Building on the triumph of Les Imprimes' inaugural album, Reverie, Big Crown Records presents two standout tracks from the album pressed onto this 7". For the A-side, Morten provides an edit and infuses the mix with an extra dose of depth reminiscent of Larry Levan's style. The result is striking and hits harder, igniting the dancefloor with its infectious rhythm while delivering a resonant message about the consequences of investing too much in the wrong relationships: On the B-side, 'You' bursts forth with a captivating crescendo, setting the stage for a sublime sweet soul melody. This beautiful declaration of love and reassurance is equally enchanting both musically and lyrically. Morten Martens' talent for arrangement shines through on both of these lovely tunes.
Review: DFA presents a special 12" release from New York's no wave pioneers, Liquid Liquid, paying tribute to the band's profound influence on the label. This double A-side features revitalized versions of their iconic tracks. The first side offers a dynamic rendition of 'Bellhead,' recorded by James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy in 2004. It's an intense percussive journey, overflowing with marimba, drums, and an array of bells, transforming the original's laid-back groove into a vibrant, energetic workout. On the flip side, we have an unreleased version of 'Optimo,' re-recorded by Liquid Liquid in 2008 and then remixed by Glasgow's Optimo (Espacio), the duo named in homage to the track.
Review: If indie-rock did fantasy football then this is a championship-winning supergroup that hipsters would have wet dreams about. Minnesota slowcore sorts Low joined forces with Aussie meditative atypical post-rock group Dirty Three for a one-off EP. That's Dirty Three of Warren Ellis fame (the beardy Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds band member). There were tight parameters to encourage experimentation: The EP, originally released in 2001, was part of the Fishtank sessions where artists handpicked by the Konkurrent label make a record in Amsterdam in only two days.
The gamble seemingly paid off. It's remarkable that they sound as if they've been living out of each other's pockets for years, with seamless musical understanding, despite the short amount of time they were given. There's tear-jerking tenderness in hearing Mimi Parker's voice on the opening track, 'I Hear Goodnight'. Parker founded Low along with her husband Alan Spearhawk, but sadly passed away in 2022. Meanwhile, other highlights include a superb slow-motion cover of Neil Young's 'Down By The River', which doesn't feel too constrained by the original and showcases the group's experimental tendencies. The vocal take here makes you wish for an entire album of them performing Neil Young covers. Elsewhere, 'When I Called Upon Your Seed' is an Americana masterpiece with gorgeous droning instrumentals freckled with guitar plucking and long-held vocal notes.
Something that appears to have made this session a success is the uncomplicatedness of the recording, which stays away from adding too many lines of instrumentation, and gives the spotlight to the individual talent of people who can truly play. The rewards are countless, but it would be amiss to not note Warren Ellis' violin performance throughout the record. That alone is enough to make you wish you persevered and kept up with those violin lessons as a kid. Enough listens to this, though, and perhaps you'll think it's not too late to go back. Truly inspiring stuff.
Review: L'Imperatrice's upcoming album Pulsar promises to be a vibrant fusion of funk, disco, pop, and house music, enriched with influences from French house and Italo-disco. The Parisian group show their versatility by incorporating elements of hip-hop, kosmische, and pop into their sonic palette, featuring guest vocalists such as Maggie Rogers, Erick the Architect, and Fabiana Martone, Pulsar promises to deliver a dynamic listening experience. With their infectious energy and innovative sound, L'Imperatrice continues to fascinate audiences, making Pulsar an eagerly anticipated addition to their discography.
Review: L'Imperatrice's upcoming album Pulsar promises to be a vibrant fusion of funk, disco, pop, and house music, enriched with influences from French house and Italo-disco. The Parisian group show their versatility by incorporating elements of hip-hop, kosmische, and pop into their sonic palette, featuring guest vocalists such as Maggie Rogers, Erick the Architect, and Fabiana Martone, Pulsar promises to deliver a dynamic listening experience. With their infectious energy and innovative sound, L'Imperatrice continues to fascinate audiences, making Pulsar an eagerly anticipated addition to their discography.
Review: La Femme's Rock Machine marks a bold new chapter for the French neo-psych band, delivering their first full-length album in English. After exploring various sonic territories with Paradigmes and Teatro Lucido, the band, led by Marlon Magnee and Sacha Got, revisits their signature new wave and synth-driven style, blending it with influences from 80s and 90s Anglo rock. The album kicks off with the stylish, glam-infused single 'Clover Paradise', setting the tone for a project that seamlessly fuses genres like electro, surf rock, and disco, all wrapped in a punk spirit. From the synthwave of 'Sweet Babe' to the rebellious energy of 'My Generation', La Femme's sound is eclectic yet cohesive. Tracks like 'Venus' evoke a nostalgic mix of 60s psych-pop, while 'Love Is Over' channels the danceable grooves of the Madchester era. Throughout Rock Machine, the band's creativity shines as they confidently experiment with arena-sized rock styles and cinematic soundscapes. This album proves La Femme's ability to transcend language and genre, reinforcing their status as musical innovators.
