Pop & Rock Vinyl New Releases - News

German proto heavy metal and proto doom metal has always been more of an underground topic due to the fact that most bands only reached a regional level in every aspect. DIES IRAE are certainly something of an exception to the rule when it comes to the quality. What you get here is a heavy and dark music with open song structures that leave much room for experimentation. Despite the fact that the simmering fuzz guitar cuts through your burning soul like a chainsaw there are still many parts in each song showcasing a fondness for playful jazz inspired passages where all musicians can prove their skills and the whole band still conjures a gloomy atmosphere. Except for the short interlude 'Salve Eumel' which is just some Latin babbling. But you feel the light footed swing the musicians have while playing in those certain sections. In other cases DIES IRAE go utterly crazy in a psychedelic freak out fashion. We have to remember this album came out in 1971 and musicians as well as fans quite often were completely out of their mind. Trippy moments are given on 'First' in abundance in between the hard hitting heavily grinding doom outbursts. Nobody was even eager to call it doom yet but all ingredients were there. Think of a jamsession with BLACK SABBATH and AMON DÜÜL II and you come at least close to something that could sound like DIES IRAE. This album is highly original and unique and definitely has a place among the greatest KRAUTROCK albums of all times. You can literally hear the acid doing its work but in a very skillful way. Friends of proto metal from the early 70s who dig a progressive edge with their music and have a fondness for trippy psychedelic rock shall grab a copy of this beautiful reissue for originals on PILZ Records fetch prices above 1500,00 US$. And this is definitely an album worth spinning every once in a while. Turn on, tune in, drop out!!!

The cover promises sheer darkness and madness. A skull in a bird's nest on the back and a skull covered with candle wax on the front. The rather pastoral folky beginning seems to prove my expectations wrong but the heavy progressive organ driven rock of this German outfit comes close to what the artwork suggests. The first song knows to convince all naggers. Twisted passages with an atmosphere of sheer insanity and heavy rocking outbursts of the classic kind shake your soul and drag you into a world so different to ours. Some classic blues rock parts get thrown in for the good measure as well but the attention lies on progressive and heavy aspects. The second tune proves that their bassist is a real maniac as he really smokes in some of the more loose sections when he and the drummer create flashing rhythms upon which the lead guitarist can take off to other spheres. Being crazy must be of importance here but MCCHURCH SOUNDROOM take care to be dynamic as well to keep the listener's attention upright when it comes to the lengthy instrumental jam parts with duels and dialogues of guitar and bass or even a wicked drum solo. If you think that progressive metal was invented somewhere in the USA by the early to mid 80s you will find out how far from the truth that is. Well, all in all this is definitely one prototypical 70s heavy progressive outfits and it has the spirit of most UK bands of the years 1969 to 1971 including vocals with a flawless English pronunciation. If you listen beyond the melodies be prepared to find some weird rhythm patterns and if you go back to the surface you may trip away on solemn organ parts or let your mind end up in the darkest and dirtiest backstreet pub when you get struck by quite powerfully rocking jazz passages. Music can be more of a journey than just a superficial experience and this is given with MCCHURCH SOUNDROOM and their 'Delusion' album which takes you on a trip into the remote areas of urban life. All of it in a quite heavy fashion. If you love bands like GRAVY TRAIN or early JETHRO TULL, you may enjoy this to the maximum.

For the first time, the legendary recording sessions the Oscar Peterson Trio made in the living
room of MPS producer Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer (HGBS) are available in one box with 6
Vinyl releases
The deluxe packaging combines the six original volumes (i.e. the albums 'Action', 'Girl Talk',
'The Way I Really Play', 'My Favorite Instrument', 'Mellow Mood', and 'Travelin' On'
The producer team of these MPS reissues made every effort to provide a harmonious sound for all
recordings. 'Painstakingly detailed work entailing innumerable cuts was necessary in order to
correct the fluctuations in sound levels and the consequent changes in the tonal panorama,'
explains Dirk Sommer, 'and thus return the music to the tonal standards that correspond to the
original recordings.'

