanct's "Art Singles" series. Drum machine ticks along w/gorgeous bass that pulses up against Gordon Sharp's vocals, leading to a climax of bliss & dissonance. Sharp was at one time perhaps best known for lending his angelic voice to several tracks on This Mortal Coil's classic masterpiece "It'll End In Tears." The sound straddles several genres at once - ambient, abstract, industrial, cinematic, glitch, post-punk. These will not be around for long, so act quickly! BlueSanct 10" $16.00 City Center/Grouper Split PS, US LIMITED TO 500! Self-released tour 7"! "Here we have a small slice of hazy gold from two of the best underground solo artists currently making the rounds, namely Grouper (Portland's Liz Harris), and City Center (a/k/a Other Music's own Fred Thomas); they have bestowed upon us one exclusive track each on clear vinyl, and they're both stun-ners... If you connected with the Grouper releases of last year, or if you're a fan of the school of deep, dark psychedelic solo pop coming out of the indie world at the moment, you need this. It's also a nice teaser for the heavy dose of quality that is City Center's forthcoming debut album, hopefully to be released in the coming months. This bad boy is limited to 500 copies, so don't sleep!" Self-Released 45 $5.50 Cleaver/Parker/Taborn Farmers By Nature PS, US A fully improvised communion of 3 of America's masters of music. The manifest intent: sowing seeds of sound & bringing them to full blossom. Abstract, organic, & fully inviting. Recorded live at NYC's The Stone in June of 2008, this was the 3rd meeting of drummer GERALD CLEAVER, bassist WILLIAM PARKER, & pianist CRAIG TABORN. An immersive experience yielding magic & inducing a calming mystical ambience. "Improvising in long, fluid ideas, Mr. Taborn's solos were housewreckers." - NY Times AUMFidelity CD $12.75 Clem Snide Hungry Bird PS, US The mystery of indie rock semi-legends Clem Snide's missing 6th recording 'Hungry Bird' is finally solved as the much anticipated album will finally see the light of day. Self-described by Barzelay as a 'loosely-conceived, post-apocalyptic fairytale'. 429Records CD $13.75 Cline, Alex Continuation PS, US Twin brother of Nels Cline (Wilco) steps into the limelight w/ a beautiful recording featuring Cline on drums. Cryptogramophon CD $17.50 Cline, Nels Coward PS, US WILCO guitarist presents a brilliant solo album that covers an extraordinarily broad range of musical styles, w/ a surprising acoustic sensibility. This blends improvisation & composition w/ a huge & constantly changing emotional & timbral palette Cryptogramophone CD $17.50 Cloak/Dagger Untitled PS, US Two new songs from Richmond, VA's Cloak/ Dagger. Continuing in the Swiz and Drive Like Jehu fashion the Daggers deliver a couple of new driven anthemic tunes. Since forming in 2006, they have toured a bunch with the likes of Paint it Black, Kill Your Idols and many other contemporary punk icons. This single comes with an MP3 download coupon for all you portable punks too. JadeTree 45 $4.00 Cluster Grosses Wasser [re-issue] PS, US Originally released in 1979, this is CLUSTER's last great album. Combining the ambient space rock of early albums on some songs w/ a more updated, beat-driven, dare I say space-disco? sound on others, it at times sounds like the best of both worlds. They were probably the most influential & ground-breaking group to come out of Germany in the '70s (no small feat) & every one of their records is pure trailblazing musical history. Water CD $14.50 Cola Jet Set Guitarras y Tambores PS, SPAIN "Guitarras y Tambores" is the long awaited new album by COLA JET SET, the second in their career and their first with Elefant Records. It is a disc of wide horizons, on which the group, lead by Felipe (LOS FRESONES REBELDES, LES TRÈS BIEN ENSEMBLE) and Ana (LA MONJA ENANA) have scrutinized other stylistic limits: here we find ye-ye, sixties pop, disco, soul, indie and touches of psychedelic pop, all done with renewed intentions, as we can see on the opening track, "El Sueño de Mi Vida", when it says: "I dreamed of conquering / unexplored continents / and still I don't know where I'm going to live". After some difficult line-up changes, and certain instabilities created by musical situations (record label changes, parallel projects) as well as by personal situations (which has left the band with the definitive line-up of Felipe, Ana, Joan, Alicia and Cristina), "Guitarras y Tambores" is the album that reflects this period, these comings and goings, these triumphs and failures, the malaise and the happiness of a long period in which sometimes some people won the coin toss and other times other people won, and sometimes it wasn't so clear who won. And all of those references, all of the music that has played during this period of time, have only helped solidify the result. Elefant-1141 CD $16.25 Cola Jet Set Guitarras y Tambores PS, SPAIN "Guitarras y Tambores" is the long awaited new album by COLA JET SET, the second in their career and their first with Elefant Records. It is a disc of wide horizons, on which the group, lead by Felipe (LOS FRESONES REBELDES, LES TRÈS BIEN ENSEMBLE) and Ana (LA MONJA ENANA) have scrutinized other stylistic limits: here we find ye-ye, sixties pop, disco, soul, indie and touches of psychedelic pop, all done with renewed intentions, as we can see on the opening track, "El Sueño de Mi Vida", when it says: "I dreamed of conquering / unexplored continents / and still I don't know where I'm going to live". After some difficult line-up changes, and certain instabilities created by musical situations (record label changes, parallel projects) as well as by personal situations (which has left the band with the definitive line-up of Felipe, Ana, Joan, Alicia and Cristina), "Guitarras y Tambores" is the album that reflects this period, these comings and goings, these triumphs and failures, the malaise and the happiness of a long period in which sometimes some people won the coin toss and other times other people won, and sometimes it wasn't so clear who won. And all of those references, all of the music that has played during this period of time, have only helped solidify the result. Elefant-1141 LP $16.25 Connelly, Chris Lost Episodes PS, US Connelly's 2007 album The Episodes was criminally underappreciated. Enigmatic and hypnotic, Connelly crafts a densly acoustic sound that crosses the paths of Scott Walker, Van Morrison, Tindersticks and John Martyn without falling in line behind any style in particular. Lost Episodes includes alternative takes of three songs from the album recorded during a late-night outdoor session in a chilly Wisconsin forest with the help of a slew of fellow experimental Chicago musicians. The tape rounds out with two incredible live renditions of "Mirror Lips" and "Henry vs Miller," which features Connelly in top form as he is joined by BEN and ADAM VIDA, TIM and NATE KINSELLA, JOSH ABRAMS and vibraphonist JASON ADASIEWICZ Plustapes CASS $5.00 Connors, Loren The Curse of Midnight Mary PS, US In 1981 guitarist Loren Connors took his tape recorder to the graveyard where the legendary Midnight Mary's grave lies in New Haven, Conn. The curse is: Anyone who gets caught in her graveyard past midnight will die the next day. But Connors, like a young fool, taped in that place, making this album that was lost and forgotten until uncovered in 2008. Recorded between Connors' eight volume Unaccompanied Acoustic Guitar Improvisations LP series and the folk albums he would make with Tom Hanford and Kath Bloom, these nine pieces meld those distinct forms. Connors, singing in a trance like moan, reforms the Mississippi Delta blues on his acoustic guitar with flashes of melodic hooks and a percussive guitar style that erupts into boogie-woogie riffs and other world spirituals. It's an album for fans of Connors' solo avant work and collaborations with Jim O'Rourke or Jandek; and will enthrall devotees of early the 20th Century blues of Blind Willie Johnson and Charlie Patton. A rare and essential peak into the still mysterious early years of this American guitar master. Recorded March 1981, at the Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven, Conneticuit. FamilyVineyard-64 CD $11.50 Costa, Gal S-T PS, US REISSUE on 180gm vinyl! Originally released in 1969, COSTA's 2nd album is one of the finest releases to come out of Brazil's Tropicalia movement. Feat. songwriting & vocal help from 2 of the original Tropicalismos, CAETANO VELOSO & GILBERTO GIL, she flows effortlessly between shredding psychedelia & smooth bossa nova. An essential record for anyone that appreciates the far reaches of Brazilian popular music. Incl. the classic trks "Baby" "Não Identificado." Such a pleasant surpise to see this available on vinyl again! RECOMMENDED! 4MenWithBeards LP $16.75 Cotton Jones Paranoid Cocoon PS, US This is an album full of quiet, wooden psychedelia that reflects the duo's casual pursuit of comfort & freedom under the mountains of Cumberland, Maryland. In "By Morning Light," Nau (PAGE FRANCE) & McGraw's voices draw each other out of a contemplative melancholy & into a state of amazed gratification; the music here shimmers, always - the snare cracks against the tug of the guitar - reaching the sublime crush of Yo La Tengo's "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out." It's simple, understated perfection. SuicideSqueeze CD $13.25 Crewe, Sally & The Sudden Moves Your Nearest Exit May Be Behind You PS, US Even before her auspicious 2003 debut full-length, Drive It Like You Stole It, Yorkshire's Sally Crewe proved herself to be a songwriting master of economy, combining a classicist's touch of pop history with a decidedly modern, lean approach to the Next Wave Of New Wave (after The Last Wave). And while 2005's Shortly After Take-Off was a slightly more expansive take on things, musically and lyrically, powerhouse album numero 3, Your Nearest Exit May Be Behind You has proven far superior to both, with Crewe proving she can cram twice as much information into each composition if merely allowed to stretch the length from two minutes flat to 2:30. Stylistically, she's bent but not broken a winning formula, and while Your Nearest Exit... is the most varied Sudden Moves effort to date, both rhythmically and lyrically, the bon mots flow very quickly and rarely overstay their welcome. Unlike, say, Turkey's occupation of Cyprus. Based in Austin, TX for the past four years, Sally's prowess onstage and in the studio is due in some portion to the most empathic and telepathic rhythm section she's recruited to date: drummer George Duron (Roky Erickson, Dumptruck, Jon Dee Graham) and bassist Matt Baab (The Distant Seconds). Though with all due respect to the capitol city's most propulsive rock trio, it's her songs and voice that set The Sudden Moves apart from the legion of merely competent hopefuls that litter the nation's indie circuit. Recorded throughout 2007 in separate sessions with Spoon's Jim Eno at Public Hi-Fi, (and subsequently with Jim Vollentine at Mob House), Crewe's latest collection of tunes, while unmistakably in her patented style, have never been as catchy, complex nor as anthemic. Nor as well recorded. Though sporadically touring with friends like Spoon, Mission of Burma and John Vanderslice, to name a handful, The Sudden Moves have until this point generated more goodwill than money. With the band making a hard fought transition into something approaching a full time-y endeavor, the trio are very poised to flip that equation around. (Ideally, they'd like to avoid the bad will). Like many other brilliant bands that are either 5 or 5 million minutes ahead of their time, Sally Crewe & The Sudden Moves have yet to approach household-word status (save for their own households). Said situation is likely to be sorted out shortly, but until then, you have the unique opportunity to tell your friends how terrific 'Magnet' and 'Sleepyhead' are a good few weeks before they've either been leaked or blogged-2-death.I don't wanna say such chances come along once in a lifetime - for all I know, you could be 300 years old - but songwriters this witty, confident and cool are awfully rare. - Gerard Cosloy 8TrackMindRecords-001 CD $10.50 D. Rider Mother of Curses PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Tizona LP $17.00 D. Rider Mother of Curses PS, US A new rock band founded & fronted by guitarist/singer Todd Albert Rittmann founding member of US MAPLE. Off-kilter rhythms & counter-intuitive guitar lines. Tizona CD $15.00 Daily Void (Surprise Surprise) You've Lost Your Eyes b/w In the Year Zero PS, US HoZacRecords 45 $5.25 Dakota Suite End of Trying PS, US This is the first release for Liverpool's Dakota Suite on the Karaoke Kalk label. Chris Hooson is the main singer/songwriter for the trio and it is an extremely personal guitar project that deals with tragedies in Chris' life and the constant ups and downs in the success of his favorite team, FC Everton. One thing's for certain, we're not talking about happy music here. The track titles on the albums Alone With Everybody (1996), The Way I'm Sick (2002) or Waiting For The Dawn To Crawl Through And Take Away Your Life (2007) on Glitterhouse Records already point out some of this sensitive man's feelings. Deeply sad melodies and melancholy pain are also the main emotions on The End Of Trying, but we're not talking about sadness in the form of self-pity. Hooson focuses on understated sounds like flowing piano chords and a flexible cello arrangement, while fellow members David Buxton and Colin Dunkley take turns on the piano. American cellist David Darling wonderfully accentuates Hooson's harmonic sadness with his stylish string instrument. Darling has made soundtracks for Wim Wenders and also was nominated for a Grammy Award for his album Cello Blue. Together, Dakota Suite and Darling form a striking ensemble which by no means only have depressing moments -- their music is very soothing, too. The recordings were made in various houses in Leeds and at Darling's home in Goshen, Connecticut. Chris realized a life long dream recording the album with his all-time favorite cellist. He doesn't usually find life so great. He only gets the strength to survive from collaborations like this, a healthy portion of cynicism which he otherwise channels into his lyrics, and above all, through his peaceful and sentimental sound experiences. KaraokeKalk CD $15.00 Dalek Gutter Tactics PS, US One of the heaviest hip-hop groups ever, & one of the few to consistently fuse extreme metal textures w/ hip-hop beats & radical politics. "[This is] more about us continually doing some early hip-hop shit but w/ the attitude of the Melvins or Black Sabbath" - MC DALEK Ipecac CD $16.25 Death For The Whole World To See PS, US Classic proto-punk from 1970s Detroit. Raw with little polish, the record showcases the organic power relationships within the trio of brothers. The Hackneys were first influenced by soul & funk music but it all changed when they saw Iggy and the Stooges. Inspired by The Who, Alice Cooper & Led Zeppelin; the brothers finally see their first full length release, remastered & ready for the world to hear. DragCity/Twos&Fews CD $13.25 Death For The Whole World To See PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! DragCity/Twos&Fews LP $14.75 Decemberists Tain/5 Songs PS, US 180 GRAM VINYL!! A combination of new & old, of where The Decemberists have been & where they're headed. The A-side is made up of the new, a short form concept, record called "The Tain", based on what most consider the Illiad of Irish myth. While keeping the signature Decemberists sound intact, the band gives a significant nod to such '70s progrogressive rockers as Deep Purple & Iron Butterfly. "The Tain" was recorded over an intensive 4 day period during which the band actually slept on the floor of the recording studio, & captured & brought to light w/the help of Christopher Walla (Death Cab For Cutie Cutie) at the venerable Hall Of Justice in Seattle. The B-side is a vinyl release of the band's 1st EP "5 Songs". It is simpler & less adorned, but still a marvelous collection of characters trapped in song, clawing & cooing their way out. JealousButcher LP $11.75 Deerhunter Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. PS, US VINYL VERSION. Kranky DLP $15.75 Dench, Judi/Michael Hordern/Rod Edwards/Roger Hand The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast PS, UK Narration by Judi Dench and Michael Hordern, music and vocals by Rod Edwards and Roger Hand. "This beautiful recording was first released with the original publication of the best selling book, The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast, and is not to be confused with the Roger Glover album of the same title. It has been digitally re-mastered from the original tapes and features new material. The appeal of the well known book is expanded further by this interpretation, which places the entire text in a musical setting by composers Rod Edwards and Roger Hand previously of legendary UK psychedelic pop bands The Picadilly Line and Edwards Hand. Rod Edwards was also one third of the UK '70s folk rock band Jade. Some of the poems are sung, with haunting melodies and fascinating sounds; while the others are effortlessly and incomparably narrated by Judi Dench and the late Michael Hordern, within a sympathetic, descriptive, orchestral tapestry. Highlight of the album, 'The Most Wonderful Tune In The World,' is a classic piece of orchestrated harmony drenched progressive pop from the pen of Edwards and Hand. A lost concept album from the 1970s now at last available again in its entire child like shimmering beauty!" WizardPresents CD $19.75 Derek Trucks Band Already Free PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! RCA DLP $20.00 Diplo Decent Work for Decent Pay Volume 1 PS, US This provides an overview of what he has been up to for the last four years, starting w/ classic tracks & out-takes from "Florida," taking in production work on such huge records as M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes," Kano's "Reload It," & Bonde Do Role's album for Domino, plus a host of remixes for the likes of CSS, Spank Rock, Bloc Party, Hot Chip, Black Lips, & Peter Bjorn & John. BigDada DCD $17.25 Diplo Blow Your Head PS, US This is the label run by Mr. Popularity...DIPLO! After producing huge tracks like MIA's "Paper Planes," & remixes for heavyweights like Coldplay, Radiohead, Feist, Hot Chip & The Black Lips, as well as releasing mix CDs like 'Santogold in Dub.' "Blow Your Head" is a remix of DIPLO's own production "Wassup Wasshup" feat. RYE RYE. This is the 1st vinyl release from Diplo in 2 years! Feat. remixes from CROOKERS, BART BMORE & DJ SEGA. Full color picture sleeve & comes w/ free MP3 download coupon of the entire EP. MadDecent 12" $8.50 Drones Havilah PS, US VINYL VERSION. An album of contradictions, where bombast meets beauty, melancholy wrestles w/ violent guitars & singer Liddiard's incendiary voice lights up his angular poetry. There are vaguely familiar nods to Neil Young's paint-stripping guitar spasms on "Supercargo" & "Oh My," while the deliciously meandering pop dirges of Suicide & the Velvet Underground echo in "Careful As You Go" & "Luck In Odd Numbers". AllTomorrow'sParties DLP $18.00 Dutchess & The Duke, The Never Had A Chance b/w Scorpio PS, US HoZacRecords 45 $5.25 Eluvium Life Through Bombardment (7XLP) (ON SALE) PS, US LIMITED EDITION! Highly anticipated and long-overdue, Life Through Bombardment collects virtually every Eluvium song ever released (plus a bunch of rare and unreleased non-album tracks) into one stunning 7xLP set, all on vinyl for the first and only time. Each record is packaged in its own full-color jacket, featuring exquisite new artwork from Jeannie Lynn Paske, drawn exclusively for this set. The seven jackets are then bound into a beautiful dark green hardbound, linen-cover book, with metallic gold foil stamping and embossed text on the spine, and a beautiful full-color print embossed into the front cover. The inside front cover includes a removable old-fashioned library card, complete with dated, personalized signatures from the artists and designers involved in the creation of this package. The inside back cover includes a mind-blowing 12x36" foldout double-sided full-color poster insert, featuring more artwork from Ms. Paske. Each copy of this set will include a unique digital code to download high-quality mp3s of the entire box set collection. This is limited to a one-time pressing of 1,000 copies, pressed onto 100% virgin black vinyl. "Eluvium is going down in history as one of the innovators of contemporary ambience." - Drowned In Sound "The best contemporary ambient musician." - Pop Matters "Needless to say, Life Through Bombardment is limited to 1,000 copies and will probably sell out faster than you can say Merzbox." - Pitchfork TemporaryResidenceLtd.-119 7XLP $150.00 English, Lawrence It's Up to Us to Live PS, PORTUGAL Sirr is very proud to present Lawrence English new album "It's Up To Us To Live", which follows the excellent album on Touch. This work unfolds and reveals Lawrence's delicate sense of textural depth while exploring densities and flows (in his own words, "only offering the occasionally moment to surface for air". A beautiful work where the sounds "emanate from distant calls of guitar, sharply cracked electronics, alien field recordings and a variety of other less identifiable sources." The cover art by renowned Australian photographer Marian Drew, from her 'Still Lives' series. It's Up To Us To Live is a distorted sonic distress beacon. It suggests a possible mapping of the increasingly cluttered sound spaces that find themselves associated with human habitation and expansion. Sirr-032 CD $16.25 Faunts Feel.Love.Thinking. PS, US With its effervescent guitars, mathematic loops & synthesizers, surging drums, & seemingly nomadic bass lines, this is both more ambitious in its conception & more focused in its execution than anything the band has done before FriendlyFire CD $12.75 Fitness Forever Personal Train PS, SPAIN LIMITED EDITION 500 COPIES. White vinyl. FITNESS FOREVER says that their debut album is a homage to their country, Italy, to the musical tradition that gave way to marvelous pop artists from the 60s to the 80s. But the group, led by Carlos Valderrama (VALDERRAMA 5), with this goal in mind, has achieved something much more important: to make this homage extend to music in general, embracing an infinite amount of references, styles and sounds, regurgitating them coherently and with its own personality, without dispersion or eclecticism, showing pop's common essence, independent of the epoch or the country it comes from. It just has to have that touch of magic that makes the melodies work, makes the arrangements surprising, and makes the whole exciting. And in this first album from the Italian quartet, "Personal Train", there is much more than this compressed into 30 minutes and just 12 songs. A titanic work that took over a year to record, using a recording method similar to what composers from the sixties used: hours and hours in the studio, trying out arrangements, instrumentation and melodies. In addition to all of this, there is also the humor they present their project with. They say, on myspace: "The producer, composer, ex-underwear model, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Carlos Valderrama (one of the worst dancers and singers in the music industry) started FITNESS FOREVER in Naples (Italy) shortly after realizing that love does not last forever. That's why, unfortunately, he couldn't call the band LOVE FOREVER". Which is where the homage to fitness begins, which is reflected in the very title of the album, the declarations in interviews, or on the album cover. In any case, this album is full of songs to dance to, because in the end, that counts as exercise too, doesn't it? There are so many bands to reference, so many groups to evoke, so many styles to pay homage to, that we can't do anything but propose a little trip, song by song, through the whole album, because it is by far the best way to get inside all of the different paths that are opened up by listening to the album, written by Valderrama (drums, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, glockenspiel, percussion, lead vocals and chorus), Paster (lead vocals and chorus), "Big Tony" Fresa (piano, fender rhodes, organ, synthesizer, voice and clapping) and Scialdone (bass, lead guitar, 12 string guitar and vocals). Elefant-1139 CD $16.25 Fitness Forever Personal Train PS, SPAIN LP LIMITED EDITION 500 COPIES. White vinyl. Elefant-1139 LP $16.25 Flaherty, Paul & C. Spencer Yeh w/ Greg Kelley New York Nuts And Boston Baked Beans PS, US Violinist/vocalist C Spencer Yeh & unrivaled saxophone elder-titan Paul Flaherty team up without the assistance of acclaimed drummer Chris Corsano for the first time. Along for the Jamz Is Bonkers Boston trumpeteer Greg Kelley. After performing numerous times and honing a distinct group dynamic as a trio over many years with celebrated percussionist Chris Corsano, Yeh and Flaherty decided to try it out one-on-one. The record comprises of the best from two live sets from a short duo tour in the Northeast -- at the celebrated venue Issue Project Room in Brooklyn, and Nom D'Artiste in Boston. With minimal editing, this is the sound of two people tearing at the limits of their instruments, these iconic configurations of metal and wood; hurling their respective accumulated life experience into one another, exposed and raw. The duo is likely one of the most dangerous configurations for people to interact within, musical or otherwise. Greg Kelley on trumpet is added to the mix and the results mutate into an even more mysterious form - the trumpet is indistinguishable from the vocals; the saxophone creaks so the voice doesn't have to. Important-195 CD $13.00 Flamin' Groovies, The Flamingo/Teenage Head [re-issue] PS, UK 2009 digitally remastered two-fer from the American Underground rockers, containing a pair of their early albums on one CD: Flamingo (1970) and Teenage Head (1971). The Groovies carried the untamed spirit of Rock 'N' Roll from their San Francisco Psych/Jugband origins, to the proto-Punk streets of New York and London, to their undisputed throne as Power Pop kings! Here are two of their seminal albums (and two of the most seminal albums ever!), caught in the middle of their flawless trajectory, released on Kama Sutra because they wanted to be on the same label as The Lovin' Spoonful, and exuding the same instant legend, pure joy and Rock 'N' Roll vibe as their label-mates...but even more so! The song 'Teenage Head' itself is one of the founding classics of Punk Rock to be sure, as much as The Modern Lovers' 'Roadrunner' or MC5's 'Kick Out The Jams'... and here are a whole bunch more! Rev-Ola CD $17.75 Fol Chen Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made PS, US "You know that mysterious black object that the creepy family is staring at on the cover of Led Zeppelin's "Presence" album? Fol Chen sound like that. But we don't sound like Led Zeppelin. (We actually do a little.) Instead, we sound like Prince with Amon Duul II and a children's religious revival, not to mention Hot Chip, Pink Floyd, Gwen Stefani, Pere Ubu, Danielson Famile, Scritti Politti, Boards of Canada, The Blow, and Pulp. (Mostly.) We are using secret powers and the guidance of legendary DJ Donna Donna to combat our nemesis, John Shade. We are cryptic and joyful and we would like you to dance." AsthmaticKitty-53 CD $11.50 Fol Chen Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made PS, US "You know that mysterious black object that the creepy family is staring at on the cover of Led Zeppelin's "Presence" album? Fol Chen sound like that. But we don't sound like Led Zeppelin. (We actually do a little.) Instead, we sound like Prince with Amon Duul II and a children's religious revival, not to mention Hot Chip, Pink Floyd, Gwen Stefani, Pere Ubu, Danielson Famile, Scritti Politti, Boards of Canada, The Blow, and Pulp. (Mostly.) We are using secret powers and the guidance of legendary DJ Donna Donna to combat our nemesis, John Shade. We are cryptic and joyful and we would like you to dance." AsthmaticKitty-53 LP $11.50 Folds, Ben Stems & Seeds (Way To Normal [expanded]) PS, US Special, re-titled re-release of BF's 'Way To Normal'. Disc one featured the remixed, remastered, re-sequenced original album. Disc two featured files from the sessions that listeners can upload to "Garageband" and remix themselves. Epic DCD $16.00 Formerly Fat Harry Mariachi Riff Live and Free Music PS, UK Second archival release in one year by this fabled late '60s band, featuring Bruce Barthol -- ex-Country Joe & the Fish. Formed in Croydon, Surrey, UK in 1969 by Barthol and two mates from Berkeley, California, Gary Peterson and Phil Greenberg, Formerly Fat Harry were managed by the legendary Blackhill Enterprises (Peter Jenner and Andrew King, original managers of the Floyd) -- they played many gigs in the UK before their demise in 1972, such as two of the Hyde Park free concerts, Phun City, and the 1970 Bath Festival, as well as many college and club gigs. The band's one and only eponymous LP on Harvest Records didn't really reflect their true capabilities (Hux released a far more interesting selection of material from the group's own archive early this year Goodbye For Good) -- a fabulous mix of country, blues and psychedelia. This Shagrat LP reflects another side of the band -- FFH could also be very experimental, playing in odd time signatures and they were completed by a series of the greatest UK jazz drummers -- Laurie Allan, Alan Jackson and John Marshall. Side two of this limited edition 500-only vinyl LP features two free music tracks recorded in 1969 -- something the band rarely did live. Side one features a 24-minute version of their much-loved favorite 'Mariachi Riff,' which has been favorably compared to the best live work by both the Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service -- an epic acid-rock tour de force. It was recorded live at Aylesbury Friars in December 1970. The original tapes have been digitally transferred and mastered by Ron Geesin. Packaged in a beautifully mind-blowing sleeve by legendary British psychedelic designer Mike McInnerney (who designed the sleeve for The Who's Tommy), the LP comes with a nice insert with photos, gig adverts from the era and an evocative essay about the band by long-time fan, Colin Hill. Limited run of 500 copies. Shagrat LP $25.75 France Has the Bomb Invisible Angle b/w GrimTrigger PS, US 2nd single of prime stuff from these Chicago via Minneapolis or vice-versa dudes. While the 7" single may not be the best medium for these guys (you should read that as "bring on the full length.") that doesn't mean that this thing isn't gonna pay off in spades down the line (and I'm not talkin' about eBay!!?@#%.) HoZacRecords 45 $5.25 Franz Ferdinand Tonight PS, US Epic CD $16.00 Freezepop Form Activity Motion EP PS, US Blistering CD5 $8.25 Friends Fragile PS, UK An album so incredibly rare (only a single acetate exists), that many collectors have doubted the album's existence -- until now! The rarest, and I would dare to say best, folk/psych album from Peter Howell and John Ferdinando, musical brainchildren behind Ithaca, Agincourt, Alice Through the Looking Glass, and Tomorrow Come Someday. This fifth Howell & Ferdinando album had just been completed in or around 1974 when the partnership came to an end. Howell had been working at the BBC as a studio manager since 1970 (he'd provided a stiff upper lip voiceover for John Peels Top Gear shows), but he was now offered a position with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, which he accepted, and still holds. Taken from the master tapes, so no annoying scratchy acetate sound. AcmeGramophone/LionProductions CD $15.25 Frumpy Frumpy 2 [re-issue] PS, US ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "Inga Rumpf's Frumpy was among the most startling bands on the entire German rock scene of the early '70s, an act so diametrically opposed to the Krautrock boom beloved by critics elsewhere that first impressions of their music always leave listeners scratching their heads. If Frumpy has any role models, it is a collision between Meddle-era Pink Floyd and a less-precocious Uriah Heep. Frumpy 2, unsurprisingly their second album, features just four tracks, but all are soaring slabs of emotive guitar and keyboards, deeply progressive of course, but unquestionably pop as well... Rumpf herself, meanwhile, has a range and depth comparable to Curved Air's Sonja Kristina, with an emotive strength which seems all the more remarkable when you remember that English is not her native language... The guitar and keyboard solos and duels which take place above the tumultuous rhythms are as spectacular as anything else in the genre. But even while you're sitting slack-jawed in awe, it is very difficult to play favorites. Frumpy, like Rumpf's Atlantis after them, has antecedents aplenty, and their influences peep out behind every corner. But the manner in which they've been sewn together owes little to any Anglo-American role models and little to any Krautrock basics, too. Quite simply, Frumpy 2 is the prog album you'll be returning to long after the others have all dulled into wallpaper." Revisited CD $19.00 Frumpy All Will Be Changed [re-issue] PS, US No other artist has had as lasting an influence on German rock music as Inga Rumpf. Her smokey, bluesy voice, influenced by icons such as Mahalia Jackson and Nina Simone, fills fans all over the world with enthusiasm to this day. Her seemingly limitless stylistic range has rightfully earned Inga Rumpf a reputation as Germany's no. 1 rock vocalist. 