Review: La Luz's News of the Universe emerges as a stunning example to resilience and creativity amidst adversity. Born from guitarist Shana Cleveland's battle with breast cancer, the album traverses themes of life, death, and transformation with haunting beauty. The band's sonic palette, led by Cleveland's ethereal vocals and anchored by urgent rhythms, paints a vivid portrait of chaos and ecstasy. Produced entirely by women, the album embodies a fierce femininity, embracing vulnerability and triumph in equal measure. With lush chamber pop melodies and searing guitar solos, News of the Universe shows La Luz's pioneering spirit and unwavering commitment to artistic authenticity. It's a record that boldly defies expectations, delivering a sonic journey that is both devastating and euphoric - a true triumph in the face of adversity.
Review: A to-the-T emulation of a classic coldwave/post-punk sound is heard on this debut album by La Nuit Je Mens, a duo split between the Parisian suburbs and southern Italy. Now based in Rome, the pair have come up with a proper synthoid slammer, commandeering a fleet of analogue machines, each member in their own independent wheelhouse. Both artists take up vocals, exploring such tragicomic themes as the slow decline of the clubbing scene and clandestine goings-on in the nostal-chic European underground scene, marking out a sordid subconscious below ostensibly blank progressions. Huge degrees of texture, harmonic range and dynamism are packed into these otherwise rawly armed recordings, with 'Posterite Du Soleil' in particular fitting an immensity of new wave gothic romance into a narrow four-instrument limitation.
Review: L.A. Witch is back with a marked evolution in their sound that pulls in aspects of garage rock and post-punk while exploring existential themes of love, devotion and subservience. Recorded in Paris, the trio of Sade Sanchez, Irita Pai and Ellie English push their craft to new realms with icy instrumentation and introspective lyrics. Tracks like 'Icicle' channel early goth vibes while '777' delves into fatalistic passion. The album also, we're told, explores the symbolic connection between women and dogs with themes of sacrifice and loyalty. All this makes it rather menacing yet oddly romantic, so DOGGOD revitalises the band's trademark sound while taking them into darker territories with haunting overtones.
Review: On Good Together, Lake Street Dive embraces a renewed sense of purpose and focus on unity amidst social divisions. Described as "joyful rebellion", the album blends energetic, danceable sounds with a defiant, principled message that makes a long-lasting impression. "There's so much pain and division but living in anger isn't sustainable," drummer Mike Calabrese explains adding, "Joy is a powerful way to sustain yourself, and we wanted to remind people of that." The album he has made with his bandmates was produced by Grammy-winner Mike Elizondo and is the first time they collaborated on songwriting from the start. In turn, this expanded their creative range and has brought a new depth to their sound.
Applause Cheer Boo Hiss: The Definitive Edition(limited gatefold eco mix vinyl 2xLP + MP3 download code in embossed sleeve (comes in different coloured vinyl, we cannot guarantee which colour you will receive))
Review: Critics talk of 'timelessness' like it's going out of fashion, but when it comes to Irish folk the word carries more clout. Lankum, a four piece contemporary outfit born from the ever-thriving Dublin scene and a duo project, Lynched (named after the band's two founding brothers, Ian and Daragh Lych), are a perfect example of what we're talking about. Live In Dublin is a great reference point to understand this. If ever there were sounds made to be experienced IRL then it might be the noises these multi-instrumentalists evidently love to make. Simultaneously capable of transporting us to peaty moorlands of the past, while hitting nail on head as to where we are today, and presenting bold visions of how sounds might develop tomorrow, from rousing crescendos to pin-drop-quiet, this is relentlessly captivating stuff.
Review: A Beautiful Blur is the fifth studio album from LANY but it is their first without founding member and keyboardist Les Priest, who left the band in 2022. This new era was announced a year ago and was ushered in with four singles including 'Congrats,' 'Love At First Fight', 'Alonica' and 'XXL' which all built anticipation for the album. They are included here with all new tracks that show how the band has evolved with its new lineup but also managed to stay true to the roots of their signature sound.
Review: The box set Huge, Large and Electric: Hugo Largo 1984-1991 offers a deep dive into the experimental art-rock quartet's full discography, bringing together studio albums, rarities and live recordings. Emerging from New York's 1980s No Wave scene, Hugo Largo stood out with their unorthodox lineup of two bass guitars, violin and powerhouse vocalist Mimi Goese, creating a sound that blended dream pop, ambient and avant-rock. Their debut album, Drum (produced by Michael Stipe), set the tone with eerie, minimalist arrangements and haunting vocals. Tracks like 'Eskimo Song' and 'Second Skin' became standout examples of their melancholic yet intense energy. Goese's theatrical voice, often described as a powerful instrument of its own, added a sense of danger to their art-rock atmosphere. On their second album, Mettle, Hugo Largo took their avant-garde roots and added more pop sensibility without sacrificing originality. Songs like 'Turtle Song' and 'Hot Day' introduced playful tension, showing Goese's vocal range and the band's willingness to experiment. This box set, lovingly curated by Missing Piece, revives a pivotal chapter in American post-punk history.
