Monday, December 1, 2014

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes


from our friends at NewOnVinyl

NEW COOL COLLECTIVE - ELECTRIC MONKEY SESSIONS

New Cool Collective's fifteenth album Electric Monkey Sessions refers to the sound studio in Amsterdam where the recordings were made. They have drawn inspiration from Senegalese Orchestra Baobab, as well as psychedelic cumbia, Cape Town, Italian cinema and many major jazz heroes. Electric Monkey Sessions also features two unique tracks recorded at a beach-side studio in Dakar with local musicians the band met on one of their many international adventures.

In 1993 saxophonist Benjamin Herman began experimenting with DJ Graham B at nightclub Soul Kitchen in Amsterdam. The combination of playing live to spinning records was still unusual then. But the results worked and ended up evolving into the eight-piece New Cool Collective. The band is now impossible to think away from the nightclubs and festivals of the Netherlands and beyond.

The line-up of New Cool Collective is made up of saxophonist Benjamin Herman, drummer Joost Kroon, percussionists Frank van Dok and Jos de Haas, pianist Willem Friede, bassist Leslie Lopez, guitarist Rory Ronde and trumpet-player David Rockefeller.

New Cool Collective's fifteenth album Electric Monkey Sessions refers to the sound studio in Amsterdam where the recordings were made. A new studio for the band, and a new style of recording, which means a whole new vibe compared to previous albums. New Cool Collective has drawn inspiration from Senegalese Orchestra Baobab, as well as psychedelic cumbia, Cape Town, Italian cinema and many major jazz heroes. Electric Monkey Sessions also features two unique tracks recorded at a beach-side studio in Dakar with local musicians the band met on one of their many international adventures.
This autumn New Cool Collective are on tour. The eight-piece band is well known for the total commitment with which they convey the energy and emotion of their albums live on stage.

180 gram audiophile vinyl
Insert
Includes download card of the album + Bonus Track "Frankie Conga"
First pressing of 500 numbered copies on orange transparent vinyl

Order at NewOnVinyl


RODRIGUEZ - COLD FACT

Cold Fact is the debut album from American singer-songwriter Rodriguez. It was released in the United States on the Sussex label in March 1970. The album sold very poorly in the United States (Rodriguez was himself an unknown in the U.S.), but managed to sell well in both South Africa and Australia, with Rodriguez touring Australia in 1979.

In 1971 the album was released in South Africa by A&M Records, who were by then the owners of the Sussex label. In 1976, several thousand copies of Cold Fact were found in a New York warehouse and sold out in Australia in a few weeks. It went to No. 23 on the Australian album charts, staying on the charts for 55 weeks. In 1998 Cold Fact was awarded a platinum disc in South Africa, and was five-times platinum in Australia. Rodriguez has since toured South Africa and Australia with much success, but remained relatively unknown in his native country of the USA. This began to change after the reissues of his albums in the U.S. by Light in the Attic Records in 2008 and 2009, and even further in 2012 with the Academy Award winning documentary film Searching for Sugar Man, which soon led to appearances on major American television shows like 60 Minutes and The Late Show with David Letterman.

Cold Fact was featured as a "Buried Treasure" in the August 2002 issue of Mojo.

Order at NewOnVinyl

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Trip Shakespeare's 'Are You Shakespearienced?' Vinyl Reissue

Expanded reissue of Minneapolis icons’ sophomore release!

After the release of Trip Shakepeare’s debut—Applehead Man—band leader Matt Wilson’s brother, Grammy® winning songwriter Dan Wilson joined the fold as a permanent member. The original trio became a quartet and self-released Are You Shakespearienced? in 1988.

Omnivore is pleased to continue following the legacy of Trip Shakespeare with a reissue of the band’s 2nd album—which now includes 9 bonus tracks, 8 previously unissued.

Are You Shakespearienced? (co-produced by the band’s John Munson) will be released in a digipak with liner notes from Jon Niccum (author of The Worst Gig), and previously unseen photos. The LP (first pressing on translucent green vinyl, with black to follow) contains the original nine tracks, liners and photos, and a download card for the entire CD program.