Not each krautish album comes from a German band. Remember BRAINTICKET who in fact were Swiss with a Belgian mastermind PATER NOSTER on the other hand who play an organ driven solemn progressive rock with a heavy edge come from Austria and really enlighten the heart of all fans of dark and often morbid rock music. It might be a good idea to overhear the pronunciation and the whole lyrics and take the vocals as another instrument adding some color to the whole picture. The voices are indeed quite charismatic and memorable. So are the compositions. The late 1960s psychedelic scene has surely made an impact on this band and the fuzzy lead guitar, creeping rhythms and wicked keyboards often create a climate of sheer dementia with the mournful voice of the singer on top. The record sounds as if the band was jamming in a giant church hall and therefore has a really gloomy mood. There are quite a few freak outs to be experienced along the way and in most cases they turn into some epic space trips that recall the greatest early TANGERINE DREAM and PINK FLOYD processions just with a funeral atmosphere. I may have never heard such a mournful album before which even sounds tragic when the lyrics center on the average working day of an average man. Well, this is some very special record indeed and will strike you deep inside. When you have gotten past the unique vocals the sheer beauty of the lead guitars and keyboard sounds will swallow you alive. Could progressive rock get more demented than VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR Oh yes, this is the vivid proof. Made by freaks for freaks.

Limited to 300 copies only! When it comes to a fusion of jazz and rock music, most of us connoisseurs look over to England. Canterbury is not only a place, it is a term to define a whole scene and sound in the field of jazzrock. And this scene spawned some magical names, bands and musicians, being carved into the soul of every woman and man who were engaged in jazz and progressive rock music in the 70s. Now we can only wonder how the call of Canterbury reached Yugoslavia, a then totalitarian eastern bloc state. But as music seems to have wings and does not accept any borders, the inspirations arrived and therefore a great scene of bands was born. Among them Slovenians PREDMESTJE, who were formed in 1975 and disbanded in 1982. 'Brez naslova', originally released in 1977, is the first in a line of four albums and features quite prototypical jazzrock and fusion pieces with a smooth approach, good grooves, really outstanding playing and a magical atmosphere. This type of forward thinking fusion of jazz and rock music shows a tight connection to the style created earlier and around the same time by English acts such as NATIONAL HEALTH, GILGAMESH, SOFT MACHINE or NUCLEUS and even incorporates a few symphonic elements for the good measure. If it was not for the scarce vocal parts that were sung in the band's native tongue, you could think Mike Ratledge, Elton Dean, Pip Pyle and Hugh Hopper aka SOFT MACHINE were playing here at times. A haunting piece of sophisticated jazz rock that deserves to live on in the hearts of the music lovers.

2xLPs + 2xCDs. The two Lp´s CDs feature Lotus Flower & MPL Sound studio albums.

Now we drift deep into the world of Bollywood. 'Hare Rama, hare Krishna' is an Indian movie from 1971 which features an odd story about family problems, the flight of a young girl into the hippie lifestyle far from home and the quest of her brother to bring her back home. The musical framework of this movie has been created by Rahul Dev Burman (1939 - 1994), one of the most prolific soundtrack score composers from India. And the music alone plays a movie in your mind even though you may not know the original flick. It is a rich and deep sound obviously rooted within the music of India but always with a pop approach. There is some acid rock typical for the era, there are Hindi pop tunes with haunting vocals on a background of traditional acoustic instruments. Some western oriented moments hook up with colorful Indian harmonies and even the obvious pop hits have a mystifying power. The playing here is surely excellent for all tunes have been executed by well educated professional musicians. This gets the compositions flowing easily into, through and out of your mind. If you are a fan of Bollywood movies and therefore love the soundtracks, this should be the right thing for you to enjoy. If you wish to go for some music with a straight flow but exotic flavor, this is a great way to start your journey. It is what I would call Hindi Pop, micro elements of ancient traditional music from India transported into new and rather accessible song structures. Since all of this happened during the era of psychedelic rock and powerfunk, you will find traces of these styles popular in the West as well but just in a very small dose so the whole atmosphere and spirit of this music is definitely Indian. It is a different route R.D. Burman takes compared to other contemporary Indian pop artists such as Ananda Shankar who let Western rock and pop and traditional Indian music stand as two equally strong aspects. If this is still new to your ears and soul you will be astonished by its beauty. But anyway, this is some music you won't get to listen to every day.

