CODES IN THE CLOUDS - 'PAPER CANYON'

Formats

• ERATP014CD - CD

  4260185965129

• ERATP014LP - LP

  4050486115930

Details

**FIRST TIME ON VINYL**In 2009 instrumental rock music experienced a new peak. Codes In The Clouds, the English quintet of Ciaran Morahan, Stephen Peeling, Jack Major, Joe Power and Robert Smith had found a firm place in this vast growing scene, spearheaded by the likes of Mogwai and 65daysofstatic — whom CITC supported live. With their harmonious and blissful sound they weaved guitar melodies, liable to explode any minute. Now Codes In The Clouds celebrate their tenth anniversary with the first vinyl edition of their seminal debut album Paper Canyon, released on June 7th via Erased Tapes. Completed under the experienced eye of Justin Lockey (Minor Victories, The Editors, Yourcodenameis: Milo, The British Expeditionary Force) and with the vinyl master cut by legendary engineer Barry Grint (Radiohead, Oasis, Kate Bush) at Alchemy, London, Paper Canyon has lost none of its original urgency; at once energetic and charming, always surprising and unpredictable. Bassist Joe Power recalls; “Paper Canyon was recorded in the late summer of 2008 over 5 days in Doncaster. Being a bunch of Camden Market-dwelling teenagers in the early 2000’s, we were big fans of Yourcodenameis:milo and were of course in love with The British Expeditionary Force, so hearing from Robert at Erased Tapes that Justin Lockey was going to produce the album was beyond exciting for us. The days in the studio were long, but working with two perfectionists in Justin and James Lockey you knew that the long days were going to be worth it. Looking back on the process now, the memories that stand out are the endless shouts of “tune up!” after every take, the nearby café that offered “bottomless toast” with every breakfast (challenge accepted). Above all else, I think what stands out the most when reflecting on this record and listening to the tracks now is how young we were. This album could only have been written by people just entering their 20’s. It has been great going through all the songs, the demos and the videos from that time and we’re really excited to finally have the album released in the format for which it was designed.” In 2010, the band released Paper Canyon Recycled, a remix album which included reworks by label peers Nils Frahm and Rival Consoles, among many other friends, and all proceeds going to Friends of the Earth. To coincide with the re-issue and its 10th anniversary, Codes In The Clouds will perform Paper Canyon in its entirety as part of Portals Festival at Tuffnell Park Dome in London on June 8th, as well as Tramlines Festival at West Street Live in Sheffield on July 21st.

Tracks

A 1. Fractures
A 2. Don?t Go Awash In This Digital Landscape
A 3. Distant Street Lights
A 4. We Anchor In Hope
B 1. You Are Not What You Think You Are
B 2. The Distance Between Us

Press

'A perfectly presented first statement of their intentions... sending jolts from shoulders to fingertips' (8/10) ? Clash

Audio & Video

SARAH DAVACHI - 'PALE BLOOM'

Formats

• W25-10 - LP

  857661008216

• W25-10CD - CD

  857661008278

• W25-10X - LP (COLOURED)

Details

Pale Bloom finds Sarah Davachi coming full circle. After abandoning the piano studies of her youth for a series of albums utilizing everything from pipe and reed organs to analog synthesizers, this prolific Los Angeles-based composer returns to her first instrument for a radiant work of quiet minimalism and poetic rumination. Recorded at Berkeley, California’s famed Fantasy Studios, Pale Bloom is comprised of two delicatelyarranged sides. The first—a three-part suite where Davachi’s piano acts as conjurer, beckoning Hammond organ and stirring countertenor into a patiently unfolding congress—recalls Eduard Artemiev’s majestic soundtrack for Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris. “Perfumes I-III” employs the harmonically rich music of Bach as a springboard for abstract, solemn pieces that sound as haunted as they are dreamlike. While the first half of Pale Bloom showcases Davachi’s latent Romanticism, the sidelong “If It Pleased Me To Appear To You Wrapped In This Drapery” reveals the Mills College graduate’s affinity for the work of avantgarde composers La Monte Young and Eliane Radigue. Softly vibrating strings rise and fall like complementary exhalations of breath. As the fluctuating pitches create overtones that pitter and pulse, the piece slowly and subtly evolves—suggesting a well-tempered stillness, yet without stasis.

