Newsletter - March/April 2022
Greetings Pop Pickers,
Hope you are holding up well during these dark days (well actually the sun is shining, and we have food to eat – unlike some)
The Butcher of Kharkiv has tentacles that spread everywhere, as we are all finding out. One miniscule impact of his atrocities has been a muted conversation amongst Indie Record Stores about how Record Store Day 2022 is likely to pan out amidst the cost of living crisis. There seems to be a split between those who are going to stock a minimal level of exclusives and those who were going to risk it as usual (there is of course no sale or return option for us Indies – we buy and if we don’t sell then tough luck (unlike a certain High Street chain store). In essence; most years you ask for a certain number of a release and get a third of that number. This time round it seems that we may get what we ask for. A potentially costly roll of the dice. Anyhow; enough of the sob story because this year there is a higher proportion of good stuff; so we have taken a bit of a gamble and joined the business as usual side of the argument. The first distributor to confirm our allocation indicates we may get more of what we ask for… The 64 Dollar question is of course how many will arrive in time. Thank you to those of you who took the time to give us suggestions – we have used these in our ordering. We have cut out some of the more speculative items we would otherwise have gone for but should have a selection to satisfy most. Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam and Prince have still been cut down despite Vlad the Invaders best efforts. So, if you want these, an early start is advised (the latter two are June releases). We don’t know all we have got yet but you are welcome to ask. It is good advice to check out other stores if you plan to go to them as well as us; they may fall into the cautious camp.
Fingers crossed our long run of dry weather on RSD continues.
Connoisseurs Corner
It is unusual to get four My Bloody Valentine originals in one collection. “Ecstasy and Wine” went within 2 hours and Eddie took the “Loveless” for his vault but the “Glider” and “Isn’t Anything” are still kicking about… The next collection had no less than 4 Dark Sides, 2 of Paranoid and 3 Black Sabbaths respectively. The Paranoids are one large swirl and one small swirl (haven’t had time to check the others). There are also, clean copies of Electric Ladyland (Polydor 73) and the Queen is Dead, Queens greatest hits volume 2 etc. All sorts of goodies for all the family, including even more Queen. Enjoy
New Releases
11/3/22:
BODEGA – ‘Broken Equipment’; Follow up to 2019 mini-album ‘Shiny New Model’ NYC arty post-punkers return bringing their brand of ‘CBGB’ style to the turntable.
The Mysterines – ‘Reeling’; Debut LP by Liverpool 4-piece. They produce chugging alternative rock. Fronted by Lia Metcalfe. Think Nirvana fronted by PJ Harvey with a scouse twist.
Franz Ferdinand – ‘Hits To The Head’; 20 track Greatest Hits collection on Domino ft stompers ‘Take Me Out’ and ‘The Dark Of The Matinee’
18/3/22:
Peter Doherty & Frederic Lo – ‘The Fantasy Life Of Poetry & Crime’; Written during lockdown, lyrics by Pete Doherty, music by Lo, recorded in France.
25/3/22:
Aldous Harding – ‘Warm Chris’; 4th album by New Zealander. Ft Lawn. Follow up to 2019’s ‘Designer’
Cowboy Junkies – ‘Songs Of The Recollection’; Cover album. Bowie, The Cure & Neil Young get the Cowboy Junkies treatment.
Tindersticks – ‘Past Imperfect: The Best of Tindersticks '92-'21’; Greatest Hits or Best of? You decide.
Anais Mitchell – ‘Anais Mitchell’; Eponymous LP. First under her own name since 2012. Recorded with band members of The National and Bon Iver.
Priestgate – ‘Eyes Closed For The Winter’; Driffield’s finest. Need we say more?
Placebo – ‘Never Let Me Go’; New Placebo and Eighth studio album from alternative rock veterans. I hope they have a good happy place.
Loop – ‘Sonancy’; Is this the longest space in between an album. Definitely in recent memory. 32 years since their third LP ‘A Guided Eternity’ Loop at last return with a forth and it doesn’t disappoint. For fans of MBV, Spaceman 3 & Suicide to name a few. Album of the month.
Jon Hopkins – ‘Music For Psychedelic Therapy’; Sister-album to the Grammy nominated ‘Singularity’ from 2018.
1/4/22:
Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘Unlimited Love’; First with guitarist Jon Frusciante since 2006 and producer Rick Rubin since 2011. Maybe it is worth a listen…
8/4/22:
Jack White – ‘Fear Of The Dawn’; Forth solo studio album by multi-band member, label owner & Pressing Plant owner. JW has as almost fingers in musical pies as I do!!!
Folly Group – ‘Human And Kind’; Second EP on splattered vinyl & follow up to 2021 debut EP ‘Awake And Hungry’.
Wet Leg – ‘Wet Leg’; Another debut. This time it’s from the Isle of Wight natives. Not short of a bit irony and sarcasm this bubblegum grunge-pop duo.
Father John Misty – ‘Chloe and the Next 20th Century’; Fifth studio album & first on Bella Union. “Lush, orchestral heartbreak” by Josh Tillman. 8/10 Uncut review.
