KING BUFFALO - 'DEAD STAR'

Formats

• PSYCHOBABBLE111CD - CD

  4 046661 672022

• PSYCHOBABBLE111LP - LP

  4046661725919

Details

**NOW AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER ON VINYL**A lengthy (35 min!) new EP! Dead Star continues the risk-taking that fueled Repeater, honoring the core dynamic of King Buffalo as a band while boldly introducing new ideas and sides of their sound to their audience. Self-recorded in late 2019 and early 2020 by guitarist/vocalist Sean McVay, bassist Dan Reynolds and drummer Scott Donaldson, Dead Star continues to push King Buffalo’s psychedelic aspects deep into the cosmic ether, and basks in elements of ambient drone, space rock, prog, mantra-style heavy and synthesizer soundtracking, as well as the bluesy, classic riffing and creative urgency that has underscored their particular style since their 2013 demo and 2016 debut album, Orion. “In the early stages of Dead Star, we made the decision to make a strong commitment to experimentation,” explains guitarist/vocalist Sean Mc-Vay. “From exploring different time signatures, tunings and textures, to tweaking the songwriting processes themselves. We’re extremely proud of these recordings, and feel it’s some of our most ambitious work yet.” Recent years have found King Buffalo touring throughout North America and Europe, with highlight festival performances, support slots and headlining shows, and they bring that experience to the songwriting of Dead Star’s six tracks, be it the sprawling two-part leadoff “Red Star Pt. 1 & 2” or the John Carpenter-esque instrumental “Ecliptic” ahead of the chug-and-crash-prone “Eta Carinae.” All the while King Buffalo maintain a flow and atmosphere that has served as a hallmark of their approach. 

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KING BUFFALO - 'THE BURDEN OF RESTLESSNESS'

Formats

• PSYCHOBABBLE119CD - CD

  4046661717129

• PSYCHOBABBLE119 - LP

  4046661725810

Details

*CD ONLY*Self-recorded in late 2020 and early 2021 by guitarist/vocalist Sean McVay, bassist Dan Reynolds and drummer Scott Donaldson, The Burden of Restlessness continues to push King Buffalo’s progressive aspects forward into new avenues of melody and exploration. At the same time, the album is not mistitled. There are deep undercurrents of frustration and even an aggressive pulse that coincide with the spaciousness for which the band has been so widely lauded since their 2016 debut, Orion. Guitarist/vocalist Sean McVay drops what’s bound to become one of the record’s signature lyrics in opener “Burning” when he declares, “another year lost in the wasteland,” and more succinct summaries of canceled plans and rescheduled, lost or damaged lives are hard to come by. “The Burden of Restlessness was written over the course of what most would consider a pretty stark and stressful time period. The end result is our darkest, most aggressive, and most intimate work to date. We are extremely proud of what this record became.” – Sean McVay Followers of King Buffalo will find the band’s time was not at all wasted. While some of the synthesizer-driven elements of early-2020’s Dead Star EP have been stripped back, the rhythmic complexity in The Burden of Restlessness is yet more new ground the band are claiming as their own. They do so with confidence and a creative depth of atmosphere that comes through in more than just the effects being used, and the urgency in their material is unmistakable.

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King Buffalo has been hard at work while taking forced time off from
touring, recording a whopping 3(!) full-lengths to be released in 2021.
The Burden Of Restlessness is the first thereof.

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STEVE ROBERTS - 'ALL POWER TO THE BOOKSHOP'

Formats

• NXN008CD - CD

  5902693144984

Details

• Steve Roberts has been a musician for more years than he can remember… As the young singer and songwriter with Liverpool’s 16 Tambourines he signed a major record deal and toured and recorded throughout Europe in the late 80s and early 90s grazing the lower reaches of the uk charts and securing a reputation as a songwriter of some renown.In the late 90s he founded Acoustic Engine songwriting gig promotions before leaping back in to the musical swamp himself in the naughties with his debut solo album It Just Is, recorded with friends from The Lightning Seeds, The La’s and other great Liverpool musicians. • Since then he’s recorded two more solo albums, a band album with Captain Pop, a song based show about the Cold War, written for television and theatre, and the reformed 16 Tambourines played a sold out show in Liverpool just prior to lockdown. • All Power to the Bookshop, his latest album, began as an Arts Council project about our relationship with books and reading. He explores how our memories, our hopes and dreams, our thoughts and emotional responses can be formed by the books we read and share. It’s an eclectic collection of songs that acts as propaganda for bookshops and reading.