1970's All Will Be Changed saw the newly formed band gear their music to established international sounds, but they immediately found their own style thanks to the ever-present drone of a Hammond organ and Rumpf's unique voice. They initially worked without a guitarist, allowing keyboardist Jean-Jacques Kravetz to rotate the powerful Leslie rotor. The national press initially eyed Frumpy with the typical scepticism of that time towards anybody who made rock music on German shores. Unimpressed by such ambiguities, Frumpy continued to work on their career and influenced countless other bands and vocalists over the years. Their now legendary debut album is being released completely remastered in digipak format with exclusive liner notation and rare photos. Revisited CD $19.00 Fun Machine Sonnen Huhn PS, US At times dramatic, at turns relentlessly aggressive, the jagged rhythmic path emits an electric kick to the senses while a joyous confusion fills the ears. Breathless precision filled w/ organized chaos transcends into a screaming keyboard solo swaying in ecstasy behind lush walls of spiraling vocals encapsulated by vintage synths that glide imperceptibly into quiet, ambient beauty. BNSSessions CD $9.00 Future Of The Left Last Night I Saved Her From Vampires PS, US Super limited stock on the remaining copies of the ultra hot Future of the Left live album that was previously only sold on the US dates of the bands tour with Against Me. When they are gone they're gone. 4AD CD $5.00 Gala Drop S-T PS, US Synthesizer orchestras, German Kraut & kosmische musik, the keyboard hell of French unit Heldon, psych/free percussive tribalism, a deep understanding of decades of dance music, Jamaica's dub processing techniques, an extraordinary sensibility for sound resources & additional mixing, & finally, the mastering skills of Rafael Toral. The metrics of the groove & backbeat in the drum work, & the ululating understanding of the synthesizer & keyboard phrases reveal a completely familiar yet alien alternate universe of space-y sound that is too good to be just druggy. Utterly zoned-out keyboard & dub astral projection through new jungles of sound. GalaDrop CD $18.00 Gang Gang Dance God's Money PS, US Restocked. TheSocialRegistry-19 CD $11.50 Garrie, Nick 49 Arlington Gardens PS, SPAIN Our story begins way back, specifically in 1969, when an English university student picked up his guitar and began playing in the south of France, spurred on by his passion for Dylan and for surrealism. The story ends with this student, our Nick Garrie, recording an album for the French label DiscAZ (home to Brigitte Bardot and Michel Polnareff among others) with the producer Eddie Vartan (brother of Sylvie Vartan and renowned producer of the time). The result, recorded with a 56-musician orchestra, is "The Nightmare of J.B. Stasnislas," a marvelous collection of perfect melodies wrapped in a psychedelic pop with majestic results. However, in one of those strange twists that fate so often gives us, the head of the label and the person in charge of the project, Lucien Morisse, commits suicide just a few days after the album's release, leaving the project orphaned and with no promotional plan. The result? "The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas" becomes cursed, but over time grows into a cult item, with people paying more than 1,200 euros for each of the limited copies, which are almost impossible to find. A disc that, of course, Elefant is re-releasing in 2009 as a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of its publication. Meanwhile, our musician distances himself, disappointed, from the music industry and decides to earn a living however he can. In 1976 he meets the composer Francis Lai (who won an Oscar for "Love Story" and wrote the scores for, among other movies, "A Man and A Woman," "Live for Life," "Bilitis," "Dark Eyes" and "Emmanuelle"), with whom he will work on diverse projects over the course of the years. In a rush of inspiration he goes back to the studio, with part of Cat Stevens' band, to record "Suitcase Man," this time under the name Nick Hamilton, an album that will reach number one on Spanish lists thanks to the single "Back to 1930" and which will allow him to tour the country with Leonard Cohen, who will declare that he wished he had written some of Garrie's songs. The impulse isn't strong enough to keep him permanently in the music world, and despite a few different attempts in 1994 ("The Playing Fields") and in 2002 ("Twelve Old Songs"), he still hasn't found his place. In the meantime, without knowing its creator, "The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas" continues nourishing its legend, giving the definitive push to fame when Phil Smee (photographer and album cover designer for groups in the 70s like THE YARDBIRDS or Syd Barret) includes a song from this disc, "Wheel of Fortune," on one of his famous compilations, "Circus Days" (a compilation on which LOS BRINCOS also appear). This is all a surprise for Garrie when, in 2005, half joking, googles himself and discovers everything that's happened with "The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas". This motivates him to start singing again, and he enters a contest for singer-songwriters, which he wins, and whose prize is a web page to use for publicity for his music. The music industry is reintroduced to Nick Garrie, and he is flooded with offers to reissue "The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas". Joe Foster, head of the Rev-ola label and previously of Creation Records (one of the most important and influential independent labels in the world, that had signed artists such as PRIMAL SCREAM, FELT, THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, OASIS, RIDE, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, HOUSE OF LOVE, TEENAGE FANCLUB, THE BOO RADLEYS, ST ETIENNE, THE PASTELS, MOMUS and PACIFIC) takes the bull by the horns and rereleases the mythic 2005. Nick Garrie goes back on the road, playing songs from the album as he had always intended them to be: acoustic. Foster introduces him to the Scottish singer Ally Kerr who invites him to play in Scotland. That night led to a recording session, months later, in the Riverside studios in Glasgow, with a group of musicians from the Scottish scene. Recording the new songs with Nick Garrie were important artists like Norman Blake (TEENAGE FANCLUB), Francis McDonald (NICE MAN, TEENAGE FANCLUB, BMX BANDITS), the very Ally Kerr, Duglas T. Stewart (BMX BANDITS) exquisitely producing the album, and Duncan Cameron (DELGADOS, TRAVIS, TRASHCAN SINATRAS) as the sound engineer, along with the still unknown DOGHOUSE ROSES, Spain's Sandra Belda Martínez (CALIFORNIA SNOW STORY, SUPERÉTÉ), Rachel Allison, Iona McDonald and many other characters from the Scottish indie pop scene. Aside from the "Scottish Sessions," the disc includes the marvelous "Lovers," written with Francis Lai for the soundtrack to the film "Plastic Tree" and "Stay Till the Morning Comes," recorded in Villafranca (Portugal) with the Portuguese producer Quim Correia. It is a delicious disc that combines precious arrangements with the off-beat and elegant melodies of Garrie. From the dreamy romanticism of "Lovers" to the clear Frenchification of "Le pont Mirabeau," the precociousness of "Twilight," the incredible voice of Rachel Allison in "When Evening Comes" and the country folk of "On a Wing and a Prayer". It's one of those discs that sees the light of day thanks to the support of a new generation of musicians, admirers of the British singer-songwriter. It's an honest, intimate, elegant, precocious disc that maintains a marvelous balance between arrangements and melodies. Just under thirty minutes of dreamy compositions, of pop and tight folk that deals humbly and candidly with human nature with the surprising element of juvenile fantasy that is "The Clockmaker." This will be the album that musical history uses to pay its dues to Nick Garrie. There are too many reasons for it to be so - the marvelous harmonies added by the Scottish scene, an astonishing collection of musical compositions, a deeply romantic song co-written with a master like Francis Lai, the fact that "The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas" is living this small moment of glory that chance took away from it originally and, above all, a singer-songwriter, Nick Garrie, with a precious voice full of solemnity and a classic pop feeling, in the best sense of the word, enjoying a moment of brilliant inspiration. Elefant-1140 CD $16.25 Garrie, Nick 49 Arlington Gardens PS, SPAIN LP LIMITED EDITION 600 COPIES. Elefant-1140 LP $16.25 Gaslight Anthem, The '59 Sound PS, US In 1988, Jon Bon Jovi was being interviewed by a reporter for Spin Magazine when he was asked if he was a fan of Bruce Springsteen. Bon Jovi replied "In New Jersey, if you don't like Springsteen they raise your taxes." Listening to the Gaslight Anthem's second full-length album The '59 Sound, it's pretty clear that leader Brian Fallon doesn't have to worry much about his tax bill in the Garden State. Hailing from New Brunswick, NJ, the Gaslight Anthem are that rare punk band that displays a strong and unmistakable Springsteen influence, and while Fallon's vocal resemblance to the Boss is clearly coincidental (he has more than a bit of Bruce's throaty gravity without the grit), the boys-and-girls-on-the-backstreets tone of his lyrics is not, especially when stray fragments from Springsteen's lyrics pop up in Fallon's songs (cue up "Meet Me by the River's Edge" and "High Lonesome" for evidence). If Fallon often comes off as a youthful Springsteen wannabe on The '59 Sound, he also happens to be pretty good at it; the force and sincerity of his songs roll over the occasional clunky spots, and the band brings this music across with a strength and urgency that suggests a heartland rock version of Social Distortion, with Alex Rosamila's guitars and Benny Horowitz's drumming brimming with fire and energy. The Gaslight Anthem are far too good to be the New Millennium's answer to John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band, but it's all but impossible to listen to The '59 Sound without being aware of this band's key influence; even if they never grow out of their Springsteen obsession, they're worth hearing, but it's hard not to hope they'll develop a stronger identity of their own with time...though they may want to warn their tax accountant before that happens. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide Side One Dummy - USOD71358.2 CD $13.25 Genghis Tron Dead Mountain Mouth PS, US REPRESS of this 2LP vinyl release in gatefold sleeve - 2 years of being out of print! A ferocious & unnervingly innovative record - a relentless cacophony of the huge metal riffs & ambient electronics that have earned them worldwide acclaim. At the time, this was hailed as one of the best records of the year by Exclaim!, Decibel & Rock Sound - as well as strong praise from NY Times, Kerrang, etc. LovepumpUnited LP $14.75 Gentleman Reg Jet Black PS, US Gentleman Reg has been performing in Canada since the turn of the millennium, garnering attention for his two acclaimed full-lengths, 2002's Make Me Pretty and 2004's Darby & Joan. With a voice from the heavens and an unforgettable look, Gentleman Reg is set to make his U.S. debut in 2009 with the release of Jet Black, which features guests Bryan Webb (CONSTANTINES), Elizabeth Powell (LAND OF TALK), & Katie Sketch (ORGAN). Gentleman Reg has made fans of some of Canada's best talent, performing and touring with such acts as Tegan and Sara, Broken Social Scene, Stars and The Hidden Cameras. In the U.S., Reg is best known for being featured in the 2006 John Cameron Mitchell movie, Short Bus, in which he made a brief cameo and contributed to the film's soundtrack. Arts&Crafts CD $15.00 Gibson, Laura Beasts of the Seasons PS, US Steeped in the fingerpick-guitar rudiments of folk music, inspired by the expressionism of classic jazz vocalists, & finding common ground in the minimal-ism & ear-taunting of the avant-garde. Collaborators include RACHEL BLUMBERG (M. WARD), NATE QUERY (DECEMBERISTS), LAURA VEIRS & DANNY SEIM (ME- NOMENA). JealousButcher LP $11.75 Goblin Cock Come with Me If You Want PS, US VINYL VERSION. Robcore LP $13.25 Goblin Cock Come with Me If You Want PS, US "Rumored" to be the brainchild of Rob Crow of indie wunderkinds PINBACK (Oh, it's him all right). This follow-up to their mammoth debut "Bagged & Boarded" is yet another brave step in the re-definition of true metal. Equal parts melodic & punishing. At times this sounds like Failure reincarnated as a stoner rock band...one that loves the crushing riffs of Big Business/Karp. Robcore CD $13.25 Golden Boots The Winter Of Our Discotheque PS, US This Southwest alt-country band mixes psychedelic rock, folk, and country which has drawn comparisons to Alex Chilton, The International Submarine Band, Beck, and The Monkees. A blend of pop-folk with distortion-laden breaks, fuzz guitar, primitive keyboards, and the unique clarity of unencumbered experimentation. ParkTheVan CD $13.00 Golden Triangle S-T PS, US This amazing band has toured with the likes of The Black Lips, King Khan, Quintron and Miss Pussycat and play damaged psyched out garage rock w/ dual female vocals. Contains six new tracks and a Redd Kross cover! Limited to 500, pressed on gold wax, duh. Includes download card. MexicanSummer LP $15.00 Grateful Dead American Beauty [Bonus Tracks] (Remastered) PS, US Unfuckwithable. Rhino LP $17.00 Grave Blankets Our Love Is Real b/w Trip Wire PS, US Final (?) release from these mid-west scuzz freaks. If this is it for them then they are definitely going out on a high note. We also still have a handful of the Grave Blankets / Touch-Me-Nots 7" that I'd highly recommend. HoZacRecords 45 $5.25 Groundhogs Scratching the Surface PS, US This raw, rootsy album ranks among the finest albums to emerge from the British blues-rock boom, Matching TONY MCPHEE's memorable original tunes w/ a blistering reworking of the Muddy Water's classic "Still a Fool" Sundazed CD $16.50 Groundhogs Blues Obituary PS, US This finds the group beginning to stretch beyond traditional blues forms, as demonstrated on the seven-minute epic "Light Was the Day." This marks the group's first effort as a power trio, the format in which the band would do its most acclaimed & popular work. Sundazed LP $16.50 Guggenheim Grotto Happy the Man PS, US Irish folk-rockers' new album. UnitedOpportunity CD $15.00 Gun Outfit Dim Light PS, US PPM CD $10.25 Gun Outfit Dim Light PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! PPM LP $10.25 Haptic Medium PS, US Flingco SS is the new label from Kranky founder/righteous dude Bruce Adams. Creating densely textured works that can range from stark minimalism to violent, carefully directed chaos, Haptic combines a rigorous attention to sonic detail with restless experimentalism. The Medium consists of two sidelong tracks & includes contributions from Boris Hauf, Olivia Block & Tony Buck. LIMITED edition 180 gram vinyl with download coupon. FlingcoSoundSystem-005 LP $21.75 Harper, Roy Bullinamingvase PS, US Roy Harper followed HQ with another superb rock-oriented classic, the interestingly-titled Bullinamingvase. First released in 1977, the album was recorded at Roy's home, borrowing gear and people from the legendary Abbey Road studio. Once again, it features a whole host of stars including Ronnie Lane, Alvin Lee, B.J. Cole and uncredited vocals from Paul & Linda McCartney." Includes a 16-page booklet. ScienceFriction CD $21.00 Harpoon Double Gnarly/Triple Suicide PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Interloper LP $11.50 Harpoon Double Gnarly/Triple Suicide PS, US Drum machine project from Dean Costello & Toney Vast-Binder. Contains songs from their '07 demo along with three new tracks. A mix of grind & punk with drum machine. A loud, confrontational, aggressive record with lots of screaming. Shield the children's ears. Interloper CD $9.00 Heartless Bastards Mountain PS, US The album weaves in an adventurous sonic evolution, expanding their 3 piece rock by adding pedal steel, madnolin, banjo, strings, & Erika's transcendent voice. ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "After cutting their first two albums as a lean but muscular power trio, the Heartless Bastards have grown into a somewhat different creature on their third LP, The Mountain. Vocalist and guitarist Erika Wennerstrom is the only survivor from the group's original lineup, and after leaving behind her hometown of Cincinnati, OH for Austin, TX, she's assembled a new version of the Heartless Bastards. Along with new members Billy White on bass and Doni Schroader on drums, The Mountain features violins, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, and banjo as well as a few guest guitarists, and though this music is still rooted in Wennerstrom's full-bodied vocals and thick, no-frills guitar work, The Mountain is a more introspective and rootsy sounding album than this group has released to date. Wennerstrom has a voice that can shake apart a room when she's of a mind, but she takes a more subtle approach here, slipping in a few acoustic tunes that allow her to explore the softer side of her instrument... The Mountain is a more diverse set than the old Heartless Bastards gave us, it's still rooted in the same emotionally direct songwriting and performing that is this band's trademark, and for all that's changed with the band, Wennerstrom has held on to her core virtues -- this is fierce, heartfelt rock & roll that tells stories you can believe in and lets the music sing out with a power that's all the more compelling for being firmly rooted in the real world." FatPossum CD $15.50 Helen Love Calm Down Dad PS, SPAIN LIMITED EDITION 1000 COPIES. Orange vinyl. We're in luck - HELEN LOVE are back! Our favorite Bubblegum-disco-punk group is better than ever and they have a splendid collection of new songs that half the planet is going to go crazy over. "Calm Down Dad" is the first advance single from the flaming new album, "Stick It", that will soon be released on Elefant Records. While we're waiting for that moment to arrive, and to ease the long wait, we have this appetizer with three great songs. "Calm Down Dad" is pure energy, catchy indie-punk-pop that talks about the differences between a father and his daughter. She wants to have fun, go out at night, sleep with a boy, dress up like a vampire without being looked at strangely at home, travel the world, try new things and even sing like Kate Nash, but with a more working class accent. Like a mix between Jilted John and THE WAITRESSES, on this limited edition, orange colored vinyl single HELEN LOVE jump from punk to pop to indie, with realist, sarcastic and fun lyrics. The melodies are as sweet as candy, but an orange flavored candy that's as bittersweet as real life. The single is finished off with two fast-beat, punk-pop songs. "John Peel Roadshow" talks about how to work up enough courage to give your demo to a radio show host. HELEN LOVE, loved and supported throughout the years by John Peel, recorded a "Peel session" in 1997, which was, for them, one of the high points of the group's history, as was the summer afternoon on which John Peel, after playing "Does Your Heart Go Boom", said with a sardonic laugh, "That's HELEN LOVE... the sarcastic bastards"'. "Candeelips" closes the advance single with a sweet story about a boy with the sweetest and most desired lips in the neighborhood!!!. Elefant-267 45 $7.75 Hellberg, Mattias & The White Moose Out of the frying pan, into the woods (DELAYED: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, SWEDEN VINYL VERSION! Deluxe, gatefold, 180g double LP, includes bonus track "Lady Disgrace" which ain't on the CD! Plus download codes so you can take The Moose into the woods with you! Come on, like this retro-rock bongfest won't sound totally boss pressed into wax? And you know you need that trippy-dippy cover art in large format. PlaygroundMusicSE DLP $18.00 Here We Go Magic Here We Go Magic PS, US Developed over a two-month period of stream-of-consciousness recording in Greenpoint, Brooklyn Luke Temple's self-titled debut under his new moniker Here We Go Magic is a remarkable departure from his signature singer-songwriter material. Luke recorded the album at home using analog synths, a cassette 4-track, and his trusty SM-57 mic, coloring the sound with warmth and creating textures you want to wrap yourself in. The album opens with the trance-inducing polyrhythms and gorgeous multi-layered vocals of "Only Pieces. " What follows is an album oozing with sounds maternal and subconscious...like floating in amniotic fluid, ripe, hiccup-y and desperate to emerge. Many of the songs pulse with infectious afro-beat and kraut-rock influenced grooves, calling to mind classic albums like Remain in the Light and Graceland. In contrast, the instrumental tracks conjure mystical introspective landscapes reminiscent of Popol Vuh's unforgettable ambience. Despite the album's murky aquatic underpinnings it's hard to resist shakin what you got to ebullient blissed-out tracks like "Fangala" and "Tunnelvision." The album closes with "Everything's Big", a bleak commentary on weakness and fear birthed of opulence and gluttony. Luke's fragile tenor delivers this absurd carnival waltz with the fervor and abandon of a teetotaler under the influence, never breaking the spell of the album's mood of rejuvenation and release. WesternVinyl-57 CD $11.50 His Mischief Summer's Eve PS, US Debut CDEP feat. members of Sean Na Na is a mix of garage and 60's rock that draws comparisons to Spoon & The Who. "Their choppy, invigorating Jawbox-meets-Sonics garage & post-punk reaches full throttle explosiveness" - Big Takeover ModernRadio CD $7.75 Hitchcock, Robyn Goodnight Oslo PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! YepRoc LP $16.50 Hitchcock, Robyn Goodnight Oslo PS, US Stabbing horns from compatriot TERRY EDWARDS swim alongside gorgeous harmonies throughout this 10-track snapshot of his version of pop music in a perfect world. Features guest vocals from COLIN MELOY, SEAN NELSON & MORRIS WINDSOR. An album of nearly unwavering positivity. YepRoc CD $14.50 Honest Engines Don't Talk Of California PS, US "Akin to the Flaming Lips, Electric Soft Parade, and Robyn Hitchcock, one of Chicago's finest indie bands has mastered the art of modernizing classic pop song-craft with an idiosyncratic panache, and has also figured out a way make it sound as if this engaging EP was recorded in a major studio with a noted producer." -Tom Semioli Amplifier Magazine HonestEngines-001 CD $7.00 Honeychurch Early Times: 2001-2004 PS, US 'Early Times is an anthology of tracks from Honeychurch's critically acclaimed and criminally unavailable records Calling Me Home (2001) and Makes Me Feel Better (2004). Twelve remastered songs, plus two previously unreleased demos - 14 tracks of what Miles of Music called 'rapturous, romantic, blissfully transcendent, sweetly reverent, sun-drenched pop' "Imagine if The Red House Painter's Mark Kozelek added harmonies out of Mojave 3 and the Byrds....the singing, strings, and lap steel are exquisite. Like the Pernice Brothers, you suspect these guys dig Bread as much as Gram Parsons, hooked on the elegiac sweetness of old songs." -Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover All-new record will be out in 2009!' SirenElectric CD $10.25 Horntveth, Lars Kaleidoscopic PS, NORWAY Follow-up to the critically acclaimed debut album, Pooka, by Jaga Jazzist leader. Kaleidoscopic consists of one 37 minute long composition & was recorded with 41 members of the Latvian National Orchestra (34 string players, 3 percussionists, clarinet, flute, bass trombone & one harp), with Lars Horntveth himself playing piano, horns & clarinets. Lars' dogma in creating this album was to write the music chronologically into an open, endless score, similar to a diary. Intending for the music to flow from idea to idea, Lars wanted the score to grow 7 develop along with his state of mind. The album is a journey in sound, its form fitting somewhere between Steve Reich's Music For 18 Musicians & KLF's Chill Out. It is a musical experience from start to finish, an auditory trip into very different rooms & moods, with great contrast & surprises from one musical genre to the next. SmalltownSupersound-097 CD $15.25 Hospitals Hairdryer Peace PS, US After a nearly Chinese Democracy situation, the new Hospitals LP "Hairdryer Peace" is finally here. "Hairdryer" is a ripper/apology for the band's previous two albums. Scott Simmons had this to say about it: "Doesn't really matter whether you loved or hated The Hospitals before, cuz this is some year zero shit. This is the most psychedelic fucking record in a long time and there are no rainbows - no feather earrings - no beards. Mixed for maximum hallucinations, it has the stoned riffs of a killer rock record, totally cracked pop, pure headfuck, but more than anything else just an all around perfect album. It's Chief Hospital Adam Stonehouse with oringal Hospital co-founder (and now EAT SKULL member) ROD MEYER, along with ROB ENBAUM (also Eat Skull) and Chris Gunn from an island off the coast of the future. Sounds nothing like any bands or anything else.. Seriously, if a better record comes out this year, next year, whenever.... I promise. Don't be an asshole." Vinyl only, homemade covers, 500 copies. Hospitals LP $12.00 Hot Panda Volcano...Bloody Volcano PS, US Comparisons to giant luminaries such as Daniel Johnston & Talking Heads have been swirling about as the group has left behind the frozen garage jam sessions in which their musical explorations began. Here, the group creates a unique blend of Britpop, Gypsy swing, glam, & lo-fi indie. Mint CD $16.75 Howlies Trippin' With Howlies PS, US An unexpected re-interpretation of garage, doo-wop, powerpop & rock 'n' roll. OverUnder CD $11.00 Humcrush Rest At Worlds End PS, NORWAY VINYL VERSION. 500 copies only limited edition 2LP that is comprised of 7 bonus tracks not on the CD version. RuneGrammofon DLP $25.75 Humcrush Rest At Worlds End PS, NORWAY This is the third full-length album from Norway's Humcrush (Thomas Strønen and Ståle Storløkken). Rest At Worlds End was recorded live at various European venues, although the high level of musicianship and focus on detail could easily lead you to think it would be a meticulously assembled studio recording. With this record, the duo continue adventurous explorations of abstract grooves and atmospheric moods. Thomas Strønen has studied music and composition and is a regular member of several bands, most notably Food, Maria Kannegaard Trio and Parish, the quartet led by Swedish ace pianist Bobo Stenson. As is the case for most Norwegian jazz musicians of his generation, he has played with just about everybody and has been a frequent performer on the Norwegian and European festival circuit for several years. Ståle Storløkken is a founding member of Supersilent, Elephant9, and played on Terje Rypdal records, but was first noticed with freeform trio Veslefrekk with fellow Supersilent members Arve Henriksen and Jarle Vespestad. He is probably the most versatile and adventurous electric keyboard player within the Norwegian scene at the moment. Rest At Worlds End perfectly showcases each artist's individual technical virtuosic talent -- Strønen's percussion is textured, precise and surprising, while Storløkken's keyboard work is diverse and varied, using daubs of sound across a colorful sonic spectrum. Sometimes frenetic, sometimes meanderingly contemplative, Rest At Worlds End stimulates your nerve-endings and fires neurons you never even knew existed. RuneGrammofon CD $16.25 Idle Times Get Your Feet Off The Ground PS, US Debut release from 27 year old Brian Standeford. After the quick dissolution of his previous band Tall Birds, Standeford began recording songs onto cassette in his Seattle home using a Tascam 4-track, practice amps and a toy drum kit. Loner bedroom psych at its best. Woodsist 45 $5.25 Infinity Window Artificial Midnight PS, US New York synth duo Infinity Window have been crafting their game for well over a year without much documentation. Comprised of Dan Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never) and Taylor Richardson (Prehistoric Blackout), this LP shows them at the pinnacle of self-realization. Equally influenced by John Carpenter and the Taj Mahal Travellers, they create traveling music; music that has the power to transport and overwhelm the listener with vibes outside of those presently available to them. The A-side consists of two tracks, both clouded in a heavy haze of fog, dark and heavy though their clarity exists underneath the shroud. The B-side's lone track 'Skull Theft' is the full circle realization of the first two tracks: a light is illuminated and the fog begins to clear. Mastered by Keith Fullerton Whitman. In an edition of 500 LPs with full color pro-printed cardboard sleeves and printed labels with art by Robert Beatty (Hair Police / Burning Star Core). Arbor LP $13.75 Iran Dissolver PS, US Indie rock buried in fuzz & hiss - the group takes ultra catchy pop, & drags it through the detritus of lo-fi noise rock, picking up an ungodly assortment of buzz & blur & scuzz. Imagine a Pavement record on Stilbreeze. Or old Smog covering Skullflower. Narnack CD $14.50 Irisarri, Rafael Anton Hopes & Past Desires PS, US Packaged in full-color heavy stock jacket, LIMITED TO 500 COPIES WORLDWIDE. 2 tracks clocking in at 12 minutes, this is his first new material since his 2007 debut "Daydreaming." Irisarri's music is a dual perspective close-up focus on the micro textures of rustling static-filled sonic surfaces w/ the wide-open distant tree lined horizons of sunset at dusk. He recently released "Glider" as SIGHT BELOW on Ghostly International. Immune 45 $8.00 Jaina, Nick Narrow Way PS, US A full-band album featuring agressively memorable songs recorded in a unique way to capitalize on the energy of the live performance skills of Nick's band. This album was played entirely by ten musicians in the same room at the same time, all mixed live to 1/4" analog tape. If one person out of the ten missed a note or played the wrong part, the whole take had to be done over. This lack of a safety net gave the recordings a heightened sense of focus & purpose. Every instrument leaps off the tape with immediacy & humanity. Meanwhile, the lyrics of the songs deal w/the narrow path that people must take to do right in the world. There is fear all around; fear of being different, fear of being the same--& in the middle is the narrow way, a small path that is hard to stay on, but which leads to very good things. JealousButcher LP $13.25 Jam, The All Mod Cons PS, US RESURFACED WAX!!! Polydor LP $18.00 Kashiwa, Daisuke 5 Dec. PS, JAPAN "Program Music I", released approximately a year and a half ago introduced audiences to a musical interpretation of two Japanese literary classics, "Night on the Milky Way Railroad" and "Run Melos!" and revealed the rich musical talent of Kashiwa Daisuke. As we enter the final one digit year of the new millennium, we are proud to release "5 Dec.", an album that drops hints of what's to come in the next 10 years. Kashiwa's first album released from German label, Onpa, in 2006 won rave reviews from many artists including Ryuichi Sakamoto. In his second album, "Program Music I" released the following year, Kashiwa Daisuke defined his presence once again in the world of music. The artist's lyrical melody and dynamic and inventive musical arrangements have led his work to new frontiers in TV commercials and fashion shows. Kashiwa casts also off a powerful presence on the online world through his musical + visual collaboration with Koji Nishida of RAKU-GAKU, the artist behind Kashiwa's album jackets. In his third album, "5 Dec.", Kashiwa Daisuke makes yet another step into a new horizon. In this album, the artist's signature melody with its flowing, oriental taste hides behind the shadows to be replaced by tearing voice samples and noisy and metallic guitar sounds thrashing almost violently on top of colorful uplifting beats such as break core, down tempo, bleep techno, and drum n' bass. In contrast to the aggressive sounds of the first half, the second part of the album starting with the 6th track, "Silver Moon" guides audiences to a minimal world created through electronic sounds and the piano. As a whole, the album portrays a brilliant contrast of sound. The melody of this album does not impose sentimentalism or nostalgia onto its listeners but rather, it takes them on a journey into rhythm from beginning to end. Even amidst the violent and excessive elements, there is always a composed eye seeing into the passion that lies beneath, there is a self-disciplined, strict interpretation of the world, a sublime and metallic texture... this is what the artist Kashiwa Daisuke may be all about. Turn your ears and experience the fruit of Kashiwa Daisuke's new challenge and step with him into a whole new level of musical originality. Noble-1246 CD $17.00 Keene, Tommy In the Late Bright PS, US A wide range of songs from the rollicking opener "Late Bright," to his first recorded instrumental "Elevated" & the wistful "Save This Harmony" SecondMotion CD $14.50 Kemp, Rose Unholy Majesty PS, US ROSE KEMP came to the attention of Aurora Borealis when she thrust an advance CD in our hands at a Grave Temple show in London after her telling us how much she loves DEAD RAVEN CHOIR. Upon listening to the first 60 seconds of the album it became clear that we were dealing with something quite remarkable and got on the phone. Some wrangling and legal shennanigans later, the vinyl was confirmed for an Aurora Borealis release Undoubtedly something of a curve ball for fans of Rose's work up until now, "Unholy Majesty" represents a type of coming of age, a bold step out into the landscape of musics less travelled. From the heavy, prog influenced stomp of "Dirt Glow" through to the wavering cries of the penultimate track "Milky White", this is the sound of an artist following her own ear. Some AB adherents may be aware of Rose from her work on the second ATAVIST album, so perhaps her wide musical palette is not such a surprise. That love of sheer heavy power comes through in "Unholy Majesty" time and time again, and dovetails seamlessly with the more gentle moments on offer: without darkness, there can be no light. Part of folk-rock heritage, Rose is the daughter of Maddy Prior and Rick Kemp from seminal, pioneering British band Steeleye Span. As a young teenager she sang and toured and occasionally wrote with her parents various different projects including Steeleye Span (who still gig today), and her life on the road began when she was knee-high, accompanying her parents on tour. AuroraBorealis LP $16.00 Kerretta Antient US, AUSTRALIA For those who have seen their blistering live show, Kerretta will no doubt be high on the "to see" gig agenda. Those yet to experience the propulsive, driving rock of this instrumental three-piece have a chance to see them push the envelope of tone & dynamics with their sometimes ambient & occasionally earsplittingly heavy brand of molten-core, Antient will appeal to fans of Isis, Sigur Ros & Bailterspace, but discerning listeners will know the trio peddle a uniquely atmospheric take on angular rock. The Antient 12" contains 4 new songs at a classy 28 minutes, exclusive to the 12" on tasty coloured grey & with free download codes! Midium LP $13.50 Khan of Finland S-T PS, GERMANY The I'm Single label releases the eponymous debut CD from Berlin-based Khan of Finland. Centered around the figure of mega-producer Can "Khan" Oral (aka Captain Comatose), Khan Of Finland are a trio in the traditional sense of the word who make a sound that is anything but. Using just vocals, piano and a human beat-box, they play all-acoustic electronic blues, but also switch roles and improvise. The piano becomes a percussive instrument. The beat(box) melodic. The vocal full-blooded. From the blues to a howl. The sound veering from metal-heavy riffs to dubbed-out cabaret. These 9 songs were all recorded live at a defunct gas station in Berlin-Wedding with a few additional over-dubs recorded at various other spectacular locations such as St. Clara Church in Berlin-Neukoelln. Weirdly swank, electro-tinged, and decidedly energetic odes to loving life. I'mSingle CD $15.00 Kilbey, Steve Painkiller PS, US Vast & immediate, lyrically intoxicating, musically loose & rocking or spacious & trippy. It swings from delicate psychedelic pop songs to radiotronic space rock monsters. A must listen for all Church or Kilbey fans. SecondMotion CD $14.50 Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble, The Mutations EP PS, GERMANY A bridge between their first album on Planet Mu and the forthcoming second one on Ad Noiseam, the "Mutations EP" is The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble's coming of age. Profound and organic but dark and impressive, it is a perfect rendition of the ensemble's live shows and the proof that there is still something fresh to be done at the meeting point of post-rock, jazz and drones. A deeply emotional and original trip. AdNoiseam-105-2 CD $13.00 Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble, The Mutations EP PS, GERMANY Now available on vinyl. A bridge between their first album on Planet Mu and the forthcoming second one on Ad Noiseam, the "Mutations EP" is The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble's coming of age. Profound and organic but dark and impressive, it is a perfect rendition of the ensemble's live shows and the proof that there is still something fresh to be done at the meeting point of post-rock, jazz and drones. A deeply emotional and original trip. AdNoiseam-105-1 LP $13.00 Kinks, The Picture Book [Box Set] (6 x CD) PS, UK "The first three CDs, covering the years between 1963 and 1971, are a sheer delight: a master-class in garage rock, social observation, and how to expand the language of popular music in one hard-earned lesson." -Mojo "Arguably more succinctly than any of their 60s hit-making contemporaries, The Kinks chronicles the times with a succession of stunning vignettes about everyday life." - Record Collector SanctuaryUK CD-BOX $79.75 Kottke, Leo 6 And 12 String Guitar PS, US Leo Kottke's debut came about after he sent a cassette to John Fahey's Takoma label. Not surprisingly, it recalls Fahey's work in a number of respects: the synthesis of numerous influences from blues, pop, classical, and folk styles, the weirdly titled instrumentals, even the tongue-in-cheek liner notes. Kottke's brand of virtuosity, however, is more soothing and easy on the ear than Fahey's. It's far from sappy, though, the rich and resonant picking intimating some underlying restlessness, like peaceful open fields after a storm. Establishing much of the territory Kottke was to explore throughout his career, this release was also one of his most popular, eventually selling over 500,000 copies. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide Takoma TKA6503.2 CD $13.40 Kweller, Ben Changing Horses PS, US ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "After flirting with country music throughout his solo career, Ben Kweller embraces his Texas roots with Changing Horses, an earthy record filled with pedal steel guitars and honky tonk storytelling. Kweller's southern pedigree has always made itself known -- in the twang of his acoustic guitar, in the lilt of his voice -- but Changing Horses shines a spotlight on those nuances, replacing the heartland rock & roll of his past albums with a healthy dose of Americana. This is saloon-styled songwriting, complete with flashes of close harmony and images of Greyhound stations, starry skies, and homebound highways. Kweller sounds confident throughout, playing the rustic raconteur like a twentysomething Leon Russell, but the album's secret weapon is newcomer Kitt Kitterman, whose pedal steel riffs and Dobro arpeggios lend some authenticity to Kweller's southern state of mind." ATO CD $12.25 Ladyfinger Dusk PS, US Nods & winks to the past meet a sound of the not-too-distant future, w/ one foot in the sounds of early 70's classic rock & another in the punk & hardcore scenes of the late 80's & early 90's. The dynamics of each song & across the album are more evident, from the opening 1-2 punch of "Over & Over" & the bass growl of "ADD," through the sharp riffs & aggressiveness of "Work Party," the plaintive "Plans," & into the hit-in-the-making "Let's Get Married" SaddleCreek CD $12.50 Lemonade S-T PS, US The San Francisco group's eclectic offerings are coarse with psychedelic textures and light on the easy fixes-the percussion crosses continents, the vocals are tangles of guttural exclamations, and the melodies spring from all over. The closest connections the tracks bear to modern music are to artists like Black Dice, Gang Gang Dance, and Sunburned Hand of the Man-fervent experimentalists deep below the dance charts. Live, it's an intoxicating bit of voodoo; Pasternak will later tell me that his favorite description of Lemonade's sound is 'a techno-Brazilian samba line on mushrooms.'-SF Weekly. Received a "Recommended" rating by Pitchfork. TruePanther CD $13.25 Leno Vida e Obra de Johnny McCartney [re-issue] PS, US The album has a sound that has more to do w/ bands such as Sly & The Family Stone, the Beatles (post 1967), Cream, & Steppenwolf, & features contributions from music legends MARCOS VALLE, RAUL SEIXAS, hard psych rockers A BOLHA, & members of LOS SHAKERS & RENATO E SEUS BLUE CAPS. One of the most singular records of the 1970's rock era in Brazil. LionProductions CD $15.00 Lights Lights [Underground Operations] EP PS, US Sure as aliens have laser guns and princesses have crowns, listening to Lights will bring you back to your innocence in an instant. Mind you, an innocence accompanied by musical adventure and observations way beyond the years of its creator. At the age of 21, the sparkling songstress sculpts music from her bedroom that is fresh, enchanting and infectious, drawing influences from such artists as Bjork and Annie Lennox. Her song "February Air" was featured in an Old Navy commercial. WB514280.2 CD5 $6.70 Lincoln Prelude to the Presidency [documentary] PS, US As a lawyer traveling Illinois' Eighth Judicial Circuit, Abraham Lincoln made two simultaneous journeys. He gained respect as a skilled attorney and mesmerizing speaker, but he also built a political base and refined his views on the important issues of the day, many of which he would face in the White House. His experiences from 1837 to 1860 on muddy roads, in homes of friends and in courtrooms on the circuit guided him when he became president. WILL-TV's Lincoln: Prelude to the Presidency tells the story of the cases he tried and people he met during this critical period of his life. DVD features reenactments of Lincoln as you've never seen him before: defending a slaveholder trying to reclaim a slave named Jane Bryant and her children; brandishing a sword on the banks of the Mississippi River at dawn before being talked out of fighting a duel; and crossing the prairie reading a book atop his horse, Old Tom. Features interviews with experts, including Doris Kearns Goodwin, Edna Greene Medford and Orville Vernon Burton, who describe how the circuit built the skills Lincoln used as president. WILLPublicMedia DVD $24.95 Lindh, Lasse You Wake Up At Sea Tac PS, US Though Lasse Lindh's second record is his first sung in English, he sounds as if he's been singing this way all along. In fact, he resembles Elliott Smith fronting Travis or Coldplay, leaving little to indicate that he is Swedish. His lamentations about heartache and lost relationships have all kinds of metaphors for the stomping of his heart, though his tearjerkers are bigger and more rock-oriented than his Swedish counterparts. "Walk With Me" and "Computerwelt" drift away from indie pop, moving into grandiose rock ballads. No one, however, could be more of a hopeless romantic than Lindh, as his heart gets dragged around in almost every verse. He suffers mentally ("the heart is old and the pain must grow") and physically ("it's the broken jaw, it's the cut from the saw"). Lindh is lonely and abandoned, though it sure resulted in a commendable album. The U.S. release includes three bonus tracks. -All Music AHiddenAgendaRecord-034 CD $10.00 Lithops Ye Viols! PS, US LTD ED OF 1000 comes packaged in matchbook flip-top style package printed on recycled paper w/ fold-out poster! On this release, LITHOPS (aka JAN ST. WERNER of MOUSE ON MARS, MICROSTORIA, VON SUDENFED) presents a selection of installation soundtracks assembled from several recent exhibitions. This can be seen as background noise for a visual utopia: a recombined industrial iconograhy of spatial adventures, futuristic collages & phantasmagoric scenes. Full of fun danceable beats w/ plunderphonic complexity, textural density & layered details. ThrillJockey CD $13.00 Lithops Ye Viols! PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! ThrillJockey LP $13.00 Loney Dear Dear John PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Polyvinyl-171 LP $12.50 Loney Dear Dear John PS, US Loney Dear is the recording name for multi-instrumentalist and Swedish home-recording phenom Emil Svanängen. Recorded alone in Emil's tiny Stockholm studio apartment and in the comfort of his parents' house in Jönköping, Dear John is an album of contrasts. It will cozy up next to you through the bleakest of winters and be your shade in the blistering summer sun. It is an album that has been on Emil's mind since the inception of Loney Dear. With his first four albums, Emil has always aspired to perfection; he has always promised a masterpiece. Dear John is that record. "Despair has never sounded so sweet." -SPIN "He wraps the ups and downs of a whirlwind romance into tiny packages. You're left hungry, fully certain that 34 minutes-- let alone five-- will never be enough of this very, very good thing." --Pitchfork Polyvinyl-171 CD $12.50 Lost Sounds Memphis is Dead PS, US Big Neck presents the 4th pressing LIMITED reissue of 1000 copies on MIXED COLOR vinyl. This was the very first foray by JAY REATARD and Alicja Trout (THE FITTS, DESTRUCTION UNIT). Their apocalyptic nightmare of digital music and garage rock are disturbing w/ their frothing rage, unrestrained beauty and wild abandonment. BigNeck LP $12.00 Lover! No More Reasons b/w All Alone PS, US Limited red vinyl repress. If you're not hip Lover! is Rich Crook, formerly of the Lost Sounds and he's been making some noise as Lover! for a couple of years now and has been getting stronger with each release. Don't wait for the next full length to "catch you by surprise" as this is here now. USGR alert. (Ugly sleeve, great record.) HoZacRecords 45 $5.25 LSD March Under Milk Wood PS, US With grace (in the rock sense), style, humor, & the perfect touch of heavy riffage, this tremendously unique recording is a classic of the new Japanese underground. A fascinating, ghostly rock album featuring TAKAHASHI IKURO's drumming - it isn't until midway through the record that the heavy riffage begins, though it is slowly buried beneath the white blizzard blanket that is the remainder of the album Important CD $13.25 M. Ward Hold Time PS, US Well I think we can safely say that since M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel's breakout album of last year, She & Him Vol. 1, Matt Ward is now pretty much a household (read: Starbucks' and soccer moms') name. This dude is EVERYWHERE. His records continue to grow in sales and it was just announced he will be playing Coachella this year. Merge CD $13.25 M. Ward Hold Time PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Merge LP $16.50 Magnetic Morning A.M. PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! FriendorFaux LP $14.75 Magnetic Morning A.M. PS, US Magnetic Morning is the new band featuring Adam Franklin of Swervedriver and Sam Fogarino of Interpol. FriendorFaux CD $11.00 Marching Dynamics The Workers Party of Haiti PS, GERMANY It was worth waiting more than a year for the second aural manifestation of S. Talada's darker self. M.D.'s unique mix of intelligent dance music, dark experimental sound layers and technoid beat'n'bass patterns enthused a large audience worldwide on the previous Nailsleeper release. Now it's the time for the workers party of Haiti to take over... Music as diverse as moody atmospheric dark ambient tunes, slow hop-beat-driven sub-bass monsters and fast dance tracks built upon hard hitting breaks. This album displays Talada's ability to merge all these styles into one instead of simply stringing them together. Crisp percussion blasts meet sound-trackish synth lines while aggravating your somatic responses - distortion from Detroit meets with Los(t) Angeles industrial gloom - dark complexity amalgamates with rhythmic intensity... "'The Workers Party Of Haiti' was my own exorcism from the demon that surrounded me and that was haunting me." (S. Talada) - join the exorcism! Hymen-773 CD $16.25 Maserati/Zombi Split PS, US Long in the making, this split LP finally brings together two similarly influenced and equally provocative groups: Athens, GA's Maserati - with their eternally driving, Krautrock-infused dance anthems - shares the record with Pittsburgh's favorite Italo-cinema fetishists, Zombi. Teaming up once again with longtime producer and friend Andy Baker (Brian Eno, Harvey Milk), Maserati contributes a pair of two-part epics that show the band progressing away from the sparkly-clean productions of their past in favor of a grittier, more experimental sound, occupying the unlikely space between the dark garage-pop infectiousness of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and the analog synth meditations of Harmonia. The result is Maserati's most unique and inspired material to date. On the flipside, Zombi offers a single 14-minute track that slowly and steadily amasses pile of analog synths to build a stage for an extended drum solo (imagine Goblin covering "Moby Dick" and you're almost there). With the synths providing the rhythmic foundation, the drums swirl about in a freeform ascent for over five minutes before patterns start to creep in, signaling the big payoff is imminent. Indeed, when the drums finally snap into an airtight locking groove with the thick bed of synths, the impact is downright euphoric. The song exits with a slow fade, as if to fittingly ride this high into oblivion. The marriage of these two bands couldn't be more perfect, and the inspiration they have brought each other is evident in both the creative exploration and the supreme quality of the tracks. Rather that deliver non-album toss-offs, both groups brought top-shelf a-sides, making this split an essential part of each artist's already rich catalog. TemporaryResidence-143 LP $11.50 Math Head Stab City PS, GERMANY With "Stab City", Math Head finally presents on wax a new testimony of his insolent skills at creating ever changing, massive dubstep. Never loosing the dance floor from its sight, but including a lot of innovative elements to this genre and not afraid of mixing the club appeal with wider sensibilities, he comes up here again with a highly impressive record that does justice to his extensive talent. Here comes highly efficient, fresh and hard dubstep record you have been waiting for. AdNoiseam-98 12 $11.00 Mathieu, Stephan The Key to the Kingdom PS, GERMANY Limited/numbered 400. "The Key to the Kingdom" is Stephan Mathieu's tribute to the great gospel preacher Washington Phillips and the world of raw, early gospel on 78rpm platters. The 2-part suite, presented in the classic 10" vinyl format that comes in an authentic, individually stamped and numbered 78rpm archive sleeve, has been performed on a historic Phonoharp No.2 zither from the 1890s utilizing five E-Bows and entropic and convolution processes. "The Key to the Kingdom" is a spin-off of Mathieu's "Virginals" project, a solo recital of contemporary classics performed on historic instruments. Stephan Mathieu is a musician and sound artist based in Saarbrücken, Germany. Duri ng the last decade his music has been released on 16 critical acclaimed CDs, both solo and in collaboration with Douglas Benford, Ekkehard Ehlers, John Hudak, Janek Schaefer and Akira Rabelais on some of the finest electronic music labels worldwide (Die Schachtel, Häpna, Ritornell, Lucky Kitchen, HeadzŠ). His sound is largely based on early instruments, environmental sound and obsolete media which are recorded and transformed by means of experimental microphony, re-editing techniques and software processes involving spectral analysis and convolution and has been compared to the landscape paintings of Caspar David Friedrich and the work of Colorfield artists Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman and Ellsworth Kelly. Stephan is a collector of 78rpm records from the 1910s and 20s, the era of acoustic and early electronic audio recording. His most recent album "Radioland" made it into "Best of 2008" lists in The Wire, Dusted, Boomkat, Milkfactory and many others. Dekorder-028 10 $11.25 Matthew & Arrogant Sea Family Family Family Meets The Magic Christian (LP/CD) PS, US Dreamy omnichord pop filled w/ hints of folk psychedelia. This evokes the experimental natures of the Flaming Lips & Animal Collective perched upon harmonies reminiscent of the Beach Boys & The Mamas & The Papas. W/free CD insert. Junketboy LP $19.00 Mazes S-T PS, US While The 1900s make noises about recording the follow-up to their full-length 2007 album, Cold & Kind, front man Edward Anderson has readied a solo album for Parasol Records, under the moniker Mazes. In cahoots with fellow 1900s vocalist (and Ed's significant other) Caroline Donovan and their comrade Charles D'Autremont, Mazes is not so much departure from his hitherto verdant psych-pop meadow as a vehicle for Edward to explore further musical flora and fauna. Parasol-CD-112 CD $9.00 McPhee, Joe/Nilssen-Love, Paal Tomorrow Came Today PS, NORWAY Recorded in Olso's Grandsport Studio, an analog studio that perfectly captures the atmosphere & warmth of these improvisations. Free jazz legend Joe McPhee spent one day with drummer Paal Nilssen-Love in studio improvising direct to tape. The music is spontaneous, raw & groovy, but at the same time mellow, melodic & beautiful. SmalltownSuperjazz-148 CD $15.25 Medication Don't Die b/w Fog PS, US One of the best singles of last year, in fact the only reason it didn't make my year end list was that I didn't actually own a copy yet. Really, really strong loner fuzz vibes with songs to die for. One of the best HoZac releases for sure (and that's high praise.) HoZacRecords 45 $5.25 Menton, Todd Dolmen Field US , PS In true genre-crossing fashion, Menton (BOILED IN LEAD) crosses delicate mandolins & whistles w/ snarling electric guitars, all alongside his powerfully written & played folk ballads. RIYL: Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom. NewFolk CD $16.25 Merzbow 13 Japanese Birds Vol. 1 PS, US First volume of a 13-disc series of limited edition albums (1,000 copies). This 13-month series of releases was inspired by Olivier Messaien's "Catalogue D'Oiseaux." Author, activist, painter, & sound artist Masami Akita has been at the foreground of experimental music for over 25 years. Inspired by psychedelic rock, free jazz, early electronic composition, & the physical arts - especially Kurt Schwitters' "Merzbau" - Akita has created a musical language all his own. Important CD $13.25 Mi Ami Watersports PS, US The second newest addition to our roster! San Francisco noise rhythm trio, Mi Ami, features two former members of Dischord cult band Black Eyes. The DC natives have graduated from the angular post h/c steeze into organic, hyper-percussive, post Arthur Russell territory. They have been featured in the Fader and last month's 12" was just reviewed in the New York Times yesterday. This is their first full length. They are on tour constantly and their live show (which frequently evolves into a full on post-Burning Man tribal drum circle) will blow your mind. Quarterstick CD $12.00 Mi Ami Watersports PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Quarterstick LP $13.25 Miller, Evan Transfigurations On Lap-Steel Guitar PS, US Iowa City's Evan Miller is never one to stay in the same rut for too long. His earlier releases were composed of Fahey-esque spells, heavily emotional acoustic guitar work emanating tones of nostalgia and simplicity. On Transfigurations On Lap-Steel Guitar, a new zone is crafted with lap-steel guitar and tape collage, creating equally nostalgic music from the other end of the spectrum: delicate, minimal drones. Tones interweave and textures evolve: it is Evan's most personally progressive work, combining past themes and reinterpreting them on another medium: electric lap-steel guitar. Mastered by Pete Swanson. In an edition of 450 full color pro-printed cardboard LP sleeves and printed labels designed by Jeff Witscher (Secret Abuse / Callow God). Arbor LP $13.75 Miller, Niela Songs Of Leaving PS, US Culled from a warped acetate cut in 1962, this is the complete songbook of NYC folkie Miller. Claim to fame: she wrote "Baby Don't Go To Town," a song that boyfriend Billy Roberts would steal and "rewrite" as "Hey Joe." Inaugural release on Numero Group's new LP-only imprint. Impeccably designed, housed in thick jackets, & pressed on durable 150g vinyl, you'll know a Numerophon album when you see it, the same way you knew Folkways after that 1st thrift store find. Numerophon LP $15.00 Minus The Bear Acoustics PS, US Originally released as a tour only cd, this album contains seven exclusive tracks of MTB doing acoustic (in case the title didn't give it away) versions of some of their classic material. Contains two Menos El Oso tracks (S047), three Planet of Ice tracks (S065), a track off Highly Refined Pirates (S021) and one BRAND NEW SONG. SuicideSqueeze LP $10.75 Mojo #184 (March 2009) [Magazine + CD] PS, UK ZINE $10.25 Morrison, Van Astral Weeks PS, US RESURFACED WAX!!! WarnerBros LP $23.00 Morrissey Years of Refusal PS, US PITCHFORK: "Morrissey and his Tormentors continue their 21st century winning streak with a record that, while offering no new twists or surprises, finds the former Smiths co-leader in strong voice-- both as a singer and songwriter." LostHighway CD $15.00 Morrissey Years of Refusal [deluxe edition] PS, US Deluxe version of new CD comes w/ a bonus DVD of videos, live performances and an interview w/ Russell Brand. LostHighway CD/DVD $19.00 Morrissey Years of Refusal PS, US VINYL VERSION. LostHighway LP $10.75 Mothlite The Flax of Reverie PS, US Debut from the wonderfully cinematic Mothlite. The six pieces encompass elements as diverse as choral madrigals cascading with strings, the melody and dissonance of Arvo Part & Moondog and the cinematic, studio-as-instrument manipulationsof Pink Floyd, Coil, Cocteau Twins & late period Talk Talk. Southern CD $15.00 Mountains Choral PS, US VINYL VERSION, limited to 1000 worldwide, includes 2 vinyl-exlcusive tracks and a download coupon. ThrillJockey DLP $14.50 Mountains Choral PS, US BRANDON ANDEREGG & KOEN HOLTKAMP seamlessly blend pastoral electronic sounds with both field recordings & a plethora of acoustic instruments. The resulting soundscapes are broad in scope & rich in detail, often compared to artists such as Brian Eno & Fennesz. CD version is presented in a 4-panel mini-LP style jacket. ThrillJockey CD $13.00 Move, The Anthology 1966-1972 (4 disc import) PS, UK Apparently, the Move's discography is so complex that not even a lovingly compiled, rarities-laden, career-spanning box set like Salvo's 2008Anthology 1966-1972 can fit everything within the confines of four discs. The devil is in the licensing, as it always is, something that always plagues Move compilations because their last album, Message from the Country, was on Harvest, while their first two -- The Move and Shazam -- were on EMI and the third, Looking On, was on Fly. Typically, the first three albums are grouped together -- as they were on WestSide's 1997 box Movements -- with Message from the Country left lingering on its own, a situation Salvo almost avoids on Anthology by cherry-picking the low-riding heavy blues-rocker "Ella James" and loading up the fourth disc with the wonderful post-Message singles that captured the band at some kind of a zenith: "Tonight," "Do Ya," "Chinatown," "California Man." Although there are parts of Message that are sorely missed, this is enough to help Anthology paint a portrait of the band's full career, but it's a portrait that's slightly skewed, largely because the set relies so heavily on alternate takes and rarities. This approach makes Anthology manna for collectors -- who very well may be the only audience for such a comprehensive box set in 2008 -- as this piles on different mixes, markedly different alternate versions such as an "early piano version" of "Fire Brigade," and a simple acoustic version of "Flowers in the Rain," a bevy of single edits, and a few enhanced stereo takes, plus studio chatter from producer Tony Visconti. It's such a twisting maze that a good guide is necessary and the liner notes by Mark Paytress provide just that with a biographical overview and track-by-track liners. Yet even that is an indication that this box set is intended not as a one-stop for neophytes but a supplement to Salvo's expanded reissues (and EMI's expansion) of Message, as a whopping 30 of the 62 tracks here are previously unreleased, with another seven making their CD debut. Of course, many of these are alternate mixes and takes, but there are some nice unheard items too, including the two-part "Second Class" the early version of Roy Wood's "She's Too Good for Me," and, best of all, four pre-debut tracks that find the band sounding like a Tamla-influenced British beat band, something they never quite were in their art-terrorist incarnation. But in addition to these alternate takes comes an entire disc's worth of unreleased music from the band live at the Marquee in 1968, which is another huge incentive for collectors to pick this up. Some of this was excerpted as the Something Else EP but this gives up a full 12 tracks of the Move at the peak of their powers and they sound monstrous: huge, lumbering, loud, as progressive and primal as the Who, but at once stranger and more of a down and dirty rock & roll band, kicking out versions of "Somethin' Else," "Stephanie Knows Who," "Piece of My Heart," "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher," and "So You Want to Be a Rock & Roll Star." The power of this set, along with the blistering version of "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" and the Nazz's "Open My Eyes" from the Fillmore West in 1969, may be the biggest revelation of the set, and it's also why this collector-bait heavy box isn't just for collectors. Sure, this is loaded up with rarities, but it does give the arc of the band's career, contains most -- but certainly not all -- of their great songs, and provides jolt after jolt of weird, wild, wonderful rock and pop, music that still has the power to intoxicate all these years later. If you're already one of the converted this is essential, but if you haven't learned how to love the Move, this box may still be necessary as there is no one album that contains all their sounds in one place. Besides, the Move were too big to be contained by one box -- at least this one comes the closest to getting it all right. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide SLVO406BX.2 CD-BOX $48.50 Mr. Bungle Disco Volante [vinyl re-issue] PS, US One of the most uncompromising & adventurous major label releases of the '90s featuring vocalist MIKE PATTON (x-FAITH NO MORE). Their 2nd album, originally released in 1995, is an "alternative" record only in the vaguest sense of the word. Incorporating death metal, techno, 50's space age pop & Italian avantgarde. This is probably the most important & groundbreaking release of Patton's storied career, & that's saying a lot. Think Faith No More, John Zorn, Frank Zappa, & Ennio Morricone rolled into one sick stew. Plain LP $16.75 Murder By Death/O'Death Split PS, US LIMITED ONE TIME PRESSING! This is 2nd in a series of 7" featuring Murder By Death collaborating w/ other well known indie rock artists. Side A: Murder By Death performing O'Death's "Home" Side B: O'Death performing MBD's "Brother" MurderByDeath 45 $7.50 Murder City Devils S-T [re-issue] PS, US Subpop LP $12.50 Murder City Devils Empty Bottles Broken Hearts [re-issue] PS, US Subpop LP $12.50 Murder City Devils Thelema [re-issue] PS, US A departure of sorts, the six songs on Thelema (five new and one, "364 Days," taken from the b-side to a limited Paper Bag Series 45) find the six-piece exploring musical terrain that is as informed by the obstacles of their past as it is by an ambitious quest for the unconquered. It's a sound that can't be compared to the influences constantly referenced in early reviews of the band. Having served their purpose, those influences and markers have crumbled away and with Thelema The Murder City Devils have honed a vitality and style entirely their own, one that is elastic in structure, profound in its lyrical content, and melodic-yes, melodic-in tone. Subpop 12 $9.75 Murder City Devils In Name & Blood [re-issue] PS, US On this their third full-length record, The Murder City Devils demonstrate the notion or Rock and Roll as a life or death proposition: tales of love lost (or destroyed), the doomed romanticism of the road (and an innate inability to deny its call), and suffering the slings and arrows of fate (outrageous or otherwise...). "With head, heart and hands - in name and blood." Subpop LP $12.50 Muslims S-T PS, US Hot new garage-rock 4-piece out of San Diego drawing comparisons to Modern Lovers and Velvet Underground. This 10-song LP includes a coupon for digital download, & feat. bonus tracks "Nightlife, "Bright Side," & "Extinction." The vinyl jackets & sleeves were silk screened by the band & the jackets were shot by a former NYC Police Officer. Wild. RIYL: Black Lips 1928Recordings LP $15.50 My Cat Is an Alien & Mats Gustafsson Cosmic Debris, Vol. 4 PS, US Experimental powers united! ASilentPlace CD $16.25 Naked Raygun All Rise PS, US The 1985 Chicago punk classic. NAKED RAYGUN's 2nd album... RE-MASTERED and sounding better than ever back on wax. Includes bonus remastered versions of their 1987 smash 7"'Vanilla Blue'. 12x18 2 sided color poster full of unreleased photos, lyrics and more. Another one of the greatest punk albums of all time here. Essential!! HauntedTown LP $14.50 Nanda Devi Fifth Season PS, US Members of ALTER OF EARTH & HELLAS MOUNDS. Drawing influences from Neurosis, Khanate & Red Sparowes, this is one hell of an evil record. Cavity CD $10.75 New Ruins We Make Our Own Bad Luck (ON SALE) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Limited to 500, pressed on brick red wax. AHiddenAgendaRecord-092 LP $10.00 New Ruins We Make Our Own Bad Luck (CD/Vinyl Package) (ON SALE) PS, US CD/LP AHiddenAgendaRecord-092 CD/LP $16.50 New Ruins We Make Our Own Bad Luck (ON SALE) PS, US We Make Our Own Bad Luck is the new album from Illinois paranormal act New Ruins, the follow-up to their first release, The Sound They Make, from 2007. Droning acoustic/electric rock haunted by rural spectres, songs rendered in sepia-tone, but updated with DIY studio machinations. Since their debut the original duo of songwriters J. Caleb Means and Elzie Sexton has expanded into a quintet, featuring bassist/multi-instrumentalist Paul Chastain (Velvet Crush, Matthew Sweet), drummer Roy Ewing (Braid, Very Secretary), and Andrew Davidson (Tractor Kings, Chemicals) on bass and auxiliary percussion. New Ruins is a band as comfortable in a stage-shaking three-guitar line-up as it is in a more intimate stripped-down acoustic setting. ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "Dark-hued pop music that strikes a balance between melody-driven pleasure and guitar-fueled malaise." AHiddenAgendaRecord-092 CD $9.00 Nice Face Exterminator b/w F.U.B.A.R. Over You PS, US In a lot of ways the world can be boiled down into two sorts of people. Those who are gonna be revolted by the cover of this single and those who will be like "Oh, cool the new Nice Face single!" Once you get past the cover the 2nd Nice Face single might be even better than the first one (on Sacred Bones). HoZacRecords 45 $5.25 Nickel Eye Time Of The Assassins PS, US Solo project of STROKES bassist Nikolai Fraiture. Guest appearances by Nick Zinner (YEAH YEAH YEAHS) & REGINA SPEKTOR. Musically influenced by artists such as Neil Young, Frank Black, Leonard Cohen & The Kinks. Rykodisc CD $12.00 Nobunny Give It To Me b/w Motorhead With Me PS, US Hot on the heels of the re-issue of the essential "Love Visions" full length comes two more one man wonder punk rock dream tunes. Equal amounts of fun, dumb and essential. HoZacRecords 45 $5.25 Nous Non Plus Menagerie PS, US The band dabbles in their 60's French pop influences but also explore a new sonic landscape mixing Moog synthesizers w/ string sections, horns w/ distorted guitars. Imagine Gainsbourg & Bardot as indie rockers in 2009 Aeronaut CD $13.50 NOVA NOVA: Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives PS, US Follow EELS front man Mark Oliver Everett on his quest to comprehend the theory of parallel universes while unraveling the remarkable life story of his iconoclastic father Hugh - creator of the radical quantum physics theory - in this installment of the popular PBS series, Nova. Dubbed "one of the most important scientists of the 20th Century" by Scientific America, Hugh Everett III proposed the controversial Many Worlds Theory back in 1957. The basis of that theory is the idea that parallel universes are constantly spinning off from reality as we know it. Though generally ignored at the time, that theory has gone on to become not just a popular topic of study among respected physicists, but the inspiration for such popular films, television shows, and books as Star Trek and The Golden Compass. As a young boy growing up, Mark never understood why his father was so distant. It wasn't that Hugh didn't care about his family, just that his brain was constantly swirling with ideas and concepts, and that anything that pulled him out of his own thoughts was considered something of a distraction. Now the last surviving member of his troubled family, Mark interviews his father's old college friends, colleagues, and admirers - including MIT physicist Max Tegmark - in an emotional journey to not only better understand the man he barely knew in life, but also gain a greater understanding of the ideas that still inspire physicists to this very day. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide WGBHBoston DVD $42.00 Odawas The Blue Depths PS, US At first glimpse of the album art - details from Helen Maurene Cooper's Birds Of Appetite series - it becomes apparent that a certain surreal quality will mark the contents within The Blue Depths. A sense of longing and desire is buried within the dizzying layers. Odawas heighten the more subtle components of previous efforts, unashamedly giving into their love of Vangelis' romanticism, Eric Serra's dusky mysticism, and the sweeping, Southwestern strings of Jack Nitzsche. They demonstrate their mastery of nudging to the edge of the over the top with enchanting results. The Blue Depths is an album for warmer places, a balmy haze habitat for headphone meanderings. This is a dream world where Neil Young and Jimmy Webb float in the reverb saturated summer breeze. The solemn harmonies of "Moonlight/Twilight" drift between sheets of stirring bowed bass murmur as shimmering guitar notes ebb and flow underneath. Bursts of yearning harmonica arc over ethereal soundscapes in "The Case Of The Great Irish Elk." The jubilant piano of "Harmless Lover's Discourse" gives way to the most startling pop moment of the album, a soaring bed of synth propelled by a driving bass line and vibrant rhythms. Pulses of light extend towards the murky crevasse of the subconscious: these depths never looked so enticing. - Joel Beeman Jagjaguwar-138 LP $11.50 Odawas The Blue Depths PS, US At first glimpse of the album art - details from Helen Maurene Cooper's Birds Of Appetite series - it becomes apparent that a certain surreal quality will mark the contents within The Blue Depths. A sense of longing and desire is buried within the dizzying layers. Odawas heighten the more subtle components of previous efforts, unashamedly giving into their love of Vangelis' romanticism, Eric Serra's dusky mysticism, and the sweeping, Southwestern strings of Jack Nitzsche. They demonstrate their mastery of nudging to the edge of the over the top with enchanting results. The Blue Depths is an album for warmer places, a balmy haze habitat for headphone meanderings. This is a dream world where Neil Young and Jimmy Webb float in the reverb saturated summer breeze. The solemn harmonies of "Moonlight/Twilight" drift between sheets of stirring bowed bass murmur as shimmering guitar notes ebb and flow underneath. Bursts of yearning harmonica arc over ethereal soundscapes in "The Case Of The Great Irish Elk." The jubilant piano of "Harmless Lover's Discourse" gives way to the most startling pop moment of the album, a soaring bed of synth propelled by a driving bass line and vibrant rhythms. Pulses of light extend towards the murky crevasse of the subconscious: these depths never looked so enticing. - Joel Beeman Jagjaguwar-138 CD $11.50 Of Montreal Jon Brion Remix EP PS, US Grammy-nominated producer Jon Brion has worked with Spoon, Kanye West, Elliott Smith, and Fiona Apple, as well as scored the films Magnolia, Synechdoche NY, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. An Elurdian Instance is Brion's most recent masterpiece and finds him reinterpreting two cuts from of Montreal's most recent album Skeletal Lamping. These are by no means remixes, as Brion literally reinterprets the songs by taking the basic tracks and adding more instrumentation and backing vocals, including the work of Nickel Creek vocalist and mandolin-player Chris Thile. Polyvinyl-172 CD $6.75 Of Montreal Jon Brion Remix EP PS, US Grammy-nominated producer Jon Brion has worked with Spoon, Kanye West, Elliott Smith, and Fiona Apple, as well as scored the films Magnolia, Synechdoche NY, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. An Elurdian Instance is Brion's most recent masterpiece and finds him reinterpreting two cuts from of Montreal's most recent album Skeletal Lamping. These are by no means remixes, as Brion literally reinterprets the songs by taking the basic tracks and adding more instrumentation and backing vocals, including the work of Nickel Creek vocalist and mandolin-player Chris Thile. Polyvinyl-172 LP $10.00 Olson, Mark & Gary Louris Ready for the Flood PS, US New collaboration from Jayhawks duo! Although they've toured together and renewed their friendship, this is the first recording by Olson and Louris since Olson left the Jayhawks in 1995. What would become READY FOR THE FLOOD was recorded at Sage & Sound Studios in Hollywood with friend Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes. Louris had called in Robinson, who happened to be in town at that point, for vibe support and he ended up producing the album; he also appears on the album playing harmonica and contributing backing vocals. READY FOR THE FLOOD captures the stripped down, fingerpicked guitar playing and Laurel Canyon sound of an earlier time, with allusions to English folk Bert Jansch, Nick Drake, John Renbourne, whom both Mark and Gary had both been getting into independently and a simpler, live recording technique where capturing the right vibe was as important as the sound. It s an album that only two career musicians and friends could make organic, intuitive and loosely confident, heartfelt and moving, echoing with the combined experience of two kindred spirits reuniting to do what they do and love best. NewWest CD $17.75 One Up Downstairs, The The One Up Downstairs PS, US The One Up Downstairs is members of American Football, Owen, and Very Secretary. For years The One Up Downstairs was discussed on message boards and became the frequent recipient of questions sent to the Polyvinyl info e-mail account: were they actually a band, did they sound like American Football, did they ever record? The answers to all of these questions are a resounding "yes." In an effort to make the songs available to fans Polyvinyl released the band's only recorded output a few years ago, which led to another question: would the songs ever see a proper release as a 7"? Long sought after, these songs are now available as a 7" that includes a digital download code for the entire release. Polyvinyl-112 45 $4.00 Orka Livandi Oyoa CD+DVD PS, FRANCE Hailing from the remote cliffs, panoramic views and "hidden" civilization of the Faroe Islands, Orka was always bound to be different but the fact that these boys build their own instruments is what makes them truly unique. LciD'Ailleurs-050 CD/DVD $16.25 Orka Livandi Oyoa PS, FRANCE Hailing from the remote cliffs, panoramic views and "hidden" civilization of the Faroe Islands, Orka was always bound to be different but the fact that these boys build their own instruments is what makes them truly unique. Icid'Ailleurs-050 LP $16.25 Our Love Will Destroy The World Stillborn Plague Angels PS, GERMANY The gates of Birchville Cat Motel crack, creak wide, and crash, unleashing a gush of soul-fried bleakness and love-damage stained with a defiantly metallic pose. Thats 'METALLIC... as in, has the surface qualities of metal' not 'METAL... as in, has the surface qualities of Metallica'...step back you freaks. Although the broken bricks of BCM are still plain to see amid the burning wreck and ruin, 'Stillborn Plague Angels' represents the first fully formed sentence in a new chapter of Campbell Kneale's ongoing tome of star-spangled, psychedelic, noise-OM. Cholesterol shaving guitar peeks over the trench to survey an adrenalized landscape of endless roaring catastrophe... Everything louder than everything else! Our Love Will Destroy The World is the new one-man project by New Zealander Campbell Kneale after disbanding BIRCHVILLE CAT MOTEL. In the past Kneale has released albums on Ecstatic Peace, Corpus Hermeticum, Last Visible Dog, Conspiracy and his own Celebrate Psi Phenomena label. He has collaborated with Lee Ranaldo, Neil Campbell, Bruce Russel, John Olson (Wolf Eyes), Yellow Swans, has toured throughout Japan, Europe, America and Australia and also records und the names Black Boned Angel and Ming. "Stillborn Plague Angels" is the debut LP by this new project. Dekorder-030 LP $13.50 Outrageous Cherry Universal Malcontents PS, US This new set of pop songs once again showcases the band's distinctive mid-seventies sensibilities. The album is evocative of artists such as early Roxy Music, Mott the Hoople, Sparks, 10cc & Eno, & meanders at times into the improvisation realms charted by Amon Duul 2, Man, & early Soft Machine. They have reached well-deserved cult status by releasing amazing psych/pop albums on labels such as Bar None, Mind Expansion, & Alan McGee's Poptones. Alive CD $13.50 Owen (The EP) PS, US Owen is Mike Kinsella (American Football, Joan of Arc, Cap'n Jazz). Previously only available as a CDEP and import-only 12", (the ep) is the usual blend of beautiful acoustic work and wry lyrics that fans have come to expect from Owen. What separates (the ep) from previous Owen titles is the subtle yet intricate inclusion of Cale Parks (Aloha) on drumming and vibraphones along with Jen Tabor on strings and the pedal steel work of Bob Hoffnar (Nora Jones, Ryan Adams). (the ep) continues Polyvinyl's efforts to release Owen's back catalog on high quality 180-gram vinyl. Digital download codes of (the ep) are included in all vinyl. Includes bonus track. Polyvinyl-70 12 $10.25 Owen/Joan of Arc/Make Believe/The Love Of Everything The Association of Utopian Hologram Swallowers (2X7) PS, US Repress. The Association of Utopian Hologram Swallowers signifies the collaborative efforts of a group of Chicago musicians whose involvement with one another has spawned a host of influential bands, each connected to the other. Includes new songs from • Joan of arc, owen, make Believe, and the love of Everything as well as one surprise bonus track. Second pressing, on colored vinyl (purple and green) for the first time ever. • Double 7" with gatefold cover. • Includes digital download of all the songs. Polyvinyl-090 45 $7.25 Owl Service A Garland of Song PS, US THE OWL SERVICE was formed by STEVEN COLLIN in 2006 as a vehicle to explore his love of British films and television of the 1960s and '70s, the great outdoors and the sound of the English folk revival. A Garland of Song was recorded and mixed almost entirely at home, with a group of like-minded collaborators, between December 2006 and June 2007; it fuses traditional British folk ballads with elements of psychedelic rock, occasionally bordering on a doom-laden garage sound, and is interspersed with Steven's original instrumental compositions. It recalls the great acid-folk bands of the late '60s/early '70s but never once sounds contrived or overtly retro. Southern CD $14.50 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart S-T PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Slumberland LP $11.00 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart S-T PS, US Since forming in early 2007, THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART have become one of the most talked-about pop bands in years. Their distinctive style tidily distills all the great noise-pop precedents-early My Bloody Valentine, House of Love, Pale Saints, Rocketship-with incredible exuberance and energy in every song. Following the band's ace Everything With You single and whirlwind Swedish tour, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart is an instant classic, packed with brilliantly executed pop gems that blend the rush of youthful enthusiasm with crafty arrangements, well-honed tunes and buckets of guitar racket. One instantly identifiable thing about a Pains record is the essential "rightness" of their tunes. They have captured the attention of pop fans around the world and raised anticipation levels for this album to a near-fever pitch. Touted by Pitchfork as one of the top 5 to watch in 2009. Slumberland CD $12.00 Paisley, Doug S-T PS, US An album of folk songs that represent the American malaise. Sure, PAISLEY is Canadian (Toronto, to be exact) but so was Neil Young & 4/5 of The Band, & that didn't stop them from tapping into the collective psyche of the continent. Recalls an era fo songwriting that was more simple, more honest, more modest. A time before ipods & myspace, when making a good album was simply enough. Doug has toured recently w/ Bonnie "Prince" Billy under the pseudo name Dark Hand & Lamplight, a collaboration between himself & visual artist Shary Boyle. Shary creates live drawings & animates pre-drawn images on an overhead projector - all projected on a screen, on the wall, Doug, & other available surfaces. On NO QUARTER Recs (home of Endless Boogie, Laddio Bolocko, etc). CD comes in deluxe old-style tip-on gatefold sleeve. NoQuarter CD $13.00 Pan American White Bird Release PS, US VINYL VERSION. Kranky-128 LP $11.50 Pan American White Bird Release PS, US The sixth album from Labradford founder Mark Nelson's longtime solo project. PITCHFORK: "White Bird Release is Mark Nelsons sixth solo album and continues with a basic Pan American formula of slow moving evocative ambient, combining acoustic instruments, drones, glitch and dub. The biggest alteration in Nelson's latest work is a greater emphasis on the organic electroacoustic part, where instruments takes a more central stage over dub and glitch elements present in past releases." Kranky-128 CD $12.25 Panda and Child We Must Avoid These Dangers PS, US Six piece brain child of disaffected indie rockers & radicals from the East Coast, draw musical inspiration from the likes of Sonic Youth, Mogwai, Pavement, Tchaikovsky, Fugazi & Rancid. The sound is broad, ambitious, thoughtful, eclectic, playful, sometimes ramshackle & consistently mindful of the importance of melody over cool. WoodenMan CD $10.00 Parker, Evan / Jaker Flaten, Ingebrigt Brewery Tap PS, NORWAY Brewery Tap is the duo of free jazz saxophonist Evan Parker & Norwegian bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten. The recordings on this disc were recorded live at Oslo Jazz Festival the 13th of August 2007 at the Belleville venue. SmalltownSuperjazz-160 CD $15.25 Pegasuses-XL Electro Agitators PS, US Featuring members of DISBAND, WE VERSUS THE SHARK, DARK MEAT, CINEMECHANICA & BOMB THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. This compilation of the group's first 3 self-released EPs is a synth fueled punk rock experiment w/ nods to 90's hip hop & Kraftwerk. Since the initial release of the EPs, the band has toured the US w/ Girl Talk & Pattern Is Movement. Ernest Jenning CD $10.00 Phantom Band Checkmate Savage PS, UK This is where Beefheart meets Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, where Neu! meets nick Cave. The end result however is truly special, bringing to mind the beat savvy of The Beta Band, the other-worldliness of Super Furry Animals & the mood of Hallowed Ground-era Violent Femmes. ChemikalUnderground CD $14.25 Phosphorescent To Willie PS, USVINYL VERSION!!! DeadOceans-013 LP $12.25 Phosphorescent To Willie PS, US In 1975 Willie Nelson recorded the album To Lefty FromWillie, 10 songs in which Nelson pays homage to Lefty Frizell, reinterpreting his favorites from the Frizzell catalog and stamping them with his own unique voice, reshaping them into his own new classics. Now Phosphorescent has done the same for Willie Nelson by bringing us To Willie. Here, Matthew Houck has selected 11 of his favorite Willie Nelson songs and does much more than just simply cover them. He has not selected the greatest hits, but rather digs deep, offering renditions of hidden Nelson gems and lost classics. The songs collected here seem cracked from Phosphorescent's proprietary mold with Matthew Houck's unmistakable voice leading the way. They feel lived in, they feel weathered and they feel just like Phosphorescent. Phosphorescent's 2007 breakthrough album Pride sounded best at the latest of hours-it was narcotic, dreamy and fraught. Following the release of this insomniac masterpiece, Houck toured relentlessly with a solid rock band, turning the meditations of Pride into another beast entirely. Loose and booze-fueled, Phosphorescent put on electrifying performances night after night in which Houck stepped out as confident frontman and band leader. Without question, those hard-living months on the road greatly impacted the To Willie sessions. Houck's swagger and confidence shines through like never before-on songs like "Reasons to Quit" and "I Gotta Get Drunk" Phosphorescent rumbles with a soulful groove that was a fixture of the live show, but was never touched upon in previous recordings. Recalling the finest moments of the late-'70s work of Waylon Jennings and Nelson himself, Phosphorescent has delivered a glorious hangover of an album. It is so much more than a collection of Willie Nelson cover songs-it is a full-blown new classic. But this is not a musical reinvention of the band - Phosphorescent returns with all acknowledged charms in tow; the gentle duet of "It's Not Supposed to be ThatWay," the hauntingly beautiful choir of "Can I Sleep In Your Arms," and the spacious, synth-heavy "Permanently Lonely" all work to pull this album together as a cohesive statement. As the liner notes of Nelson's To Lefty FromWillie simply state: "This album is an unabashed musical love letter. From one towering talent to another."We couldn't have said it better ourselves. DeadOceans-013 CD $11.50 Plastic Constellations Crusades PS, US Whereas TPC bounced between Pavement-inspired jangle & big rock anthems in the past, Crusades wastes no time establishing the latter over the former. Firmly a rock record; firmly unrelenting. Listen to the lyrics & you'll find the band fighting, uniting, & conquering on each track. Couple that w/ hyper-kinetic guitar work & a thunderous rhythm section, and you'll find TPC recontextualizing heavy music in the indie rock realm, thrusting them above so many less inspired bands. ModernRadio LP $12.00 Point Juncture, WA Heart To Elk PS, US The group keep their focus towards modern classics like Yo La Tengo's "I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One" & the Jogges "Solid Guild" while creating something that sounds fresh & entirely exciting. Mt.Fuji CD $12.75 Point Juncture, WA Heart To Elk PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Mt.Fuji LP $16.75 Primus Saling the Seas of Cheese PS, US 180gm vinyl LP! Another alternative classic originally released in 1991, available on vinyl for the 1st time since its initial release. The 3rd album from LES CLAYPOOL & co., & 1st for a major label, is a twisted mix of prog rock, funk & punk, w/ a taste for Frank Zappa's humor & Captain Beefheart's guttural growl. One of few bands to have the bass as the prominent instrument, w/ Claypool alternating from funky slaps to throbbing power chords to heavy, heavy solos, the guitar providing almost dissonant texturing beneath the bass' shredding. Feat. the MTV hit "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver," this is an alternative classic that stands up next to the best work of folks like Jane's Addiction & Nirvana. Plain LP $16.75 Punk Rock Fun Time Activity Book S-T PS, US Fast-paced send up of punk rock's best bands from the past & present, this fun-filled activity book is more exciting than a night at CBGB. Help Siouxsie Sioux apply her makeup, draw Henry Rollin's tattoos, give Ian Mackaye hair, & complete word searches & drawing games. ECWPress BOOK $8.50 Quad S-T PS, UK Also known as No. 1, the material recorded by Sun Dial approximately between 1990-1997 under their alter-ego Quad has been among the most elusive prizes for fans of modern psychedelia, as it was issued many moons ago as an extremely limited transparent LP in a clear plastic sleeve. Mesmerizing, drugged-out and trippy at all times, with sitar and guitar floating in and out and up and down in the mix over some decidedly funky grooves. If there was ever music for DJs to sample, and yet also for heads to enjoy at home, this is it." Comes with elaborate liner notes by Gary Ramon (the whole history of Modern Art & Sun Dial, etc.). AcmeGramophone/LionProductions CD $10.25 Rabid Rabbit S-T PS, US Vinyl with free download code! What began as a two piece instrument of terror between Mike Tsoulos & Andrea Jablonski quickly grew & the buzz saw guitar antics of Gregg Prickett were enlisted. Arman Mabry joined the ranks shortly after on second bass & Rabid Rabbit was spawned. Giving nods to such influences as Sea of Tombs, Earth, Jucifer & Harvey Milk, the band weaves arrangements of doom, rock, jazz & always the heavy low end groan of dual bass. Interloper LP $12.50 Ratatat Mirando PS, US Brand new single from last summer's still hot "LP3" LP/CD that features a Yacht remix as well as a remix by Animal Collective. XL 12 $6.25 Record Collector #359 (February 2009) PS, UK ZINE $10.25 Red Light Driver And Now We Can Be Ourselves PS, US This atmospheric blend of pop jumps between '70s post-punk (Joy DIvision, Wire), '80s alternative (The Church, Echo & the Bunnymen), & '90s Britpop (Stone Roses, Ride). MFT CD $13.75 Rodriguez-Lopez, Omar Old Money PS, US New album from that Mars Volta guy, who's getting almost Pollard-esque in his release schedule, pretty prolific! StonesThrow CD $15.25 Romance of Young Tigers Marie PS, US The group guide us through an all-consuming, inherently powerful two-part symphony of glacial-paced chord shifts, electromagnetic static, rumbling surface reverberations & resonating warmth. At times, the sound generated resembles that of an angelic choir, as the apparitional, slow-motion melodic drones thaw, melting layer upon layer of sound into pindrop silence & back again into monolithic walls of noise. Fans of Machinebabriek take note. MagicBullet CD $14.50 Romweber, Dex Duo Ruins of Berlin PS, US This promises to be the greatest of Dex's post-FLAT DUO JETS releases thus far, and an exemplary addition to his long and storied career. Here, Dex is joined by his sister Sarah (formerly of LET'S ACTIVE and SNATCHES OF PINK) in a true return-to-form from the man who paved the way for mega-popular two-piece garage engines like Black Keys and the White Stripes. Also included here are duets with such luminaries as CAT POWER, NEKO CASE, and EXENE CERVENKA. Bloodshot CD $12.75 Rose, Ethan Oaks PS, US Drawing from his interests in musique concrete, chance operations, & American minimalism, he creates shifting sound experiments that merge the old w/ the new. Much of his recent work has centered on instruments from eras long past, including music boxes, player pianos, carillons, & theater organs. However, he is interested in pulling new sounds & ideas out of these antiquated devices rather than treating them w/ a sense of preservation. Holocene CD $15.75 Roses Kings Castles S-T PS, US Adam Ficek's (BABYSHAMBLES) new album of quixotic, chiming, & blissfully astute acoustic pop songs. Lost somewhere between Belle & Sebastian's pastoral warmth & the hallucinatory six-string invocations of Syd Barrett, a typical track is buoyed by the finest elements of classic British songwriting - by turns wry, bizarre and beautiful. SycamoreClub CD $16.25 Sand Pebbles A Thousand Wild Flowers PS, US A "best of" compilation from the Australian psych-rock outfit. Influences range from Stones to Spacemen 3 to Stooges to Alice Coltrane, sometimes they sound like Sonic Youth, sometimes like the Byrds DoubleFeature CD $13.50 School of Seven Bells Alpinsims PS, US 180 gram gatefold vinyl. Includes CD version inside. LIMITED TO 1000! GhostlyInternational LP $12.75 School Of Seven Bells Alpinisms PS, US 180 gram gatefold vinyl. Includes CD version inside. LIMITED TO 1000! GhostlyInternational-081 LP $14.00 Sholi S-T PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Quarterstick LP $13.25 Sholi S-T PS, US The very newest addition to the Quarterstick/ TG family is also a three piece from San Francisco (like Mi Ami, below). Payam Bavafa (vox, gt) and Jonathan Bafus (drums) started playing music together while studying at UC Davis, by 2006 they had solidified their line-up with the addition of bass player Eric Ruud. They recorded a demo and sent it to Greg Saunier of Deerhoof, who in turn produced this, their first full length album. Equally assured and introspective, Sholi present a stunning debut. Their record release show will be inaugurated at SF's Noise Pop Festival on Feb.28th at Bottom of the Hill. Quarterstick CD $12.00 Sickboy Time To Play vol. 1 PS, GERMANY People asked for it, it was announced, and here it is: the first of the two vinyl 12" presenting Sickboy's "Time To Play" album on wax, featuring this musician's most infectious, catchiest and most efficient material. While the noise might be gone for good, Sickboy's new clothes are of the colorful party kind. Mixing old school rave, new school electro, breaks and madness, Sickboy hits the nail on its head and invites everybody to play, rave and party non-stop. Refreshing! Featuring big format artwork by Droon and Emily Hasselhoof. AdNoiseam-107 12 $11.25 Silk Flowers S-T PS, US This is a limited edition of 500 7" from NYC's artiest new band and PPM's newest roster addition, Silk Flowers. Ex-members of Soiled Mattress and the Springs, Corpse Kisser, and Emergency bring some 4 track magic that sounds kinda like a chopped and screwed Kraftwerk, with some definite nods to their NYC contemporaries on the Sacred Bones roster (Nice Face, Factums, Blank Dogs, etc..). Expect a full length on PPM this year and hopefully some tour news in the near future. PPM 45 $4.50 Skull Defekts Waving PS, US Limited edition of 300. Screen printed heavy duty jackets. The Skull Defekts is a band from Sweden in the very North of Europe. Their intense, monotonous, rhythmic and sexual out rock has since their start in early 2005 been spreading energies of various kinds to welcoming audiences and listeners. The DFX have also been exploring worlds of noise, the drone and psychedelic electronics on waves on releases for labels like Riot Season, iDEAL, Release The Bats and Conspiracy Records. Their upcoming album for Important Records - "The Temple" (February 2009) can be seen as the follow up to last years "Blood Spirits & Drums Are Singing" (Conspiracy/Nail) but it's deeper, harder, more sex, more occult. A 7" from the album entitled "Waving" with an exclusive B-side is released in 300 copies for their October 2008 tour, also on Important. The tour is their first one in North America but they have played all over Europe and the Skulls have only hit Chicago before... It's time for others to get DFXed. DFX is sex, rhythm and the power of sound. Important-235 45 $11.50 Sleeper Behind Every Mask PS, US Sleeper's latest instrumental release, Behind Every Mask, is a tour de force of digital intrigue, all thick percussion bombs and mysterious electronic pranks showcasing creativity on full tilt. Bypassing most of the stock studio tools of his trade, he has constructed the album using personally modified electronics, sound generators, and effects units, and even turned a dot matrix printer into a drum machine. A light snare might appear amidst juggernauts of hissing, lo-fi samples while patches of sonic luminance amidst the grainy din to keep you guessing. More meditative than maudlin, Behind Every Mask is simply further proof that Sleeper can weld mood and music with the best of Sleeper is an auteur of claustrophobic, sample-based hip-hop production. His work, both as an accomplished musician, and as a respected tattoo and visual artist balances a breadth of spirit with worldly, emotional depth. Finding influence and community in the worlds of classic hip-hop and artistic, experimental rock, Sleeper fills his tracks with sound, but when working with an MC, has a gift for leaving the MC just enough room to create or with the luxury of saying more by saying less. His music is lo-fi with purpose: grainy sounds are used to lend atmosphere to larger, modern electronic sound collages, grimy drums sound out familiar hip-hop patterns beneath thick layers of sound. Sleeper is a craftsman in the truest sense of the word. Mush-257 CD $9.00 Sleepover Disaster Hover PS, US "Layered soundscapes of guitars married to some pounding post-shoegazer rock" - The Big Takeover DevilintheWoods CD $11.75 Slim Twig Derelict Dialect PS, US A chameleonic artist in the tradition of Bowie or Beck, Slim is a performer based out of Toronto. Inspired by pillars of music and film avant garde like Scott Walker, Nick Cave, Godard and Lynch, Twig's sound has morphed several times from hish early apocalyptic folk incarnation to a fuller art-pop sound to the grittier self-coined genre of "concrete rockabilly." Now collected in 2 EPs, Derelict Dialect and Vernacular Violence.. PaperBag CD5 $7.50 Slim Twig Vernacular Violence PS, US A chameleonic artist in the tradition of Bowie or Beck, Slim is a performer based out of Toronto. Inspired by pillars of music and film avant garde like Scott Walker, Nick Cave, Godard and Lynch, Twig's sound has morphed several times from hish early apocalyptic folk incarnation to a fuller art-pop sound to the grittier self-coined genre of "concrete rockabilly." Now collected in 2 EPs, Derelict Dialect and Vernacular Violence. PaperBag CD5 $7.50 Slowblow S-T [re-issue] PS, ICELAND 2004 release, repressed. The Icelandic duet, Slowblow (Orri Jónsson and Dagur Kári Petursson), has been active for over a decade. They have made their mark on the Icelandic underground scene with a certain kind of friendly dust-music. They exhibit a uniquely Icelandic aesthetic of home-made, lo-fi analog tinkerings, which both musically and lyrically blend together the everyday and the fantastic. On the album, Slowblow match the gentle hum of ancient amplifiers and the tinkling hammers of an old upright piano with the soft squeaking of pump organ pedals or the sound of mechanical sewing machines; for them these are not unwanted artifacts, but the very essence of their sound. Mobile CD $15.00 Smith, Elder Utah I Got Two Wings (BOOK/CD) PS, US Incidents and Anecdotes of The Two-Winged Preacher & Electric Guitar Evangelist Elder Utah Smith. Despite waxing 3 of the hottest electric guitar records of the pre Rock & Roll years, almost nothing has been known about the life of sanctified electric guitar preacher Elder Utah Smith. Until now. Years of research have produced a remarkable biographical study finally shining a light onto the preaching, healing & guitar playing ministry of this path breaking performer, whose revivals & appearances were as well known & anticipated in his time as any other sacred or secular musician or performer. 128pg book features rare & unpublished photographs & an 18-track CD that includes 5 previously unknown songs" CaseQuarter BOOK/CD $18.00 Sok, G.W. (The Ex) Into The Gravy PS, US For this booklet (#45) we reprinted essays by G.W. Sok, a member and vocalist of the Dutch music group The Ex. This 1989 essay was originally published in the book "Threat by Example" which is out of print and will not be reprinted. The essay includes a funny and caustic take on the corporate music industry as well as wonderful reflections on The Ex's group practice and their efforts to build and work in an ethical and independent international network. G.W. Sok has written a new introduction to the text and designed all new layout for the booklet. The Ex continue to inspire us all the time with new and exciting collaborations. A fascinating group that is not to be missed live and has an endless and rich back catalog of great recordings. Visit www.theex.nl to learn more and hear some of their music. ZINE $3.00 Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin/Puzzle Split PS, US Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin is a critically acclaimed, blog-adored band that have shared the stage with Mute Math, of Montreal, Sound Team, Catfish Haven, Chin Up Chin Up, and more. They've headlined in Europe and even made their way to their namesake's homeland of Russia. Spin declared them the band that "could succeed The Shins," and enthusiastic press rolled in. After releasing their sophomore album, Pershing, earlier this year, the band has raised the bar even higher and gained the attention of many listeners, drawn to their massive hooks and quirky melodies. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin entered the studio yet again to record these two exclusive 7" songs, and asked their friends from the band Puzzle to do the same. Puzzle is a four-piece band from Liverpool, England that ShoutandTwist.com calls "feel-good indie pop but in a really amazing magical way." Every 7" includes a free digital download code. Polyvinyl-159 45 $4.00 Sound Of Arrows, The M.A.G.I.C. PS, SWEDEN The Sound of Arrows has gathered a young chanting school class, a girl singer from Tokyo and a handful of well-hidden un-cleared samples, which they've mixed with bouncy analogue synthesizers, soulful guitars and orchestral instruments over a hundred recording channels. The result is a marvelous mix of old TV shows for children, old school hip-hop, new disco and timeless pop hits! The Sound of Arrows debut EP "Danger!" gave them a minor indie hit on both the domestic and the international scene. The song was used in one of the world's most popular TV series, Gossip Girl, reached #1 on the Elbo.ws chart and got them touring halfway across the world. But ToA is not the kind who becomes stressed by success. The new single "M.A.G.I.C." clearly proves they've already improved and developed further since the debut and that the future definitely belongs to The Sound of Arrows. The title track comes in five different versions and they throw in a cozy little track called "Smalltown lullaby" in which a storyteller is backed up with angelic vocals, falling stars and jingle bells. The remixes encompasses several decades. They enter the 70s with the circus sounding version from Ice Cream Shout, the 80s with the up and coming NYC-retro-duo Let's Get Invisible, the 90s is delivered with breakbeats and trip hop sounds of the Uffie och Pharell-remixer Curtis Vodka. And finally, the 00_s and the future are presented by the CSS of Spain, Cof Cof. The Sound of Arrows is right now working on their debut album that will be out in the spring of 2009. Labrador-119 CD5 $9.50 Soundtrack of Our Lives, The Communion [domestic vinyl version] (ON SALE) PS, US VINYL VERSION! Translucent wax in a swank double-gatefold jacket, comes with download codes, made in USA. Domestic DCD will be released March 3rd. YepRoc/Akashic DLP $21.00 Spiritual Singers Ntsamina PS, US Teenage Congolese gospel group from the early '80's. Male & female vocals. From slow dirges to fast African rockers. A truly unique record. Beautiful tip-on sleeve might be one of Mississippi's finest yet. Mississippi LP $12.75 Stars Of The Lid Music for Nitrous Oxide PS, US Repress/reissue. DEBUT OF THE CLASSIC FROM THE POST-ROCK DRONE MASTERS. NEW VERSION RE-MASTERED WITH NEW COVER ART. This was sedimental's first cd release back in 1994. Robert Ovetz (Ultrasound) mentioned this guy Adam who was doing amazing 4-track stuff at home. I think the name of the tape he gave me was called "Ombudsman". The success of this release was a nice surprise and certainly having Joel at Cargo champion it, who was just getting Kranky going as well, certainly put us both out there. Ultimately, SOTL ended up at Kranky and are still making amazing recordings for them. Many say this is still their favorite Lid release, although I am partial to the "Ballested Orchestra" too. It certainly remains a powerful touchstone for and precursor to, the post-whatever independent music scene and still sounds incredibly solid and undated today. Though Stars founder Adam Wiltzie has admittedly distanced himself from the release in terms of artistic terms he felt it was time to re-visit and re-fresh the work with a new mastering job, as well as having new artwork designed by longtime visual collaborator Craig McCaffrey. Sedimental has always kept the document in print in its original form with a remarkably steady stream of sales, but we welcomed the opportunity to update the release and make it more widely available to a new generation, so to speak. Below are excerpts from the original press release which still seem quite relevant and accurate: Sedimental announces the first CD from Austin drone stars Stars of the Lid, an amazing 4-track recording that is created in the spirit of Eno, Main, and Spacemen 3. Produced without keyboards, this lo-fi ambient journey employs predominately guitar, avoiding typical rock elements while still possessing the "home" recorded feel of so much independent music. Being based in Austin, a town loaded with so many heavy guitar bands, one wonders how they came to make such hypnotic and engaging sounds. Especially when Stars mastermind Adam Wiltzie is involved with so many "rock" bands himself, having recorded Ed Hall's Motherscratcher and its forthcoming release, the Flaming Lips Peel Sessions, as well as running sound for Bad Livers, and Doo Rag tours. Citing Cage, Spacemen 3, Robert from Main and Loop, nitrous oxide, and Bedhead as artistic inspirations, he also comments the group is a reaction against the "muscle" rock and C&W that dominates the Austin music scene and a way to withdraw from it. Despite their current unknown status, we at Sedimental were so impressed by the music of Stars of the Lid , we felt it worthy of our first CD release. After giving this a few listens (especially the brilliant trio of tracks 7,8, and 9), we are sure you will think they belong on the same plateau as EAR, Labradford, Main, and Organum. Sedimental-023 CD $12.25 STNNNG Fake Fake PS, US Dual-shock guitars of ADAM BURT & NATE NELSON rounded by the ranting & writhing of CHRIS BESINGER are what STNNNG fans have come to know & love. 10 tracks w/ breakneck force. RIYL: The Fall, Shellac, US Maple, early SST. "The group doesn't perform a 2-guitar, 100-proof brand of angular punk as much as it unleashes it" - Punk Planet ModernRadio CD $10.25 STNNNG Fake Fake PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! ModernRadio LP $13.50 Strand Of Oaks Leave Ruin PS, US Debut full length takes cues from luminaries such as Nebraska era Bruce Springsteen and a burgeoning Neil Young. LaSocieteExpedion CD $12.00 Strings Of Consciousness & Angel S/T PS, US Featuring members of Pan Sonic & Mum! This is collaboration between Angel (containing members of Mum and Pan Sonic) and Strings Of Consciousness. This dense and droney construction echoes platinum reflections with warm fluidity and delicate detail. The more attention you'll bestow on that record, the more unsuspected new paths you'll be invited to wander about. This is an intricate and imaginative soundtrack with several layers of sound, gathering both organic and sonic elements to assemble a post-industrial sound structure. The latter will give life to a noisy magma where unexpected clicks stumble over interferences, where digital accidents happen and where drones, acoustic resonance fill the space in time. A multitude of digital notes will slowly stretch to reach a dark-grey chaos, a pure and clean big bang echoing and calling lost sound memories. ANGEL: Ilpo Väisänen (Finland), worked with Ultra 3, Sinø and is half of world famous duo Pan Sonic Dirk Dresselhaus (Germany) releases under the pseudonym SchneiderTM who are signed to City Slang and Mute America. Hildur Gudnadottir plays cello for Mum, Johannes Johannsson, Stillupsteypa, BJ Nilsen, and has a prominent feature on the recent Pan Sonic CD. ... As Angel they have released albums on BiP_Hop and Oral. And now signed to Mego. Important-227 CD $13.00 Subtle Turnhips F the People F* the Power, F* the People to the Power b/w Dinner Time" & "Summer Wine PS, US HoZacRecords 45 $5.25 SubtractiveLAD Where the Land Meets The Sky PS, US Bonus CD is limited to 1000. Producing five albums of high quality in only five years is a monumental task. Yet, this is precisely what Stephen Hummel, who records as SubtractiveLAD, has done and with seeming ease. With "Where The Land Meets The Sky", Hummel's fifth full-length for n5MD, the SubtractiveLAD sound has been perfected to such effect that it allows Hummel to concentrate on conveying his deepest feelings rather than the processes that go into music making. The album serves as an extension of Hummel's previous album "Apparatus" (2008) and effortlessly flows between such genres as shoegaze, armchair electronica, post-rock, and classic ambient. Stylistically it seems far away from his debut "Giving Up The Ghost" and in theory it is. Yet, Hummel has led us on a journey that for the patient has yielded great rewards. The first 1000 copies of "Where The Land Meets The Sky" come with a bonus disc of over 45 minutes of SubtractiveLAD style classically influenced ambient. n5MD-165 DCD $14.00 Suburban Kids With Biblical Names #4 PS, SWEDEN Oh, how we've been waiting for this moment! A three years long hiatus is finally over and Suburban Kids with Biblical Names return to exceed every expectation. #4 is four-track-smash-hit-EP that introduces a wide range of new delicate musical flavors. The Kids mix British soul, tropical rhythms and Turkish disco with a bittersweet taste of lonely afternoons listening to Swedish radio. Nothing less than brilliant! Suburban Kids with Biblical Names' debut #3 was released in 2005 and received amazing reviews in Sweden and was even nominated for a Swedish Grammy. The album was later released on Minty Fresh in North America (2006) and Yesboyicream in the UK (2007) that further spread the word about their playful, catchy and highly unique pop sound. Listening to the band's new songs three distinct changes in sound instantly comes