Kae Tempest – ‘The Line Is A Curve’; Previously Kate, the paradox in her titles continues.
15/4/22:
Kurt Vile – ‘(watch my moves)’; Quite possibly the greatest producer of this generation.
22/4/22:
Pip Blom – ‘Welcome Break’; Delayed and delayed and delayed again. Hopefully it will be released the day before Record Store Day 🤞 Superb album. Every track is a single.
Spiritualized – ‘Everything Was Beautiful’; J Spaceman plays 16 different instruments on Everything Was Beautiful which was put down at 11 different studios, as well as at his home.
Fontaines D.C. – ‘Skinty Fia’; 3rd studio album in 4 years by the relentless Fontaines. 9/10 Uncut review. ‘Skinty Fia’: www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4qy_XEjjYc
29/4/22:
Bloc Party – ‘Alpha Party’; Sixth studio album, two new members and a return to their post-punky original sound. Here’s hoping it’s as good as ‘Silent Alarm’
Blossoms – ‘Ribbon Around The Bomb’; Indie-Pop Manc band produce top notch jingle jangle
Rammstein – ‘Zeit’; Industrial Metal giants restore their place at the head of the table.
Let's Eat Grandma – ‘Two Ribbons’; Idiosyncratic Pop duo release third
Honeyglaze – ‘Honeyglaze’; Dan Carey (Speedy Wunderground) produced, a self-described “opposite to a concept album” with perfect deadpan effect.
New Re-issues
11/3/22:
PJ Harvey – ‘The Hope Six Demolition Project’; Latest studio and ninth album gets reissue treatment
PJ Harvey – ‘The Hope Six Demolition Project – Demos’; Demos in latest from PJ Harvey series.
18/3/22:
Pearl Jam – ‘rearviewmirror (greatest hits 1991-2003): Volume 1’; “Up” side. Two discs. Contains the bands heavier Rock songs
Pearl Jam – ‘rearviewmirror (greatest hits 1991-2003): Volume 2’; “Down” side. Two discs. Contains the bands slower more ballady rawk songs.
25/3/22:
The White Stripes – ‘The White Stripes’; Reissue of debut album cut from original master tapes
The White Stripes – ‘De Stijl’; Reissue of sophomore album cut from original master tapes
Cosmic Rough Riders – ‘Enjoy The Melodic Sunshine’; Post-creation Alan McGee offering from 2000
BMX Bandits – ‘Life Goes On’; First reissue from Kurt Cobain’s favourite Glaswegian band
Shed Seven – ‘See You At The Barras’; Live Shed on Red………vinyl
8/4/22:
Roy Budd – ‘Get Carter’ OST; Iconic soundtrack, recorded on tiny budget, written by jazz prodigy Roy Budd, pressed on purple vinyl.
Tin Machine – ‘Tin Machine II’; Clear & Turquoise vinyl mix press. Limited numbered edition. Final MOV pressing.
15/4/22:
M83 – ‘Hurry Up, We're Dreaming’; 10th Anniversary 140g 2LP Orange vinyl ft hugely streamed ‘Midnight City’: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX3k_QDnzHE
The Police – ‘Greatest Hits’; 30th Anniversary of literally what was The Police’s Greatest Hits were 30 years ago. Funny that.
22/4/22:
Ramin Djawadi – ‘Westworld Season 2’; Smoke Coloured Vinyl from the composer who gave you OST to Iron Man & the Game of Thrones series to name a few. Including covers of Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes), Heart Shaped Box (Nirvana) & Runaway (Kanye West).
29/4/22:
Pink Floyd – ‘A Saucerful Of Secrets’; Part of the 180g mono reissue series. Limited Edition. Featuring classics ‘Remember A Day’ & ‘Set Controls For The Heart Of The Sun’
Gig Guide
The Vaults:
March
Thu 24th John Bramwell (I Am Kloot) / Luna Velvet
Fri 25th Fizzy Milk / Rituals / Flatline / In These Walls
April
Thu 14th PAK 40 / Redfyrn
Fri 22nd Kit Trigg / Trueman / YouVee
Sat 23rd In Evil Hour / Brassic / Bite Me / Lady Range
Fri 29th Transmission (Joy Division Tribute)
The Crescent
March
Wed 30th What’s Wrong With Homer / Junk It / Fat Spatula / Rory Welbrock
April
Sat 9th Refugee Benefit feat. The Ukrainians
Sun 10th Folly Group / Regressive Left / The Rosemaries
Thu 14th Melt-Banana
Tue 19th Pom Poko
Sun 24th Kristen Hersh
Fulford Arms
March
Sun 27th The Lounge Society / Pennine Suite / Everything After Midnight
April
Fri 1st YouVee
Sat 2nd Avalanche Party / Pennine Suite / The Rosemaries
Fri 8th Walt Disco / Priestgate
Sat 16th Andy Bell Space Station
Fri 22nd Harrison Rimmer Album Launch
Barbican
April
Sat 2nd Heather Small (M People)
Tue 5th Paul Weller
Wed 6th Imelda May
Fri 8th Bootleg Beatles
Sat 16th Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets
Check out the websites for full gig listings.
Your independent friend