Mirror (acoustic From The Brudenell Social club (Leeds)) (4:43)
This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us (3:12)
Up North (live From Hebden Trades club) (3:30)
Wicked Game (live From Showbox Sodo (Seattle)) (3:39)
Army Dreamers (live From Studio Brussel) (2:10)
Review: This special edition's second vinyl offers acoustic renditions and live covers, including a beautiful version of 'Wicked Game' and an emotional take on 'Army Dreamers'. The Last Dinner Party's debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy, produced by James Ford, is a masterful blend of theatrical flair, emotional depth, and diverse musical styles. From the cinematic opening instrumental to the haunting 'Burn Alive,' the album captures an evocative range of moods and experiences, highlighting the band's exceptional musicianship and Abigail Morris' commanding vocals. Emily Roberts' guitar work is especially striking, providing both tonal nuance and powerful solos. The album's strength lies in its versatility, moving from the anthemic brilliance of debut single 'Nothing Matters' to the tender beauty of 'On Your Side'. The inclusion of 'Gjuha', sung in Albanian by keyboardist Aurora Nishevci, adds a personal, multicultural touch, showing the band's ability to explore different sounds and themes. Ford's production accentuates the sweeping orchestral elements and electronic textures without overpowering the band's raw energy.
Review: Surely your first thoughts seeing this album drop are what a shame it is that LCD Soundsystem no longer crank out the tunes. Happily, we shall always have their fine body of work to revert to in times of need and few albums could quench your thirst for punk-funk-infused indie-disco bangers than this live effort from 2010's Berlin Festival. It has a number of the cult US band's classics included such as a fine rendition of 'Daft Punk Is Playing In My House', the seminal 'Get Innocuous!' and one of our favourites, 'All My Friends'. A wonderful way to revisit the glory years of one of the best bands of the last 20 years.
Review: Leathers' debut album, Ultraviolet, helmed by Canadian musician and visual artist Shannon Hemmett, plunges listeners into a neon-lit world of synth-driven dream pop, darkwave, and shoegaze. Hemmett, who also plays keyboards for Actors, fully engages herself in every facet of this project, from crafting the music to designing the visual aesthetics. Ultraviolet offers a mix of new tracks and familiar hits, with 'Divine' standing out as a stellar example of what the album delivers. Hemmett's sharp lyrics, like "I demand your best behaviour / no, I won't ask you twice," are paired with infectious melodies, impressing longtime fans. Produced by Actors frontman Jason Corbett, Ultraviolet channels the brooding pop of Depeche Mode's classic albums like Black Celebration and Violator. While the album is rooted in synths and melodic immediacy, it carries a darker, moody undercurrent. Leathers' Ultraviolet is an impressive debut that showcases Hemmett's artistic vision, blending haunting soundscapes with striking visuals to create a cohesive and engaging album.
Review: Cindy Lee's Diamond Jubilee invites listeners to experience an exquisite journey through sound and emotion. Hailed as a major contender for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize, this album offers a fascinating tapestry of ethereal melodies and haunting reflections. Crafted over countless hours in studios stretching from Toronto to Montreal, Patrick Flegel channels a unique blend of nostalgia and longing. With infectious hooks wrapped around evocative arrangements, Diamond Jubilee is a striking embodiment of innovation in experimental pop, solidifying Cindy Lee's position as an important figure in contemporary music.
My Favourite Headache (instrumental - bonus track) (4:45)
Home On The Strange (instrumental - bonus track) (3:48)
Review: Four years after Test for Echo, Rush fans were eagerly awaited new material. Geddy Lee broke the silence with his solo debut, My Favourite Headache, now reissued on vinyl. Teaming up with guitarist Ben Mink and drummer Matt Cameron, Lee delivers a fresh, contemporary sound that departs from his band's previous work. The album kicks off with the aggressive bass lines of the title track, but soon surprises with a skanky guitar and a killer buzz-riff. Tracks like 'The Present Tense' rock hard, while ballads like 'The Angel's Share' showcase Lee's versatility. 'Working at Perfekt' blends both styles seamlessly, and standout choruses in 'Slipping' and 'Runaway Train' remind listeners of Lee's knack for grand, sweeping melodies. Lyrically, Lee steps out from Neil Peart's shadow, blending metaphysical musings with everyday reflections. His vocals have never sounded more assured, adding to the solid songwriting and performances throughout. This vinyl reissue highlights My Favourite Headache as a strong solo effort that stands on its own.
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