Tracks

(1) An Old Bookshop (2) Enid Blyton (3) Childhood Library (4) Left it in a Book
(5) *A Visit Home (6) I Like Books (7) Bestsellers (8) Books That Break My Heart
(9) There are Books (10) Let?s Read a Book

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KING BUFFALO - 'ACHERON'

Formats

• PSYCHOBABBLE123 - LP

  4046661729115

• PSYCHOBABBLE123CD - CD

  4046661729023

Details

LP AND CD INSTOCKWhat will inevitably be known as ‘the cave record,’ Acheron is the second King Buffalo LP recorded in 2021. It follows this spring's The Burden of Restlessness and finds the Rochester, New York, trio of guitarist/vocalist Sean McVay, bassist Dan Reynolds and drummer Scott Donaldson expanding their sound once again.Both records – and an intended third in the series to follow in 2022 – were born of the pandemic-era touring shutdown, as evinced by the grim themes of The Burden of Restlessness. Acheron – named for the “river of woe” in Greek mythology – brings the tension and disquiet of the prior offering into a new context. To put the four extended songs of Acheron to tape, the band traveled three hours east from Rochester to Howe Caverns in NY, recording with trusted engineer Grant Husselman and videographer Adam Antalek – who worked on their Quarantine Sessions early in 2020 – to document a day-long live session in a cave. “Underground” in the most literal sense. In sound, Acheron is likewise spacious and fluid. If The Burden of Restlessness showed the band's sharper angles, Acheron adds complexity to the shape of the whole. In some ways, the wash of tone in “Zephyr” will be familiar to those who took on 2018’s Longing to Be the Mountain or the band’s 2016 debut, Orion – let alone any of the four EPs they’ve done along the way – but in “Shadows” and “Cerberus,” the band’s intent becomes clear. The tracks on King Buffalo's new output are not just isolated songs from a single writing period which frame a different side of their style. They tell a story as much about their sonic growth as about that time they loaded all their gear into a cave (no easy feat) and hit record. Acheron pushes forward from The Burden of Restlessness, which - still just months old - was received by fans as an immediate album-of-the-year contender. It takes the communion with and contemplation of the organic that’s been so much a part of who King Buffalo were before and uses it to inform who they’ve become, are still becoming.

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KING BUFFALO - 'REPEATER'

Formats

• PSYCHOBABBLE122 - LP

  4046661726015

Details

**ONE SIDED 12" WITH ETCHING** Following closely on the heels of their acclaimed debut album Orion, the 24-minute EP Repeater quickly cemented the trio's reputation as one of the most exciting new bands on the psych-stoner rock scene. This new pressing on Stickman features an etching on side B and is cut from new lacquers, making it the best sounding pressing yet. As fans of the band will know, King Buffalo have never been short on inspiration or slow to make their next move. In 2018, they selfreleased Repeater much to the joy of the stoner/psych rock community. Originally envisioned as part of their second LP Longing To Be The Mountain, the band quickly realized that these three tracks had a life of their own and deserved a standalone release. "These three songs developed organically in our practice/ recording space in early 2017. They flow through a cohesive vision and form a complete thought like Orion. It wouldn’t have made sense to us, to have them released in any other way," noted drummer Scott Donaldson in 2018. Repeater is a spacious, warm sounding record — and as the title implies, it’s deceptively repetitious: the songs breathe, bloom organically and envelop the listener while still being hypnotized by its groove. Somewhere between psychedelic, fuzz rock and shoegaze King Buffalo claim their sonic turf, and it’s not hard to imagine this is what big sky country sounds like. Available on 180gr. vinyl including download. Side A has music, side B has an etching.

