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Pirates Press Records is proud to re-release Close My Eyes, the 2002 album by NYC ska-reggae legends The Slackers - a complex and nuanced album that shows the band's versatility and capacity for both commentary and introspection. It is often said - to the point of cliche - that New York City is a "character" in the work of the city's most noted filmmakers. A similar statement could be made about the artistic symbiosis between the city and The Slackers. From the Bronx-born accent of lead vocalist Vic Ruggiero to the band's embrace of cosmopolitan musical traditions from a melting pot of cultural origins, New York defines The Slackers at least as much as the band have contributed to defining the sound of New York for well over 30 years.Therefore, it bears mentioning that - aside from a 2002 collaborative album by "The Slackersand Friends" - Close My Eyesis the band's first proper studio LP released after the traumatic terrorist attacks on their home city in 2001, and the band took enough time to reckon with the global fallout of this tragedy. "So feel free go steal and rob, revolution ain't my job," sings Ruggiero on the title track. "And if I sing your happy song, please don't tell me I am wrong." It is the statement of an artist searching for a way to still sing about joy and life in uncertain times of great upheaval. And ultimately the band must reckon with these times. On "Real War," toaster Marq Lyn takes lead vocals as the band addresses the march to war that was omnipresent in those early days of the 21st century, stating in no uncertain terms that it was "Time to fight the real war_ Against hunger and poverty_ For racial equality." The Slackers make it clear that while the machinations of hawkish politicians grind on, the real needs of people all over the world are left behind. This tension between a dangerous world and the struggles of one's personal life are present throughout the record, and the band weaves stories from the whole spectrum of human emotion, war, heartbreak, joy, and everything in between. Bookended by instrumental tracks, opening with the energetic "Shankbon" and ending with moody dub reggae, these veteran virtuoso players ultimately take listeners on a masterful journey through the human experience.

Horse Jumper of Love thrive on patient and pummeling songs. Since 2013, the Boston trio of singer-guitarist Dimitri Giannopoulos, bassist John Margaris, and drummer James Doran have slowly stretched the fringes of indie rock across five full-length LPs. Their music unwinds with gutting emotional intensity thanks to Giannopoulos' impressionistic lyrics and how the arrangements violently lurch from delicate to bludgeoning. Disaster Trick, the band's new album out August 16 via Run For Cover, is their most direct and uncompromising LP yet. Its 11 songs tackle self-destructiveness and healing with jolting lucidity. Where the band's last LP 2023's Heartbreak Rules excelled with quiet, bare-bones songwriting, Disaster Trick cranks up the volume and boasts some of the most expansive arrangements of the band's catalog. Recorded at Asheville, North Carolina's Drop of Sun Studios with producer Alex Farrar, the recordings soar with searing guitars and a thunderous rhythm section. "I tried the quiet thing on the last album and I realized there's definitely two parts of me: I like really heavy music, and I like really gentle music," says Giannopoulos. "The two albums I was listening to the most, while we were in the studio were the Leonard Cohen's Songs From a Room and Hum's Downward is Heavenward." Disaster Trick is a dark record but it's never dour. There's a glimmer of hope and humor throughout these 11 songs, written with the grace that only time and growing up can bring. As he sings on "Death Spiral," "I know it sounds dramatic / But I must describe / The way that it felt." There's catharsis when it's needed most. "This album is a reflection on destructive behavior from a lens of more clarity," says Giannopoulos. "A lot of the songs came out of this point where things in my life were going well but I couldn't accept it. I was being a brat. Disaster Trick is me cleaning up my act a bit and reflecting on it."

Horse Jumper of Love thrive on patient and pummeling songs. Since 2013, the Boston trio of singer-guitarist Dimitri Giannopoulos, bassist John Margaris, and drummer James Doran have slowly stretched the fringes of indie rock across five full-length LPs. Their music unwinds with gutting emotional intensity thanks to Giannopoulos' impressionistic lyrics and how the arrangements violently lurch from delicate to bludgeoning. Disaster Trick, the band's new album out August 16 via Run For Cover, is their most direct and uncompromising LP yet. Its 11 songs tackle self-destructiveness and healing with jolting lucidity. Where the band's last LP 2023's Heartbreak Rules excelled with quiet, bare-bones songwriting, Disaster Trick cranks up the volume and boasts some of the most expansive arrangements of the band's catalog. Recorded at Asheville, North Carolina's Drop of Sun Studios with producer Alex Farrar, the recordings soar with searing guitars and a thunderous rhythm section. "I tried the quiet thing on the last album and I realized there's definitely two parts of me: I like really heavy music, and I like really gentle music," says Giannopoulos. "The two albums I was listening to the most, while we were in the studio were the Leonard Cohen's Songs From a Room and Hum's Downward is Heavenward." Disaster Trick is a dark record but it's never dour. There's a glimmer of hope and humor throughout these 11 songs, written with the grace that only time and growing up can bring. As he sings on "Death Spiral," "I know it sounds dramatic / But I must describe / The way that it felt." There's catharsis when it's needed most. "This album is a reflection on destructive behavior from a lens of more clarity," says Giannopoulos. "A lot of the songs came out of this point where things in my life were going well but I couldn't accept it. I was being a brat. Disaster Trick is me cleaning up my act a bit and reflecting on it."