to mind; they've multiplied the number of instruments in their line-up, they've introduced soul and they sing in Swedish well, (at least on one of their songs!). Suburban Kids with Biblical Names in 2009 produce their music with chaotic playfulness. The songs seem to be living a life of their own, going through a large number of transformations before being finished. One and the same song usually passes around five different versions (a song might start as a slow country and western ballad and end up as energetic Afro pop) before the band is happy and the song is finished. It's definitely not a time efficient way of working. But, it does seem to make wonders for the final result. Labrador-107 CD5 $9.50 Super Vacations S-T PS, US Limited to 500, with a somewhat tenuous Wavves connection! Based out of Norfolk, VA, The Super Vacations provide a great body high with their circa The Who meets Dick Dale meets pure timeless pop tunes with a lo-fi recording. Their sound is akin to seminal "nuggets" less aggro Black Lips, and a whole lot of 13th Floor Elevators. "Everybody loves vacations. especially super ones. And if everyone loved gritty lo-fi pop music, that would be cool too." - BmoreMusic Blog Shadowplay LP $11.00 Svarte Greiner Kappe PS, US LP version. Erik Skodvin's (DEAF CENTER) second full-length. His debut "Knive" was a milestone in doom music - kick-starting a sub-genre as he used cello, violin & rattling miscellanies to conjure up blood-curdling soundscapes. This continues his blackened underworld cruise, furthering his mysterious, cinematic sound. Four fated psalms in honor of the dark Northern lords. Type LP $19.75 Temporary Conversations Temporary Conversations: The Dicks PS, US This booklet, #82, is the third in our interview series Temporary Conversations. Some excerpts from the introduction: "The Dicks were confrontational right out of the gate. A seminal band, and not just because singer Gary Floyd sometimes threw condoms filled with fake cum into the crowd. By all accounts, the Dicks challenged their audiences and revealed new possibilities. They made their concerts a hell of an experience and created memorable political music with a sound that was completely their own. The Dicks formed in Austin in 1980. They relocated to San Francisco and changed personnel halfway through the duration of the group, before breaking up in 1986." ... "For this booklet we wanted to include not just members of the Dicks' Austin line up, but also hear from others who witnessed their Texas years. Tim Kerr of the Big Boys, a band that shared many shows and the aforementioned live split LP with the Dicks, offers a short but sweet recollection. Austin Chronicle writer Margaret Moser agreed to a full interview where she describes the musical landscape of Austin leading up the Dicks' formation, as well as the personal impact their music had for her. Photographer Bill Daniel sent us some photos from the Dicks' Texas years and Dave Ensminger and Ryan Richardson scanned examples from their flyer collections. The Dicks' singer Gary Floyd took some questions via e-mail and Dicks bassist Buxf Parrot was interviewed on the phone." ZINE $3.00 Temporary Conversations Temporary Conversations: Tim Kerr PS, US This booklet, #81, is the second in our interview series Temporary Conversations. Some excerpts from the introduction: "Tim Kerr is a musician, studio engineer and visual artist based in Austin, Texas. He played guitar in the Big Boys, an Austin band that was heavily responsible for putting Texas on the map in the punk and hardcore underground. The Big Boys lasted from 1979-1984. Kerr went on to play in numerous other bands, including Poison 13, Bad Mutha Goose and the Brothers Grimm, MonkeyWrench, Jack O' Fire, Lord High Fixers, King Sound Quartet, the Now Time Delegation, and most recently, Total Sound Group Direct Action Committee. He has also recorded and produced (or, as he modestly says, "... [B]een a guidance counselor,") for dozens of bands on nearly 150 releases. In addition to all of that, Kerr has increasingly immersed himself in painting and drawing. Since 2000, he has widely exhibited his works, which commonly pay tribute to exactly the kind of musical, social and political revolutionary ass-kickers that one would expect a trailblazer like Kerr to be inspired by. If Tim Kerr had only played in any one of his bands, or recorded a few of the great records he's helped bring into existence, he would have paid his musical dues and then some. Thankfully, he remains as creatively hyperactive as ever, while paying the bills by working for the University of Texas (UT), along with his wife Beth, where he digitizes audio and video collections for the archives of their libraries." This is easily one of the most extensive interviews with Tim Kerr that we have ever seen. He has an incredibly positive and inspiring approach to life, creativity, and working with others that we are excited to be able to share. In addition to the interview, this includes photos by Bill Daniel, Tim's wife Beth Kerr, and others. It also features multiple illustrations of Tim's art, as well as punk fliers that he designed in the early 1980s. Now what are you doing to participate? ZINE $3.00 These Are Powers All Aboard Future PS, US Don't fear the future. These are Powers have come to conjure the new musical golden age you've been waiting for-one of insistence, intensity, and light. And yes, you can dance to it. These Are Powers are known for the dissonance of their early recordings, a cacophony of rhythms and industrial/electronic experiments that recalled Throbbing Gristle one moment, DNA the next. Once rule-breakers, the band is now rewriting those rules with a newfound focus: behold All Aboard Future. Exotic, abstract, handcrafted sounds-made, found and electronically born-underscore each of these nine songs. Some wail from Pat Noecker's prepared bass; others stem from the idiosyncratic vocal and guitar style of Anna Barie. The two trade off vocal duties, and in the process dissonant sounds become melodies held together and torn apart in fits by Bill Salas' electro-acoustic beats. At first listen, much of Salas' rhythmic contribution sounds as if it could be pre-programmed, but these abstract rhythms are all performed live, interspersing nods to Timbaland with an appreciation for a car crash's metal-on-metal grind. Ferocious and unhinged, when These Are Powers perform live, it is a kind of spiritual journey, a futuristic fire dance hailing from Chicago and Brooklyn. The bass smolders, topping its low-end sub-rumble with a high-end flutter; abstract beats emanate from the electro-acoustic stand-up drum kit. And piercing through is Anna Barie's guitar while she and Noecker call and respond. Barie blasts through a litany of expressive guitar sounds and full-throated yelps and howls with a confrontational, explosive energy that often finds her entangled with audience members, leaping through the air, or sprawled on the floor in front of the stage. With All Aboard Future, These Are Powers have embraced collaborators, demonstrating their participating in not only a music community, but a community of ideas. The band invited 13 visual artists from Chicago, New York and Beijing to interpret All Aboard Future, either drawing from the musical ideas of the album or solely the album title. The artwork adorns the pages of All Aboard Future's accompanying booklet. Photography, painting, collage, text and more-the record becomes the collective expression of artists creating in many media. All Aboard Future was written and recorded in Chicago during the summer of 2008, and follows the band's 2007 debut LP, Terrific Seasons, and 2008's six song Taro Tarot. All Aboard Future is not just a new album from These Are Powers. It's a seismic shift. A new idea. And the sentiment is real. All Aboard Future! DeadOceans-023 CD $11.50 These Are Powers All Aboard Future PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! DeadOceans-023 LP $14.25 Thieves Like Us Play Music PS, US Vinyl. Thieves Like Us is a musical vehicle -- an elegant starship, pointed straight to the heart of the listener. Although they encompass a variety of influences, they ultimately consider themselves to be a pop band. Yes, the production style is both disco & hip-hop, but the sheer strength of the melodies & emotional depth of the songs makes them classics (think LCD Soundsystem, New Order, Daft Punk, Digitalism). But no matter how you interpret Thieves Like Us if you have a pulse, you'll know their songs by heart already Shelflife LP $12.25 Thirteenth Assembly, The (un)sentimental PS, US Though each member of the 13th Assembly is acclaimed in their own right (including Taylor Ho Bynum who has worked extensively with Anthony Braxton) this group is very much a singular musical experience. A planned NPR piece should help raise exposure for this sublime recording. The Thirteenth Assembly began as a touring collective made up of four musicians and four musically distinct small ensembles: Tomas and Taylor's duo; Mary and Jessica's duo; Taylor's trio with Mary and Tomas; and the collaborative quartet featured on this recording. The group is a microcosm of an exciting community of young New York musicians that is beginning to receive international attention, a new generation of artists comfortable referencing AACM and Morton Feldman, Otis Redding and the Melvins, yet dedicated to finding their own individual and collective voices. While each musician in the Thirteenth Assembly brings a highly varied and diverse set of influences and aesthetics to the table, the shared experiences and long friendships help create a powerfully unified ensemble sound. From the soul-inflected lyricism of Pavone's Hate Fields to the driving jazz energy of Fujiwara's Chantal to the distorted power chords of Halvorson's Pinched, (un)sentimental traverses many stylistic paths, but the album as a whole captures a snapshot of contemporary music at its most exciting. The Thirteenth Assembly began as a touring collective made up of four musicians and four musically distinct small ensembles: Tomas and Taylor's duo; Mary and Jessica's duo; Taylor's trio with Mary and Tomas; and a newly formed collaborative quartet. We see this project as a chance for us to pool our resources, to work together and support each other through all the creative and business complexities of music making. In live performances, each group performs a short set, but this CD focuses on the quartet music. Important-231 CD $13.00 Throw Me The Statue Purpleface PS, US Purpleface is the new EP from Seattle band Throw Me The Statue. The four-piece, led by founder/frontman Scott Reitherman, has spent the majority of 2008 touring the US and Europe supporting its critically acclaimed debut, Moonbeams. While on the road, TMTS has explored the depths of its sound, recreating its playful mystique, and emerging as a proficient and an even more engaging live act. Purpleface is the direct result of this time, albeit showing a bit of a softer side than its predecessor. Purpleface features three brand new songs-"Ship," "Honey Bee," and "That's How YouWin"- and a reworking of the Moonbeams cut, "Written In Heart Signs, Faintly." The EP's standout track, "Ship," is an understated yet inventive gem that offers the listener yet another glimpse of Reitherman's prowess and range as a songwriter. SecretlyCanadian-198 CD5 $5.50 Tight Phantomz/Tornavalanche Split PS, US TIGHT PHANTOMZ are almost solely influenced by straight ahead rock, w/ nods to the best elements of AC/DC, Motorhead, & DLR-era Van Halen. TORNAVALANCHE grew out of the dissolution of TEN GRAND & FORSTELLA FORD, and this is their debut release. Dual drum attacks & jarring startstops exhibit their heavier, no-holds-barred rock empasis. ModernRadio 45 $5.25 Tombs Winter Hours PS, US Also on LP. The austere & appropriately-titled album is a somber, sobering affair that brings together hypnotic psychedelic harmonies, lush & introspective sonic textures, & a relentless intensity found in the most blackened metal to stunning effect. Whether through driving melodies, explosive noise, or the most fragile of interludes, this hits hard & resonates deeply w/in the listener. RIYL: Boris, Jesu, Mogwai, Rosetta Relapse LP $20.50 Two Tongues S-T PS, US New emo/pop/punk effort by members of SAY ANYTHING and SAVES THE DAY. Vagrant CD $15.00 Uncut #141 (March 2009) [Magazine + CD] PS, UK ZINE $10.25 Vampire Hands Me & You Cherry Red PS, US Hot Twin Cities band seamlessly blends psych, experimental, noise, garage, dub, glam, and pop leanings into something more satisying than simply the sum of those parts. RIYL: T. Rex, Panda Bear, Stooges. "Their guitar sound is like sweet blue smoke unfurling over a roomful of longhairs on velour pillows" - Chicago Reader ModernRadio 12 $13.50 Vanisher Tic-Tac Tactic PS, US 2004 release in stock for the first time. Sweden's HAKAN LIDBO takes his devastating Stockholm sound to Spectral Sound under the guise of THE VANISHER dropping the thickest, deepest acid-funk track you'll hear this side of an old-school Manchester warehouse party. OSBORNE's "Simulacrum Mix" rounds out the 12-inch with a distinctly more upbeat sound, a perfect complement to Lidbo's darker tones. SpectralSound 12 $13.00 Various Money Will Ruin Everything: 2nd Edition (DCD/BOOK) PS, US Rune Grammofon celebrates 5 more years of releases w/ the 2nd edition of "Money Will Ruin Everything," an incredible 2CD/book package, expanded & improved from the last edition into a 152-page hardcover book, designed by KIM HIORTHOY. Two CDs of new music from artists such as ULTRALYD, DEATHPROD, FOOD, SUSANNA & THE MAGICAL ORCHESTRA. RuneGrammofon DCD $60.00 Various Colorfield Variations PS, US Colorfield Variations is a collection of audio/visual works reinterpreting the Color Field movement by an international array of critically acclaimed sound and new media artists and assembled by curator and sound artist Richard Chartier. Color Field painting, an abstract style that emerged as a new direction in American painting in the 1950s following Abstract Expressionism, is characterized by canvases painted primarily with stripes, washes and fields of solid color. An alternate but less frequently encountered term for this style is chromatic abstraction. As the first critically acclaimed art movement to originate in the United States's capital, the Washington Color School was key to the larger Color Field movement. As a reaction to the emotional energy and gestured surfaces of Abstract Expressionists, the Color Field artists broke away from the individual mark in favor of pure color itself becoming the main content of the work. By breaking painting down to its formal and fundamental elements, the Color Field artists created pure, simplified, large format, color-dominated fields on often monumental scale utilizing the full psychological power of color. Artists such as Clyfford Still, Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Helen Frankenthaler, Sam Gilliam, Larry Poons, Gene Davis, Jules Olitski, and others eliminated recognizable imagery from their canvas and presented abstraction as an end in itself with each work being a cohesive image. The Color Field movement can be seen as a precursor to the themes and aesthetics of the subsequent Minimalist movement. This program in its original form with special live audio/visual performances by Ernest Edmonds + Mark Fell and Sawako at the Corcoran Gallery of Art was commissioned by Washington Project for the Arts as part of the citywide ColorField.Remix events which took place in April-June 2007 in Washington, DC, celebrating The Washington Color School. Since its creation, Colorfield Variations continues to be screened internationally. TRACKS: STEVE RODEN dark over light earth * 13:00 ALAN CALLANDER CF01 * 04:52 FRANK BRETSCHNEIDER looping i-vi (excerpt) 12:00 STEPHAN MATHIEU Orange was the color of her dress * 10:00 SUE COSTABILE + BEEQUEEN AMP_SWELL 03:49 TEZ CF #1~2n * 05:10 TINA FRANK + GENERAL MAGIC Chronomops 02:00 BAS VAN KOOLWIJK FDBCK/AV - Silver 03:29 CHRIS CARTER + COSEY FANNI TUTTI Chronomanic Redux * 10:00 RYOICHI KUROKAWA Scorch 03:04 SAWAKO Flirting 07121602 * 03:15 EVELINA DOMNITCH + DMITRY GELFAND Ten Thousand Peacock Feathers in Foaming Acid 08:00 ERNEST EDMONDS + MARK FELL Broadway One (excerpt) 02:00 created for Colorfield Variations. Line-038 DVD $20.25 Various Just Like Heaven: A Tribute to The Cure PS, US "Just Like Heaven - A Tribute To The Cure" features 16 new cover versions of Cure songs by The Wedding Present, The Brunettes, Devics, Dean & Britta (Luna), The Submarines, The Rosebuds, Grand Duchy (Violet Clark & Black Francis), Joy Zipper, Elk City , and many more. Produced by Joe Spadaro and Gwen Hysler (American Laundromat Records), mastering by Kim Rosen at Alan Douches' West West Side Music (Galaxie 500, Ben Folds Five, Luna, The Wrens), and original album art & design by Rhode Island Illustrator Melinda Rainsberger . Early press is fantastic for this one. Brought to you by the same label who produced the critically acclaimed Neil Young benefit CD "Cinnamon Girl - Women Artists Cover Neil Young For Charity", and the popular 80's tribute "High School Reunion - a tribute to those great 80's films!" All Music Guide called it "one of the finest tribute records ever produced" and went on to say "let this serve as a blueprint for all future tribute sets". Highly recommended for Cure fans or any of the bands covering the Cure on this excellent tribute compilation. Tracklisting: 01. "Just Like Heaven" performed by JOY ZIPPER 02. "The Lovecats" performed by TANYA DONELLY & DYLAN IN THE MOVIES 03. "Lovesong" performed by THE BRUNETTES 04. "In Between Days" performed by KITTY KARLYLE 05. "Friday I'm In Love" performed by DEAN & BRITTA 06. "Jumping Someone Else's Train" performed by LUFF 07. "Boys Don't Cry" performed by THE SUBMARINES 08. "Close To Me" performed by ELK CITY 09. "The Walk" performed by THE ROSEBUDS 10. "Pictures Of You" performed by ELIZABETH HARPER & THE MATINEE 11. "Let's Go To Bed" performed by CASSETTES WON'T LISTEN 12. "Catch" performed by DEVICS 13. "A Night Like This" performed by JULIE PEEL 14. "10:15 Saturday Night" performed by THE POEMS 15. "A Strange Day" performed by GRAND DUCHY (Violet Clark & Black Francis) 16. "High" performed by THE WEDDING PRESENT AmericanLaundromat-018 CD $13.00 Various Factory Records: Communications 1978-92 PS, UK 4-CD boxset! Rhino Records UK is pleased to announce the release of Factory Records: Communications 1978-92. A Factory Box Set celebrates the label from the first release "A Factory Sample" through an extremely diverse roster of acts from the cutting edge post punk of A Certain Ratio, Cabaret Voltaire, The Railway Children, OMD, James and Joy Division to obscurities such as Section 25, Biting Tongues, Crispy Ambulance, Miaow and Swamp Children via early dance culture - ESG and 52nd Street, to the full flowering of the 'Madchester scene', ending fittingly with the last Factory release, "Sunshine and Love" by Happy Mondays. Rhino CD-BOX $61.00 Various Dark Was The Night: Red Hot Compilation PS, US On the occasion of WORLD AIDS DAY today, December 1st a press announcement was made with the complete list of participating artists and cover art for the upcoming 4AD release Dark Was The Night. Dark Was The Night will be released on February 17th, 2009. Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National produced the album, and John Carlin, the founder of the Red Hot Organization was the executive producer. A total of 31 exclusive tracks have been recorded for the compilation. It will be available as a double cd/triple viny and will benefit the Red Hot Organization - an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Red Hot was founded on the premise that even without a cure, AIDS remains a preventable disease - and music is a great vehicle to raise money and awareness for it. This is the 20th year of Red Hot, and this is the 20th release! The complete list of artists (in alphabetical order) that recorded tracks for this release is: Andrew Bird, Antony + Bryce Dessner, Arcade Fire, Beach House, Beirut, Blonde Redhead + Devastations, Bon Iver, Bon Iver & Aaron Dessner, The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez, Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti), Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues, The Decemberists, Dirty Projectors + David Byrne, Kevin Drew, Feist + Ben Gibbard, Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear + Feist, Iron & Wine, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Kronos Quartet, Stuart Murdoch, My Brightest Diamond, My Morning Jacket, The National, The New Pornographers, Conor Oberst & Gillian Welch, Riceboy Sleeps, Dave Sitek, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, Yeasayer, Yo La Tengo 4AD DCD $13.00 Various I Woke Up One Morning In May PS, US Sequel to Mississippi's stellar "Last Kind Words" comp. All country blues recorded between 1927-1R9e3c4o. rFdesat. favorites such as MEMPHIS MINNIE, LOTTIE KIMBROUGH, & ROBERT WILKINS. This slab also has a few of our favorite obscurities like LITTLE HAT JONES & LOUIE LASKY. 14 songs - ALL Mississippi LP $12.75 Various Mindrocker: Anthology of 60s U.S.-Punk Garage Psych PS, US Originally released in 2002, now reissued. The Past & Present label presents a new kind of psych-rock compilation: Mindrockers. With the vast amount of '60s garage and psych compilations that have appeared from around the world in the last few years, it's easy to understand why so many fans of the genre have felt overwhelmed by the deluge. There are, however, a select group of compilations that are widely regarded as genuine must-haves for collectors of '60s singles. Alongside Nuggets, Rubbles, Pebbles, Endless Journey, Chocolate Soup For Diabetics and the Perfumed Garden, Mindrockers stands out as a treasure trove of '60s U.S. psych and garage music. Widely applauded for its high sound quality and detailed liner notes, courtesy of Hans-Herman Pohle, Mindrockers is widely-regarded as the launching-point of many a U.S. psych collection as well as an affordable way to locate rare singles by bands which went on to record classic albums for major record companies. Originally released as a 13 volume series of LPs between 1982-1986 on Line Records and Impact. Numbered limited edition boxed set of 1000 copies. Artists include: The Brogues, Chosen Few, The Au Go-Go's, Chris Morgan & The Togas, The Knickerbockers, The Tikis, Mark & The Escorts, The Other Half, The Jefferson Handkerchief, Peanut Butter Conspiracy, The Seeds, Fire Escape, The Lyrics, Fenwyck, The Del-Vetts, The Banshees, Saturday's Children, The Knaves, Pride & Joy, Sounds Unlimited, The Shadows Of Knight, Oscar & The Majestics, The Lost Agency, The Shady Daze, The Family, Cherry Slush, The Trolls, The Factory, The Charlatans, The Shades, The McCoys, The Myddle Class, The Next Five, The Everpresent Fullness, The Balloon Farm, The Shags, the Fifth Order, The Shape Of Things, The Marauders, The Gray Things, The Kords, The Moving Sidewalks, The Great Believers, Scott McKay Quintet, A-440, Johnny Winter, The Things, The Stoics, The Pandas, The Bad Roads, Satori, Lindy Blaskey & The Lavells, The Standells, Faine Jade, The Leaves, The Music Explosion, We The People, Lord & The Flies, Mathew Moore Plus Four, The Soul Trippers, The Thyme, The Warner Brothers, Capt Groovy & His Bubblegum Army, Gas Company, The Felicity, Lyme & Cybelle, The Fantastic Zoo, The Baroques, The Uniques, John Fred & His Playboys, The Group, The Lost Souls, Jamie Lyons, Randy Fuller, Mark IV, The Bad Seeds, The Surprise Package, The Playboys Of Edinburg, The Rising Sons, Larry Williams & Johnny Watson with Kaleidoscope, The Sparrow, The Denims, The Fugitives, The Bushmen, Family Tree, The Newports, Poother, Unlimited, The Aztecs, Joey Paige, The Minitmen, Head Lyters, The Beeds, The New Yorkers, Saturday's Garbage, The Others, Stained Glass, Liverpool Five, Stone Country, Bedforde Set, The Blue Things, King Bees, The Knight Riders, The Music Machine, The Royal Guardsmen, The Whether Bureau, The Uncalled For, Teddy & The Pandas, The Energy Pack, The Fallen Angels, Primrose Circus, The Wildflower, Euphoria, The Other Side, The Harbinger Complex, The Bold, The Outcasts, Thomas A. Edison Electric Band, The Rationals, The Dantes, The Yellow Payges, The Fabulous Pack, The Pack, The Zoo, ? And The Mysterions, Senator Bobby, Fever Tree, The Statesiders, Bob & The Avarones, Nooney Rickette & The Nooney Rickett Four, Rock 'N' Roll Gypsies, New Colony Six, The Others, Jeanne Piersol, Parrish & Wilde, Country Gentlemen, Joey Covington, Hoppi & The Beau Heems, Lance Fox & The Bloodhounds, The Sixpentz, The Clock-work Orange, The Patriots, 20th Century Zoo, Shane, Truth, The Bittersweets, The Bad Boys, and The Pasternak Progress. Past&Present CD-BOX $91.50 Various For Whom The Balls Toll PS, RUSSIA File under: breakcore, mash-up. First release by the russian label Rednex Rampage, featuring new and unreleased material by Otto Von Schirach, Passenger Of Shit, Inshizzo and Marrow Explosion. Comes in full color sleeve. Tracklisting: A1. Otto Von Schirach - Another Night Another Rave A2. Inshizzo: Large Hadron Collider B1. Passenger Of shit: My Cock Wart B2. Severed Penis Orgy B3. Marrow Explosion: Oparysh RednexRampageRecords-001 12 $11.50 Various Effectuation PS, AUSTRALIA The second 12" compilation from Midium Records Mountain includes new & exclusive tracks on black vinyl, from the likes of New Zealand's KERRETTA, AVOTOR & BLACK BONES ANGEL as well as a tasty KLUTE remix of JAKOB's Oran Mor and a tranquil cut by experimental UK extraordinaire, ROTHKO. Exclusive to the compilation & limited to 300 copies worldwide! Midium LP $12.75 Various Dark Was The Night: Red Hot Compilation PS, US TRIPLE VINYL VERSION!!! DAMN! 4AD 3XLP $23.00 Various Artists Cleaned Out! (A 7" Record of Clean Material) PS, US 4 song 7" featuring Sleepyhead, Uncle Wiggly, Kickstand and Airlines covering songs of New Zealand band The Clean. Comes with a mini-flexi disc of the Giant Mums doing yet another Clean song. dbc 002 45 $2.70 Velouria Kiss it Better PS, US Like XTC and The Replacements or Grandaddy, Los Angeles trio, Velouria, write powerful pop that can't actually be described as power pop. This hard rocking, yet sweetly sing-along outfit encapsulates all that is best and worst of the Silver Lake scene they sprang from: hardship and beauty. It took them 11 years to put out the follow up to their debut--but it certainly seems to those who like their melodies almost too catchy that it was well worth the wait. TheEskimoRecordLabel-22 CD $7.50 Vetiver Tight Knit PS, US Tight Knit is the fourth full-length album from Vetiver, singer/songwriter Andy Cabic's ever-evolving musical home base. Luminous and surprising, Tight Knit unfolds like a road trip down Highway 1, towards Cabic's home in San Francisco. It represents a summation of the different styles and directions heard on past Vetiver releases, while it introduces some unexpected twists. Recorded in Sacramento at The Hangar and in LA at Melva, Tight Knit was produced by longtime Vetiver collaborator Thom Monahan. Vetiver's songs have been described as "dreamy, gentle songs that George Harrison would have written in some sunny country garden." Happily, that element remains alive and well on Tight Knit, as evidenced in songs like album opener "Rolling Sea" and "Everyday." The album also introduces new aspects of the band's sound with the light bop of "Sister" and "On the Other Side," and the faraway and ethereal "Down from Above" and "At Forest Edge." Tight Knit is layered and rich, with subtleties and nuances that reveal themselves with repeated listening. While there's also more immediate gratification than on past Vetiver releases, Tight Knit is an album that rewards your attention. Subpop CD $12.50 Vetiver Tight Knit PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Subpop LP $13.25 Vibrarians, The Red Light b/w Modern Walker & Woods PS, US The Vibrarians, a trio from Olympia, Washington, have recorded the latest volume in our International Pop Underground series of 7" 45 rpm records. More than underground, the Vibrarians belong in a tunnel, a cement basement or any confined space that will bounce the Nuggets-style bass and hushed oh's and yeah's around. Cloaked in reverb and radiant fuzz, "Red Light" comes on like a sleepy runaway truck of bricks that hits the rumble strips. A total corker. The b-side traffics melody and noisy pop into the lopsided "Modern Walker," and the more sinister "Woods." Tunnel vision obscured by refrigerator hum. Krecords-122 45 $3.75 Volcano Suns Bright Orange Years PS, US REISSUE. 1st time on CD! This was the band headed by PETER PRESCOTT (of MISSION OF BURMA). Originally released in 1985, this is VS's debut album & is chock full of so many catchy songs that it could be any other band's greatest hits album. Merging noise, agression & tunefulness seamlessly, it is a wonder they were not huge from the get-go. Remastered by legendary engineer BOB WESTON, feat. 9 bonus tracks (many unreleased previously) that adds 7-inch only tracks & radio sessions. Merge CD $11.50 Volcano Suns All-Night Lotus Party PS, US REISSUE. 1st time on CD! This was the band headed by PETER PRESCOTT (of MISSION OF BURMA). Originally released in 1986, this is VS's sophomore album & is more rambunctious than their debut. They meld "hardcore punk & heartland rock" into a heavier, darker sound w/ more distortion on the guitars & more bass-heavy production. This is crisply remastered by legendary engineer BOB WESTON, feat. 11 bonus tracks (many unreleased previously). Merge CD $11.50 Von Bondies Love Hate and Then There's You PS, US New album. ShoutFactory CD $15.25 Ware, David S. Shakti PS, US First new studio recording in almost 6 yrs, & his 1st with a new group (feat. JOE MORRIS, WILLIAM PARKER, & WARREN SMITH) since his highly esteemed Quartet disbanded. Working w/ musicians (as he ever has) who fully understand the profound ebb & flow of his music, and who can trace the tendrils thereof as close to infinity as human fingers allow. "This is jazz that swallows all aesthetic distinctions." - Village Voice. AUMFidelity CD $12.75 Wavves California Goth II PS, US As you might expect from a SoCal band named after ocean motion, this sounds like a living version of Thrilla Gorilla & Da' Boys. As you might not expect, it is made by one kid named Nathan who has a classic rap blog called "Ghost Ramp". Lo-fi somethingsomething, pre-order or cry. FatPossum 45 $4.75 Weave! S-T PS, US Also on clear vinyl! Bizarre & blistering Afro-pop crossbred w/ precise & chilly New Wave. This debut breathes new life into the sound of groups like ESG, The Slits, The Mo-Dettes, Kleenex, The Raincoats, & Delta 5. The arty grinders have a respectable pedigree; their founders spent 2007 w/pickup members including Ariel Pink (Haunted Graffiti). They ultimately solidified their lineup w/ the addition of guitar & keyboard, adding a rhythmic presence to the femme-driven fervency. "A tambourine-ravaging set of Sonic Youth-meets-Talking Heads tinged sounds. The quartet definitely inject a sense of quirky fun into their hypnotic, dance-y yet vicious tunes" - LA Weekly / "Extremely rhythmic &, at times, deliciously poppy" - Flavorpill LA PacificReasons LP $11.75 Weird Owl Ever The Silver Cord Be Loosed PS, US The group has crafted a sonic mindscape inspired by legendary acts such as the 13th Floor Elevators & Crazy Horse that states its relevance to modern-day masters Black Mountain, Dead Meadow & the Black Angels TeePee CD $13.25 Weird Owl Ever The Silver Cord Be Loosed PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! TeePee LP $15.00 West, Kanye 808S & Heartbreak PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Roc-A-Fella DLP $25.00 Whitmore, William Elliott Animals in the Dark (Digipack Packaging) PS, US Anti CD $15.00 Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell (Widescreen) PS, US With his documentary Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell, director Matt Wolf etches out a biographical portrait of avant-garde musician, artist, and disco producer Arthur Russell, who died of AIDS at age 40 in 1992. Though Russell was a classically trained composer and cellist with an almost encyclopedic knowledge of indigenous Indian music, this performer quickly branched off in a more offbeat and unusual direction. The Oskaloosa, IA, native fixated on such counterculture icons as John Cage and Timothy Leary at an early age, then ran away from home during adolescence and joined a Frisco-based Buddhist group. Russell became acquainted and associated with poet Allen Ginsberg, then moved to New York City, where (like Cage) he established himself as a veritable fixture in the underground music scene and worked as the music director for The Kitchen. By the mid-'70s, Russell began producing prescient disco records in the pre-Gibb days, under colorful pseudonyms such as Indian Ocean and Loose Joints. Unfortunately, he never culled the devoted following that he deserved until about 15 years after his death. Wolf employs a fractured film-essay style throughout the film, intercutting such materials as archival footage, extracts of musical compositions by Russell, and revealing interviews with Russell's family. Thematically, the director uses the tale of Russell's colorful life as a springboard into investigations of broader subjects and themes including gay lifestyles in the early AIDS era, the sociocultural landscape of Manhattan (and the cultural underground) during the 1970s and '80s, and the importance of staking out new directions in art and music for an innovative mind such as Russell's. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide Plexifilm DVD $23.50 Windy&Carl/Heavy Winged Monolith:Earth PS, US The Monolith series combines two like-minded artists on the same one-sided, reverse-cut LP by hard-panning one recording to the right & the other recording to the left. By adjusting the panning controls on his or her turntable, the listener is free to control the degree to which the two recordings melt into one. Each edition in the series is limited to a one-time pressing of 500 picture disc LPs & includes a CD w/stereo mixes. This edition is the oxymoronic pairing of dreamcore drone legends WINDY & CARL & new school leaders of free rock HEAVY WINGED. Heavy Winged contribute one of their darkest, most oppressive tracks yet. The addition of W&C's purity creates something entirely different. It's no longer the sound of three bros busting out dark drone metal in some shed in snowy Vermont; it's now the sound of some communal artists busting out epic krautjams in the German hinterland. Primitive, vicious early man meets colossal pristine symbol of higher thought MusicFellowship LP/CD $21.50 Wire Magazine #300 PS, UK ZINE $10.25 Wolves in the Throne Room Malevolent Grain PS, US Vinyl only EP from the grimm Cascadia black metal horde. Two brand new songs (1 per side) that further solidify their death grip on the bejeweled throne of American Black Metal. SouthernLord LP $13.75 Woolson, Raymond Scott Broken Things Mended PS, US Raymond Scott Woolson has been creating guitar-driven ethereal music for many years now. Broken Things Mended is his fifth full-length album of celestial shoegaze sound-scapes. A long year in the making, and several more months of perfecting during the mixing and mastering process, this release continues Woolson's exploration of soaring guitar epics and pastoral mood meanderings. A fair amount of variety went into the mix. Here a shimmer of dreampop, there a buzz of psychedelia. A brush of piano, a burst of drums, and on several occasions even a very commendable imitation of a string orchestra. Those are in fact guitars. An ocean of guitars. The songs of Broken Things Mended are bright and uplifting. There may be a passing touch of melancholy, a brief wistful feeling, but absolutely no doom and gloom. Woolson will not add to the burden of darkness in the world. His is the music of light and love, of faith and hope. These songs look forward and upward. Victories are won, promises are kept, and broken things are mended. Clairecords-070 CD $12.25 Wow & Flutter Golden Touch PS, US A collection of Phrygian mode jams, drones & ditties. Opening track "Red Face" is a taut-n-fuzzy rock blast which highlights the three-piece's loud-fast-simple side. "Car Crash" opts for a more restrained approach--until all hell breaks loose w/the de(con)struction of the titular event. "Solar" follows, w/a simple chord pattern repeating for three minutes under a coat of beautiful shimmer. "A Little Help" expands the sonic palette w/banjo & glockenspiel & a mass choir. "Heaven" opens side B; a Morricone-influenced intro complete w/trumpet & melodica gives way to a religious screed, which gives way to a drunken klezmer coda. "Flat White" intertwines sparse riffs over click-clack percussion along w/Amato's ruminations on betrayal. Synthetic slow-jam "Sugarbush" seduces w/snake charmer guitar lines & earworm bass groove. JealousButcher LP $13.25 Xela The Illuminated PS, GERMANY The music of Xela is not easily described. The alias of Type Records main-man John Twells, he has over the last decade moved through a dense fog of musical styles from abstract electronics to rusty soundscapes. In recent years his output has allied itself with darker realms, taking a liberal dose of influence from Norway's darker exponents, but retaining a deep and measured experimental focus. 