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.
Immersion & Thor Harris - "Just Close Your Eyes" (3:08)
Immersion & Thor Harris - "Rotations" (4:03)
Immersion & Thor Harris - "The House Of Thor" (2:35)
Immersion & Thor Harris - "In Snow" (4:16)
Immersion & Thor Harris - "At The Wizard's House" (5:39)
Immersion & Cubzoa - "I'm Barely Here" (5:14)
Immersion & Cubzoa - "In The Universe" (3:32)
Immersion & Cubzoa - "Other Ways" (5:14)
Immersion & Cubzoa - "Not About Me" (6:35)
Immersion & Cubzoa - "Neptune" (7:20)
Review: Immersion is the epitome of collaboration. Comprising Colin Newman, of legendary UK post punk outfit Wire, and his life partner Malka Spigel, the two first came together in 1985, former producing the latter's band, and have since fallen in love and combined creative forces countless times. Growing out of their Immersion project, a series of pop up gigs took place at the Rosehill, Brighton, with a cast of influential and cutting edge musicians getting involved. Songs were written and rehearsed before each show, and an album, Nanocluster Vol.1, soon materialised. Now we have the follow up. Disc one is centred on Thor Harris, percussion doyen of Swans, while the second half refocuses our attention on Cubzoa, AKA Jack Wolter of Penelope Isles, with Matt Schulz (Holy Fuck) also involved. The result is a psyche-tinged ride through swaggering indie, dream pop, chill, and surreal rock, nodding to names from Beta Band to King of Woolworths and beyond.
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.
New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down (6:28)
Review: A brand-new five-track EP from the current darlings of the indie scene. The Leeds four-piece have had an impressive few months, having dropped their debut album 'This Could Be Texas' in April and performing across major festivals in Europe, as well as being nominated for the 2024 Mercury Prize. The new project, recorded during their sessions with BBC Radio 1, 2 and 6 Music, includes live versions of tracks from the album, plus covers of LCD Soundsystem's 'New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down' and Billie Eilish's 'Birds Of A Feather'.
Review: Portishead's limited edition 10" vinyl release showcases live renditions of 'Sour Times' and 'Roads', capturing the band's signature trip-hop essence. Recorded in 1998 at The Warfield in San Francisco and Norway's Quart Festival, the tracks highlight Beth Gibbons' haunting vocals and the group's atmospheric instrumentation. The minimalist red sleeve with debossed cover adds a tactile dimension, making it a must-have for collectors and fans seeking a tangible connection to Portishead's live artistry.
Review: Following on from last year's critically acclaimed debut LP This Is Crime Wave, Codefendants return with a brand new 10" single complete with two utter bangers. The culmination of an effort by Get Dead vocalist Sam King, who by offering tattoos and selling flash art with his graffiti crew in order to raise funds to help rapper Ceschi Ramos with his incarceration; later when the pair would meet, they bonded over a bottle of whiskey and their shared passion for the Venn Diagram intersections of the realms of punk and hip-hop. With the addition of punk legend and NOFX main-man Fat Mike, an incomparable trio was born. Flagging their genre as "Crime Wave" (hence the album title), the tripod of MC's and punks deliver a dizzying concoction of new wave, hip-hop, flamenco, hardcore and sunshine pop, while the titular 'Living Las Vegas' from this new 10" features west coast rap legend 2Mex.
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: Argentine singer, songwriter, actress and psychedelic neo-folk high priestess Juana Molina may not be a familiar name to many in the West. But she's been putting out consistently fantastic records since the mid-1990s, debuting with Rara (not including the original score to the movie Juana y sus hermanas back in 1991) and is the sort of artist you don't forget once you discover. Allow Exhalo to open the door on this South American titan of folktronica, casting spells with a combination of lo-fi indie electronic, curveball pop, and progressive folk, with some influences also stemming from her upbringing as the daughter of tango legend Horacio Molina and actor Chunchuna VillafaNe. A deep and captivating listen that seduces you from the word go, this is one not to be missed if you can help it.
Review: Alternative icons The Fall were of the most out-there acts of their generation, if not any generation. Now, all new on Bella Union is Stales Live on 10" and CD. Conceived by former Slates-era members of The Fall, it offers live versions of the 1981 mini-LP's six tracks that capture the raw essence of their legendary live shows plus plenty more. With input from band members throughout sourcing, mastering, and design, this release is a long-awaited treat for Fall enthusiasts. Stewart Lee, a dedicated Fall fan, contributes sleeve notes and each song is meticulously curated to showcase its evolution onstage, making Slates Live a must-have for fans yearning for an authentic Fall experience.
Review: Tokyo-based post/math-rock noodlers Toe have a habit of cleansing the palette of each subsequent full-length they release with a follow up EP. Just like 2005's debut album The Book About My Idle Plot On A Vague Anxiety was followed up with 2006's New Sentimentality EP, the group would return three years on from their stellar 2009 sophomore effort For Long Tomorrow with 2012's The Future Is Now. From the twinkling emo-inflected shoegazing noodles of 'Run For Word' to the more acoustic-driven psych-jazz of 'Ordinary Days', the four cuts purposefully meander and fuse differing elements from the band's arsenal whilst somehow increasing the dense technicality to absurd, near impenetrable levels.
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