RIDE today announce details of 'Nowhere25' on CD+DVD and vinyl, set for release on 6th November, in celebration of the
25th anniversary of their critically acclaimed debut album 'Nowhere'.
The 'Nowhere25' CD+DVD release will feature the expanded 15 track album alongside the live recording of the band's
concert at London's Town & Country Club in March 1991. The package will be presented in an exclusive hardback
cardboard CD case with a canvas-style cover, and include a 36 page booklet full of unseen photos and brand new sleeve
notes written by vocalist/guitarist Andy Bell, compiled using the help of Ride fans via a Twitter Q&A.

Watch 'Dreams Burn Down' from the live DVD on the band's YouTube channel: . The release
of 'Nowhere25' will follow a nine-date UK tour in October, including one night at London's Brixton Academy on the 14th.
'Nowhere' was originally released on 15th October 1990, featuring classic tracks including 'Vapour Trail', 'Polar Bear' and
'Dreams Burn Down'. Widely considered one of the greatest albums not only of the 'shoegaze' genre, but of the 90s, 'Nowhere'
was Creation Records' first Top 75 album, peaking in the UK album charts at #11, and continues to appear in various album
lists from respected music titles such as Pitchfork and NME. The 15 track album version features three tracks from the 'Fall' EP,
released 25 years ago today in September 1990 in the lead up to 'Nowhere', plus four songs from the 'Today Forever' EP, which
came out the week of the Town & Country Club show in March 1991. This show was part of a short UK tour to support 'Today
Forever', the first new material from Ride since 'Nowhere'.
Three sold-out London shows featured in this tour; two Town & Country Club shows (one of which was broadcast on Radio 1)
and a show at Kilburn National. The first Town & Country Club show was filmed by James Deegan, who directed the four videos
accompanying the 'Today Forever' EP. Filmed on two 16mm colour cameras and three b&w Super 8mm cameras, the footage
was unearthed from the archives just three months ago, and perfectly captures this band of twenty-something year olds at a
significant time in their career.
Since returning to the live scene back in April of this year after a twenty year gap, with a secret show in their hometown of Oxford,
Ride have been travelling all over the world playing sold out headline shows in Glasgow, Manchester, London as well as
shows in the US and Europe, plus festivals Coachella, Primavera, Fuji Rock and Field Day. The band will embark on a North
American tour ahead of their anticipated return to the UK in October.

Producers:
Bell, Sam; Calbi, Greg; Hermon, Kabir; Ocasek, Ric; Woodhead, Tom
Musicians:
Cribs, The; Jarman, Gary; Jarman, Ross; Jarman, Ryan
Composers/Writers:
Jarman, Gary; Jarman, Ross; Jarman, Ryan
Mixers:
Jarman, Ryan; O'Mahony, John

For Spanish pop-punk trio Aliment, life in the band took on a pace nearly as fast as their high octane, energy-filled music. Just a few months after they formed, they were the talk of the town and they didn't let up - continuing to churn out songs as if the world was going to end.
In just two years they went from their early demos, to the furious debut LP Holy Slap (La Castanya, 2012), with a split record with Furguson (La Castanya, 2011) and the Costa Brava seven inch (Discos Humeantes, 2012) in between. All of that in the midst of a flurry of shows, with hardly any time enough to catch a breath. However, they took things at a much easier pace in preparation for their second full-length, and after the Nightmare Girl seven inch (La Castanya, 2014) they are releasing Silverback almost three years after their debut LP.
The fact that they've cooked this record the 'slow food' way doesn't mean that the rpm is lower. The ten songs on the album still sound urgent and energetic, yet have grown weightier, possessing a sense of nocturnal abandon fueled by alcohol. Songs like 'No Fuzz' or 'Razors' remind us of the Aliment that fans love and cherish, but songs such as 'My filthy old soundays' or 'Moving Mountains' represent a new version of the band. Tougher, more compact and even, perhaps, more grown-up, they sound similar to The Marked Men or the melodic power pop sensibility of a much heavier Pointed Sticks. With Silverback they even dare to introduce vocal changes, being more comfortable in lower registers than ever before, which brings them closer to the canons of classic punk rock without veering away from more contemporary influences such as Jay Reatard, Carbonas or Bad Sports. Like all these bands, Aliment feel most comfortable on the poppier side of punk.
Whilst a lot of things have changed, the essence is still there; just like the damn Costa Brava is still there or whiskey and coke is still there. Silverback is faithful to the band's nature, raging yet happy punk-pop wrapped in lyrics about the good and the bad in human relationships. They combine a frenetic and noisy wall of sound with the need to live, sing along and make us dance - with our fists in the air.