'The Illuminated' was originally released on cassette, a format very fitting to the gloomy, waterlogged sounds; but having sold out in a matter of days it now receives the much needed deluxe re-issue treatment. Taking cues from the cracked black metal of Burzum and Striborg and fusing this with heavy, synthesized noise 'The Illuminated' is possibly Xela's darkest, most spine-chilling work to date. We are taken through chiming Nurse With Wound-inspired soundscapes into Middle Eastern marketplaces and through caverns of thick, buzzing synthesized noise on the album's first piece. Entitled 'Black Scripture' this takes the dank religious themes of 'In Bocca Al Lupo' and goes even deeper into the Church dungeons, digging up lost artifacts and the angry spirits that accompany them. The flipside extends this heresy with a throaty vocal and distorted electric guitar, leaving blackened corpses and the traces of a sleepy village in its wake. Devastating and dark material, listen if you dare... Dekorder-031 LP $13.50 Yagya Rigning PS, NETHERLANDS Yagya has made a new album for us. We can't think of any other way to start this new, promising year as delightful. "Rigning" is the Icelandic word for "rain" and is Aðalsteinn Guðmundsson's third full-length, the previous one "Will I Dream During The Process?" best-selling on Sending Orbs, the first one "Rythm of Snow" on legendary out-of-print status on Force Inc. Yes, we think this album is a new step forward for Yagya and we think this album has the prettiest and saddest melodies ever on a dub techno/ambient record, but we most kindly invite you to be your own judge. And by buying either the CD or 2x12", you may even stimulate the Icelandic economy along your way. We're just confident this is going to be your first great purchase in 2009. SendingOrbs-011-1 DLP $17.75 Yagya Rigning PS, NETHERLANDS Yagya has made a new album for us. We can't think of any other way to start this new, promising year as delightful. "Rigning" is the Icelandic word for "rain" and is Aðalsteinn Guðmundsson's third full-length, the previous one "Will I Dream During The Process?" best-selling on Sending Orbs, the first one "Rythm of Snow" on legendary out-of-print status on Force Inc. Yes, we think this album is a new step forward for Yagya and we think this album has the prettiest and saddest melodies ever on a dub techno/ambient record, but we most kindly invite you to be your own judge. And by buying either the CD or 2x12", you may even stimulate the Icelandic economy along your way. We're just confident this is going to be your first great purchase in 2009. SendingOrbs-011-2 CD $16.25 Yeasayer All Hour Cymbals PS, US Dear Friend, and Friend of Friends, It has been a little bit over a year since I last wrote to you about the debut document created by YEASAYER called "ALL HOUR CYMBALS." What a year it has been! Trips around the world. Playing shows in places you only dream of as a child. Meeting wonderful people from all over, possibly including you. Thank you. Most people will probably wonder why it took so long to release "ALL HOUR CYMBALS" in the vinyl format and why now? Over a year ago we were a mere village, five strong. Laborers without the finance to yet construct the citadel, we worked hard, and worked by hand and mouth to spread the word. We made friends who helped us along the way, who told their friends, who turned and told friends, family, and possibly enemies. It was this chain of mouth to mouth and hard work over an expanse of time that led us to this gift of sound spectacular in 180 GRAM LP format. Though the timing is not perfect in the sense of traveling and performing with merchandise, I promise our friends are thirsty for this artifact. In every village and town people ask for "ALL HOUR CYMBALS" on LP, in fact, they demand it's existence. I could cut and paste press quotes and where YEASAYER has been in print, but that is to cheapen the sell. We know "ALL HOUR CYMBALS" is a magnificent debut and that if you inhabit a record store you should have this album in stock. Someone hit snooze on the last go around causing a major piece of the pie being fed straight to CPUs across the land. Let us come out strong this time and give the citizens what they demand. The LP also contains a digital download for those first time buyers, or those conflicted with sounds past and present. Best. Sir James Winnie WeAreFree-002 LP $12.25 Yeh, C. Spencer/Sick Llama Split PS. US The malformed compositions of C. Spencer Yeh and Sick Llama come from opposing spectrums of noise music, though their similarities are undeniable. Whether it be Yeh's solo piece for violin or Sick Llama's gunked tape work, the spirit of improvisation shines through. On Yeh's track, the churning sounds of metal scrapes and light tinges, like crossed radio static and growing, buzzing drones are the result of one source: violin. His unique approach to the instrument marks him as one of the most exciting improvisers today whether it be with his solo work or through his work in Burning Star Core. Sick Llama's untitled track is one of his most varied and interesting tracks; like a cut up compilation of his brain damaged worked constantly flowing into new junkyard zones: crushing and dirty with the hiss of tape static. Coming from the stoned mind of Heath Moreland of Fag Tapes, the expected tape aesthetic is transferred to vinyl with a compilation of cut up compositions, evoking a series of mystery sound sources. In an edition of 400 7"s in pro-printed fold-over sleeves with art by Maya Miller of Heavy Tapes/Religious Knives." Arbor 45 $6.25 Yelle Ce Jeu EP PS, US 1st ever commercial 12" single release from France's acclaimed electro-pop starlet YELLE. 4 trks feat. the original version, along w/ remixes by TEPR (Yelle's studio collaborator) & 2 more remixes. Astralwerks 12 $8.50 Yellow Moon Band, The Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World PS, UK The Brother's dropped some mushroom's one afternoon after decided to experience the love behind the record of the year. Yes they would plot a histogram using Jaffa-cakes and pink wafers. During a distracted moment they pondered over the other important events in music. The Weeley festival 1971 (Juicy Lucy, demon fuzz and Hackensack and all for just £1-50); dancing in the mud in your underpants at Bickershaw to the Greatfull Dead; Cheech and Chong and Haydock Brass Band. Or what about climbing on army tanks to catch Roy Harper at the St. Helens Show. Great days with the endorphin rush of pure music jammed out by buzzing musicians. So here we have the debut album by The Yellow Moon Band. It follows two sold out sevens and some crazy shows at the Green Man Festival. Eight tracks of Instrumental wonk that's as darn exciting as discovering that rare side of wax that's sorta' Anatolian led rare groove in a bare chested wrestle with Be Bop Deluxe's 'Sunburst Finish' and pressed up on Vertigo. Well it might exist in the car boot of your dreams. More Hillage than Gong, more Hacket than Genesis, more Thompson than Fairport and certainly more Velvet Jacket than Leather jacket. The Freakzone friendly Yellow Moon Band will release their debut gatefold album on Static Caravan in November. Gatefold Card CD with artwork by Luke Insect. StaticCaravan-173 CD $16.25 You Say Party We Say Die Remik's Cube PS, US Reworkings of Vancouver's YSPWSD's critically acclaimed sophomore release "Lose All Time" Featuring remixes by MONTAG, OCTOPUS PROJECT, WALLPAPER, and more! PaperBag CD $13.75 Zanes, Dan & Friends The Welcome Table! Songs of Inspiration, Mystery & Good Times PS, US Dan Zanes and Friends The Welcome Table: Songs of Inspiration, Mystery, and Good Times is a collection of new and previously issued recordings for listeners of all-ages. The songs, mostly from various North American gospel traditions, include Home In That Rock, Working On a Building, Himno Guadalupano, Jesus On the Mainline, Granito de Mostaza, as well as Oseh Shalom and two new DZ originals. Among the guests joining Dan Zanes and Friends are The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, Basya Schechter, and Jamaican family music superstar Father Goose. Proceeds from The Welcome Table will benefit the New Sanctuary Movement and Families for Freedom. FestivalFive CD $13.75 Zero Boys History Of... PS, US It came out of nowhere in 1982, this punk rock/hardcore fireball with the bright yellow sleeve. In one sense, The Zero Boys' Vicious Circle was yet another example of how U.S. punk seemed to peak coast to coast that year. But unlike most coastal punk, the Zero Boys were pointing the way to a scene that could accommodate heaping helpings of melody, intelligence, and rock 'n' roll sus, not just turbo-charged ferocity. From 1979 into '83, the Indianapolis based ZBs were the finest hardcore blitz in the Midwest if not all the lower 48 states. Proof is Vicious Circle and the two decades since of copyists, bootleggers, practitioners and reunion concert pogoers. Though before and after that LP's 1982 release they recorded the Livin' in the 80's 7", songs for three comps and released the post-mortem History Of cassette revealing their transformation into a toured band warming to the metaphysical and their demise while still waving torches of rock 'n' roll panache. Now, collected here and remastered from the original tapes is the proof, if more was needed, that their take of American hardcore wasn't all white bread numbers. Yeah, they played shows with Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Subhumans, and others but in Terry "Hollywood"Howe's guitar there was harmonious terror and unstoppable cadence. Terry's licks and chops - a leap beyond two or three chord punk - offered a zone and measured count for drummer Mark Cutsinger and bassist David "Tufty" Clough, a rhythm unit in par with the Minutemen if not The Meters, to run lines like quicksilver. Meanwhile, frontman, Paul "Z" Mahern provides a constant wash from beginning to end. When the Ramones lost it, the Zero Boys found it; Adding a slam brigade fist to the Blitzkrieg Beat. The Zero Boys managed to come with one of the best early 80's punk records, or one of the best records ever, period. Between Vicious Circle and History Of, the entire recorded output of this legendary Midwest punk band's original line up is, finally, collected. - Culled from liner notes written by Jack Rabid and EricWeddle. SecretlyCanadian-189 CD $11.50 Zero Boys Vicious Circle PS, US It came out of nowhere in 1982, this punk rock/hardcore fireball with the bright yellow sleeve. In one sense, The Zero Boys' Vicious Circle was yet another example of how U.S. punk seemed to peak coast to coast that year. But unlike most coastal punk, the Zero Boys were pointing the way to a scene that could accommodate heaping helpings of melody, intelligence, and rock 'n' roll sus, not just turbo-charged ferocity. From 1979 into '83, the Indianapolis based ZBs were the finest hardcore blitz in the Midwest if not all the lower 48 states. Proof is Vicious Circle and the two decades since of copyists, bootleggers, practitioners and reunion concert pogoers. Though before and after that LP's 1982 release they recorded the Livin' in the 80's 7", songs for three comps and released the post-mortem History Of cassette revealing their transformation into a toured band warming to the metaphysical and their demise while still waving torches of rock 'n' roll panache. Now, collected here and remastered from the original tapes is the proof, if more was needed, that their take of American hardcore wasn't all white bread numbers. Yeah, they played shows with Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Subhumans, and others but in Terry "Hollywood"Howe's guitar there was harmonious terror and unstoppable cadence. Terry's licks and chops - a leap beyond two or three chord punk - offered a zone and measured count for drummer Mark Cutsinger and bassist David "Tufty" Clough, a rhythm unit in par with the Minutemen if not The Meters, to run lines like quicksilver. Meanwhile, frontman, Paul "Z" Mahern provides a constant wash from beginning to end. When the Ramones lost it, the Zero Boys found it; Adding a slam brigade fist to the Blitzkrieg Beat. The Zero Boys managed to come with one of the best early 80's punk records, or one of the best records ever, period. Between Vicious Circle and History Of, the entire recorded output of this legendary Midwest punk band's original line up is, finally, collected. - Culled from liner notes written by Jack Rabid and EricWeddle SecretlyCanadian-188 LP $11.50 Zero Boys History Of... PS, US It came out of nowhere in 1982, this punk rock/hardcore fireball with the bright yellow sleeve. In one sense, The Zero Boys' Vicious Circle was yet another example of how U.S. punk seemed to peak coast to coast that year. But unlike most coastal punk, the Zero Boys were pointing the way to a scene that could accommodate heaping helpings of melody, intelligence, and rock 'n' roll sus, not just turbo-charged ferocity. From 1979 into '83, the Indianapolis based ZBs were the finest hardcore blitz in the Midwest if not all the lower 48 states. Proof is Vicious Circle and the two decades since of copyists, bootleggers, practitioners and reunion concert pogoers. Though before and after that LP's 1982 release they recorded the Livin' in the 80's 7", songs for three comps and released the post-mortem History Of cassette revealing their transformation into a toured band warming to the metaphysical and their demise while still waving torches of rock 'n' roll panache. Now, collected here and remastered from the original tapes is the proof, if more was needed, that their take of American hardcore wasn't all white bread numbers. Yeah, they played shows with Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Subhumans, and others but in Terry "Hollywood"Howe's guitar there was harmonious terror and unstoppable cadence. Terry's licks and chops - a leap beyond two or three chord punk - offered a zone and measured count for drummer Mark Cutsinger and bassist David "Tufty" Clough, a rhythm unit in par with the Minutemen if not The Meters, to run lines like quicksilver. Meanwhile, frontman, Paul "Z" Mahern provides a constant wash from beginning to end. When the Ramones lost it, the Zero Boys found it; Adding a slam brigade fist to the Blitzkrieg Beat. The Zero Boys managed to come with one of the best early 80's punk records, or one of the best records ever, period. Between Vicious Circle and History Of, the entire recorded output of this legendary Midwest punk band's original line up is, finally, collected. - Culled from liner notes written by Jack Rabid and EricWeddle SecretlyCanadian-189 LP $11.50 Zero Boys Vicious Circle PS, US It came out of nowhere in 1982, this punk rock/hardcore fireball with the bright yellow sleeve. In one sense, The Zero Boys' Vicious Circle was yet another example of how U.S. punk seemed to peak coast to coast that year. But unlike most coastal punk, the Zero Boys were pointing the way to a scene that could accommodate heaping helpings of melody, intelligence, and rock 'n' roll sus, not just turbo-charged ferocity. From 1979 into '83, the Indianapolis based ZBs were the finest hardcore blitz in the Midwest if not all the lower 48 states. Proof is Vicious Circle and the two decades since of copyists, bootleggers, practitioners and reunion concert pogoers. Though before and after that LP's 1982 release they recorded the Livin' in the 80's 7", songs for three comps and released the post-mortem History Of cassette revealing their transformation into a toured band warming to the metaphysical and their demise while still waving torches of rock 'n' roll panache. Now, collected here and remastered from the original tapes is the proof, if more was needed, that their take of American hardcore wasn't all white bread numbers. Yeah, they played shows with Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Subhumans, and others but in Terry "Hollywood"Howe's guitar there was harmonious terror and unstoppable cadence. Terry's licks and chops - a leap beyond two or three chord punk - offered a zone and measured count for drummer Mark Cutsinger and bassist David "Tufty" Clough, a rhythm unit in par with the Minutemen if not The Meters, to run lines like quicksilver. Meanwhile, frontman, Paul "Z" Mahern provides a constant wash from beginning to end. When the Ramones lost it, the Zero Boys found it; Adding a slam brigade fist to the Blitzkrieg Beat. The Zero Boys managed to come with one of the best early 80's punk records, or one of the best records ever, period. Between Vicious Circle and History Of, the entire recorded output of this legendary Midwest punk band's original line up is, finally, collected. - Culled from liner notes written by Jack Rabid and EricWeddle SecretlyCanadian-188 CD $11.50 Forthcoming Releases* Allen, Cory The Fourth Way (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US A collection of rich minimal ambient works that explore subtle variation in spectral counterpoint, silence, movement, and rhythm. "It is clear we have one of the best achievements of recent times in terms of ambient and sound design." - Fabian, goutemesdisques.com QuietDesign-005 CD $12.25 aMute Infernal Heights For A Drama (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US An album full of introspective songs, psychedelic approaches, yet accessible compositions. Their music draws a thin line between indie-rock, post-folk & electronic. Loud, roaring, dark electronics, swathes of guitar wash, & echoing, disembodied vocals. Stilll CD $18.00 Arbouretum Song Of The Pearl (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US While 2007's "Rites of Uncovering" seemed to peer down from a vantage point far above, this reaches out from within the mire itself. The songs seem to have more immediacy and urgency, propelled by heavy guitar rythms that roll like waves against a levee until they finally burst through to unleash a flood of ferocious, acid-drenched solo passages. 4-panel mini-LP style jacket ThrillJockey CD $13.00 Arbouretum Song Of The Pearl (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! ThrillJockey LP $13.00 Baja Aether Obelisk (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17th) PS, US The Aether Obelisk is the fourth release in the Baja saga by composer Daniel Vujanic. It arrives at a broad musical horizon, touching the borderlines of forms ranging from chamber music and psychedelia, to pop/jazz-infected electronic music. The Aether Obelisk is unpredictable as ever, but definitely exploiting more vocal and repetitive elements than its predecessors. The overall mood is also less melancholic and nocturnal than previous Baja offerings. Some almost-tender sequences add more harmonic depth to the fractured signature sound of Vujanic´s suite-like compositions. It's loaded with acoustic and electric guitar textures ranging from folk to improv, synths, panoramic electronics, reverberating piano bits, horn sections, vibes, glockenspiel and multi-layered percussion - both live and programmed. "If the indie rock just isn't getting it done for you anymore, Baja's enveloping, intangible compositions may be just the guide you need to more engaging musical territory." - Tiny Mix Tapes "Vujanic is making music for the Shuffle generation, positing endless subdivisions that thus, beautifully, enable the listener to consider the music in almost anything." -Cokemachine Glow "Incredible, genre-melting... deconstructs rock norms." -The Tripwire OtherElectricities-017 CD $12.25 Balmorhea All Is Wild, All Is Silent (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US Austin's BALMORHEA has always made beautiful music, but that pulchritude has often belied the underlying sensuality that makes their music so inviting. The band takes a giant leap forward, embracing that sensuality, on their bold and variegated new album "All is Wild, All is Silent". Now a six piece, the band known for their understated simplicity and restraint has produced an album as complex as the workings of the lonely human heart. WesternVinyl-59 CD $11.50 Battlefields Thresholds of Imbalance (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US The missing link between Isis & Converge, their brutal hardcore-infused-doom metal is as head-explodingly heavy & visceral as it is soothing & cerebral. This straddles dreaminess & despair w/ equally vicious grace. TranslationLoss CD $14.50 Bishop Allen Grrr... (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US BISHOP ALLEN builds upon the extraordinary first years of their career with "Grrr...", which DEAD OCEANS will release March 10, 2009. The band fronted by Justin Rice and Christian Rudder is best known for making and self-releasing an EP each month for an entire year, then reworking some of the best songs for a highly acclaimed label debut ("The Broken String"). The rigorous EP project, and the extensive touring that has followed it, have allowed Bishop Allen to hone their craft: writing, performing and recording music. The resulting album, "Grrr...", reveals that after five years of comparisons to other artists-Jonathan Richman, The Kinks, Bright Eyes, Spoon, etc., in rave reviews from Rolling Stone, SPIN, Entertainment Weekly and many others-Bishop Allen has developed an artistry and sound that are unmistakably their own. One thing that distinguishes Bishop Allen's music is the quality of the writing. Rice's literate lyrics, which The Los Angeles Times has praised for their "poetic insight," have a universality that has made them resonant to listeners of all ages and earned them champions ranging from the young comic actor Michael Cera to the National Public Radio host Scott Simon. Each of the 13 tracks comprising "Grrr..." is a succinct composition, and yet the album also coheres seamlessly as a cycle of song. The melody and/or rhythm of one track is often contiguous with the next. As always, Rice and Rudder are responsible not only for the writing, but the lion's share of the playing and the recording: the guitars, pianos, marimbas, ukeleles and vocals. DeadOceans-010 LP $11.50 Bishop Allen Grrr... (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US BISHOP ALLEN builds upon the extraordinary first years of their career with "Grrr...", which DEAD OCEANS will release March 10, 2009. The band fronted by Justin Rice and Christian Rudder is best known for making and self-releasing an EP each month for an entire year, then reworking some of the best songs for a highly acclaimed label debut ("The Broken String"). The rigorous EP project, and the extensive touring that has followed it, have allowed Bishop Allen to hone their craft: writing, performing and recording music. The resulting album, "Grrr...", reveals that after five years of comparisons to other artists-Jonathan Richman, The Kinks, Bright Eyes, Spoon, etc., in rave reviews from Rolling Stone, SPIN, Entertainment Weekly and many others-Bishop Allen has developed an artistry and sound that are unmistakably their own. One thing that distinguishes Bishop Allen's music is the quality of the writing. Rice's literate lyrics, which The Los Angeles Times has praised for their "poetic insight," have a universality that has made them resonant to listeners of all ages and earned them champions ranging from the young comic actor Michael Cera to the National Public Radio host Scott Simon. Each of the 13 tracks comprising "Grrr..." is a succinct composition, and yet the album also coheres seamlessly as a cycle of song. The melody and/or rhythm of one track is often contiguous with the next. As always, Rice and Rudder are responsible not only for the writing, but the lion's share of the playing and the recording: the guitars, pianos, marimbas, ukeleles and vocals. DeadOceans-010 CD $11.50 Bitter Tears Jam Tarts in the Jake (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! CarrotTop LP $11.50 Bitter Tears Jam Tarts in the Jake (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US "Jam Tarts in the Jake House" STREET DATE 3/3. Having staked their reputation on a sometimes lewd & always entertaining theatrical live show, The Bitter Tears use their new release to portray their creative growth as both musicians & storytellers. The album utilizes smart & direct pop structures to drive the menacing, old-school country twang of the songs. Known for being over-the-top, the ironic simplicity employed on tracks like "Slay The Heart Of The Earth" showcase the band's conviction. Just as in their live show, no one breaks character. The raw material for the record was written late at night & early in the morning, with a threepenny orchestra's worth of instruments to help the process along. The result sounds antique, without sounding antiquated. The bawdy tales of revenge, lust & corruption are backed by a dusty array of beat-up instruments: horns, oboes, violins...each helping to provide the same dramatic sparks that win people over on-stage. "...thank God for the creative, uber-feisty cabaret edge on this [Bitter Tears] local band's country-fried rock 'n' roll"-Chicago Tribune CarrotTop CD $11.50 Blk Jks Mystery EP (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US BLK JKS defy description. With a wrecking crew rhythm section, debonair vocals, and guitar concoction of one part shred and two parts soul, BLK JKS shoot an African music sensibility through the tenets of rock. On one hand it is easy to politicize BLK JKS; as seen on the cover of Fader, here is a band that is instantly young, black and fly even as they reclaim styles that have been stolen, watered down, and regurgitated for generations. And yet to get caught up in anything but their sound is to sell this phenomenon short, because as musicians-as artists-BLK JKS simply cook. SecretlyCanadian-196 12 $7.50 Blk Jks Mystery EP (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US BLK JKS defy description. With a wrecking crew rhythm section, debonair vocals, and guitar concoction of one part shred and two parts soul, BLK JKS shoot an African music sensibility through the tenets of rock. On one hand it is easy to politicize BLK JKS; as seen on the cover of Fader, here is a band that is instantly young, black and fly even as they reclaim styles that have been stolen, watered down, and regurgitated for generations. And yet to get caught up in anything but their sound is to sell this phenomenon short, because as musicians-as artists-BLK JKS simply cook. SecretlyCanadian-196 CD5 $7.50 Blood Money Blood Brotherhood (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US Notably more song-based yet stays very close to the heart of the group: the intensity of noise, the freedom granted from improvisation, the power of rhythm, & the humanity of introspection. KillerPimp CD $10.00 Bloom, Luka Eleven Songs (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US On his eleventh record, the internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter returns to the raw live sound of his earlier releases, brimming with inspiring lyrics and sumptuous melodies. Contributors include Dave Hingerty (ex-Frames), Trevor Hutchinson, Liam O'Maonlai (ex-Hothouse Flowers), Paul Smith, Cora Venus Lunny, Ken Edge, and the Gardiner St. Gospel Choir, with backing vocals by Sinead Martin and Robbie Moore. Luka has toured with The Pogues, The Violent Femmes, Hothouse Flowers, and The Cowboy Junkies, and in all has enjoyed eighteen years of successful worldwide tours. BarNone CD $12.50 Bonnie "Prince" Billy Beware (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! DragCity LP $14.75 Bonnie "Prince" Billy Beware (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH) PS, US Though Beware shares spit with its immediate predecessor, Lie Down in the Light, its reach is longer, its arches more grandiose. Where fiddle & steel contribute their rustic timbre alongside guitars & voices, a thickening thud of low tone rolls beneath, giving the record a bottom that's fun to watch bounce in new clothes. This indensifies the air & heralds Beware as Bonny's most ambidextrous record to date. A listen or two through and you too may conclude that this could also be the great Bonnie 'Prince' Billy contempocountry record. DragCity CD $13.25 Boratto, Gui Atomic Soda (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US A taste of his forthcoming full-length "Take My Breath Away" Kompakt 12 $12.50 Bosque Brown Baby (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! BurntToast LP $14.25 Bosque Brown Baby (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US Texas group Bosque Brown have been quietly working on their sophomore full-length with producer Chris Flemmons (BAPTIST GENERALS). A dramatic step forward from their debut, Plays Mara Lee Miller, Baby features a fuller sound and more expansive instrumentation. The album benefits from the band's ability to record closer to home, allowing them to take as much time as necessary. Baby's rich musicianship reflects Bosque Brown's increasing stature as a live band. Tip-on style thick carboard gatefold sleeves. BurntToast CD $13.25 Boston Spaceships Planets Are Blasted (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US VINYL VERSION. GBVInc LP $17.25 Boston Spaceships Planets Are Blasted (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US Chris Slusarenko (GBV) & John Moen (DECEMBERISTS) have never been so impressive. This nuanced & transcendent rock album culminates w/ four of ROBERT POLLARD's best songs yet. GBVInc CD $15.25 Bushman's Revenge You Lost Me At Hello (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! RuneGrammofon LP $19.50 Bushman's Revenge You Lost Me At Hello (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US This record is probably most comparable to Scorch Trio & Motorpsycho. Metal crunch, bass meanderings, free jazz space drums, anthemic riffs, & bursts of scrawl & fire. RuneGrammofon CD $18.00 Case, Neko Middle Cyclone (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US Neko's many fans hang on her impressionistic lyrics, classic pop harmonics, and luxurious voice, and her new album revels in all three. "Middle Cyclone" fuses her longtime themes of nature versus man into a shining lyrical broadsword. Numerous guests include M. Ward, Garth Hudson of The Band, Sarah Harmer, and members of The New Pornographers, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Sadies, Visqueen, The Lilys, and Giant Sand. Anti CD $15.50 Casiotone For The Painfully Alone Advance Base Battery Life - Singles Collection (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US From Kraftwerk to Leonard Cohen, The Smiths to Suicide, and Pet Shop Boys to Smog, Chicago's one-man musical army OWN ASHWORTH - a.k.a CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE - has been bracketed with all manner of illustrious names in the course of his eleven year career. But in collecting the 7-inch split-singles and compilation tracks he released from 2004-7 (all but two of them on CD for the first time), "Advance Base Battery Life" provides compelling evidence of the singular nature of this industrious film-school dropout's talent. Tomlab-127 LP $14.25 Casiotone For The Painfully Alone Advance Base Battery Life - Singles Collection (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US From Kraftwerk to Leonard Cohen, The Smiths to Suicide, and Pet Shop Boys to Smog, Chicago's one-man musical army OWN ASHWORTH - a.k.a CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE - has been bracketed with all manner of illustrious names in the course of his eleven year career. But in collecting the 7-inch split-singles and compilation tracks he released from 2004-7 (all but two of them on CD for the first time), "Advance Base Battery Life" provides compelling evidence of the singular nature of this industrious film-school dropout's talent. Tomlab-127 CD $12.25 Chin Chin Flashing, The Fancing (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US Featuring an impressive roster of side men & soloists, w/ credits including TV on the Radio, Medeski Martin & Wood, Spoon, Antibalas, Sinead O'Connor, Blonde Redhead, Cibbo Matto, Temptations, Delfonics, Glenn Miller Orchestra, & Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, this is as sophisticated as it is fun & catchy. Moody, world weary love songs sit comfortably in between psychedelic synth freak-outs & dance floor bangers. DefinitiveJux CD $15.00 Circle Hollywood (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US Finland's mighty masters of metallic hypno drone rock have been making some of the most original modern rock music since the beginning of the 90's. For fans of Krautrock, Acid. Ektro CD $15.00 Circle Saturnus Reality (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US The Finnegan's Wake of Finnish rock documentaries, & a fabulous cul-de-sac in stream of consciousness. This is not a concert film, but rather an intimate documentary which features the occassional live performance. A self-ironic vicious circle of a film that focuses on the curious worl of the band & it's musicians. NoQuarter DVD $14.00 Culture Reject S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 28TH) PS, US Infectious, soulful melodies, syncopated guitars & easy grooves. Guests include JIM GUTHRIE (drums, vocals), KARRI NORTH (background vocals), & percussion virtuoso DAVE CLARK. WhiteWhale CD $11.00 Davis, Miles Bitches Brew (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US RESURFACED WAX!!! Sony DLP $25.25 Davis, Miles In A Silent Way (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US Listening to Miles Davis' originally released version of In a Silent Way in light of the complete sessions released by Sony in 2001 (Columbia Legacy 65362) reveals just how strategic and dramatic a studio construction it was. If one listens to Joe Zawinul's original version of "In a Silent Way," it comes across as almost a folk song with a very pronounced melody. The version Miles Davis and Teo Macero assembled from the recording session in July of 1968 is anything but. There is no melody, not even a melodic frame. There are only vamps and solos, grooves layered on top of other grooves spiraling toward space but ending in silence. But even these don't begin until almost ten minutes into the piece. It's Miles and McLaughlin, sparely breathing and wending their way through a series of seemingly disconnected phrases until the groove monster kicks in. The solos are extended, digging deep into the heart of the ethereal groove, which was dark, smoky, and ashen. McLaughlin and Hancock are particularly brilliant, but Corea's solo on the Fender Rhodes is one of his most articulate and spiraling on the instrument ever. The A-side of the album, "Shhh/Peaceful," is even more so. With Tony Williams shimmering away on the cymbals in double time, Miles comes out slippery and slowly, playing over the top of the vamp, playing ostinato and moving off into more mysterious territory a moment at a time. With Zawinul's organ in the background offering the occasional swell of darkness and dimension, Miles could continue indefinitely. But McLaughlin is hovering, easing in, moving up against the organ and the trills by Hancock and Corea; Wayne Shorter hesitantly winds in and out of the mix on his soprano, filling space until it's his turn to solo. But John McLaughlin, playing solos and fills throughout (the piece is like one long dreamy solo for the guitarist), is what gives it its open quality, like a piece of music with no borders as he turns in and through the commingling keyboards as Holland paces everything along. When the first round of solos ends, Zawinul and McLaughlin and Williams usher it back in with painterly decoration and illumination from Corea and Hancock. Miles picks up on another riff created by Corea and slips in to bring back the ostinato "theme" of the work. He plays glissando right near the very end, which is the only place where the band swells and the tune moves above a whisper before Zawinul's organ fades it into silence. This disc holds up, and perhaps is even stronger because of the issue of the complete sessions. It is, along with Jack Johnson and Bitches Brew, a signature Miles Davis session from the electric era. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide SONY LP $17.50 Davis, Miles Sketches of Spain (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14th) PS, US Along with Kind of Blue, In a Silent Way, and Round About Midnight, Sketches of Spain is one of Miles Davis' most enduring and innovative achievements. Recorded between November 1959 and March 1960 -- after Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley had left the band -- Davis teamed with Canadian arranger Gil Evans for the third time. Davis brought Evans the album's signature piece, "Concierto de Aranjuez," after hearing a classical version of it at bassist Joe Mondragon's house. Evans was as taken with it as Davis was, and set about to create an entire album of material around it. The result is a masterpiece of modern art. On the "Concierto," Evans' arrangement provided an orchestra and jazz band -- Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, and Elvin Jones -- the opportunity to record a classical work as it was. The piece, with its stunning colors and intricate yet transcendent adagio, played by Davis on a flügelhorn with a Harmon mute, is one of the most memorable works to come from popular culture in the 20th century. Davis' control over his instrument is singular, and Evans' conducting is flawless. Also notable are "Saeta," with one of the most amazing technical solos of Davis' career, and the album's closer, "Solea," which is conceptually a narrative piece, based on an Andalusian folk song, about a woman who encounters the procession taking Christ to Calvary. She sings the narrative of his passion and the procession -- or parade -- with full brass accompaniment moving along. Cobb and Jones, with flamenco-flavored percussion, are particularly wonderful here, as they allow the orchestra to indulge in the lushly passionate arrangement Evans provided to accompany Davis, who was clearly at his most challenged here, though he delivers with grace and verve. Sketches of Spain is the most luxuriant and stridently romantic recording Davis ever made. To listen to it in the 21st century is still a spine-tingling experience, as one encounters a multitude of timbres, tonalities, and harmonic structures seldom found in the music called jazz. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide SONY LP $17.50 Dengue Fever Sleepwalking Through The Mekomg (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US The documentary follows the LA-based band on their 2005 journey to Cambodia to perform '60s & '70s Cambodian rock 'n' roll. Includes a CD of the band's new soundtrack for the documentary. M80Music CD/DVD $20.25 Desario Zero Point Zero (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH) PS, US Named after Daniel Desario in the cult TV show Freaks & Geeks, Desario plays dark and sometimes threatening punchy indie-pop rock like The Smiths with balls or Felt if they were from the west coast or Modern English stripping down to Wedding Present vulnerability. Kids R.I.Y.L. Death Cab For Cutie, Built To Spill, The Shins. The band line up features former Holiday Flyer, California Oranges singer/songwriter John Conley and former Holiday Flyer, Rocketship members Mike Yoas, guitars, and Jim Rivas, drums. Mike Carr plays bass. EARLY PRESS: "I'm quite enamored with a self titled three-song disc by Desario, and if this is a taste of the forthcoming album the band's still working on (Zero Point Zero, due in October from once local indie Darla Records), it's gonna be a real peach. "Cane Cola" is all gleaming chrome over pastoral sweetness, more melodic and soaring than the reworked Joy Divisionisms of Interpol, with John Conley's friendly and inviting voice surfing over his and Michael Yoas' intertwined clean electric guitars, with bassist Mike Carr underpinning the song while drummer Jim Rivas splatters around like Moby Grape's Skip Spence on "Omaha." The second track, "Fine Time," continues the feel, while "Nautical Ways" has more jangle along with shouted background vocals. All three are winners; Desario has a sense of melody and dynamics that is captivating." Jackson Griffith, Sacramento News and Review Darla-219 CD $12.25 Doiron, Julie I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US Everything is coming together in JULIE DOIRON's world, from embracing her electric past, to embarking on a new and energetic phase of her solo career with some of the most upbeat and inspiring songs of her recording career. "I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day" - which arrives on the heels of the album "Lost Wisdom", Doiron and her bandmate Fred Squire's recent critically-acclaimed collaboration with MT. EERIE - presents listeners with an album that reflects both her continued growth as an artist and a renewed optimism as a songwriter as well. As has often been the case, Doiron's songwriting is rooted in what's happening around her. Jagjaguwar-131 CD $11.50 Doiron, Julie I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Jagjaguwar-131 LP $11.50 Dollboy A Beard Of Bees (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, UK Written and recorded by Oliver Cherer except "He Went Down To The Sea" which is by the Monks. Dollboy is Oliver Cherer, an English artist who makes quiet, reflective semi-organic music, a hybrid of analog electronic sounds, innovative sound processing and percussive acoustic instrumentation. A Beard of Bees is Oliver's first song based album, his previous releases, Plans for a modern city (2004, Different Drummer) and Casual Nudism (2006, Arable) being instrumental records on which he created lullaby-like structures, blending together old-fashioned folk melodies and warm electronic sound scapes, with Philip Glass-style loops interspersed with scattering beats. Interest in modal music, in particularly Miles Davis 1960s records, inspired Oliver to start learning about the melody, and made him switch from composing on a computer with a sequencer to writing more fully formed tunes using guitar or piano or even glockenspiel. Like an English Victorian artist, Oliver's curiosity has led him to exploring and mixing found and dusty instruments together with peculiar showpiece technology. From 1942 glass toy glockenspiel, Brixton market bongos, flute, viola, toy piano, 50s jazz guitar played with vibraphone mallets and questionable recordings of the Austrian flood warning siren and Stanstead Express, to Gnat, a strange little English synthesizer with no keyboard, VCS3 and Korg synths, the balance of instruments on this album leans towards the organic and acoustic. The inspiration for the album is varied and ranges from tea drinking (One Liner) and geographical references (California refers to a place in the Midlands called new Invention), to more ethereal matters such as drifting through life without aim (a beard of bees), and infinity / "bigness is frightening", another particular kind of particularly English view of the world (Endless). There are even songs about generation "gaps" (jet age kids), prog jokes (Lead Boots), and a sea-shanty written in response to Melville's Moby Dick (O Ahab!). Perhaps, the thread going through all the themes is Oliver's "meditation" on Englishness. Creating post-post-industrial urban-folk, Dollboy has existed in one form or another since the first show at The Garage in 1999, where the iconic performance included a saw, a vinyl killer, Japanese poetry and live eating of pork pies. As a live act Dollboy has developed into one of the The Big Chill and Arctic Circle favorites, performing as a seven piece band as well as a solo acoustic act, constantly morphing and developing. StaticCaravan-179 CD $16.25 Drones Havilah (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US An album of contradictions, where bombast meets beauty, melancholy wrestles w/ violent guitars & singer Liddiard's incendiary voice lights up his angular poetry. There are vaguely familiar nods to Neil Young's paint-stripping guitar spasms on "Supercargo" & "Oh My," while the deliciously meandering pop dirges of Suicide & the Velvet Underground echo in "Careful As You Go" & "Luck In Odd Numbers". MAGNET: "Australia's The Drones slur their way through the dark side recalling the moodier madness of the Bad Seeds or maybe an edgier, more explosive American Music Club." AllTomorrow'sParties CD $15.50 Elvis Perkins In Dearland S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US The follow-up to the exquisitely melancholic and much hailed solo debut "Ash Wednesday". On this release, Elvis is joined by a talented trio of friends, all clearly influenced by a range of American roots music. At once raucous and profound, this record conjures both the greatest celebration and the saddest funeral, channeling an ageless wisdom that deepens with each listen. XL CD $14.00 Elvis Perkins In Dearland S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! XL LP $14.00 Envenomist Helix (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US Dark ambient/death industrial, combining low-rumbling drones w/ extemporaneous noise bursts. Sourced solely using synthesizers to produce dark ambience heavily influenced by Maurizio Bianchi while bringing a lot of Tangerine Dream & Klaus Schulze into the mix. The intent was to create a series of transmissions from space. Not in the narrative sense, rather as a series of abstracted visions or moods from a lone traveler attempting to come to grips w/ the sublime. KillerPimp CD $10.00 Extra Golden Thank You Very Quickly (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! ThrillJockey LP $13.00 Extra Golden Thank You Very Quickly (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US 6-song wonder of a record, whose joyous danceable anthems were crafted in the wake of political & economic upheaval in Kenya. While EG's 1st 2 albums served as thesis & antithesis, this TYVQ showcases a new level of artistry that could only be referred to as synthesis. No longer a 'collaborative enconter', but a band. 4-panel mini-LP style jacket. ThrillJockey CD $13.00 Fever Ray S-T (ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH) PS, US Fever Ray, aka Karin Dreijer Andersson, one half of THE KNIFE, is set to release her debut self-titled album. Fever Ray is the title, of both project and album, an evocation of the music's sound, intense and anxious, yet luminous. It's the culmination of work that began in 2007 when Karin and Olof, the brother-sister duo who are The Knife, decided to take time out following a handful of incredible live shows. After having her second child and eight months of the most productive daydreaming later, Karin had a batch of new songs and the raw materials for the production of Fever Ray. Unsure how to get them over the finishing line, she took half to Christoffer Berg (who mixed The Knife's work) and half to Stockholm production duo Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid for a final brush and tickle. The result is Fever Ray, an album that, while recognisably the work of the same artist, is dramatically different from The Knife. It's still constructed on electronic foundations and embellished with traditional instrumentation (guitar here, congas there). Despite some upbeat moments ("Triangle Walks," "I'm Not Done"), Fever Ray is starker, moodier, in places quite somber - less an invasion, more a slow process of colonization. Not that you'll find anything so literal in the lyrics. One thing's for sure - in a country with a wealth of leftfield pop artists, Karin Dreijer Andersson sounds like no one but herself. Constantly inventive, restlessly emotive, Fever Ray swaggers, broods, intrigues and dazzles without ever making concessions. Mute CD $14.00 Fire on Fire Orchard (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US Used to be art-punk-prog-chaos collective CERBERUS SHOAL, but they ditched their electric instruments, went into hiding for a while, & now play acoustic. They sound like a backwoods, fierce, psychedelic Mamas & the Papas or a crazed & joyously vengeful gospel string band. YoungGod CD $16.00 Flipper Public Flipper Limited (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH) PS, US 4MenwithBeards LP $16.75 Flipper Sex Bomb Baby (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH) PS, US 180 gram vinyl. Another essential release from San Francisco legends FLIPPER. Originally released in 1987, 'Sex Bomb Baby' is actually a collection of material dated no later than 1982, comprised of singles, b-sides, & compilation trks. The single version of "Sex Bomb" is an all out clasic - a frenetic, yelping punk answer to "Louie, Louie" & the rest is no slouch either. Outrageous, harsh, sludge-punk from SF's finest. 4MenwithBeards LP $16.75 Flipper Album - Generic Flipper (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH) PS, US 180 gram vinyl. 1st classic record from the legendary San Francisco act, originally released in 1982. Post-hardcore? Post-punk? Art-rock? Despite being a part of SF's punk scene FLIPPER were really only punk in spirit, eschewing conventions & making no concessions. Sludgy, distorted, atonal, noise rock jams that sound as urgent & heavy as they must have 25 yrs ago. A huge influence on bands to come later like Nirvana & The Melvins. 4MenwithBeards LP $16.75 Franklin, Adam Spent Bullets (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US The power & melody that has always coursed through the veins of Adam's (SWERVEDRIVER) electric songs is in full effect. SecondMotion CD $16.75 Gainsbourg, Serge Histoire De Melody Nelson (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH) PS, US Limited Edition Vinyl LP feat. 180 gram wax, gatefold hand-numbered old school tip-on jacket, and liner notes. Limited to only 2,000 copies! Sex has always sold, but presented with a landmark musical backdrop, the combination is rare as finding the elusive "G Spot". Quite often, attempts fall flaccid, missing the titillating mark by a mile. But French icon and national treasure Serge Gainsbourg is no stranger to sexual proclivities, and with his 1971 Histoire De Melody Nelson he shared an erotic tale as seductive today as the day it was released. With help from actress, amour, and inspiration Jane Birkin, arranger/conductor and co-conspirator Jean-Claude Vannier (L'Enfant Assassins Des Mouches), not to mention a tight hand picked crew of top shelf UK session musicians, Nelson is often cited as Gainsbourg's master work, an essential album for the discerning music lover. Light In The Attic's reissue of Histoire De Melody Nelson finally gives this still radical record the respect and attention to detail it so rightfully deserves. For the first time ever, this lavishly packaged and true to the original artwork CD and 180 gram LP reissue contains extensive English language liner notes and informative content explaining the times and tales behind the making of this passionate platter. Dispelling the countless myths, hearsay, and rumors surrounding Nelson, New York-based writer Andy Beta contributes a stylish essay for your edification while Finders Keepers' honcho and Twisted Nerve founder Andy Votel shares his deep knowledge of Gainsbourg and the Gallic and UK music scenes with great insight - never before have these stories been told. The maestro himself even chimes in with a period Q&A interview from France's Rock N Folk Magazine, and printed lyrics (both with English translations). So as we said before, sex sells, and yes, we are buying. With Gainsborg, Birkin, Vannier and company supplying the mood, it's our artistic pop-rock duty to explore L'Histoire De Melody Nelson with fresh ears, eyes, and hands. With its massive inspiration reaching out to the quintessential rap of De La Soul and The Beatnuts to like-minded and eclectic singer-songwriter Beck, Nelson continues to entrance. Light In The Attic looks forward to continuing to spread Gainsbourg's provocative message to thrill seekers the world over... TRACKS: 1. Melody 2. LA Ballade de Melody Nelson 3. La Valse do Melody 4. Ah! Melody 5. L' Hotel Particulier 6. En Melody 7. Cargo Culte LightInTheAttic-040 LP $20.25 Gainsbourg, Serge Histoire De Melody Nelson (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 27TH) PS, US For the first time ever, this lavishly packaged & true to the original artwork CD reissue contains extensive English language liner notes & informative content explaining the times & tales behind the making of this passionate platter. Dispelling the countless myths, hearsay & rumors surrounding Nelson, New York-based writer Andy Beta contributes a stylish essay for your edification while Finders Keepers' honcho & Twisted Nerve founder Andy Votel shares his deep knowledge of Gainsbourg and the Gallic & UK music scenes with great insight - never before have these stories been told. The maestro himself even chimes in with a period Q&A interview from France's Rock N Folk Magazine, and printed lyrics (both with English translations) LightInTheAttic CD $15.00 Green Pajamas Hidden Minutes (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH) PS, US A compilation of odds'n'sods that seemed to beg to be brought together into neat package for fans of Jeff Kelly's fertile song-writing imagination & psych-pop recording stylings. Various singles that had been made available on the internet only needed a place on the "permanent record", and as Jeff's says "I have a double album's worth of stuff that doesn't really go together all that great. I've got the 'album' sort of tracks for a new release & then a whole other batch of songs that sound more like singles". So here you have it, a virtual cornucopia of tracks that in an ideal world would be spinning out of your car radio in classic 7" fashion. CameraObscura LP $10.00 Gudnadottir, Hildur Without Sinking (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US Classically-trained Icelandic cellist & composer, best known for her collaborations w/ MUM & PAN SONIC. Guest musicians include Skuli Sverrisson, JOHANN JOHANNSSON, & Gudni Franzson Touch CD $16.25 Handsome Family Honey Moon (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US The Handsome Family's eighth studio album, "Honey Moon," takes place under bowed branches & deep within winding corn mazes. The release celebrates the duo's twentieth year of marriage with a series of love songs that sharply contrast the dark themes of their previous seven albums. "Honey Moon," is a headphone record with layer upon layer of cool, weird treasures waiting to be discovered with successive listens. CarrotTop CD $11.50 Handsome Family Honey Moon (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US Vinyl with free digital download! CarrotTop LP $11.50 Handsome Furs Face Control (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US Just so happens to be Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner and his fiancee, Alexei Perry. The second album by this Montreal band draws inspiration from Eastern Europe and re-maps Eastern Bloc surveillance state themes to contemporary life, showing the irony of our acceptance of self-monitoring through blogs, credit/debit accounts, surveillance cameras, and GPS devices. The album's juxtaposition of cold, metronomic, electronic beats with jagged, dissonant and frail guitars convey what it is to be human in the 21st century. At the same time, it provides the means to opt out. Subpop CD $12.50 Handsome Furs Face Control (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Subpop LP $12.50 Hecker, Tim Imaginary Country (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 9TH) PS, US An Imaginary Country continues from the trajectory of his last album, while also showing a few new tricks. Tim has incorporated more pulses into this work & also works with a sound pallete including overdriven mellotron strings & synthesizer. At times this album is less overtly aggressive than previous works, but the notion that this is pastoral work would be dead wrong as there are plenty of the agitated crescendos that he is know for. This music backs off from the void of immensity in favor of a terrain of lushness & warmth. Kranky-130-2 DLP $16.25 Hecker, Tim Imaginary Country (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 9TH) PS, US An Imaginary Country continues from the trajectory of his last album, while also showing a few new tricks. Tim has incorporated more pulses into this work & also works with a sound pallete including overdriven mellotron strings & synthesizer. At times this album is less overtly aggressive than previous works, but the notion that this is pastoral work would be dead wrong as there are plenty of the agitated crescendos that he is know for. This music backs off from the void of immensity in favor of a terrain of lushness & warmth. Kranky-130 CD $12.25 Houghton, Beth Jeans "Golden" b/w "Night Swimmer" (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, UK In the past year, 18-year-old Newcastle based singer/songwriter Beth Jeans Houghton has garnered a reputation as an antidote to the current crop of acoustic songstresses. With her alternative blend of experimental folk, Beth has been hailed by the NME as "a Joni Mitchell for the anti-folk generation". With influences ranging from Frank Zappa, Vashti Bunyan, Fourtet and Love, Beth has cultivated a sound that is truly her own. Since her first performance in August 06 Beth has played alongside a diverse collection of artists such as Bon Iver, Adem, Imogen Heap, Fionn Regan, Jeffrey Lewis, Scott Matthews, Bowerbirds, Josephine Foster, Woodpigeon, White Magic, King Creosote, Alasdair Roberts, PG Six, Dead Meadow, Voice of the Seven Woods, Tom Brosseau, St Vincent, Euros Childs, Diane Cluck, Jack Savoretti and Stephen Fretwell amongst others. At last years Greenman Festival Devendra Banhart invited Beth to play one of her songs during his set on the main stage to an 8000 strong crowd describing her as, 'very lovely, a musical magician'. Beth's limited edition self-titled Debut EP is out now on Finders Keepers/Bird records, with another single due out on Static Caravan early '09 to be produced by Adem. Beth is currently writing/recording, and is gigging regularly throughout the UK Edition of 500 on 7" vinyl with 'give us a break' quiz card insert. StaticCaravan-180 45 $6.75 Hussy's, The Super Pro+ (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17th) PS, JAPAN Do the departed listen to their T-Rex records in heaven? One of many questions posed on the second album by Glasgow's The Hussy's. A superabundance of hooks explains the handful of commercial licensing's already under The Hussy's belt (from Payless Shoes to MTV's The Hills and Paris Hilton's BFF), but for the rest of us, there's ALSO a solid dose of lyrical wit and humor. The punchy quintet features the sly yet substantial vocals of a lass called Fili and lead guitar of James McColl (ex-Supernaturals), while lyrical coverage takes in the semi-square, mods, roller discos, nuclear plant workers turned Russian beauty pageant contestants, and cross dressing nuns. This Japanese version of the album features "Rock Steady," "Jesus," and "Sister Mary Jo" as bonus tracks. Sorry folks, but 2007's "We Expected" mini-album is already sold out. Highly recommended. QuinceRecords-066 CD $13.50 Immaculate Machine High On Jackson Hill (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 28TH) PS, US Features Kathryn Calder (NEW PORNOGRAPHERS). "When Kathryn Calder (whose voice is a dead ringer for Neko Case's clarion call) mixes it up vocally w/ the boys, the result sounds like X if that band had been steered by pure '60s power pop" - Harp Mint CD $14.75 Immaculate Machine High On Jackson Hill (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 28TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Mint LP $18.50 Kebnekajse S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, SWEDEN Their sound can be heard echoing in most Swedish psych/prog bands, & of course in Dungen, whose lead guitarist worked on the recording & production of this album. Known as the highest band in the land, they were pioneers w/ their instrumentals of electrified Swedish folk/fiddler music w/ psychedelic overtones. SubliminalSounds CD $16.25 Koenjihyakkei Nivraym (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US The band's purest, most uncompromising expression of Zeuhl music to date, blending progressive rock, symphonic rock, fusion, & neoclassicism w/ the energy of hardcore punk, the volume of metal, & the attitude of rock. SkinGraft CD $14.75 Land of Kush Against the Day (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US A complex, intense but accessible hour of hybrid, genre-defying music. The marriage of middle-eastern, North African & western modes & influences that evades categorization from one of Montreal's most challenging & prolific musical iconoclasts, SAM SHALABI. Inspired & named after the Thomas Pychon novel, the music is broken into five sections, named for the book's chapters. Constellation CD $16.25 Last Days The Safety Of The North (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US Graham Richardson's Last Days project returns with it's latest full-length The Safety of the North. Richardson has fully embraced his cinematic tendencies, expanding his creative palette to include spoken excerpts, a vocal collaboration with Fabiola Sanchez of Familiar Trees, and a "script-based" compositional approach. Drawing on a theme first explored in Sea's "Arrival at Jan Mayen" (in which its sailor is first excited by the prospect of a distant island home, then disappointed by its barren terrain), The Safety of the North tells the story of Alice, her parents and their relocation to a remote northern land. Disappointed with the trappings of the city, they wish for a simpler, more rewarding way of life. Their arrival promises clean air, miles of snow-covered fields surrounded by forests and mountains but above all, safety and a protected existence. As dark as it is light, the Safety Of The North explores relationships, loss, recovery and how hope is the only certainty in life.. With a strict script in mind, Richardson divided the album into 15 "scenes," scoring each with a new focus on the emotional states of his characters and the settings they inhabit. Using the same tools he employs on his previous albums (i.e. field recordings, song titles, and album art), along with snippets of dialogue, monologue and more diverse instrumentation, Richardson guides the listener through Alice's initial departure, hopeful beginnings and eventual tragedy in what may be Last Days most melodic work to date. n5MD-166 CD $12.00 Licht, Alan YMCA (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US "YMCA" is guitarist ALAN LICHT's first solo release since 2003's "A New York Minute" double CD (on XI), and his first solo vinyl outing since 1994's long out-of-print "Sink the Aging Process" (on Siltbreeze). Largely recorded at a 2004 concert at a Cambridge Massachusetts YMCA by Keith Fullerton Whitman, "YMCA" documents Licht's solo guitar set of the time - a three-part structured improvisation that moves from mournful, layered sustained tones that sound more like a reed organ than a guitar, to a gently plucked middle section, to a final firestorm of loop processing that is a tour de force of "the changing same." Inspired by his friends Oren Ambarchi and Tetuzi Akiyama's then-current albums (Triste and Don't Forget To Boogie), Licht proposed "YMCA" to Idea Records to form a kind of trilogy with those releases. With Idea's subsequent demise, FAMILY VINEYARD has stepped in to bring this peak performance out as a special limited edition vinyl release, exactly as the artist originally conceived it. Limited to 500 copies. FamilyVineyard-063 LP $12.25 Lothar Montgolfier (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17th) PS, JAPAN Snappy Swedish pop gets an uncharacteristic shoegaze treatment on the debut album by Lothar, a Stockholm 7-piece (4 guitars!) whose sound was purportedly changed when the members set up their rehearsal space next to a whirring, ticking, and buzzing power station on the outskirts of the city. "...[V]ery very good stuff recalling Blonde Redhead, Stereolab, Pia Fraus and the straightforward end of Deerhoof. The guitars are set to 'noisy', the songs are very catchy and very energetic and the singer is a lady. I'd heartily recommend this to those folks who are rather fond of early Lush records." - Clinton @ Norman Records Quince-65 CD $13.50 Lotus Plaza Floodlight Collective (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Kranky LP $11.50 Lotus Plaza Floodlight Collective (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH) PS, US Lockett Pundt's (DEERHUNTER) first full length is an expansive meditation on the modern history of the pop song with an obvious appreciation for the atmospheric vocal harmonies of the 50's, the Brill Building writers of the 60's & the sounds of the early 80's postpunk uk scene. The production is multi-multi-layered with a seemingly endless amount of subtle detail in each track, while the vocals are generally low in the mix & add yet another layer to the sound. Kranky CD $12.25 Lovetones, The Dimensions (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE FEBRUARY 27TH) PS, US "glorious psychedelic-pop wave... A trip from start to finish" - Rolling Stone. The Lovetones released their debut album, Be What You Want in 2002 through Bomp! Records creating a palpable buzz among critics from the likes of Creem and Rolling Stone magazine. The latter hailed mainman Matthew J Tow's songwriting worthy of Ray Davies, Bowie, Lennon and McCartney: a bold statement, yet in his case, completely justified. After enjoying the critical success of Be What You Want, touring Australia extensively and even supporting Morrissey during his first ever solo Australian tour, Tow joined The Brian Jonestown Massacre in 2003 and contributed two brilliant tracks to their sonic mastery, ...And This Is Our Music. Tow's opening track Starcleaner later also appeared on the The BJM retrospective Tepid Peppermint Wonderland. In the same year, UK based Fire Records invited The Lovetones to contribute to the James Joyce Chamber Music project alongside Mercury Rev, Sonic Youth and REM's Peter Buck. 2004 saw the release of the Stars EP, coinciding with The Lovetones supporting The Brian Jonestown Massacre on their infamous and now legendary tour of Australia. The second album Meditations was released through New York's Tee Pee Records in late 2005, revealing a stunning development in Tow's songwriting and providing a soundscape of radiant pop, ethereal psychedelia and truly remarkable vocal melodies that arched for the stars. Soulful and sincere, Meditations nodded gently and respectfully to the pop masters of the sixties whilst never lacking in original vision. Returning from triumphant shows in the US in late 2005 and also at SXSW 2006, The Lovetones toured to support Meditations' Australian release in May 2006. June 2006 saw The Lovetones complete a crazed European tour across 12 countries with The Brian Jonestown Massacre in support of Meditations' release there through Tee Pee/Cargo Records, culminating in a rave album review in respected UK magazine Uncut. The Lovetones also managed to record their third album Axiom during 2006 with fervent sessions split between Figment Studios in Hollywood and the Sydney Opera House Recording Studio. More extensive touring in the US and Australia followed. Set for a November 2008 release in Australia, Dimensions is The Lovetones' fourth studio album and the latest chapter in the indie psychedelic pop legacy of frontman Matthew Tow, who remains one of Australia's most underrated songwriters. The album was recorded in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, mixed in Los Angeles by Rob Campanella (Brian Jonestown Massacre/Quarter After/Black Angels) and mastered by William Bowden (one of Australia's finest mastering engineers). The Lovetones will be touring Australia in November/December before heading back to the US to support the album's North American release via Planting Seeds Records in early 2009. PlantingSeeds-060 CD $12.25 Low Frequency In Stereo, The Futuro (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, NORWAY VINYL VERSION. RuneGrammofon LP $17.75 Low Frequency In Stereo, The Futuro (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, NORWAY This is the fourth full-length release from The Low Frequency In Stereo. Founded in 2001 in Haugesund on the west coast of Norway, they have been called the band with one foot in Pompeii and one in space. With their first three albums released from 2002 to 2006, they have developed from an instrumental lo-fi-post-rock band that Pitchfork dubbed "psych-garage dronemeisters" to a full-blown, focused and fresh-sounding rock ensemble with great songs and a mix of dark atmospheres and catchy choruses. From the Eastern-tinged pop flirt of "Starstruck" to the near 10-minute cosmic groove-trip that is "Solar System," the new album from this excellent group finds them in top form and taking a big leap from their previous, Norwegian Grammy-nominated album. A sharper and more focused effort without a weak track in sight, Futuro is both industrial and rough as well as polished and streamlined. There are nods to fellow Norwegians 120 Days as well as Stereolab, Can, Joy Division and even The B-52's, but first of all, this is a group that have perfected their own sound from album to album and through periods of extensive touring, working up some well-deserved hype in the process. Per Steinar Lie (bass, organ, voice, guitars), Ørjan Haaland (drums, percussion, organ, voice) and Hanne Andersen (organ, percussion, trumpet, voice, guitars) are founding members, while Njål Clementsen (guitars, organ, piano, voice) and Linn Frøkedal (organ, voice) both joined ranks before the recording of Futuro. Clementsen and Frøkedal are also members of up-and-coming group Megaphonic Thrift. Guest musicians include Rune Grammofon-affiliates Nils Økland and Kjetil Møster (Ultralyd) and the album is produced by wonderboy Jørgen Træen, who has also worked with Jaga Jazzist, Kaizers Orchestra, The National Bank, and Sondre Lerche. RuneGrammofon CD $16.25 M. Ward End of Amnesia (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US Available for the first time on vinyl! Creating gigantic compositions w/ little more than a guitar & sparse instrumentation, Ward was thrust onto the fertile singer/songwriter scen w/ this release. His music features deft, poised guitar playing, vivid lyrical imagery, & melodies that burrow into your brain - as if they'd been there all along. FutureFarmer DLP $17.50 Machine Fabriek & Stephen Vitiello Box Music (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE JUNE 10TH) PS, US Rutger and Stephen sort of accidentally met through e-mail. A simple note regarding an ordering question for a CD led to an enthusiastic e-mail conversation and climaxed in a musical collaboration. This all happened in a very short period, both musicians being very inspired by the concept of "exchange," as a means to cross space and time -- Rutger living in the Netherlands and Stephen in Virginia. Most of the time, when (electronic) musicians work together it's a matter of swapping digital files. In this case they decided to do something different and sent each other a box full of (mostly non-musical, or musically non-functional) objects and recordings, with the "assignment" to make music with those objects and all as source materials. As the titles tell, we're talking about an egg cutter, thumb piano, a broken kraakle box, rice, chocolate sprinkles, old cassette tapes, a broken 7" record, etcetera, etcetera. Both musicians made two of their own solo tracks with the box they received, and the last track was done together by Rutger adding sounds and processing to a piece started by Stephen. For Rutger/ Machinefabriek this is part of his most delicate work. For Stephen, it was a new and extremely enjoyable form of long-distance collaboration. Machinefabriek: Rutger Zuydervelt, better known as Machinefabriek, lives in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Started as Machinefabriek in 2004, he released 40+ small run home-made cdr's as well as work for Type Records, Lampse, Digitalis, Staalplaat (Mort Aux Vaches) and now 12K. A double remix cd was released in 2007, with interpetations by Alva Noto, Pita, Mitchell Akiyama, Xela, Gert-Jan Prins and many more. Collaborations (live or recording) include Steinbrüchel, Jasper TX, Wouter van Veldhoven, Simon Nabatov, Frans de Waard, Aaron Martin and Peter Broderick. Stephen Vitiello: Stephen Vitiello is a sound and media artist based in Richmond, VA. CD releases include Bright and Dusty Things (New Albion), Listening to Donald Judd (Sub Rosa) and Untitled/Exchange, a collaborative CD with Michael J. Schumacher (A Question of Re-Entry). Solo exhibitions of Vitiello's sound installations, photographs and drawings have been presented at The Project, NY, Museum 52, London, the Texas Gallery, Houston, TX and Diapason, NYC. Group exhibitions include the 2002 Whitney Biennial and the 2006 Biennial of Sydney. Over the last 18 years, Stephen has collaborated with numerous musicians and artists including Scanner, Pauline Oliveros, Andrew Deutsch, Julie Mehretu and Tony Oursler. 