Are You Shakespearienced? would find Trip Shakespeare not only being courted by the major labels, but eventually signing to A&M Records. Later, John Munson and Dan Wilson would go on to form Semisonic, but now is the time to get Shakespearienced!

Release date: 12/15/2014

Pre-Order at OmnivoreRecordings


Old 97's 'Hitchhike To Rhome' Vinyl Reissue

Old 97's classic debut gets an expanded 20th Anniversary reissue!

The Old 97’s burst onto the alt-country scene in 1994 with their debut, Hitchhike To Rhome. To celebrate this anniversary, Omnivore Recordings is proud to reissue Hitchhike with an expanded release on 2-CD, Digital, and—for the first time—on double LP!

When band member, and set co-producer, Ken Bethea was revisiting the original tapes for this reissue, he discovered a whopping eight extra tracks cut at the album sessions—many of which the band hadn’t even remembered recording. It seemed the perfect time and place to bring those previously unissued songs to light and add the tracks from their first four song demo cassette to round out the early picture of the 97’s.

The 2-CD version of Hitchhike To Rhome contains the original album, coupled with a 2nd disc of those 12 rare and unreleased tracks, many mixed from the original multi-tracks for the first time by longtime Old 97’s engineer Rip Rowan. The double LP (limited edition first pressing on translucent orange vinyl) features the LP on 3 sides with 6 of the recently unearthed tracks on the 4th. The download card included gives the buyer the complete 2-CD program. Both formats include rare photos, memorabilia and notes from Bethea.

From the Too Far To Care reissue complete with demos, (also available separately on vinyl as They Made A Monster), to their sessions with the great Waylon Jennings, Omnivore continues to add to the Old 97’s legacy with this integral, early part of their history and catalog.

Order at OmnivoreRecordings

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Dances in Dreams of the Known Unknown by The Skull Defekts

When the Skull Defekts entered the studio in the Spring of 2013 with nothing more than a collection of loosely organized riffs, they set out to record their most extreme, challenging rock record. Much to the band’s surprise, what emerged were their most incessantly listenable, approachable songs to date. The Defekts merge the coarse vitality of punk with the ritualism of folk dances to create music that is addictive, wondrously discordant, and rooted in a belief in the overwhelming power of pure sound. Dances in Dreams of the Known Unknown is the Swedish group’s third release as a quintet, with the legendary Daniel Higgs joining Joachim Nordwall and Daniel Fagerstroem on vocal duties and acting as the group’s spiritual ringleader. The Defekts have long acted as the backbone of the Swedish experimental underground, but since their 2011 breakthrough Peer Amid, the group has emerged at the vanguard of a new wave of radical Scandinavian rock music alongside Iceage and the Posh Isolation label.

From the opening patter of “Pattern of Thoughts” to the propulsive chants of “Cyborganization,” Dances in Dreams of the Known Unknown feeds on the tension between lean and bright song production and the hefty, sometimes surreal sounds produced by Nordwall and Fagerstroem’s guitars. Daniel Higgs’ spontaneous, metaphoric poetry is as perplexing as ever, but it is delivered with a clarity not heard since his days fronting Lungfish. Album centerpiece “The Known Unknown” is centered around a driving riff, with Nordwall turning the song’s title into a mantra as intense as it is transcendent. Throughout, the group anchors their riffs with exotic sustained chords, adding a distinctly Carnatic flavor.

LP version includes an artworked inner sleeve and free download card. High gloss UV printing on LP jacket.

EXCLUSIVE LP MAILORDER EDITION AVAILABLE : 500 copies are pressed on gold vinyl and will only be sold on Thrill Jockey's website and the band's merch table.

Order at ThrillJockey

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Tilts - Cuatro Hombres - PINK CLEAR COLORED VINYL 12''

The St. Louis quartet TILTS return with 10 brand new tracks of killer rock and roll on Cuatro Hombres, with just enough spice to keep things nice! Guitarist/vocalist Andrew Elstner splits his time between TILTS and TORCHE and can sing like a mofo! These soaring vocals land atop catchy songs both heavy and melodic.

