Shirley Collins, Arlo Parks, Leftfield, Sparks, Tubular Bells is 50, Paul Simon, Yes, Tribute to Spacemen 3 Pre-Order New music from Blur

Posted by Mark Merrifield on May 26, 2023

New Music...

'One of the most important voices in British folk music Shirley Collins returns with Archangel Hill, her third album for Domino. It showcases another peerless collection of songs chosen by Collins, some from traditional sources but others from favourite writers of hers. Produced by Ian Kearey - Shirley Collins’ musical director - the arrangements were shared between Collins, Kearey, Pip Barnes, as well as Dave Arthur and Pete Cooper, players from The Lodestar Band.'

Vinyl and CD available

'Twice Grammy-nominated, Mercury Prize and Brit Award-winning artist Arlo Parks is returning with her second album, My Soft Machine on Transgressive Records. My Soft Machine is a deeply personal body of work; a narration of Parks’ experiences as she navigates her 20’s and the growth intertwined.'

Coloured Vinyl, standard vinyl, CD and cassette available

'The Telescopes are an all embracing concern that began in 1987, the only constant being sole composer/ instigator, Northumbrian born Stephen Lawrie. The band’s line-up is in constant flux, there can be anywhere between 1 and 20 members on a recording.

Of Tomorrow is the 15th album from The Telescopes, the fifth for Tapete. The album was created entirely by Lawrie at his studio in Shropshire, it is a departure from what the press often refer to as a ’wall of throb’ when describing the dense merge of noise and sound synonymous with most of The Telescopes output. Of Tomorrow marks a complete change in dynamics...This is an album to get lost in on the dance floor or headphones in equal measures.'

Indies only clear vinyl - limited to 250 copies

90s London duo Leftfield have reissued 2 of their albums...

'Leftism is the debut studio album by duo Leftfield, originally released in 1995 on Columbia Records. It contained a mixture of new tracks along with reworked versions of previous Leftfield singles. The album contains guest spots from musicians not associated with dance music at the time such as John Lydon from Public Image Ltd. (and formerly of Sex Pistols) and Toni Halliday from Curve...The album was nominated for the Mercury Prize in. Critics have praised the album as one of the major album-length works of dance music, with Q referring to it as "the first truly complete album experience to be created by house musicians and the first quintessentially British one".'

'Rhythm and Stealth is the second studio album by Leftfield, originally released on 20 September 1999. It reached number 1 on the UK Albums Chart and was nominated for the 2000 Mercury Music Prize.'

'Recorded entirely on acoustic instruments and predominantly performed by Paul Simon, Seven Psalms showcases Simon’s craft at its finest and most captivating, simply with his voice and guitar. Intended to be listened to as one continuous piece, the 33 minute, seven movement composition transcends the concept of the “album".

Standard vinyl

Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells is 50! A double LP version has been reissued this week

This 50th Anniversary celebration edition of Tubular Bells, overseen by Mike Oldfield, contains a brand new half-speed Abbey Road master of the original album, plus a second album that unites several beguiling versions of Oldfield’s masterwork for the first time.

'Sparks release their hugely anticipated 26th studio album, The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte via Island Records. The LP marks Sparks’ first release on the venerable Island Records label in close to five decades, following such classics as 1974’s landmark Kimono My House, highlighted of course by the indelible hit single ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us’. The new album is described by Ron and Russell Mael as a record that is “as bold and uncompromising as anything we did back then or, for that matter, anytime throughout our career.”

Limited picture disc available

Sufjan Stevens - Reflections

'This is Stevens’ second recorded release of his compositions for piano - following The Decalogue in 2019 - and his first written for two pianos. There is a long tradition of composing for duo pianos - from John Adams’ “Hallelujah Junction” to Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major - and Stevens was happy to further explore the form. “Although I've never taken a lesson,” he says, “the piano was my first true love. Having two of them at my disposal was an exciting opportunity and gave me a real catharsis about the expansiveness of the instrument.”

Yes - Mirror To The Sky

“This is a very important album for the band,” says Steve Howe, Yes’ longest serving member, master guitarist and producer of Mirror to the Sky, the bands 23rd studio album.

Available on 2LP and 2CD

Various - A Tribute to Spacemen 3

Celebrating twenty-five years since its release Rocket Girl is reissuing its seminal compilation A Tribute to Spacemen featuring classic reworkings of Spacemen 3 tunes by the likes of Mogwai, Low, Arab Strap and Bardo Pond. Available on posh double LP.

Listen to the Mogwai tune HERE

New music coming soon...

Last week Blur announced a brand new 10 track album, The Ballad of Darren will be released 21st July. You can pre-order ocean blue vinyl, standard vinyl, deluxe or standard CD now!

Frontman Damon Albarn described ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ as “an aftershock record” loaded with “reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now”, while guitarist Graham Coxon said: “The older and madder we get, it becomes more essential that what we play is loaded with the right emotion and intention. Sometimes just a riff doesn’t do the job.” NME

What we've hear of it so far sounds great and we're loving the artwork which features a stunning photo of the open air swimming pool in Inverclyde, Scotland.

BROWSE ALL THESE TITLES HERE

We've been buying LOTs of new 2nd hand collections recently too - lots to be listed and out in the shop and on our Discogs page (HERE) very soon. Including some fantastic 1st edition vinyl of The Wailer's Catch A Fire (Zippo lighter sleeve). Stone Roses classic debut, Nirvana's Nevermind and lots more! Also we've had a batch of pristine ECM CDs too!

Please remember prices on our Discogs page are always 10% cheaper from the shop direct!

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We are proud sponsors of Katy B's LCR FM show The Sunday Underbelly which champions Lincs arts and culture for the unsung heroes, the under dogs and the small voices who deserve to be heard.

On May 28th from 4pm this week's show is a takeover show, courtesy of Katy's guest, the ubercool Lincoln based graphic artist, musician, DJ and Daddy [cool] Sean Mowle aka CHRØMATIKA https://linktr.ee/Chromatika

lcrlincoln.com/play

Sadly the show will be ending this summer but it will be going out with a bang at a special live event, The Sunday Underbelly Live Finale at The Birdcage pub in Lincoln.

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