Tracks

1. Perfumes I
2. Perfumes II
3. Perfumes III
4. If It Pleased Me To Appear To You
Wrapped In This Drapery

Press

Follow up 2018's 'Gave In Rest' (MOJO Underground album of the year 2018)

Audio & Video

STEVEN R. SMITH - 'A SKETCH BOOK OF ENDINGS'

Formats

• SAB090 - LP

  647603403014

• SAB090CD - CD

  647603403021

Details

With nearly 25 years of solo recordings and releases to his credit, hermetic Californian Steven R. Smith goes back to the start with A Sketchbook Of Endings, the first solo release under his own name in eight years. Thids album continues Smith’s exploration of the intersection of moody postpunk and cinematic psychedelia, delivered in lysergic pop song-length spurts. Brevity does nothing to sacrifice density or dynamics— Smith offers both in abundance across the album’s fifteen instrumentals. These songs are packed with all of the depth, intensity and nuance that have been trademarks of his music for so long. Despite appearing under his given name, A Sketchbook Of Endings includes traces of recent work, under guises such as Ulaan Khol, Ulaan Markhor and Ulaan Passerine, as well echoes of his forebearers Mick Harvey and Rowland S. Howard. This release is a highlight of Smith’s first quarter century of activities, a beacon of his rich and varied anti-career. 

Tracks

1. Careening 2. Everything In Circles 3. Copper Arches 4. The Days Have Wiped Away the Image 5. Grainstacks 6. That Which Is Many, Yet None 7. All Things That Shall Be 8. Hollow Victories In Godforsaken Lands 9. The Pale Tree 10. A Bird That Is All Birds 11. The Toppled Era 12. A Series Of Courtyards Reversed 13. The Weaving Mill 14. Let Us Return 15. Mourning Weeds

Press

Post-punk and cinematic psych instrumentals for fans of Mick Harvey and Rowland S. Howard

Audio & Video

VIC GODARD - '30 ODD YEARS'

Formats

• GNUINC0010 - 2xCDs

  0700461085546

Details

INSTOCK FOR MAY 10TH RELEASE DATE!!!!!! NEW TO FORTE… BUT WE ARE SUPER CHUFFED TO HAVE THIS ON BOARD!!! Introducing Vic Godard ’30 Odd Years’, two CDs of songs reflecting Mr Godard’s wayward yet extraordinarily varied and fruitful career to date as a songwriter, singer and musician*. We are taking you on an exhilarating, roller coaster of a ride with over three decades of musical genres which will hopefully leave you wanting more. It is almost impossible to summarize such a diverse talent, the plethora of material included in this collection spans the earliest Punk recordings with the first Subway Sect line up to Vic’s most recent collaborations with Catalan group Mates Mates and Davy Henderson’s Sexual Objects. Always reluctant to pay lip service to ‘the music business’ or abide by it’s rules Vic has forged his own unique trajectory, veering off in unexpected, some have intimated perverse musical directions just when it seemed fame and fortune were calling, in fact Mr Bernard Rhodes for one made no bones about it! Vic Godard has chosen instead to stay true to the Punk ethos, refusing to dwell in the past and always keen to move on to the next musical challenge. With lyrics referencing the most diverse subjects and inspirations from ‘Blakey’ (On The Buses) to Gericault’s Raft, from Community Payback to Fouquet’s Undine. The 42 musical numbers have been re-mastered for 30 Odd Years by Mike Coe and though biased we’ve got to say the sound quality is AMAZING. The songs were chosen by fans, friends, Vic & Gnu Inc and all bar two are studio recordings from 1978 to 2011, the majority sourced from previous releases. Setting off with ‘Don’t Split It’ the B side of Subway Sect’s first single on Bernard Rhodes’ Braik Records with lyrics by Rob Symmons, then on to more Punk, Jazz, the Edwyn Collin’s Connections and the Motion Records years, including slick cabaret jazz songs from Songs For Sale, big band swing courtesy of In Trouble Again, songs from End of the Surrey People & Long term Side Effect produced by Edwyn Collins, Sansend, 1978 Now, We Come As Aliens and up to ‘(Oh Alright) Go On Then’ one of the songs Vic wrote and recorded in 2011 with Catalan group Mates Mates, released in February 2013 on ‘Vic to Vic’ a three track 7” on famèlic Records. The collaboration is ongoing and a documentary by Lluis Huedo telling the story is expected soon. No Vic Godard compilation would be complete without Ambition but Gnu Inc have gone off piste with a live version based on a slowed down Maggie’s Farm rhythm recorded with The Bitter Springs at Brentford FC’s Stripes Bar in 2004. The Springs also perform on two songs from ‘Blackpool’, the ill fated Godard/Irvine Welsh musical, the eponymous ‘Blackpool’ and the previously unreleased recorded version of ‘The Wedding Song’. Vic’s Caledonian connections go back to the 1970’s and continue today so what better way to bring the musical tour to a climax than with a thundering live performance of Johnny Thunders by Vic and The Sexual Objects recorded at Stereo Bar, Glasgow, December 2012, part of the Vicism tour. Beginning and ending with two of sorely missed Edinburgh poet Paul Reekie’s recordings for Sansend (Motion Records 2002) just seemed fitting. Mr Godard has been accompanied on his musical adventures by a veritable smorgasbord of musical talent. Where else would you find Larry Stabbins and Terry Chimes on the same release?All in all we think that this collection gives an idea of the not inconsiderable and extensive talents of Mr Vic Godard, the breadth and depth of his lyrical penmanship and musical composition, in other words he’s a damn good song writer and not a bad performer either. Booklet/Cover notes by Marc Riley, Lee McFadden & Tracey Holloway, Michael White, Philip King & Kevin Pearce.

