Blur's new album is released, Gabriels, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Half Japanese, Waxahatchee, Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood, Joni Mitchell, Strawbs, Nadia Reid, Hum Dono Jazz reissue, Fugazi reissues, Pre-Order Liam Gallagher Knebworth 22 and more

This week sees the release of a brand new album The Ballad of Darren from 90s band Blur

'What’s clearly potent here is the chemical constitution of the four-piece. Written for the most part on a Gorillaz tour last year, never for a moment does it feel like the group are trying to ape another sound or reclaim parts of their younger selves; it’s the same energy which still rampantly fills the air around them - but it’s older, wiser and more reflective. A wonderful surprise album whose existence in 2023 actually makes perfect sense.' DIY Magazine

Various formats to choose from including ocean blue vinyl.

New Arrivals...

'Jump Into Love is the new album from Maryland Art Punk band formed in '75 Half Japanese, true DIY noise-rock royalty, led by the ever-effervescent Jad Fair. It’s a meeting of minds, a coming together from the world’s favourite indie-alt-rock outsiders. Atypically out there and off-kilter, the album wears its heart on its sleeve through a cascade of new, dark and brooding songs from the band who would be king.

Loved by Kurt Cobain, Daniel Johnston, Penn Jillette and outsiders everywhere, Half Japanese continue their quest for answers; creating a soundscape for a post-zombie land where bells chime and it’s OK to say “Yes”. It’s another adventure; series 20 from an introspective parallel world where the super prolific Jad Fair cogitates on life, love, giants, the possessed and even bigger issues that simply swell the brain.'

Limited edition white vinyl

'Celebrated singer, musician and producer Dudu Tassa teams up with award-winning composer and guitarist Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead, The Smile) for a new album Jarak Qaribak (Arabic for ‘Your Friend Is Your Neighbour’), bringing together vocalists and musicians from throughout the Middle East for a very special album of cross-border collaborations.'

'Gabriels with the full release of their debut album, Angels and Queens. The 13 track record released via Atlas Artists/Parlophone Records and was produced by the Grammy winning and fellow Compton local, Sounwave.'

 'Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Molly Tuttle and her band, Golden Highway, release their new album, City of Gold, following Tuttle’s acclaimed 2022 record, Crooked Tree, which won Best Bluegrass Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards and led NPR Music to call her, ‘a female flat picker extraordinaire with agility, speed and elegance who distinctively brings American roots music into the spotlight’, adding that the album ‘marries the improvisatory solos of traditional bluegrass with singer-songwriter sophistication.’

Out of My Province is New Zealand folk musician Nadia Reid's third album, 'following 2017s critically acclaimed Preservation. This album is Reids first with Spacebomb Records, produced by Matthew E. White and the Spacebomb House Band. Out of My Province is the sound of a young artist growing in profile and dexterity before international audiences and whose world has changed before her eyes.'

'Strawbs were high in the charts with ‘Grave New World’ and ‘Bursting At The Seams’ 50 years ago which coincided with a pivotal moment in the struggle for freedom in South Africa, when students and workers launched a new wave of resistance against so-called “resettlement”. The resistance in South Africa identified with Strawbs songs, especially ‘Part Of The Union’, ‘Lay Down’, and ‘New World’.

Recognising this, South Africa documentary maker, Niel van Deventer, approached David Cousins with the idea of producing a documentary about Strawbs and the band’s influence around the world. Niel wanted to film while new songs were being recorded in a Cape Town studio. David Cousins came up with a bunch of his finest songs; Blue Weaver flew over to produce the sessions and co- write some of the material, while John Ford joined in with his contribution to the songs from New York.'

CD available

Joni Mitchell has recently reissued her second album Clouds, 'Mitchell comes across as the quintessential folk poet, highly literate, guardedly emotional, somewhat collegiate, but full of enough talent and idiosyncrasy to pull listeners into her web. Both Sides Now", a beautiful low-key anthem of disillusionment from which the album's title is derived, became something of an anthem for the Woodstock set. Other, less well-known tunes like "That Song About the Midway" and the mysterious-sounding "Roses Blue" make just as much of an impression. the joyous "Chelsea Morning" would eventually provide president Clinton with a name for his daughter (even if he did think Judy Collins wrote the song).'

Transparent orange vinyl version

Katie Crutchfield's indie music project Waxahatchee named after Waxahatchee Creek in Alabama USA.

'Reissue of Waxahatchee's second album from 2012. The strength of 'Cerulean Salt' lies in the simplicity and purity of its songs, with melodies that immediately penetrate alongside Katie Crutchfield's frank vocal delivering devastating, straight-from-the-heart lyrics backed by lacerating guitars and slouchy basslines. Sounding like an instant classic from the get go, its songwriting recalls the rawness of early Cat Power, the introspective lyrics of Rilo Kiley and the indie fuzz of The Breeders.'

Limited edition Cerulean Blue vinyl limited to 700 copies

Joe Harriot / Amancio D’Silva Quartet - Hum-Dono

'Full colour repro of original sleeve with flip-back detailing on reverse. Released in 1969, this is probably the best modern British jazz LP of all time. A beguiling mix of East meets West rhythms, ideas and joy, repressed with an authentic flip back sleeve. 

An original of this will cost you about £2000. Because it’s rare but mainly because it’s absolutely amazing. A sax player hailing from the Jamaican Alpha School. A sublime guitarist from Mumbai, an tight quintet with special guests that include Norma Winstone on improvised wordless vocals. One session, 1969, at the very peak of British jazz invention and sound.'

'Fugazi's second release, first released as Dischord 35 and then as the latter half of the 13 Songs album along with their first EP, 7 Songs. Margin Walker is clearly an artistic step above 7 Songs, a further progression in the early Fugazi sound.'

Translucent green vinyl

Fugazi's 1991 album Steady Diet Of Nothing is also newly reissued on silver vinyl.

The latest copy of The Wire magazine is in store now  Issue 474 August 2023 £6.50

BROWSE ALL THESE RELEASES HERE

***

There's some great new releases coming soon - check out Pre-Orders now...

Liam Gallagher's Knebworth 22  on sun yellow double vinyl housed in Gatefold Sleeve. Includes A2 Poster / Replica Ticket (Yellow Ticket)

Liam Gallagher documents his triumphant two-night Knebworth Park shows with the release of the live album Knebworth 22. Returning to the scene of the era-defining Oasis gigs of the ‘90s, the huge audience stretched from fans who had been present some 26 years earlier right through to teenagers relishing the excitement of their first big gig. Knebworth 22 is a must-have live album for any fan who wants to relive the experience. 

Out 11th August

Following it’s surprise digital release, Sigur Rós’ first new studio album in ten years, ÁTTA, is their most intimate and emotionally direct record to date.

Recorded across multiple continents - in the band’s Sundlaugin studio in Iceland, the legendary Abbey Road in the UK and a number of studios in the US - ÁTTA leans heavily towards the orchestral, and touches on everything that has made Sigur Rós one of the most ambitious and acclaimed bands of recent times, with close to ten million albums sold, whilst signposting an exciting and expansive possibility for their future

Limited yellow double vinyl.

Released 1st September

***

Next, on the penultimate Sunday Underbelly radioshow on LCR FM on Sun July 23rd from 4pm http://lcrlincoln.com/play Katy's guest is the astonishing and brilliant Freddie Copson; TED speaker, disability advocate and content creator based in Linnoln.

***

***