Idle Race is the second studio album by British rock band Idle Race, released in 1969. This album follows their 1968 debut, The Birthday Party. Fronted by Jeff Lynne, who later became famous with Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the album features a whimsical pop-rock style with psychedelic influences. Key tracks like ""Come With Me"" and ""Please No More Sad Songs"" showcase Lynne's melodic songwriting and playful lyrics. Despite critical acclaim, Lynn left shortly after the album release to join The Move. However, Idle Race is a cult classic, celebrated for its inventive arrangements and quirky charm. This album is a hidden gem in the late 1960s British rock scene, highlighting the band's unique blend of catchy tunes and imaginative storytelling. Idle Race is available as a limited edition of 750 individually numbered copies on crystal clear.

Not everybody has not one, not two, but twelve producers attached to her debut release. Not everybody has her one and only album pranked by British artist Banksy (who substituted a topless photo for the cover). Nope, not everybody is Paris Hilton, who has lived in the public eye since, well, forever. She first announced plans to make an album in 2003, during her run on the reality TV series The Simple Life. Originally entitled Screwed, and then Paris Is Burning, the record—finally simply entitled Paris—came out in 2006. And it was…uh… good? Yeah, for real. This record goes expensively pedicured cuticle to cuticle with anything Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson or any other pop culture chanteuse of the like ever put out, and the Paris the heiress displays some real savvy both in her taste of material and the Madonna-like manipulation of her sex symbol image. And her voice? Definitely respectable despite what the haters said. Indeed, the single “Stars Are Blind” went top 20, and the album itself went all the way up to #6, selling over 600,000 copies worldwide. Since Paris has finally answered the pleas of her fans and made a second album, we thought the time was right for a revival of Paris, so we’ve taken the fetching photos from the CD package and given them plenty of acreage to show their stuff, with a gatefold jacket and 4-color printed inner sleeve. And for this release, we’re pressing Paris’ album in her favorite color, pink…and of course it’s hot! A pop culture keepsake from an enduring pop culture icon!

This album was a self imposed ambitious project for us. Something to kick in the creative flow. The last few years, having been a challenging time in general, felt like a good time for a pivot. The last two albums were so guitar and keyboard centric, I wanted a weird and fun set of parameters for us to work with. I demo’d everything at home on cassette 4 track (harkening back to simpler times) using drum loops, and just had at it 'til I had a pile of “songs”. Tom and I chose one sound each using synths and created a range of 3 octaves of that sample, then loaded them into Roland SPD-SX samplers and learned the transcribed songs using drum sticks. The idea was to change the way we wrote and to have 4 people along the front of the stage essentially playing percussion. So no guitar, no keys. As we were recording I kept thinking how the sounds, when paired up, sounded a bit like brass. So, we added a saxophone horn section to round out the horniness of the sound with a bit of reedy bell tones. Thanks to Cansfis Foote & Brad Caulkins on tenor and Baritone saxophones :) Sort of a Dexy’s Midnight Runners meets Von LMO meets The Flesh Eaters meets the Screamers kinda punk junk. Poppy and hooky, heavy at times.. Sort of vacuous and maybe a bit sci-fi in sound. Boneheaded in riff and heady in lyrics. Recorded at Stu-Stu-Studio by me on 8 track 1/4” tape . So pretty hot and raw. Lots to write about today. A lot of these lyrics were taken from things people said in passing about taking on life right now that stuck with me. Things that made me reflect. Things that made me laugh. Things that made me WTF. Some folks are kind, genuine & give you love and energy. Some are greedy manipulative ghouls who hang off your veins. You must be strong, composed and take care of yourself. Be self aware and check your mind for cracks. Learn to relax and be well. There are moments of beauty and redemption. Its not all bad news and there’s always hope. People continue to surprise me one way or another. Anyhow, Hope you enjoy and good luck out there. — John Dwyer

Exciting News for Roulette Fans!