The unmistakable and iconic presence of Bon Jovi in recent times affords the band the kind of success and respect that few acts can ever hope to achieve. Bon Jovi most certainly were, in 1984, the most promising new rock band to emerge and one that was being tipped as main contenders for top new rock act. Herein, is one of their very earliest shows where the relentless desire for recognition stands tall in the Agora Ballroom, a perfectly fitting venue in which to witness a legacy in the making.
A total delight for fans of the band and for lovers of glam metal. Klondike proudly presents Bon Jovi's 17th March performance from 1984 at Cleveland's renowned Agora Ballroom as part of the tour undertaken to support their debut, self titled album, released just two months earlier.
Originally broadcast on WMMS-FM. Professionally re-mastered with background liners and rare archival photos.

Gregg Allman's 1973 solo debut also became his biggest hit, a No. 13 LP featuring his Top 20 classic "Midnight Rider." Analogue Productions now brings forth a sparkling reissue of this classic disc, mastered from the original analogue tapes by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound, and presented as a 200-gram sonic superstar plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings!

By the end of 1973, the Allman Brothers Band seemed to have it all nailed down, writes reviewer Rickey Wright. They'd proven their mettle with a fine synthesis of blues, jazz, folk, and country influences; expanded upon it with the definitive Fillmore East set; and moved forward after the separate losses of guitarist Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley. The group's myriad strengths, in fact, might've been the reason that one of their most obvious gifts — Gregg Allman's pained, growling voice — was sometimes overlooked.

Laid Back, Greg Allman's first solo disc, seems in part an effort to gain a little more recognition. It worked, particularly given the strong radio response to its opening track, a loping remake of "Midnight Rider." Likewise, much of the album's remainder finds Allman tweaking the band's blues ("Queen of Hearts") and country sides (a cover of Jackson Browne's "These Days"); horns and gospel-ish backing vocals add to the personal, often mournful feel. Laid Back is an often convincing version of the man's music.
Mastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound from the original tapes
Plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings!
Faithfully reproduced jacket artwork; tip-on gatefold from Stoughton Printing

"A previously unissued, killer acid-ballroom blitz by the late H.P. Lovecraft, a sadly under regarded Chicago band caught in its trippy Gothic psych-rock prime at the Filmore West." - Rolling Stone
In case you hadn't noticed, there weren't a lot of people taking notes during the heyday of psychedelic concertdom. As a result, the lore and legend of that era consists of hazy, mumbled recollections of plankton- brained survivors. Well, rewrite the history books, because Sundazed archaeologist Jeff Jaremai-n collaboration with Lovecraft honcho George Edwardshas excavated this remarkably well-preserved snapshot of Freakout Central from the birthplace of noodle-dancing, the Filmore Auditorium circa 1968.

The Paisleys' mystical, brooding album, Cosmic Mind At Play, makes its first ever legit vinyl re-release! Produced by Warren Kendrick (The Litter, The Electras), SUNDAZED proudly presents the full, swirlingly-psychedelic portrait of these dark Minneapolis wizards direct from the original masters!