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SUBWAY SECT - 'MOMENTS LIKE THESE'

Formats

• GNUINC00027 - LP

  5060446128749

Details

MOMENTS LIKE THESE, THE NEW ALBUM FROM SUBWAY SECT, PRODUCED BY MICK JONES AND FEATURING THE 1981 SUBWAY SECT LINE-UP, VIC GODARD WITH SEAN MCLUSKY, CHRIS BOSTOCK, JOHNNY BRITTON, & DC COLLARD and guest appearances by MICK JONES, PETE WILLIAMS, TERRY EDWARDS and SIMON RIVERS. Sukhdev Sandhu runs a publishing imprint Texte und Töne in New York. The LP, the imprint's first, is also the first-ever Subway Sect record to come out in the States. (Perhaps unsurprisingly: they did have a song called U.S. Cunts!) It's been produced by Mick Jones of The Clash. (A White Riot '77 reunion of sorts.) ‘There’s a certain element of unspoiltness about the whole thing and that’s what really appealed to me about it.’ Mick Jones MOJO ‘This is Vic reflecting on a lifetime in the music business. It sounds like a record that he had to make and is perfect for now. When I was a kid, I used to make up my fantasy punk band with members from different bands and they almost always contained Vic Godard and Mick Jones. The songs are as good as it gets and with Mick Jones producing and playing piano, what more do you need?’ Jim Reid, Jesus and Mary Chain ‘The Subway Sect story is one of the strangest, and therefore one of the best. Vic Godard indicated ways that pop should go. He dropped hints, left clues. It is all there.’ Kevin Pearce ‘Vic's always walked his own path. He's a model of independence. No wonder that he's recorded for some of the best UK independents (Rough Trade, el, Postcard). Years ago, when I was writing a book about nocturnal London, he took me on a postal round with him, all the while telling me funny stories about some of the prog rock aristos whose mail he delivered, and enthusing about the latest hip hop and bhangra he was listening to. Asked by Time Out to write an essay about my favourite Londoner, I wrote it about Vic. Now, in summer 2021, I'm very happy to help release Moments Like These. It's about thinking back and thinking forward, about walking your own path. It's got soul, swagger and swing. Vic Godard: always onward!’ Sukhdev Sandhu ‘It was an accident really as Sukhdev wanted to put What's the Matter Boy out until I told him I'd just recorded a new LP. I'd been in discussions with loads of record labels but they all wanted to get my back catalogue digital rights and weren't into the idea of putting out a new LP. I thought it was on course to be my 2nd lost album until the phone calls with Sukhdev.’ Vic

Tracks

SIDE 1
A1. Since the ?80s
Simon Rivers - organ
Vic Godard - guitar
Mick Jones, Simon Rivers, Johnny Britton, Chris Bostock, Sean McLusky ?
b/vs

A2. The place we used to live
Mick Jones - piano
Simon Rivers ? piano
Vic Godard - guitar
Simon Rivers, Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton ? b/vs

A3. M.I.P.P (managing the inter-product pipeline)
Vic Godard - guitar
Sean McLusky, Vic Godard, Johnny Britton, Chris Bostock - chant

A4. Commercial Suicide Man
DC Collard ? piano
Mick Jones ? percussion
Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton ? b/vs
A5. Sharks 'n' Vipers
Mick Jones ? piano
Simon Rivers ? piano
Vic Godard - guitar
Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton ? b/vs

A6. Footsteps on a star
Mick Jones ? piano
Simon Rivers ? piano
Terry Edwards ? baritone sax
Vic Godard - guitar
Mick Jones, Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton, Simon Rivers b/vs

B1. Bossa Nova boy
Mick Jones ? keyboards
Vic Godard ? electric piano & guitar
Mick Jones, Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton ? b/vs

B2. Juke Box
Mick Jones ? piano
Simon Rivers ? electric piano
Vic Godard ? electric piano & guitar
Terry Edwards ? baritone sax
Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton b/vs

B3. How high the walls?
Mick Jones ? piano
DC Collard ? organ
Simon Rivers ? electric piano
Vic Godard ? electric piano & guitar
Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton ? b/vs

B4. Jelly Legs
Mick Jones ? percussion & clavinet
Sean McLusky, Chris Bostock, Vic Godard b/vs

B5. She looks sad
Mick Jones ? piano
Simon Rivers ? banjo
Vic Godard ? guitar & organ