Tracks

DISC 1
01 - Intro With Paul Reekie
02 - Don?t Split It
03 - Nobody?s Scared
04 - Parallel Lines
05 - Different Story
06 - Double Negative
07 - Vertical Integration
08 - Empty Shell
09 - Make Me Sad
10 - Stop That Girl
11 - Stamp of a Vamp
12 - Hey What?s Your Name?
13 - Crazy Crazy
14 - Spring is Grey
15 - T.R.O.U.B.L.E
16 - Stayin? Outta View
(Instrumental)
17 - Ice On A Volcano
18 - Malicious Love
19 - Same Mistakes
20 - Won?t Turn Back
21 - No Love Now

DISC 2
01 - We?ll Keep Our Chains
02 - Common Thief
03 - I Wish
04 - The Writer?s Slumped
05 - Back In A Void Again
06 - At The Circus
07 - Americana On Fire
08 - Ambition
09 - That Train
10 - Stool Pigeon
11 - Why Did You Shoot Me?
12 - Derail Your Senses
13 - Not Watching The Devil
14 - Imbalance
15 - Blackpool
16 - The Wedding Song
17 - Music Of A Werewolf
18 - Take Over
19 - Back In The Community
20 - Best Album
21 - (Oh Alright) Go On Then
22 - Johnny Thunders
23 - Outro With Paul Reekie

Press

Audio & Video

BRUCE RUSSELL & LUKE WOOD - 'VISCERAL REALISTS'

Formats

• VHF146 - LP

  783881014617

Details

Debut album by the New Zealand duo of Bruce Russell (Dead C, Handful Of Dust, etc) and Luke Wood. Visceral Realists is a highconcept commentary on the state of vinyl, analogue recording, music culture, art, etc. A 45-rpm bullet of short bursts of free electric sound, the music here is tactile and rough but not “noise music.” Russell and Wood play over loops of scratchy records, with their guitars and electronics surging to get over the wall. Russell’s guitar sound from his vintage transistor amp and anti-style is instantly recognizable from countless classic Dead C sides, but the tracks are more painterly than recent DC epics—these are celebratory vignettes of thoughts— singles, if you will. Originally made as an unfindable edition of twenty by Wood’s Ilam Press label to accompany an exhibit of NZ lathe-cut records, this new edition is beautifully packaged in a debossed and letterpress printed sleeve designed by Wood and printed by Stumptown in Portland. Two color risographs printed by Wood in NZ are tipped onto the jacket, and an additional two inserts provide revelatory notes by Russell and glam shots of the instruments that made the sounds. Also includes download slip. “There’s more information encoded in an old record than in a new one. Every crack, every pop, a tree ring of recovered time. A life-time. Time again for life. Like the revenants, come from the grave warm; and once again walking. But still just blood in a bag. The glow of the vacuum at the heart of a market-place—where art goes to fetch bread. That is how we’ve warmed our hands for this work. To know we are alive.” —Bruce Russell

Tracks

1. Via Suez 2. Bentonia
3. Large Diaphragm
4. Custom Castanets
5. Wake Up, Dead Man
6. Oh, Caroline
7. Etonian
8. Mobile Index

Press

Debut album by NZ rock noise mastermind
Bruce Russell (Dead C) and NZ artist Luke
Wood, originally only available in a edition
of twenty to accompany an exhibit!

