Where Are You Coming From (Jane Weaver rework) (4:05)
Out From Under (Emperor Machine extended rework) (8:49)
We All Need (Jezebell Ghost Train mix) (5:47)
Review: Perhaps one of the most important bands to come out of Manchester ever. Up there with Joy Division, their funky post-punk is the very essence of that genre and possibly why a lot of bands like to call themselves post-punk. They're just wishing they sound as good as A Certain Ratio. For this latest release, the follow-up to their album It All Comes Down To This, they've reworked songs from said album - sensationally - and released a Christmas single. 'Now And Laughter' is described as an ode to "the unsung heroes that are on hand when the pressures of the festivities can become too much to bear." It's awash with sumptuous echoing guitar, a somber lead vocal which makes you want to raise your lighter and gently sway. There's a hint of David Bowie in there and the lyrics appear genuinely emotional and appreciative. This is a song of blissful poignance that can help remind us of what really matters in life as it captures a sense of vulnerability and awe in the magic of the moment.
Review: Celebrate the 25th anniversary of AFI's All Hallow's E.P. with this limited-edition release on "Spectral Pink" vinyl. This cult-classic EP, originally released in 1999, is reimagined with alternative fluorescent cover art and includes a 10" x 20" black light die-cut coffin poster, evoking the eerie charm of the original Nitro Records promo. The EP, clocking in at a fitting 13 minutes, features AFI's standout tracks: a formidable cover of The Misfits' 'Halloween', the iconic 'The Boy Who Destroyed the World', the infectious 'Totalimmortal', and the fan favorite 'Fall Children'. This limited 10-inch pressing offers a nostalgic nod to the band's punk roots while showing their early foray into melodic and atmospheric sounds. AFI, formed in 1991, evolved from a hardcore act into melodic pioneers with their 1999 album Black Sails in the Sunset and subsequent releases. The All Hallow's E.P. remains a sought-after gem in their discography. With this reissue, fans can relive the magic of AFI's early days, now with a hauntingly collectible twist.
Review: This official reissue of Bela Lugosi's Dead: The Bela Session comes on black and red splattered vinyl this time around and includes previously unreleased tracks that have been mastered from the original demo tapes of their first ever recording session together. The post-punk outfit's debut single was released initially in 1979. Bela Lugosi's Dead is not only their first single, but also often gets mentioned as the first goth record. It has since been covered by Nine Inch Nails, Massive Attack and Nouvelle Vague. The rest of the tunes from the demo session remain hugely innovative, reflecting their post-punk and dark-glam style with dub reggae influences that would further evolve in their output that followed and explain why the band went on to such cult status.
Review: Beach House gets in on this year's Record Store Day hype with The Become EP, which is a collection of five songs from the Once Twice Melody sessions. Say the band, "We didn't think they fit in the world of OTM, but later realized they all fit in a little world of their own.' As such they are presented here with their own scuzzy and spacious sound and special capturing of live playing spirit. The tunes are outliers for where the band is generally headed right now but still offer plenty of fans old and new to enjoy.
Review: In December 2001, at Maida Vale Studios, Bill Callahan's Smog delivered a raw, haunting session for the BBC. Alongside bandmates Jessica Billey, Mike Saenz and Jim White, Callahan's performance embodied a Lynchian mood of U.S. darkness in the wake of 9/11, covering Stevie Nicks, Lou Reed, and Smog tracks with a sombre, tour-worn edge. Callahan reflects, "It's all live, no overdubs. The session felt encapsulatedisomething foreign, yet intimate." The band's reimagining of 'Beautiful Child' in a minor key, the fiery rendition of 'Cold Discovery', and the moving take on 'Jesus' highlight the raw, unfiltered essence of this live recording.
Review: Bjork and Rosalia team up for the limited marble vinyl edition 12" double-sider, 'Oral', now coming packed with a stunning remix by Olof Dreijer from The Knife. The record is described by its releasers OLI as not just a single release but a "call to arms", with 100% of the profits being funnelled directly to AEGIS, the Icelandic charity dedicated to eradicating intensive fish farming in the country. 'Oral' itself is now a staple of the latest incarnation of Bjork's ever-mutant career, consummating her and Rosalia's recent rapport; a sabre-wielding, purblind aesthetic - befitting also of another of Bjork's collaborative contemporaries, Arca - fits seamlessly with the elegiac reggaeton of the song. Dreijer's remix is rabid and wonky by comparison, its draggy, morphemic rhythms belying Bjork and Rosalia's equally wetted vocals, producing a wacky litany of faunal electronics and whizzing FX.
