February 3, 2022

NEW THIS WEEK AT THE SHOP:

��

With snowy weather all around, freezing us to a standstill and throwing a�bit of a stick in the spokes of interstate commerce, we're lucky to have some incredible new music to break the ice. Tip of the 'berg is the latest from MITSKI, 'Laurel Hell', in which the emergent synthpop frankness-merchant gives us the "step into my office" look once again, outdoing herself on her best album yet. We have red vinyl on this one, as well as standard black wax, cassettes, and four different limited edition�CD versions, plus some neat postcards to give away while they last. At this point, we'd wander along wherever the Welsh singer CATE LE BON leads us, but what's this? We're going to 'Pompeii'? Didn't some bad stuff go down there? Not to worry, the mercurial Cate has us covered, on another endlessly revealing trip through the rich veins of her (at this point) signature blend of jazz-pop, which imagines what if the fertile songwriting engines of Soft Machine and Yellow Magic Orchestra had a chance to work in unison back in the late 70s. Sun yellow vinyl on the first pressing of this. Make way for the veterans ANIMAL COLLECTIVE, freshly reformed and at the absolute top of their game on 'Time Skiffs', a calmingly steady excursion that seems to see the group operating minimally and inwards for the first time in a long time or ever. Clear ruby wax on this for a limited time.

��

Is Vampire Weekend a historic band now? Their influence is all over the latest HIPPO CAMPUS album 'LP3' and as is often the case, the second wave has made significant improvements to the original formula, in the shop on limited purple wax. You may detect a bit of Godspeed/Mt. Zion pomp and circumstance in the anthemic, cathartic indie of BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD on their latest unhinged opus, 'Ants from Up There'. Known francophiles Jarvis Cocker and Grace Jones join Alexandre Desplat on the excellent soundtrack for THE FRENCH DISPATCH, in theaters now and available this week on vinyl.�

�

�

Knock four essentials off your PRINCE list as we welcome standard-issue, exact reproductions of some long out of print early classics by the Purple One: 'For You', 'Dirty Mind', 'Controversy', and '1999'. Watch this space later this month for more of his LPs.

��

��

Psychedelic indie savant KELLEY STOLTZ first garnered acclaim with his self-released, literally�homemade 2001 album 'Antique Glow'. This record is a genre-skipping treasure, tapping in somewhere between Skip Spence, the Stone Roses, and Chrome, and now gets a sumptuous reissue on vinyl through Third Man, with a variety of covers and an extra LP of unheard demos. Scant released material exists for the brief 1980s Liverpool duo CARELESS HANDS, whose lone 45 was likely one missed trip to the dumpster away from dooming the band to permanent oblivion. Such close calls are the stock in trade of the Smiling C label, who summon forth 10 unheard songs on 'When Dreams Slip Through', an enchanting collection of charming pop ala the "cod reggae" period of Scritti Politti or The Gist. Plenty more avant-pop gems for heads back in stock include the homemade string instrument LP by the Scottish Moondog, MICHAEL O'SHEA, a new printing of the transcendent 'Instrumentals' by the chamber ensemble led by ARTHUR RUSSELL, the indie pop goes lounge jazz perfection of WEEKEND's 'La Variete', and the almighty synth dystopia that is JOHN CARPENTER's 'Escape From New York' soundtrack.

��

Slyly stitching together the candied bliss of 90s rave with the juddering pulse of reggaeton, the producer DJ PYTHON has quickly established his own genre of dance music, which he can only perfect further with each release. So it is the case that his latest EP, 'Club Sentimientos Vol 2' is his best yet, instantly a 2022 highlight, with three tracks: one a fragrant, regenerating dream, one ballroom banger, and one beautiful Boards of Canada-channelling sketch. Suzanne Kraft teams up with fellow Amsterdam producer Anton Pieete as GHOSTBUSTERS, investigating paranormal techno activity on a new EP, while the latest from the Future Times label features the inventive fourth-world house of Miami mixer NICK LE�N.

��

��

Soul titan CURTIS MAYFIELD gets his first 'Very Best Of' vinyl collection to kick off Black History Month. Also back in print this week: the iconic 90s NYC house of DREAM 2 SCIENCE, 1974 funk rarity 'Super Slick' from DON JULIAN AND THE LARKS; doo-wop trance-setter 'Flamingo Serenade' by THE FLAMINGOS; the 1969 debut LP from KOOL AND THE GANG; and the Allen Toussaint-produced melting pot of soul that is ERNIE K. DOE's self-titled 1971 debut.