Mini Album Thingy Wingy are 7 brand new & exclusive tracks recorded by Anton Newcombe in is his studio in Berlin in 2014 & 2015. Running at over 34 minutes.,the mini album is co produced , engineered & mixed by Fabien Leseure . This release contains four self written songs by Anton Newcombe ,a co write of the band's first Slovakian song (Prší Prší) with Vladimir Nosal , another co write (Pish) with Tess Parks and a cover of the 13th Floor Elevator's track 'Dust' which features Alex Maas from the Black Angels on jug

Originally, Anton Newcombe was heavily influenced by The Rolling Stones' psychedelic phase, but his work in the 2000s has expanded into aesthetic dimensions approximating the UK Shoegazing genre of the 1990s and incorporating influences from world music, especially Middle Eastern and Brazilian music.

This album brings the traditional Brian Jonestown Massacre sound mixed with eastern influences & bringing it up to date with the benefit of all the additional weirdness that's been discovered in the past 40 years.

Petty was at the peak of his career and fast becoming a cornerstone of American blue-collar rock as well as an MTV regular. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 1989 Strange Behaviour tour found the band in somewhat troubled territory promoting what was Petty's acclaimed debut solo album Full Moon Fever, a collaborative effort that involved most of The Heartbreakers and ELO's Jeff Lynne. To add to the discomfort, Petty and Lynne were also cavorting to great success as the Travelling Wilburys with Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan and George Harrison.
However, The Heartbreakers gave an energetic and charged performance showing that the band were still very much intact and in control, teasing the crowd with a selection of their revered repertoire spanning eight albums and thirteen years of all-American appeal. Their appearance at the Dean Smith Centre on September 13th provided an abundance of hits to satisfy even the most hardened spectator with; Refugee, Breakdown, The Waiting, Don't Come Around Here No More, Free Fallin' an acoustic take on Even The Losers and his then current single, I Won't Back Down.
Klondike proudly presents Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' 13th September performance at the Dean Smith Centre, Colorado, 1989. Recorded by Westwood One. Fully re-mastered FM broadcast with liners and photos.

As a taster, Parisian fashion house agnés b. have produced a very limited edition of a 7" single including the first two of these remixes, respectively created by Marc Collin (Nouvelle Vague) and Berlin producer Burnt Friedman (known a.o. for his project with Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit).

VV & AM will keep playing shows this autumn, and are rumoured to be working on new material, for an album which will come out sometime before 2044...

Adem, eigentlich Adem Ilhan, ist viel mehr als nur ein Solokünstler. Einen Namen machte er sich vor
allem, weil er ein Teil der Postrock Band Fridge ist, der neben ihm noch Kieran Hebden von Four Tet
beiwohnt. Ebenso ist er Teil des Elektronik Duos Silver Columns, zusammen mit Johnny Lynch.
Vermehrt hat er sich in den letzten Jahren auch als Produzent einen Namen gemacht, so zum Beispiel
für die Solo Alben des Radiohead-Drummers Phil Selway.

Der Gitarrenvirtuose Hotei ist ein Superstar in Japan, dort hat er mehr als 40 Millionen Alben verkauft.
Erstmals international für Furore sorgte Hotei mit seinem Song "Battle Without Honor Or Humanity"
den Quentin Tarantino als Theme-Song für Kill Bill verwendete. Danach hat er u.a. mit David Bowie,
Andy Mackay (Roxy Music), INXS, Blondie, Joni Mitchell, Darren Price (Underworld) und zuletzt mit
den Rolling Stones auf deren 50th Anniversary Tour zusammengearbeitet. Mit "Strangers" legt Hotei
nun sein erstes internationales Album vor. Diverse namhafte Special Guests wurden für die
Gesangsparts an Bord geholt: Iggy Pop, Richard Z. Kruspe (Rammstein/Emigrate), Matt Tuck (Bullet
For My Valentine), Noko (Apollo 440) und Sängerin Shea Seger. Musikalisch ist "Strangers" eine wilde
Reise durch die Genres: Rock, Dance, Punk und Elektro. Für die Writing und Production Credits
zeichneten sich u.a. Youth (Pink Floyd, Verve, Killing Joke), Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno, Paolo Nutini)
und Stephen Lipson (Jeff Beck, Grace Jones, Hans Zimmer) verantwortlich. "Battle Without Honor Or
Humanity" ist auf "Strangers" als furioser Schlußtrack enthalten.