It's been quite a journey since the release of the album "Now!". Over the years, Roulette shared several singles digitally, each one a piece of our evolving musical story.
Now, as anticipation builds for our upcoming summer single "Love's The Drug", we believe it's the perfect moment to gather all our recent hits into one special collection.

Introducing the brand-new EP, "From Now Until Today". This EP brings together all the singles released since "Now!", capturing the essence of Roulettes latest musical explorations. And because fans deserve something truly unique, we've included a bonus track that you won't find anywhere else-exclusively available on this EP.

Available in both CD and vinyl formats, "From Now Until Today" is more than just a collection; it's a reflection of the journey and a gift to our incredible supporters.
Thank you for being a part of our story. We can't wait for you to hear it.

- Ltd. Col. 12": (Red Vinyl)

Luminice Blue Transparent Vinyl. Can you hear the war drums beating? Prepare for battle! Lost In Cult Records, Black Screen Records, Gaziter and Deadpan Games are proud to present Wildfrost: the Original Game Soundtrack. For the first time on vinyl, enjoy the complete and unabridged orchestral score from composer Paul Zimmermann. Rich with folk roots and powerful crescendos, it's the perfect soundscape for your journey through the cold. No Pengoons were harmed in the making of this vinyl. Composer Paul Zimmermann on working on this soundtrack and vinyl: "Writing the music for Wildfrost was a blast. I loved mixing a ton of different instruments from all around the world to bring to life the colourful and unique setting of the game. The gameplay can get very challenging, so I wanted to make sure the music felt playful and uplifting, while also providing those big and heroic moments for our boss fights. I'm super pleased to partner with Lost in Cult and Black Screen Records to bring this soundtrack to vinyl. Seeing the positive response from players has been amazing and I hope this vinyl, with its unique artwork by Nuri Durr and the additional extras, provides fans of the game and its music another great way to connect with the world of the eternal winter!"

"Justin Townes Earle released Kids In The Street, his first record on New West Records, in May of 2017. The album received critical acclaim and further cemented Justin’s legacy as one of the best active songwriters in music. Songs like, “Champagne Corolla” showcased his wry sense of humor as well as his deft ability to build upon the music that came before him while at the same time creating something unique and new. Familiar, inventive, creative, and clever.

Justin would release his second album with New West Records in May of 2019. The Saint of Lost Causes was hailed as one of the best albums of 2019 by Rolling Stone Magazine with “half a dozen or so career classics.” “I was trying to look through the eyes of America,” Earle says. “Because I believe in the idea of America - that everybody’s welcome here and has a right to be here.” Earle tells these American stories in detail and without judgement. While some songs cite historic events like “Flint City Shake It,” and “Don’t Drink The Water,"" other tracks present fictionalized narratives that are no less harrowing, or true-to-life , as heard in ""Appalachian Nightmare,” “The Saint Of Lost Causes,” and “Over Alameda.""

Justin Townes Earle was always a champion of the underdog and All In features in depth looks at the hopeful, and the hopeless. Fueled by empathy, baked in the blues, Justin was never without something poignant or humorous to say. Sadly, Justin passed away in 2020 at the age of 38. ALL IN: Unreleased & Rarities (The New West Years) is a fitting tribute to Justin’s legacy. The collection features many never heard before songs, demos, and cover tunes, spanning his time as a New West Records recording artist."

"It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years, give or take a few, since we tried our hand out at writing, recording, and playing our songs. We had a wild ride and feel privileged, but mostly grateful, to pursue music in the way that we did. A lot of life happened during our tenure as a band and that didn’t stop since our last show or record.

The people and places the band introduced us to continue to serve as the most incredible memories and to add to that, Kingfisher is turning 10 years old. The nostalgia is real. We had been toying around with the idea of reuniting for quite some time, so there seemed no better time to do it than now.

Having Topshelf in our corner as we began preparing to do this was a no brainer. After talking to Kev and the TSR crew of our plans, it was like no time had passed as they’ve always been great friends and a support system to us. Topshelf repressing Kingfisher in its original intended format, as a double LP, feels like a very monumental way to commemorate a record that means so much to us.

We can’t wait to get back out there to commemorate 15 years of Prawn and Kingfisher’s 10th Birthday. We will be having original members (welcome back Vilchez) to help celebrate with a run of shows that we feel very fortunate to do. Cheers to the last 15 years and all of you reading this for being part of our journey. Let’s see what the next 15 hold in store!

All our love,

Prawn"

"The Blues is a unique sound that comes from particular times, places, and people. However, that sound is universal in that it can be used to articulate every human emotion. In this album, I invite listeners from all walks of life to the world of The Blues as it is in 2024. I invite people to engage with the ups and downs we all experience, through this music.