�

�

Jazz reissues this week include the volcanic Detroit free-funk classic 'The Time Is Now' by PHIL RANELIN, a Blue Note Tone Poet reissue of the very rare STANLEY TURRENTINE album 'Rough & Tumble', an obscure 80s gem from the legendary organist JOHN PATTON called 'Soul Connection', and a moody jewel from PIERO UMILIANI called 'Atmospheres'.

�

�

Hip-hop releases this week include a reissue of the underground 2001 classic 'Disposable Arts' by MASTA ACE, a new vinyl edition of 'Homegrown' by known herb enthusiast SMOKE DZA, plus a pair of LPs from YOUNGBOY NBA.

�

�

The WORLD BUILDING label rounds up a crew of six DC/Bmore producers for the eclectic and vital first volume of 'Neighborhood Watch', which scans from loopy techno to grimy baltimore club. Over 30 years since the last installment, the influential UK label Network revives its 'Bio Rhythm'�compilation without missing a step it seems. The Numero Group teams up with the Rush Hour label to present a vital sampler of tracks from the early 90s house/swingbeat label V4 VISIONS, and an incredible compilation called NEW FLAVA VOL. 1 collects unreleased gospel-influenced street soul from 90s London.�

�

�

British popsters BASTILLE seem pretty over the whole lockdown thing on 'Give Me The Future', in the house on yellow vinyl alongside the latest LP release from LADY GAGA, 'Dawn Of Chromatica' on clear wax. Posthuman musician POPPY returns with 'Flux', and we have a nice new jangly one from RAT COLUMNS.�

��

When the doomy druid boys in SUNN 0))) first donned robe and put plug to concert amp, you knew it was just a matter of time before they were being invited to play on BBC Radio. Ok maybe not, but it's awfully cool that it worked out that way. An overwhelming new vinyl set captures 3 massive tracks the band recorded in Maida Vale back in 2019.�Nu-metal lifers KORN return with 'Requiem', and we've got a cool vinyl reissue of the scorching Swedish hard rock 70 band GREAT AD's 'Deep Down Death'.

��

��

Heavy stuff back in print this week includes a trio of LPs from AVENGED SEVENFOLD, two long out of print classics from BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, 'Beat The Devil's Tattoo' and 'Specter at the Feast', plus a 'black ice' vinyl repress of 'De Vermis Mysteriis' by HIGH ON FIRE.

��

Brazilian flautist and composer MARIANA ZWARG makes a colorful debut as a bandleader on 'Nascentes'. Percussionist JASON NAZARY marries organic and synthetic rhythms to delirious effect on 'Spring Collection', and we have a banging new album of sleek modern funk from OURRA called 'Fantasy Point'.�

��

��

French trio THE PILOTWINGS are some odd dudes, crafting flighty, playful house as influenced by Daft Punk as the Residents on 'Les Charismatiques'. Colombian producer MATIAS AGUAYO teams up with DJ JULIANNA on a lovely EP of introspective techno. Brilliant chiptuned electro abounds on a new double LP from SILICON SCALLY on the mighty CPU label. Freshly exploratory deep house is in from UK producer LOUF and on the Russian compilation PEACE SYMPHONIES, and we close with the wintry yet technicolor acoustic ambient soundbath that is the latest record from BVDUB, 'Violet Opposition'.

USED VINYL ALERT:

This week's used vinyl alert is full of hot ones to get your living�room toasty! Deep runs of classic Beatles and Rolling Stones albums, a very long run of Jimi Hendrix bootlegs, and a nice crop of Prince LPs and seldom-seen 12" singles start us off. Plenty more from the Grateful Dead, Van Halen, Joni Mitchell, Monkees, JJ Cale, David Bowie, OMD, New Order, Gram Parsons, the Kinks, Jethro Tull, Simon and Garfunkel, Pink Floyd, and the Ventures.

TOPS AT THE SHOP:

2021 STAFF TOP 10S can be found�HERE

STRICTLY DISCS IS HIRING:

VINYL PRICING SPECIALIST AND/OR SHOP CLERK:

Required skills:

Excellent customer service skills; retail experience with ability to anticipate customer needs

Extreme Computer proficiency

A passion for music, and�a broad, deep base of recorded music history

Knowledge of Goldmine standards &�experience grading and pricing records

Knowledge of stereo equipment/functionality

Availability to work weekends

Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds repeatedly

To apply, submit letter of interest & resume to angie@strictlydiscs.com