SKULLFLOWER - 'THIS IS SKULLFLOWER'

Formats

• VHF23CD - CD

  78388100232

Details

Repressed and restocked: we havent had this essential Skullflower CD for quite some time...Most mellow and spacey SF release - and the last until their reactivation in the 2000's. The music here is an authoritative re-working of some of the ideas that first surfaced on their Argon CD (released by Freek). The modal structures and experiments with bowed instruments and horns that surfaced on that record are redefined and sharpened in terms of sound quality and execution, providing an extremely fulfilling listen for both the SF acclimated and the novice alike. The 40 minute "The Pirate Ship Of Reality Is Moving Out" was recorded live to DAT at a concert with Richard Youngs on extra guitar, and is the only SF live recording of such high fidelity. Also has very nice full color Matt Bower artwork all over. 4 tracks, 78 minutes.

Tracks

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Audio & Video

TY SEGALL - 'CAESAR'

Formats

• 56GONE - 7"

  N/A

Details

Ty Segall lays down exquisite, poppy reverb reflections over a modern Bolan boogie as gypsy birds flutter in the meadow near a grove of redwood trees. Sounds great! Now here comes Pan, ditching his flute for some piano deconstruction to take us on through the end of the afternoon. Don't stop dancing! Wave those hands in the air! We've got sunshine, beautiful sunshine! Hail "Caesar"! The B-side, "Bullet Proof Nothing," is a cover of seminal Canadian proto-punks Simply Saucer. Segall beams sunshine through the eternally rippling third eye, coming through clearer and poppier than the music from his first two albums, and even more psychedelic, catchy, and stompin'! Strong Singing + Reverb Vocals + Fuzz Bass + Acoustic Guitar + CPS (Crazed Piano Solo*) = Gold (*CPS ranks #1 on Pitchfork "Trending Upwards" Charts, February, 2010). ? Cleaned-up, poppy Ty sound ready for scowling hipster backlash and massive teenage girl crushes! ? Teaser single for the upcoming Melted album, out in June 2010 ? A-side is a different mix of an album track, B-side is exclusive ? The only Ty Segall single released this week!

Tracks

1. Caesar
2. Bullet Proof Nothing

Press

N/A

Audio & Video

MAGIC LANTERN - 'S/T'

Formats

• WOODSIST019 - LP

  N/A

Details

Timely repress of this long sold out debut: (new, and final LP due soon on NNF) California's Magic Lantern came into being at the midpoint of the decade, sparked into existence by a simultaneous period of musical discovery for its members. Inspired by the psychedelic approach to musical tone and structure in various eras and genres of rock (particularly Germany and Japan in the '70s), the band realized they ought to make use of the new creative tools they'd stumbled upon, and began jamming the summer away in twin poles of Long Beach and Whittier, CA. Their influences provided blueprints for a raw, stripped-down sound that emphasized hypnotic rhythms and improvised guitar duels.

Tracks

1. At the Mountains of Madness
2. Vampires in Heat
3. Chance Encounter
4. Gateway

Press

yes....

Audio & Video

R.M. HUBBERT - 'FIRST & LAST'

Formats

• UBISANO001 - CD

  0837654885994

Details

The debut album by RM Hubbert is something of a rebirth - musically and creatively for someone who has been releasing music under a variety of guises and on a number of labels since 1993. A mainstay of numerous bands within the Glasgow DIY scene of the 1990ʼs - it was the three albums released by El Hombre Trajeado, spanning 1995-2006 which attracted the most attention: good reviews, 3 Peel sessions and numerous shows with the likes of Sebadoh, Tortoise, Nick Cave, Deerhoof, Mum, The Delgados and Mike Watt. However, on their demise - after the release of third album ʻShlapʼ - Hubbert stopped playing live and began studying different musical forms: more specifically, flamenco, samba and taiko. The outcome was a series of solo guitar compositions, which are based around flamenco rhythms and structures, but which are simultaneously melodically traceable to both his previous work and more contemporary styles. Having written a number of songs, he began playing live again, around Glasgow, in 2008, before recording the 9 songs on the album in the summer of 2009. Though a solo record, this presents a slightly misleading picture - as the outlook behind it is one that embraces collaboration. Initially, it is released as a specially produced and hand bound, hardback art book (limited to 105 copies) which features contributions from artists (among them Toby Paterson, Luke Fowler, Danny Saunders and Sarah Lowndes) as well as former and present musical collaborators including Jer Reid and Howie Reeve. This is available exclusively from www.rmhubbert.com and Monorail from 15th December 2009. This is also a collaborative, rather than purely commercial venture: The download version will be available on a pay what you like basis and the music will be released under a Creative Commons1 license, which allows for remixes and reworking of the music as well as further sharing of it for non-commercial purposes. In addition to the book version, a CD will be released on Ubisano (a new, open source inspired record label) more widely on 1st March 2010 and a number of shows will be arranged under the "will play for food" scheme2. There will be further releases on Ubisano next year, including the second RM Hubbert album which will feature collaborations with the likes of Aidan Moffat, Alastair Roberts, Emma Pollock, Luke Sutherland and Jenny Reeve.

Tracks

1. Hey There Mr Bone
2. For Maria
3. Jumphang
4. Tipsy Tapsy
5. Mrs Saunders
6. By Reference
7. Skyreburn
8. Temple Circa 89
9. Go Quickly

Press

Audio & Video