August 22, 2019

NEW THIS WEEK AT THE SHOP:

 

 

Greetings, Strictly buds, here's a rundown of this week's new arrivals. Up top is the sophomore album from Jay Som called 'Anak Ko'. The term 'bedroom pop' follows the LA songwriter around quite a bit, but this album had me fooled into thinking it was done in a fancy studio. Careful arrangements and dreamy, reflective lyrics make each track a joy here. Iconic antisocial rapper Tyler, the Creator's latest album 'Igor' is here on CD (vinyl coming soon), sporting his strongest combo yet of his angstily exhaled lyrics and production done in some unholy tribute to DJ Premier and Ariel Pink. Andy Stack is slightly overshadowed in his band Wye Oak by Jenn Wasner, the singing half of the duo, so he steps out with a new project called Joyero where, joined by a bunch of guests, he makes some indelibly moving pop that really sounds nothing like his main band. Great one here. We've also got the latest industrial/glitch mystery brew from Blanck Mass, 'Animated Violence Mild'.

  

Rarities from some faves are here this week with the arrival of '22 degree Lunar Halo', some new soundtrack work from Sigur Ros, a gorgeously packaged deluxe edition of Thom Yorke's recent solo album, 'Anima', which includes one extra track, and a new deluxe version of Andrew Bird's aptly titled 'My Finest Work Yet'. 

  

Mysterious producer Brainwaltzera has quietly released a handful of records over the last few years that have immediately become collectors items, particularly their debut EP 'Marzipan', now back in print. Generally, when you have strangers on the internet arguing over whether you are secretly Aphex Twin or secretly Boards of Canada, you've done some powerful work. Speaking of powerful, the soundtrack to the feel-good hit of the season 'Midsommar' is here on CD, with perhaps the strongest work to date by producer Bobby Krlic aka The Haxan Cloak. From the alley behind the street behind the stands behind leftfield comes a reissue of the 1989 mutant funk album from Desmond Coke, known mainly for his organ work for the On-U Sound label on classics like Creation Rebel's 'Starship Africa'. His lone solo album, 'Lets Chase the Sun', is something else entirely; addictingly perverse synth-funk in a post-George Clinton 'Computer Games' mode. If you're wondering why something like this needs a second life in 2019, just check out the incredible track 'Lets Make a Love Child', and line up. 

  

Explosions in the Sky prepare for their 20 year victory lap with reissues of two great early albums from before they we're so well known, 'How Strange Innocence' and the very rare CD-only effort 'The Rescue', which finds the group in more of a free-form collage mode that really hits the spot. At the other end of the epic rock spectrum lies Lightning Bolt, whose breakout album of psychedelic grindcore 'Wonderful Rainbow' has been reprinted on color vinyl. 

  

 

Country new and old is here on vinyl this week, with represses of classics like Waylon Jennings 'Greatest Hits', Willie Nelson's 'Red Headed Stranger', and Dolly Parton's 'Jolene', plus new albums from Tanya Tucker and Vince Gill.

  

Robert Randolph follows his recent visit to our humble town with a new record, and we at last have a new album from the long-lost neosoul wunderkind Raphael Saadiq. One of the best years for new jazz in recent memory continues with a stunning entry from New Zealand up and comer Myele Manzanza, a percussionist and arranger with a timeless human touch. 

 

We've had one or the other in-stock intermittently all year, but right now we have both of Light in the Attic's incredible Japanese electronic compilations in the house on vinyl. 'Kankyo Ongaku' focuses on new age, minimalism and ambient, while 'Pacific Breeze' takes on soft-rock, city pop, and various strands of post-Yellow Magic Orchestra delights. 

  

Some stunners from the classical/folk realm this week include a gorgeous vinyl edition of little-known new age pianist Joanna Brouk's 1980 cassette 'The Space Between'. If you had to choose just one piano album to keep (which sounds like a terrible challenge, but lets go with it), it just might be this one. We've also got new music from minimalist composer Leo Svirsky, and an entrancing new LP collaboration from folk musician Sharron Kraus and hauntologists Belbury Poly called 'Chanctonbury Rings'. 

  

Nina Simone's last album for RCA before she took several years off from recording, 'It Is Finished', is a deeply underrated entry in her catalog. Recorded live in concert somewhere (I've read NYC, or somewhere in Africa, and it could be both), this record finds Miss Simone quite untethered to standards, turning in covers of 'Funkier Than A Mosquitoes Tweeter' and 'Come By Here', and haunting traditionals like 'Obeah Woman'. Supported by minimal hand percussion and at times by an uncredited Don Alias in total beast mode on the drums, this is just a really special Nina Simone album you wont find on any hits compilations. We've also got Lonnie Smith's Blue Note classic 'Think!' back in print, and a cheap new pressing of Inner Life's disco classic 'I'm Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair)', which features some of the best funky production work of Patrick Adams' career. 

  

Last up, we welcome a new album from Frank Turner called 'No Mans Land', the latest disc from happy collaborator Rodney Crowell, and the latest record from the very much not dead Redd Kross!

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Ride - “This Is Not a Safe Place”  This is Ride’s second album since their reformation in 2014, and their sixth album overall.  And this new album utilizes the band’s classic gauzy shoegaze sound of the early nineties. While 2016’s “ Weather Diaries” may have been a declaration of independence from their past, “This is Not a Safe Place” revels in their history - especially their early history from almost thirty years ago.  “This is Not a Safe Place” will remind the listener why they fell in love with Ride all those years ago. - Ted

Frank Turner - “No Man’s Land”  Mr. Turner started out in punk rock, but for the last decade or so has been a folkish singer-songwriter.  “No Man’s Land” is his eighth album. And there is a theme connecting all the songs. All of the songs deal with women who died in the past.  Some died natural deaths, but most died violent and forgotten deaths. A few were famous such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Kassiani (a saint and one of the first recognized musical composers).  But most are unknown and most tried to declare their independence from the male dominated world and were definitely thwarted. While this may seem to be a bit heavy, Mr. Turner has graced “ No Man’s Land” with some of the most gorgeous melodies he has ever crafted.  It is a bit astounding how well crafted this album is. It seems obvious that “No Man’s Land” was an important album for Mr. Turner and he gave it all he could muster. - Ted

Purple Pilgrims - “Perfumed Earth”  Purple Pilgrims are two sisters, Valentine and Clementine Nixon.  The sisters come from New Zealand, and their music imagines a New Zealand shrouded in fog and mist, with night and dark shadows predominating.  But there is a purity and joy shining through their sisterly harmonies. It is easy to imagine the Purple Pilgrims as a new century Cocteau Twins.  The sisters use their voices much the same way that Liz Fraser did back in the eighties. Purple Pilgrims are the latest in a long line of groundbreaking New Zealand musicians. And they even cover a Nico song. - Ted

Ron, Ryan, Angie, Marty, Evan, Matt, Ben, Will, Ed, Isaac, Larry, Andy, Mark, Jack, Sam, Eric & Mike