Review: ?Boys Wonder's 'Be Reasonable' is a lovely and limited edition new 10" etched vinyl released exclusively for Record Store Day 2025. Serving as a companion to their long-awaited debut LP Question Everything, this limited-edition single features two previously unreleased tracks exclusive to wax. The band's distinctive blend of glam-rock energy, sharp wit and infectious pop hooks brings both of these to life and are part of the reason they have been endorsed by Vic Reeves as the greatest band that never was and hailed by Jonathan Ross as one of my all-time favourite bands.
Review: Singer, songwriter, former Navy sailor and Oklahoma native Zach Bryan first rose to fame in 2019 with his self-released debut country album DeAnn. Bryan's raw storytelling approach attracted a dedicated following, justifying many follow-ups - his latest EP Summertime Blues included. Something of a sibling piece to the recent album American Heartbreak, the EP deploys sweet vocal lilts, banjo strums and fiddle bowings to channels many brooding, blue-collar emotions, reflecting lives lived on the road and bittersweet days gone by.
Review: The second part of a series of essential early records by Texas's Butthole Surfers features three of their most unhinged releases: 1985's Cream Corn from the Socket of Davis, 1987's Locust Abortion Technician, and 1988's Hairway to Steven. These records capture the Butthole Surfers' evolution from Texan misfits to renowned provocateurs of the American underground scene. In 1985, they were the darlings of hallucinogen-fueled punk enthusiasts. By 1988, they had toured Europe, gained international recognition, and established a base in Driftwood, Texas. Cream Corn from the Socket of Davis offers a tantalizing glimpse into the Butthole Surfers' chaotic genius. Featuring two tracks from Rembrandt and two new recordings from their home studio in Winterville, Georgia, the EP showcases the band's unique blend of precision and madness. 'Moving to Florida' stands out as a surreal, Beefheart-esque trip, while the other tracks are equally mind-blowing. This EP serves as a perfect, bite-sized introduction to the delirious brilliance that the band would continue to unleash in their subsequent releases. These albums are remastered by Golden himself adding to the importance of these.
Review: Seven Psalms finds Australia's most imperious musical misfit Nick Cave leaving his Bad Seeds at home and teaming up with frequent collaborator Warren Ellis for a limited 10". The spoken word pieces on this record are the result of a daily song writing practice over a week during lockdown - Cave himself describes them as "small, sacred songs," set to appropriately subtle musical accompaniment. Recorded during the sessions for Cave and Ellis' 2021 album Carnage, it's a rich work in its own right that offers a different perspective on Cave's considerable gifts as a soothsayer.
Review: Ceremonie hail from France and have an '80s-inspired sound that hits differently. Their songwriting reaches new levels and draws on well-chosen, well-designed sounds with a wonderful sense of melancholy and just the right balance of drama and subtlety. After an indie-pop leaning cassette a few years ago they now land on Enfant Terrible with a contemporary take on retro new wave and synth-pop. Three of the tunes are originals, one is a cover of French 1980s new wave band Message and there is a whole new album in the works, apparently. Great stuff.
Review: A five-track EP of rarities by Alex Chilton, the American singer and songwriter best known as the lead singer of the Box Tops and Big Star, but whose later efforts led to an extended ambassadorship of the US avant-garde underground. The bulk of the tracks on ‘My Rival’ originate from Chilton’s earliest days, circa. 1975; at this critical juncture, Big Star was no more, and Chilton was teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Saved by his former bandmate, but still confidant, Chris Bell, they soon found themselves re-roused by the power of music, holing up together in Chilton’s bedroom and recording this short but wild set of bluesy experiments. Easily mistaken as the early murmurations of a Big Star reunion, this project should be taken as an eccentricity unto its own, and wholly deserves its 12” debut after an initial RSD run.
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