The blues was a black-American innovation in our history that had many facets to it. There are technical components to the blues - standards and vocal phrasing. There are also components to the blues that are more abstract, such as history, geography, even intellectual movements. In this album, I endeavored to use those building blocks to articulate the humanity I see around me - past, present, and future - without compromising the quality, the foundation that the blues provides.

These fifteen original songs are my invitation to everyone out there - whether you’re a blues aficionado or just passing through the genre, I hope you find plenty to engage with."

"The Blues is a unique sound that comes from particular times, places, and people. However, that sound is universal in that it can be used to articulate every human emotion. In this album, I invite listeners from all walks of life to the world of The Blues as it is in 2024. I invite people to engage with the ups and downs we all experience, through this music.

The blues was a black-American innovation in our history that had many facets to it. There are technical components to the blues - standards and vocal phrasing. There are also components to the blues that are more abstract, such as history, geography, even intellectual movements. In this album, I endeavored to use those building blocks to articulate the humanity I see around me - past, present, and future - without compromising the quality, the foundation that the blues provides.

These fifteen original songs are my invitation to everyone out there - whether you’re a blues aficionado or just passing through the genre, I hope you find plenty to engage with."

Buzzkunst ist PETE SHELLEY (Buzzcocks, solo) & HOWARD DEVOTO (earliest Buzzcocks, Magazine, solo). 'SPECIAL SAUCE' ist größtenteils eine Neukonfiguration des 2002er CD-only-Albums 'Buzzkunst' von ShelleyDevoto. JETZT (!) zum ersten Mal auf VINYL, mit einer neuen Reihenfolge und zwei (2) bisher unveröffentlichten Tracks - 'Psychosomatic' und 'Punk Of Me'. Und als ob das noch nicht genug wäre, gibt's noch ein zweites Mini-Album: 11 NEVER BEFORE RELEASED HOWARD DEVOTO ARCHIVE RECORDINGS aus der gleichen Zeit, mit dem Titel 'DESIGNOID'. Instrumentalstücke und Songs, eigenwillig wie immer, inklusive eines 21st century re-work von 'Breakdown', das ursprünglich auf der selbstveröffentlichten Debüt-EP der Buzzcocks, 'Spiral Scratch', enthalten war. "This Shelley is Pete Shelley _ old punks will remember him from the legendary Buzzcocks, while '80s rockers may recall his electro-pop hit Homo Sapien. The Devoto is Howard Devoto, Shelley's old Buzzcocks partner who went on to form the arty post-punk outfit Magazine. Now working together again for the first time in 25 years, the duo have achieved a sound that incorporates most if not all of their previous endeavours without reverting to cheap nostalgia. Their 14-track reunion album Buzzkunst is a progressive step forward, combining the grinding guitars of Shelley's youth and the poppy synthesizers of his middle age with the artsy sonic sculptures and post-punk yelp of Devoto's past." - Tinnitist,2002/2022

"In the summer of 2021 I was introduced to the French filmaker Émilie Deleuze in Paris. She asked me if I would create a soundtrack for a film she intended to make titled Cinq Hectares. When I asked Emilie what the story of the film was about she replied "It's a comedy and road movie , about a guy driving a tractor across France". I love road movies and I had never composed a movie soundtrack before so I immediately said "yes". I recorded the soundtrack in the summer of 2022 in east London with the help of producers James Rand & Thomas Gorton of @godcolony and a bunch of great young musicians they introduced me to, one of which @alwhite who now plays saxophone with Primal Scream. Émilie's film is an absolute cracker and I'm very proud of the soundtrack. Hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did making it”

Bobby Gillespie, June 2024

Last Train are an exception on the French indie rock scene. From the Olympia in Paris to the biggest festivals, the four Alsatians have won over a devoted audience with their hypnotic, moving concerts. Independent or nothing, they self-produce their records and tours, as well as their music videos, short films and even documentaries, with rigour and determination. At the end of 2022, the musicians had the luxury of taking their time and the right to experiment. Far from the beaten track, they are rewriting their own repertoire in a cinematic and contemplative way. By collaborating with the Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse, Last Trainconfirm their viscerallove of large-format sounds and images, and present a veritable compendium of inï¬,uences in twelve tracks.Original Motion PictureSoundtrack is the soundtrack to a film that doesn"texist. From a symphonic chaseto a neo-classical interlude, from an organ requiem to an electronic soaring, the Mulhouse-based band play with the boundaries of genres. Last Train sets the bar ever higher with this unexpected, singular and striking album. It is accompanied by a mini-series documenting the work done in the studio, the collaboration with the orchestra and the day-to-day life of an authentic, inspired band.