Audio & Video

ASTRAL SOCIAL CLUB & GRUMBLING FUR TIME MACHINE ORCHESTRA - 'PLASMA SPLICE TRIFLE'

Formats

• VHF147 - LP

  783881014716

Details

Debut collaboration between these like-minded English underground titans, perfectly mixing the long-form pop eccentricities of Grumbling Fur with the free electric sound of Astral Social Club to produce four epic and memorable tracks. The music is dense and layered, with hidden hooks, haunting vocals, unidentifiable electronic shuddering, delicate ambience, etc. Challenging but completely accessible and beautiful stuff. After a brief vocal declaration of purpose, “Back To The Egg” rides a motorik pulse ala Harmonia or Kraftwerk for ten hypnotic minutes. “Three Years Apart” pulses gently in a burbling cloud, reminding that along with crafting song gems, Grumbling Fur has collaborated with noted avantcomposer / performer Charlemagne Palestine. “Ozone Antifreeze Intelligence” layers electronics over a haunting piano and vocal melody, framed by subliminal fuzz guitar. “Toejam Boxdrum” closes the album with an uproarious polyrhythm hidden by more layers of soft-focus electrofizz, gradually giving way to thick bass riffs and tremelo’d interjections.

Tracks

1. Back To The Egg
2. Three Years Apart
3. Ozone Antifreeze Intelligence
4. Toejam Boxdrum

Press

First time collaboration between two
titans of the English underground scene

Audio & Video

BIKINI KILL - 'PUSSY WHIPPED'

Formats

• BK06CD - CD

  851647004322

• BK06 - LP

  851647004315

Details

The debut full-length from BIKINI KILL originally released in 1993 on Kill Rock Stars. Includes the track "Rebel Girl," listed # 27 on Rolling Stone's "Most Excellent Songs of Every Year Since 1967" list. Bikini Kill was a feminist punk band that was based in Olympia, WA and Washington, DC, forming in 1990 and breaking up in 1997. KATHLEEN HANNA sang, TOBI VAIL played drums, BILLY KARREN (aka BILLY BOREDOM) played guitar and KATHI WILCOX played bass. Bikini Kill is credited with instigating the Riot Grrrl movement in the early ’90s via their political lyrics, zines, and confrontational live performances. 

Tracks

1."Blood One" 1:44
2."Alien She" 1:41
3. "Magnet" 1:26
4. "Speed Heart" 1:47
5. "Lil' Red" 2:13
6. "Tell Me So" 2:20
7. "Sugar" 2:22
8. "Star Bellied Boy" 1:33
9. "Hamster Baby" 2:20
10. "Rebel Girl" 2:43
11. "Star Fish" 1:03
12. "For Tammy Rae"

Press

"the first great riot grrrl album" - Entertainment Weekly

Audio & Video

BIKINI KILL - 'REJECT ALL AMERICAN'

Formats

• BK09CD - CD

  851647004308

• BK09LP - LP

  851647004285

Details

BIKINI KILL's final studio album originally released in 1996 on Kill Rock Stars. Bikini Kill was a feminist punk band that was based in Olympia, WA and Washington, DC, forming in 1990 and breaking up in 1997. KATHLEEN HANNA sang, TOBI VAIL played drums, BILLY KARREN (aka BILLY BOREDOM) played guitar and KATHI WILCOX played bass. Bikini Kill is credited with instigating the Riot Grrrl movement in the early ’90s via their political lyrics, zines, and confrontational live performances. 

Tracks

1. Statement of Vindication
2. Capri Pants
3. Jet Ski
4. Distinct Complicity
5. False Start
6. R.I.P.
7. No Backrub
8. Bloody Ice Cream
9. For Only
10. Tony Randall
11. Reject All American
12. Finale

Press

Audio & Video

BARONESS - 'FIRST & SECOND'

Formats

• HR19 - LP

  655035042916

Details

** SHIPS FOR JUNE 7TH** VERY LIMITED STOCK AVAILABLE FROM FORTE Baroness’s now-classic formative material finally sees a proper reissue with their first two 12-inches compiled as one deluxe LP. A lot dirtier, punker and more metallic than their current rock-infused, catchy weirdness, First & Second is an important document in the lineage of this excellent band, and all 38 minutes of music have been completely remixed and remastered for a much fuller sound than ever before. Housed in a beautiful gatefold jacket with guitarist / vocalist John Dyer Baizley’s elaborate and intricate artwork (spread through the exterior, interior and printed dust-sleeve), this foil-stamped beauty comes on complimentary both black colored vinyl.

Tracks

1. Tower Falls 2. Coeur 3. Rise 4. Red Sky 5. Son of Sun 6. Vision

Press

Deluxe embossed sleeve. Deluxe reissue of Savannah, Georgia, band?s first two out-of-print 12-inches
. Has been unavailable since 2013

Audio & Video