Once again, the band's drummer Ken McCray self-recorded this at Marmadook Studios, then had Richmond, Virginia engineer Ian Whalen (RAH BRAHS, TOMBS, LAMB OF GOD) mix the beast. James Plotkin (ISIS, CAVE IN, THOU) carefully mastered the final banger specifically for vinyl, and separately for the included high-quality digital download.

Rounded out by bassist Shawn Hart and guitar player Andy White, TILTS triumphantly deliver a seriously infectious sophomore album with 10 songs of "ALL KILLER NO FILLER" rock music! Like the debut LP, Tom Huck's brilliant woodcut artwork adorns the sleeve, with righteous pink/clear color vinyl inside.

Order HERE


Tilts - Self-Titled - GREEN COLORED VINYL 12"

Based out of the heartland in St. Louis, Missouri, TILTS debut on vinyl here with 12 slabs of absurdly catchy rock and/or roll. The songs are heavy, tuneful, have damn nice actual SINGING and tight spice added in all the right places. Guitarist/vocalist Andrew Elstner splits his time between TILTS and TORCHE (and used to play in RIDDLE OF STEEL) so you know he can shred. The band self-recorded this album in drummer Ken McCray’s home studio, then had Richmond, Virginia engineer Ian Whalen (RAH BRAHS, TOMBS, LAMB OF GOD) re-mix the whole shebang. James Plotkin (ISIS, CAVE IN, THOU) carefully mastered the beaut (for vinyl-specifically and separately for the digital download included) and she polishes up right nice! Rounded out by bassist Shawn Hart and guitar player Andy White, TILTS have delivered a seriously infectious debut album with 12 rockin "ALL KILLER NO FILLER" tracks!

(Comes on color vinyl, nice packaging and with a high-quality digital download of the full album as well)

Order HERE

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from our friends at Relapse

Death - Spiritual Healing Reissue LP *Picture Disc*

Death’s landmark ‘Spiritual Healing’ record is nothing short of genre-defining.  Originally released in 1990, Spiritual Healing marked a new turn in the Death discography, one which ushered in cleaner production, a new level of boundary pushing musicianship and songwriting skills that were previously unimaginable from a metal band.  Spiritual Healing sets the standard for riffs, insane time changes and of course mainman Chuck Schuldiner’s masterful guitar solos.

***Exclusively available through Relapse.com***

***Mailorder exclusive picture disc limited to 1,000.  Includes a 4 panel LP insert and a free digital download of the entire remastered 2xCD version***

Order at Relapse

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FAITH NO MORE Plays Surprise Set At Amoeba Records In San Francisco (Video)






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Goldfinger Press Up First-Ever Vinyl Edition of Self-Titled Debut











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from the land down under:


Twerps Take Us Through Their Vinyl Collection





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Five of the best vinyl record shops in London








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from the uk, an alternative opinion to the vinyl revival


Vinyl's making a comeback? Don't believe the hype






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more from across the pond:


Rough Trade record label leading the way for vinyl in Nottingham







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Lawrence English, Efdemin, Monolake and more interviewed for book on the resurgence of vinyl







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The Vinyl Factory presses Underworld record less than 12 hours after it was recorded










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from the great state of south carolina:


Vinyl never really went away for Rock Hill music man







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from the great state of ohio:


Rare records spin appreciation for quality music, local shopping











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Woman Creates a 3D Printed Hand-cranked Record Player






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Vinyl, Once Thought Dead, Makes A Comeback In The Digital Age






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Vinyl stores see new competition as proof of growing community







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from rolling stone, let the debate begin!


50 Best Albums of 2014 - U2 unleashed a brilliant surprise, Bruce Springsteen hit a new peak, St. Vincent made deliciously weird noise and more





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album cover art of the day:


We Are the Ocean announce new album “Ark”