Last Train are an exception on the French indie rock scene. From the Olympia in Paris to the biggest festivals, the four Alsatians have won over a devoted audience with their hypnotic, moving concerts. Independent or nothing, they self-produce their records and tours, as well as their music videos, short films and even documentaries, with rigour and determination. At the end of 2022, the musicians had the luxury of taking their time and the right to experiment. Far from the beaten track, they are rewriting their own repertoire in a cinematic and contemplative way. By collaborating with the Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse, Last Trainconfirm their viscerallove of large-format sounds and images, and present a veritable compendium of inï¬,uences in twelve tracks.Original Motion PictureSoundtrack is the soundtrack to a film that doesn"texist. From a symphonic chaseto a neo-classical interlude, from an organ requiem to an electronic soaring, the Mulhouse-based band play with the boundaries of genres. Last Train sets the bar ever higher with this unexpected, singular and striking album. It is accompanied by a mini-series documenting the work done in the studio, the collaboration with the orchestra and the day-to-day life of an authentic, inspired band.

Morgan Wade was feeling the urge to simplify after a period of relentless touring and intense media scrutiny during the last couple of years. Every time she sat down with her guitar, new songs just started pouring out. 'They were just coming to me left and right', Wade says. The Virginia-born singer-songwriter made a choice to return to the basics for her new album 'Obsessed', a solo-written, stripped-down 14-track collection produced by her touring guitarist Clint Wells that showcases Wade at her rawest and most vulnerable. 'I really wanted to get back to doing what I used to do', she says. 'Just make this whatever I wanted it to be'. Wade's third album and follow-up to 2023's 'Psychopath', 'Obsessed' puts the focus on Wade's storytelling abilities and singular voice. She writes with incredible force about the ache for home and the emotion of being reunited with loved ones, of feeling dangerously preoccupied with someone, and of being in situations that society might consider outside the norm. On 'Obsessed', Wade also does a thorough examination and inventory of her journey as a person, not sparing any ugly details when she's been the one at fault. It's a fearless look into the life of one of country music's most exciting talents, arriving right as she's hitting her stride. This is a x14 trk double black LP Vinyl & standard CD. Marketing activity across all media outlets.

Young Marble Giants' "Colossal Youth" has mystified and beguiled audiences since its 1980 release. Seen by primary songwriter Stuart Moxham as "a last gasp" at making a record, Stuart insisted the one-off 7" deal offered by Rough Trade be altered to allow an entire album . . . that paid off when with a big seller which produces cover versions even from bands whose members were a decade or two away from being born on the album's release. When YMG disbanded, Stuart was at a loss; he'd never envisioned a follow-up. A series of experimental recordings made with pal Phil Legg (Essential Logic) and supported by other YMG members, musicians from This Heat and Swell Maps, old Cardiffian pals, and new friends like Vivien Goldman resulted in an album, "Embrace The Herd", as The Gist. Released just before Rough Trade made bold moves toward pop charts with Scritti Politti, The Smiths and others, the album was odd for its time, but has since taken on the lustre of genius. Years of silence followed, thereafter intermittently broken by the odd release from small labels. Stuart delved into family life, though he never stopped writing and recording. In more recent years, two retrospective compilation of lost recordings by The Gist have been released, as well as a superb collaboration with French arranger Louis Philippe, "The Devil Laughs". "Fabstract" is the final gathering of Stuart's lost recordings. Compiling long-lost YMG-era tracks with the recent brilliance of "Crow, Crow" and "Suburban Monochrome", through bits of whimsy and vastly alternate versions of fan faves, this diverse album shouldn't work . . . but it does, telling a satisfying story of an underrated talent whose mistake was following his muse, not the charts. This album precedes a new recording, years in the making, produced by Dave Trumfio, which promises to be Stuart's most complete - and original - work since "Colossal Youth". Tracks:

Handling the Undead, the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, is the latest in composer Peter Raeburn’s long and multi award-winning body of work. The music scores director Thea Hvistendahl’s extraordinary film. We are taken on an emotional journey experiencing grief, devastation, hope, the unknown and acceptance .Recorded at Soundtree Studios in London and Los Angeles and featuring members of Europe’s renowned 12 Ensemble, Peter Raeburn’s score offers unique textures and virtuosic performances amongst the ever-growing and transcendent sense of life and death that the score, as a whole, brings to the film. Raeburn’s score for Handling the Undead was awarded the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Original Music at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, and has been nominated for Best Score at Norway's Amanda Awards.