12K-1048 CD $12.25 McGill, Cameron & What Army Warm Songs for Cold Shoulders (ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US warm songs for cold shoulders is the kind of record we hoped Cameron McGill would make for his Parasol debut; songs stripped down and stories laid bare. The songs show a similar vulnerability evident in many of McGill's recordings, though here he returns to the thoughtful folk musings he has made his signature. There is always enough pop to make the songs memorable, but this album deals a weightier hand than his last, the self-released Hold On Beauty (also highly recommended). Cameron is aided & abetted by vocalist Kathleen Bracken (Those Transatlantics) on a handful of duets and backed by What Army, comprised of Noah Harris (Elanors), Daniel McMahon (Wandering Sons), Rodrigo Palma (Judah Johnson) and Darren Garvey (Andreas Kapsalis Trio). Parasol-CD-110 CD $9.00 Mirah (A)SPERA (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US The album holds many surprises within its undulating reverie. String sections shimmer in the opening track "Generosity" and in the impeccable "Education," a relentless fist pounds against a soundboard in the darkly powerful "The World Is Falling Apart." "Shells" offers a breathtaking vantage of Kane Mathis masterful playing of the mandinka kora, a street party emerges in full swing from the galaxy of Mirah s heart in "The Country of the Future," unexpected turns are taken in "The Forest," horns burst forth as quickly as they retreat back into the starscape on "The River." Kalimba, hurdy gurdy, bongos, horns, instruments for all worlds, all times. Krecords-195 LP $11.50 Mirah (A)SPERA (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US The album holds many surprises within its undulating reverie. String sections shimmer in the opening track "Generosity" and in the impeccable "Education," a relentless fist pounds against a soundboard in the darkly powerful "The World Is Falling Apart." "Shells" offers a breathtaking vantage of Kane Mathis masterful playing of the mandinka kora, a street party emerges in full swing from the galaxy of Mirah s heart in "The Country of the Future," unexpected turns are taken in "The Forest," horns burst forth as quickly as they retreat back into the starscape on "The River." Kalimba, hurdy gurdy, bongos, horns, instruments for all worlds, all times. KRecords-195 CD $11.50 Monks, The Black Monk Time (PRE-ORDER: APRIL 14TH) PS, US Limited Edition Vinyl LP features 180 gram wax, gatefold hand-numbered old school tip-on jacket, lyrics, and notes. Today, "garage," "psych," and "punk" are three overused words to say the least. They're dropped from every direction to brand, market, and sell, but looking back to the mid-1960s, there was only one group of musical mavericks that clearly defined them. The Monks were five beat playing American GIs stationed in Germany who, after their discharge, decided to stay and continue their musical mission. Meeting up with a team of local managers, they transformed themselves and their sound into a holy racket like the world had never known. This five-person order literally birthed the above genres through a fuzz-drenched evolution of sound, bursting with social commentary and future primitive rhythms. Krautrock? It started here. Do we hear non-believers? We are NOT making this up. If you aren't already converted, it won't take long... Light In The Attic is ecstatic to present the Monks recorded legacy through two lavishly packaged and lovingly researched reissues (available on CD, LP, and digital download): The Early Years 1964-1965 as well as their landmark studio album Black Monk Time. Numerous period photographs (many unseen) and an extensive two-part essay by Canadian music journalist Kevin Howes (Jamaica-Toronto series) accompany both releases and tell the Monks story like it has never been told. Bonus material dating back to pre-Monks Torquays and up to post Black Monk Time 7"s are also included. From "Shut Up" to "Boys Are Boys", "Complication" to "Cuckoo," worlds will collide before you very eyes. Press play, drop the needle, zone in, and see for yourself. And while there's no need to shave your head, you'll certainly flip your wig. Come on everybody, its Monk Time! TRACKS: 1. Monk Time 2. Shut Up 3. Boys Are Boys And Girls Are Choice 4. Higgle-Dy - Piggle-Dy 5. I Hate You 6. Oh, How To Do Now 7. Complication 8. We Do Wie Du 9. Drunken Maria 10. Love Came Tumblin' Down 11. Blast Off! 12. That's My Girl Bonus Tracks: 13. I Can't Get Over You 14. Cuckoo 15. Love Can Tame The Wild 16. He Went Down To The Sea 17. Pretty Suzanne 18. Monk Chant (Live) LightInTheAttic-042 LP $21.75 Monks, The Black Monk Time [re-issue] (PRE-ORDER: APRIL 14TH) PS, US Rerelease of The Monks' notorious 1966 album, their one and only, lavishly packaged, lovingly remastered. The Monks were American G.I.s based in Germany who created batshit-primal garage-punk and dressed accordingly. Details, release date and price TBC. LightInTheAttic CD $15.25 Monks, The The Early Years 1964-1965 (PRE-ORDER: APRIL 14TH) PS, US Collection of The Monks' singles anmd extraneous genius, lavishly packaged, lovingly remastered. The Monks were American G.I.s based in Germany who created batshit-primal garage-punk and dressed accordingly. Details, release date and price TBC. LightInTheAttic CD $15.25 Monks, The The Early Years 1964-1965 (PRE-ORDER: APRIL 14TH) PS, US * Limited Edition Vinyl LP features 180 gram wax, gatefold hand-numbered old school tip-on jacket, lyrics, and notes. Tracklist - 1. Monk Time 2. We Do Wie Du 3. Boys Are Boys 4. Pretty Suzanne 5. Higgle-dy Piggle-dy 6. Hushie Pushie 7. Love Came Tumblin' Down 8. Oh, How To Do Now 9. Space Age 10. I Hate You Bonus Tracks: 11. Boys Are Boys 12. There She Walks LightInTheAttic LP $21.75 Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US On March 10th, a promise from big brother to little brother will be realized. Benjamin Verdoes (vocals, guitar, percussion) hoped to motivate his younger brother Marshall to push forward in his drum lessons. Once Marshall got good at drums, Benjamin vowed, they'd start a band together, and now-13-year-old Marshall would have naming rights. That promise is officially made good with the release of MT. ST. HELENS VIETNAM BAND's self-titled debut full-length. Co-produced by Scott Colburn (the Arcade Fire, Animal Collective), the album at first blush recalls Wolf Parade; the band's frayed melodic sensibilities and Benjamin's urgent, driven vocals in particular. Of course, Wolf Parade borrowed a few ideas from Modest Mouse, whose beginnings were indebted to the Pixies. This is the sort of musical lineage that creates the foundation for Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band's debut LP. But Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band are not solely inspired by their contemporaries; dig a little deeper and strains of Queen's over-the-top epic rock peers through, while exhilarating guitar work that nods towards Thin Lizzy appears in more than a few songs. DeadOceans-011 CD $11.50 Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS,US VINYL VERSION!!! DeadOceans-011 LP $11.50 Mummies Play Thier Own Records (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US After long years in remission, this release is back in circulation. By the turn of 1990, The Mummies were fed up with the records of their time. Not content to take things lying down, these cut-rate visionaries put out a bunch of their own. So pleased were they with those 45s, that they recorded a mix tape. In 1992, they convinced Estrus Records to release it as the standard long player, "The Mummies: Play Their Own Records," which sold out sometime in 2005. Relive those lazy, hazy, crazy days of the twilight years of the last century with this LP. Estrus LP $12.00 My Bloody Valentine Loveless [2009 expanded remaster] (DELAYED. PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 2009) PS, UK New, expanded, digipak version of MBV's otherworldly 1991 shoegaze classic, digitally remastered by MBV honcho Kevin Shields. Second disc is reported to be a alternate and previously unreleased version of Loveless remastered from original analog tapes. Sony DCD $23.00 My Bloody Valentine Isn't Anthing [2009 remaster] (DELAYED. PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 2009) PS, UK New, 2009 re-issue in a digipak, digitally remastered by Kevn Shields. SonyBMG CD $21.75 Nadler, Marissa Little Hells (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US A master of creating rich dreamscape atmospheres, Nadler's voice shines and glides even more with a full band accompanying her. Produced by Chris Coady, the starry musical guests include longtime collaborator Myles Baer, Simone Pace (Blonde Redhead), and Dave Scher (Farmer Dave). Few contemporary artists can match the stunning ride of Marissa's reverb vocals that are a journey into themselves on every rose tinged track. Little Hells displays a brighter leap in musical maturity and attention to detail, as the fantasmagoric sounds delve into melancholy nuggets, sometimes erotic, sometimes gutting, but filled with a gorgeous sense of serene hope more so than previous album, Songs III: Bird on the Water. Kemado CD $13.75 Neva Dinova S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US Originally self-released in 2001, this self-titled full-length debut is now re-issued with two bonus tracks. Their haunting, three-guitar swirling debut was heralded as a "Top 10 Release of 2002" by the LA Times. Following a split EP in 2004 with Bright Eyes ("One Jug Of Wine, Two Vessels"), and a second album, "The Hate Yourself Change" in 2005, the band released their third full-length, "You May Already Be Dreaming" last year. SaddleCreek CD $10.00 Ocean Pantheon Of The Lesser (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE NOVEMBER 11TH) PS, US 2xLP to follow in about one month. Following their acclaimed breakthrough debut album that caught the ears of critics and fans worldwide, and became Important's highest selling album, Ocean has returned with their forward thinking, brutally heavy and purely minimalist sophomore album Pantheon Of The Lesser. Pantheon Of The Lesser was composed over a period of two years in Ocean's home studio in Portland, Maine. As the seasons passed each track was written, re-written, played and then re-played as layers were slowly stripped away until the true essence of the song was revealed. Once Ocean entered the studio it took another two years to deconstruct Pantheon Of The Lesser until they had found the essence of their writing. This disciplined deconstructionist approach to songwriting is how Pantheon Of The Lesser is how Ocean takes it to the next level of the abyss. The result of this compositional technique is over an hour of strictly bare instrumentation and a kind of natural heaviness that slowly rises and falls in a pure organic fashion. Everything in it's own time. Simply profound. Heavy like Schoenberg. While Ocean continues to explore and expand upon their "less is more" approach of profound musical minimalism and sheer heaviness, Pantheon Of The Lesser is a bit more musical than its predecessor. The Beacon, the opening track on Pantheon Of The Lesser, was played as Ocean's complete set on a recent US tour and on dates with Mono and Boris. Clocking in at 41 minutes on record and over an hour live; The Beacon evolves in 3 distinct movements with fleeting moments of hypnotic melody and earth shaking heavy dirges creating an all-encompassing tone of pure misanthropy. The second and final track on Pantheon Of The Lesser, titled Of The Lesser, carries a similar theme of misery. Written as an ode to distraction, chemical and otherwise, it is Ocean at their most personal: a pure sonic stream of consciousness in slow motion. Packaged in a deluxe foil printed heavy-duty cardboard jacket with art by renowned Maine illustrator Bruce Hutchison. The vinyl version is packaged in double 200 gram vinyl, packaged in deluxe letter pressed covers and limted to 500 copies. Important-219 CD $13.00 Old Canes Early Morning Hymns (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US NOW ON VINYL! APPLESEED CAST frontman, Chris Crisci, departs from space rock & moody atmospherics fro a multi-instrumental fuzz-folk experience featuring the talents of Jordan Geiger (MINUS STORY) & Nathan Richardson (CASKET LOTTERY). Layers of home-recorded toy pianos, glockenspiels, children's xylophones, trumpets, & cellos combine w/ the traditional folk-rock instrumentation of acoustic guitars, banjos, & harmonica to form an eerie mix of Daniel Johnston, Van Dyke Parks, & Marc Olsen. SecondNature LP $17.50 Papercuts You Can Have What You Want (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Gnomonsong LP $17.00 Papercuts You Can Have What You Want (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US Jason Quever delves further into epic dream-pop using mostly vintage organs, pulsing bass, Kraut-via-Ringo-inspired drum rhythms, & soaring vocals draped in reberb gauze. This cuts across several eras of dreamy sound: '80s/'90s Creation/4AD Records, The Zombies, '60s French pop, even Can's "Future Days." For many, this will be the blissful/melancholy jam of the spring & summer. Gnomonsong CD $14.25 Paramount Styles Failure American Style (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE JULY 7TH) PS, US This is the 1st solo outing from Scott McCloud (GIRLS AGAINST BOYS). Feat. Richard Fortus (PSYCHEDELIC FURS/GUNS N' ROSES), Alexis Fleisig (Girls Against Boys), & Angela McClusky. The sound of dark forces gathering in a radiant club, at times intimate & at others soaring, slow burns bend & swerve into panoramic lush walls of sound. Konkurrent CD $13.25 Peter Bjorn And John Living Thing (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US New album, details and price TBC. AlmostGold/StarTime CD $13.75 Pontiak Maker (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! ThrillJockey LP $13.00 Pontiak Maker (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH) PS, US A lifetime of shared experience informs the 3 Carney brothers playing as a band: Jennings' bass or Lain's drums often finish the thoughts of Van's guitar. CD version in 4 panel mini-LP jacket ThrillJockey CD $13.00 Pree Chopping Block (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH) PS, US Pree's musical prowess evokes seductive & shadowy moods that call to mind Regina Spektor's imaginative narratives as well as Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock's rhythmic vocal stylings-- mixing haunting folk elements, unmistakable vocals, and a remarkable command of words to elicit a fare as delicate as it is powerful. Speaking through characters with fractured personalities and questionable motives, A Chopping Block examines the chaotic and often destructive relationships that take root when individual fails to adopt cohesive & socially acceptable identities-- raising the question of whether social boundaries will ever be able to quantify & contain any force as powerful & unstable, and as beautiful & reckless as the human psyche. Kora CD5 $7.25 Red Red Meat Bunny Gets Paid (Deluxe) (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH) PS, US Remastered by the group's own Brian Deck. W/ 7-song 2nd disc of alternate, demo & single versions of album tracks, plus b-sides, covers & a previously unreleased song from the same era. Subpop DCD $14.25 Reichmann, Josh Oracle Band Crazy Power (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US LIMITED edition LP returns to music w/ an entirely new lineup of collaborators, now gathering from a pool of soul, early-funk, roots and dark punk influences. Stevie Wonder meets the Stooges. PaperBag LP $17.00 Roedelius Jardin Au Fou (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! BureauB LP $18.00 Roedelius Jardin Au Fou (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US Composer/poet Hans-Joachim Roedelius (CLUSTER, HARMONIA) is a key figure in the birth of Krautrock, synthesizer pop & ambient music. This is his 2nd solo album, originally released in 1979. CD version features 6 bonus tracks: 3 remixes of compositions from the LP & 3 new tracks that were recorded for the 1998 CD re-release. BureauB CD $18.00 Royksopp Junior (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH) PS, US An inspired & ambitious musical confection fusing pure pop hooks w/ "technoperatic" dancefloor slammers. Astralwerks CD $16.00 Russell, Arthur World Of Arthur Russell (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US BACK IN PRINT!! ARTHUR RUSSELL holds a unique place in the history of dance music; besides gaining admiration from everyone from Philip Glass to Todd Terry as an artist, he also formed the seminal groups DINOSAUR L and LOOSE JOINTS in the 80s, redefining dance music as an intelligent & subversive form. This release features his classics, 'Go Bang', 'Is It All Over My Face', 'Wax The Van' etc. alongside impossible-to-find collectors tracks such as 'In The Light Of The Miracle' & the private-pressing 'Pop Your Funk'. This is the first collected work of Arthur Russell, who's been one of the most respected iconic artists in the history of dance music. SoulJazz 3XLP $17.75 Russell, Arthur World of Arthur Russell (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US BACK IN PRINT!! ARTHUR RUSSELL holds a unique place in the history of dance music; besides gaining admiration from everyone from Philip Glass to Todd Terry as an artist, he also formed the seminal groups DINOSAUR L and LOOSE JOINTS in the 80s, redefining dance music as an intelligent & subversive form. This release features his classics, 'Go Bang', 'Is It All Over My Face', 'Wax The Van' etc. alongside impossible-to-find collectors tracks such as 'In The Light Of The Miracle' & the private-pressing 'Pop Your Funk'. This is the first collected work of Arthur Russell, who's been one of the most respected iconic artists in the history of dance music. SoulJazz CD $16.25 Schaeffer, Janek Extended Play [Triptych for the child survivors of war and conflict] (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE JUNE 10TH) PS, US LIMITED EDITION 600. LINE is proud to release the latest audio work from British composer and installation artist Janek Schaefer based on his installation of the same title. Installation Reviews: "a piece to return to again and again... haunting and lulling" [The Wire, UK] "so inspirational, and in many ways very spiritual" [Gerry Turvey] "I was so deeply touched by your piece" [Mandeep Kaur Samra] Red is the colour of Life, of Death, and of Love. Scarlett, my first child, was born in 2005, and since then I have been very aware of how lucky we all are. have been constantly comparing this to the fact that my mother was born in Warsaw in 1942 - the epicenter of World War II. How opposite can two beginnings be? This inspired me to produce the Extended Play installation, which continuously and positively celebrates hope and new beginnings, for child survivors in all situations around the world. The original idea for the composition came from learning about the 'Jodoform' system of secret musical messages that were broadcast by the BBC Service, during music they played was given a particular meaning, which was interpreted by Polish Underground. Discovered from the original Jodoform logbook, that the lovely Polish folk song 'Tango Lyczakowskie', was broadcast on the day my mother was born. Song describes how children in 1918, had been forced to take up arms, in defense of their town. From this tune, chose a short rising musical phrase, and with my arranger Michael Jennings, developed a ten-minute score. Each of the three solo parts was then recorded separately, edited, and cut onto vinyl. In the gallery, 3 x Cello EP's, 3 x Piano EP's, and 3 x Violin EP's are played at either 33, 45, or 78rpm using nine retro record players. These play continuously, and each was modified to stop playing briefly in response to the audience moving around the exhibition. This has the effect of changing and extending the composition, so that it is never the same again. Line-036 CD $12.25 Sian Alice Group Remix (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US Released as an extremely limited edition 12-inch, Remix features the reworking of three tracks from SIAN ALICE GROUP's debut "59.59" by Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip, Brian Degraw of Gang Gang Dance and Spring Heeled Jack. TheSocialRegistry-068 LP $7.50 Six Finger Satellite Half Control (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! Load LP $12.50 Six Finger Satellite Half Control (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 24TH) PS, US Archival 2001 recordings from Providence's finest square peg. Half Control veers sharply away from the krautrock stylings of 1998's Law Of Ruins with a lineup that is hotwired. The band is now a bastardly other brother, including LANDED's most regular rhythm section grafted onto SFS's singer Jay Ryan and drummer Rick Pelletier. Load CD $12.50 Soundtrack of Our Lives, The Communion [domestic version] (ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US Swedish power pop-psychedelicists The Soundtrack of Our Lives return in force with the Communion, a double album opus containing 24 tracks dedicated to the moods of each hour of the day and night. On Communion, their first album in nearly four years, caftan-sporting Norseman Ebbot Lundberg and company blast through a veritable pharmacopeia of musical medication for the often insidious symptoms of modern society. But here Soundtrack not only point out the ills experienced by modern man, they offer actual cures in the form of buzzing guitars and glistening pop rock anthems. Despite already counting Grammy nominations (Behind the Music, 2003) opening slots for the icons of rock (The Rolling Stones, U2, The Black Crowes, Oasis) and nearly never ending headlining tours of the world as career milestones, the breadth and intensity of Communion knows no equal in the band's catalog and reminds the world why The Soundtrack of Our Lives remains one of rock's most profound and eccentric voices. YepRoc/Akashic DCD $15.00 Speck Mountain Some Sweet Relief (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH) PS, US Following their debut release of "Summer Above", Speck Mountain releases "Some Sweet Relief." Written about the rapture and consequences of desire, this album can truly relieve the mind with its beautiful simplicity. By combining the strength of Marie-Claire Balabanian's lungs with the intuitive, spiky rhythms of Karl Briedrick's guitar, the two writers have been called "musical soul mates." The songs have been filled out with piano, organ, sax, and vintage effects, the mixes booby-trapped all over with headphone-happy detail. CarrotTop CD $11.50 Speck Mountain Some Sweet Relief (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! CarrotTop LP $11.50 Speed Dating No. 6 Records Compendium (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH) PS, US From the infamous No. 6 Records label, released by TEENBEAT RECORDS. A 2-CD set of 13 vinyl singles on CD for the first time. Includes the debut single from the DWARVES, DEAN WAREHAM's first recordings after Galaxie 500 plus two songs recorded with his first wife (Cagney & Lacee), the stateside debut of the TINDERSTICK's (Marbles, For Those), BEWITCHED, GREG DULLI with MARCY MAYS under the name ORNAMENT, a pair of A-siders from UNREST & more! Teenbeat/No6Records CD $11.50 Spokes People Like People Like (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US There is a rustic feel to their reverb-soaked, violin-coated sound, one that has been compared to Arcade Fire. Counter CD $16.00 Stith, DM Heavy Ghost (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10th) PS, US "Heavy Ghost" communicates a startling range-from earnest yearning to heartbreak, shimmering hopefulness to the brink of existential despair. DAVID STITH's ethereal voice communicates the unfathomable-mysticism, the commingling of water and fire, waking dreams, spiritual torment-with such reckless abandon that is rarely seen in many albums, let alone a debut work. AsthmaticKitty-044 CD $9.50 SubractiveLAD Where the Land Meets The Sky (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US Bonus CD is limited to 1000. Producing five albums of high quality in only five years is a monumental task. Yet, this is precisely what Stephen Hummel, who records as SubtractiveLAD, has done and with seeming ease. With "Where The Land Meets The Sky", Hummel's fifth full-length for n5MD, the SubtractiveLAD sound has been perfected to such effect that it allows Hummel to concentrate on conveying his deepest feelings rather than the processes that go into music making. The album serves as an extension of Hummel's previous album "Apparatus" (2008) and effortlessly flows between such genres as shoegaze, armchair electronica, post-rock, and classic ambient. Stylistically it seems far away from his debut "Giving Up The Ghost" and in theory it is. Yet, Hummel has led us on a journey that for the patient has yielded great rewards. The first 1000 copies of "Where The Land Meets The Sky" come with a bonus disc of over 45 minutes of SubtractiveLAD style classically influenced ambient. n5MD-165 DCD $12.00 Sultan, Mark Hold On (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US Sweet new 45 from the BBQ portion of KING KHAN & BBQ SHOW. The A side is a lilting garage gem & the B side is a tweaked out Joe Meek cover. Subpop 45 $3.50 Taylor, Maria Ladyluck (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US Features collaborations w/ MICHAEL STIPE, Nate Walcott (BRIGHT EYES), & Mckenzie Smith (MIDLAKE) Nettwerk CD $18.00 Technical Itch You Need Therapy (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE SEPTEMBER 9TH) PS, US Technical Itch is the legendary drum n bass artist behind the worldwide phenomenon "THERAPY SESSIONS" club night. From London to Moscow to Philadelphia to Mexico City, Therapy Sessions is unrivaled for the sounds of the heaviest drum n bass music. Technical Itch is the godfather of the movement, with albums on Moving Shadow, and collaborations with Dieselboy, Dylan, Gein, and more. This mix is a stunning representation of the Technical Itch live set - 28 tracks packed into 80 minutes, masterful set programming with peaks, valleys, and change ups into rock and metal, highlighting the flexibility and integration of drum n bass into the musical landscape. Brutal, passionate, and perfect, this is at the level of the best mix output of Dieselboy. OhmResistance-9M CD $13.00 Thieves Like Us Play Music (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH) PS, US CD version. Thieves Like Us is a musical vehicle -- an elegant starship, pointed straight to the heart of the listener. Although they encompass a variety of influences, they ultimately consider themselves to be a pop band. Yes, the production style is both disco & hip-hop, but the sheer strength of the melodies & emotional depth of the songs makes them classics (think LCD Soundsystem, New Order, Daft Punk, Digitalism). But no matter how you interpret Thieves Like Us if you have a pulse, you'll know their songs by heart already. Shelflife CD $12.25 Todd, Mia Doi Morning Music (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US 1st album of instrumental music, featuring ANDRES RENTERIA on 2 tracks CityZen CD $14.25 Ulterior Kempers Head (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US Raw, electronic sounds, attacking drum machines & aggressive guitars compliment sloganeering lyrics. Their live reputation has helped cut a path through current UK scenes & gained them comparisons to JAMC, Big Black, early Manics & Suicide. This combines songs from their 1st 2 UK-only 12 " singles w/ some new tunes. KillerPimp CD $10.00 United Bible Studies Jonah (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH) PS, US A cornucopia of sonic delights, traversing the spectrum from delicate folk to sprawling progressive rock. Richard Youngs' progressive rock project Ilk provided the impetus for the band to make a "Prog Album" so they started with the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink opus "The Jonah". Running the gamut from delicate acoustic guitar to Sunn 0))) style doom metal & back again, it's an extraordinary feat of the imagination. Around this central track, a range of shorter tracks orbit, typically acoustic or folk-rock in nature with occasional experimental flourishes, they are characterized by glorious melodies & arrangements and a peerless array of guests. Current 93's Richard Moult provides synth & very David Tibet like vocals to opener "The Swallowing", and help out with the space folk piece "A for Andromeda". Ex Mellow Candle singer Allison O'Donnell provides vocals for several tracks, including the climactic conclusion to a Dave Colohan & Sharron Kraus duet version of the traditional "Lowlands of Holland" CameraObscura CD $13.25 Various Spectra: Guitar In The 21st Century (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US This collection of works provides a contemporary perspective for the unconventional sounds that can be generated from the guitar. Artists include Tetuzi Akiyama, Cory Allen, Erdem Helvacioglu, Jandek, Kim Myhr, Duane Pitre, Sebastien Roux, Keith Rowe and Mike Vernusky. "Quite a strong compilation, a fine showcase" - Frans De Waard, Vital Weekly TRACKS: 1. Three Small Pieces - Tetuzi Akiyama 2. Six - Sebastien Roux + Kim Myhr 3. Nylah - Mike Vernusky 4. Music For Microtonal Guitars and Mallets [edit] - Duane Pitre 5. Fermion - Cory Allen 6. The End of the World - Erdem Helvacioglu 7. Fragment From A Response To Cardew's Treatise - Keith Rowe 8. The World Stops - Jandek QuietDesign-007 CD $12.25 Various Acid Dreams (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 14TH) PS, US The opening track, WHITE LIGHT's "William," sets the standard for what's to come: a compulsive, classic, hard guitar-psych 45 rocker & 17 more psych diamonds follow in its wake. Other artists include: CARETAKERS OF DECEPTION, OUTCASTS, MUSIC MACHINE, MYSTIC TIDE, STEREO SHOESTRINGS, BEAUTIFUL DAZE, BALLOON FARM, & MINDS EYE. Past&Present CD $18.00 Various Local Customs: Downriver (CD/DVD) (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US Between 1967-81, Detroit's downriver neighbor Ecorse, MI had it's very own Moe Asch. Felton Williams chronicled the musical lives of Ecorse's citizins and issued them on the Solid Rock, Compose, & Revival labels. Compiled here are 24 of his most fascinating recordings, covering gospel, group soul, garage-punk, northern, jazz, & funk. Incl. DVD w/ over 200 sound recordings from Williams' archive and a 30-minute featurette on the making of this collection. Numero CD/DVD $18.50 Wavves Wavvves (ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 17TH) PS, US New album, new label. When not watching cops or drinking 40s in the park, Nathan Daniel William blogs on classic rap and records waves of effortlessly great slack / crust / beach / punk compressed onto 4 track cassette in his san diego bedroom. It's a room that most of us will only imagine. Thanks to the eager bloggers, you may have already heard Wavves. If you have not, we can say that few things are more annoying than reading a string of sound references. So how 'bout this : Wavves are exemplifying every musical pastiche of what anyone in their mid 20's has been through, and somehow, some that they have not. How a tune written by a 22 yr old can evoke this boyish reverie and reverence of thoughtful nostalgia is beyond me, but listen between the grooves and yr gonna hear it too. Wavves is the sound of today's american youth! It's a new day rising and as the Wavves get higher, they gotta converge. You can choose to stay down in the curl, but if you follow the winner, we can meet up on the crest. FatPossum CD $13.00 Wavves Wavvves (ON SALE / PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 3RD) PS, US VINYL VERSION. FatPossum LP $16.00 Week That Was, The S-T (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE AUGUST 26TH) PS, US 2008 debut album from the British Electro Pop outfit, chiefly Field Music dude David Brewis' big brother, and featuring contributions from Field Music colleagues. Musically the record is an expansive tribute, paying direct (and indirect) homage to the wildly ambitious Linn Drum and Fairlight experiments of Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, and Tin Drum-era Japan. Fused with typically detailed arrangements and a sense of drama, this makes The Week That Was a brain-shattering, 32-minute epic, straying far outside the conventions of most indie-guitar music. MemphisIndustries CD $15.25 Weight, The Are Men (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 10TH) PS, US In contrast to 2004's "10 Mile Grace", which found the group working within an alt-country framework executed by post-punk kids, "Are Men" brings a sense of lighthearted fun to the songwriting and execution - more country-rock block party, less alt. TeePee CD $12.50 Whisper in the Noise Dry Land (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE FEBRUARY 25TH) PS, US Self described "orchestral garage rock'" band from Hanska, Minnesota give an extremely humble & personal touch to gorgeous, string-laden rock music. Pretty, melancholic, sad & charming. for fans of Low, Arcade Fire, Guided by Voices. ExileOnMainstream-030 CD $13.50 Whitest Boy Alive Rules (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE MARCH 31ST) PS, US Indie-pop/disco! Bubbles CD $17.00 Winter Gloves About A Girl (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH) PS, US Ten songs driven by the sounds of keyboards and drumes, all wrapped up in a constant buzz of bass and gritty synths. Winter Gloves was voted best new band of 2008 on iTunes Canada. PaperBag CD $16.00 Winter Gloves About A Girl (PRE-ORDER: SALEABLE APRIL 7TH) PS, US VINYL VERSION!!! PaperBag LP $19.00 Parasol Picks, Recent Restocks, & Noteworthy Reminders Bible of the Devil/ Valkyrie “Split” 45 $5.25 Blank Dogs “The Fields” CD $10.25 Bob Corn/Larry Yes “Love Calls” 45 $4.75 Bobby & The Soft Spots “Can't Get Her Off b/w I Don't Need You” 45 $5.25 Boredoms “77 Boa Drum [deluxe edition]” DCD/DVD $110.00 Catwalk “Past Afar” 45 $3.50 Constantines “Our Age” 45 $6.50 Current 93 “Nature Unveiled” CD $16.00 Current 93 “Dog's Blood Rising” CD $16.00 Doe, John “Golden State” CD5 $5.00 Faith/Void “Split” LP $11.00 Feathers, Charlie “Wild Side of Life” CD $16.63 Final “Dead Air” CD $15.50 Guild League “Speak Up” CD $12.25 Hardin, Tim “1” CD $14.25 Hermit Crabs, The “Correspondence Course” CD5 $6.50 Jandek “London Tuesday” CD5 $7.00 Long Winters “Live at the Showbox” DVD $14.50 Louris, Gary “Vagabonds” CD $16.00 Louvin, Charlie “Sings Murder Ballads and Disaster Songs” CD $15.25 Murcof “Versailles Sessions” CD $14.25 Nebula “Peel Sessions” CD $16.25 Psychic TV “Mr. Alien Brain Vs. the Skinwalkers” CD/DVD $25.00 Staples, Mavis “Live: Hope At The Hideout” CD $16.25 Susanna “Flower of Evil” CD $16.25 Tanks “Keep Breaking Down” CD $8.50 Twi The Humble Feather “Music For Spaceships & Forests” CD $9.50 Verlaine, Tom “Dreamtime” CD $12.79 Viking Moses! “Parts That Showed” LP $18.25 Viking Moses! “Parts That Showed” CD $14.25 Wavves “S-T” CD $11.25