B6. Time shoulda made a man o' me
DC Collard ? piano
Pete Williams ? clarinet
Mick Jones, Chris Bostock, Johnny Britton ? b/vs

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THE BAND WHOSE NAME IS A SYMBOL - 'ENSEMBLE 2016'

Formats

• CFUL0218 - LP

Details

Cardinal Fuzz are pleased to bring your way The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol – Ensemble 2016. Eight players made up the iteration of the always mutating ensemble cast, who were as follows for this recording - John Westhaver, Nathaniel Hurlow, Bill Guerrero, Jason Vaughan, Dave Reford, Scott Thompson, Mark McIntyre and Eric Larock. The session for Ensemble went down at their spiritual home of Birdman Sound in Ottawa in August 2016 where what you hear on record was recorded direct from the floor (and mastered/tweaked by Chris Hardman). The whole session (and note this is an edit to fit the constraints of vinyl) - flies by with a reckless, organic abandon, as at times 8 players fly off in different dynamic directions of abstract playing and improvisation with trumpet player Scott Thompson much to the fore and blowing wild. At times the feel of this recording is like a collision between a 70s album on the German Sky transported to a San Franciscan Ballroom is ’68 as the audience are peaking on ‘Orange Sunshine’ as Ensemble finishes up like a beautiful trip, well taken.

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ANGERED WRECKS - 'BENNIES, BOOZE & RNR 1981'

Formats

• CFUL0217 - LP

Details

Take the freaked-out punked up soul of The Stooges and MC5 mix that with 60s garage trash, blend in Sabbath, AC/DC and heavy rock n roll and then hot wire that sound to a handful of freaks located in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Here it is that The Angered Wrecks were located - in an old Victorian style house in downtown Fredericton. It was here they set up a permanent rehearsal space on the main floor taking up the dining room and living room area with a full P.A. system and the long parties would begin as the Angered Wrecks cranked out an unholy primal serving of mind-numbing, eyeball-popping guttural pure rock and roll. Lucky for us the Angered Wrecks had a primitive DIY recording set up as they recorded live off the floor with one cardioid mic taped to the ceiling to capture the entire room sound and straight into a cheap Alpine cassette deck. The results of these previously unheard recordings capture the essence of trashy rock’n roll at it’s finest, delivered with pure dereliction, and always a side of extra sleaze. Keeping warm in the winter at another old salt box style house they would later rehearse and play gigs in, a large circle was cut in the floor so that the rising heat from the pottery kiln downstairs would (along with the right mixture of beer and ‘Purple Jesus’, weed and often speed and hot dogs) keep these boys fuelled long enough in sub zero temperatures to keep pumping out the rock’n roll savagery. The last show they played was in the fall of ’81 at the Bug Shack after the household was served an eviction noticed with the house to be entirely demolished (just like Stooge Manor aka The Fun House). They got a gig together the weekend before demolition, packed the bottom floor and played a blazing set. At the very end, walls were kicked apart, old cans of paint strewn about, general wanton destruction to furniture, doors, windows etc…insane. The bug shack had come to an end and shortly thereafter, The Angered Wrecks. That these tapes have survived to this day is all thanks to John Westhaver’s archival hoarding (even though the loss of a 90 minute session of the Angered Wrecks still haunts John to this day). So CRANK these tracks as loud as you can – these audio tapes are not for the faint of heart

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YO NO SE - 'MOMENTO MORI'

Formats

• SBR091 - LP (COLOURED)

• SBR091CD - CD

Details

After the long awaited release of their second album, Terraform, Yo No Se return with an album of “B Sides” and tracks recorded during the first UK lockdown. Having been away for so long the band have been sitting on a lot of material and we’re delighted to get these tracks out there. Some of the songs are taken from the Terraform recording session while others were recorded at home and features a very different side to Yo No Se. Using bouzouki and cello to explore and expand their sound as well as slipping in a cover of Bert Jansch’s Poison. Theres several different members, engineers and locations in this album which were again mastered by Jack Endino. Continuing on where Terraform left off the album continues to explore corruption, paranoia, new world exploration and anarchy. 

Tracks

1. Born To Struggle
2. Doldrums
3. Incest
4. Numb
5. Nova
6. Touching The Stone
7. Poison
8. Spit Lube

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