May 6th New Releases
May 5, 2008
Russian Circles - Station
Metal trimmings, minimal jazz primers, and cryptic riffs that hit out of nowhere with the pummeling impact of a comet. Their music weaves up an intense and cinematic albeit soothing clobbering that cannot be pigeonholed. Their lumbering layers of chiseled post rock and feathery psychedelic infusions have both revved and enticed listeners into mental orgasms the world over. They've shared stages with Tool, Dalek, Daughters, and Pelican.
Four Tet - Ringer (CD and LP)
A 32-minute, four-track excursion into the kind of wide-open spaces you might find if you set out to make techno with an Afro-beat / krautrock sensibility. These are tracks that make you think of Berlin - Dakar - Detroit - but they could only have been made in London. All four are headphone epics, but are mixed in such a way you have to hear them at Plastic People or The End. "Ringer" carries that minimal pulse over into Four Tet, and while Kieran Hebden's trademark recuttings of jazz breaks may be less in evidence, his feel for harmony and melody is, as always, unmistakable.
Animal Collective - Water Curses
Features four previously unreleased tracks; two are from the Wavelab Studio sessions that produced the "Strawberry Jam". All tracks show the band propelling forward on their mad genius trajectory.
Millencolin - Machine 15
Fifteen years and six albums later, Millencolin are Europe's biggest punk band, with gold albums in Australia and Sweden. This is the Swedish quartet's first disc in three years. Embracing new stylistic touches while upholding the classic Millencolin sound, this well-oiled musical engine salutes its fans with fifteen knock 'em dead tracks.
The Long Blondes - Couples (CD and LP)
Familiar retro influences, like Pet Shop Boys, Blondie, and Pulp are recalled but not imitated, resulting in an original and relevant sophomore album. With their signature down-to-earth narratives forming intelligent and sharp observations about romance and life, one might get an impression of a group with their feet firmly on the ground. These lyrics, however, are set to a rich, synthy, electronic sound that suggest the moment New Order's eardrums first vibrated to house and disco in NYC, 1981. "The Long Blondes' Kate Jackson sings like she has amazing taste in lipstick, delivering smart, sex-as-a-weapon lyrics with a swaggering smirk that conveys both glam-charged confidence and femme-specific vulnerability" - Spin.
Kevin Seconds and His Ghetto Moments - Rise Up, Insomniacs!
Kevin Seconds is the lead singer of 7 SECONDS, but his latest work is a sonic 180 from the legendary punk band. Led by Kevin and backed up by his band GHETTO MOMENTS, 'Rise Up, Insomniacs!' is a brilliantly restrained and thoughtful album. Often amusing and completely endearing, it takes a look at even the most depressing subject matter, and smiles right along.
No Age - Nouns
The Sub Pop debut by this LA duo is succinctly all encompassing, from the faux simplicity of the title to the beautiful distortion of its sound, to the packaging that includes a 68-page full-color book packed with photos and art pieces. The record opens with a symphony of noise and sometimes creeps, sometimes smashes through a sonic headlock befitting "Daydream Nation"-era Sonic Youth, Kiwi pop, My Bloody Valentine, and experimental noise.
Tim Fite - Fair Ain't Fair
Fite builds upon his signature samples here, but with a more restrained, mature hand. Famous for mining record store bargain bins for long-forgotten CDs, Tim takes tracks from their musical obscurity, dusts them off, and reburies them in his own tunes. But now, with "Fair Ain't Fair", come the voices, layer upon layer. Fite plays with melody in a way he never has before. Harmony rules, and the results are a collection of exquisite songs. Features members of Sufjan Stevens' band and My Brightest Diamond on guest vocals.
From First to last - S/T
With their first record for a major label, From First To Last have stuck with their formula of soaring melodies and fine-tuned guitar work that they perfected after multiple albums for Epitaph Records.
Elvis Costello and the Imposters - Momofuku CD
Newly available on vinyl:
The Magnetic Fields - The Charm of the Highway Strip LP
Man Man - Rabbit Habits LP
The Gossip - Live in Liverpool LP+DVD
Murder by Death - Red of Tooth and Claw LP
Excepter - Debt Dept LP
The Death Set - Worldwide LP
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