Die vier Musiker aus dem US Staat Maryland legen mit "Psychic Warfare" ihr 11. Studioalbum vor. Das Vorgängeralbum, Earth Rocker, wurde vom Metal Hammer, UK zum Album des Jahres gekürt. Psychic Warfare macht dort weiter, wo der Vorgänger aufgehoert hat. Knallige Riffs und groovende Songs sind, und bleiben das Markenzeichen dieser aussergewöhnlichen Band.
Das 12 Songs umfassende Album wurde erneut von Produzent Machine (Lamb Of God, Every Time I Die) produziert, mit dem die Band auch schon bei früheren Alben zusammengearbeitet hat. Das Albumcover wurde vom renommierten Fotografen Dan Winters entworfen.

Following the huge success of Edsel's 2 CD casebound book editions of the seven albums that Everything But The Girl
recorded for Blanco y Negro and Warners, we now complete the set with their last two albums, recorded for the Virgin label.
Eighth album 'Walking Wounded', issued in 1996, was produced by Ben Watt and features the Top 10 singles 'Walking
Wounded' and 'Wrong',as well as 'Single' and 'Before Today'. Ben has personally selected eleven remixes for CD 2,
including an unreleased Nellee Hooper remix of 'Before Today'.
Also featured is non-album single 'Corcovado',three previously unreleased live performances from Tokyo in 1997, and
four previously unreleased demos from Ben's own archive.
The book features a candid note by Ben and Tracey along with the lyrics, as well as memorabilia, previously unseen photos
and ephemera from their own collection.

Following the huge success of Edsel's 2 CD casebound book editions of the seven albums that Everything But The Girl
recorded for Blanco y Negro and Warners, we now complete the set with their last two albums, recorded for the Virgin label.
Ninth album 'Walking Wounded', issued in 1999, was produced by Ben Watt and features the singles 'The Future Of The
Future' (with Deep Dish), 'Five Fathoms' and 'Temperamental'. Ben Watt has personally selected ten remixes for CD 2.
Also featured is non-album b-side 'Firewall',as well as a previously unreleased album outtake and a previously
unreleased live performance of 'Temperamental'.
The book features a candid note by Ben and Tracey along with the lyrics, as well as memorabilia, previously unseen photos
and ephemera from their own collection.

Plastic Dance presents ten unacquainted and elusive slices of synthetic squat pop, angular funk, teapot kosmische and fraudulent disco from self-propelled imprints and global co-ops. Check!!
Named after Günter Bernas obscure DIY anti-band this ongoing series combines rare, unknown and untravelled wax nuggets of night club punk, art school Zeuhl and quasi-political pop united by soldering irons, C-60s and sarcastic synth tones. Featuring a cross section of unobtainable unreleased unknown and unwanted reluctant punk and snide synth pop with sleeve-notes by respected DJ/Haç hack/Situationist addict John McCready and artwork by airbrush legend Terry Pastor (Ziggy Stardust/Soft Machine/Arthur C. Clarke) Plastic Dance becomes flexible under heat.

On 4 September, Richard Hawley releases 'Heart Of Oak', the first single from his forthcoming new album 'Hollow Meadows' (which follows a week later). Released on 7' vinyl, 2-track download and available to stream, the single is backed with an exclusive (non-album) brand new song 'Stars' (which is amazing!).

'Heart Of Oak' is a heartfelt tribute to all the people who've influenced and nurtured Hawley throughout his life. One of these, directly referenced in the lyric, 'When you sang the Bay Of Biscay/The world drifted away,' is iconic folk singer Norma Waterson, whom Hawley befriended in 2010. Built around an instantaneous, driving riff, 'Heart Of Oak' is one of the album's unbridled rock'n'roll moments, as well as one of the most life-affirming songs Hawley has ever recorded.

Seit Jahren schon befindet sich ein ganz besonderer Ordner auf Matt Berningers Laptop. Unter "The Moon"
sammelte der Sänger von The National Songfragmente, die er zusammen mit dem Musiker Brent Knopf
geschrieben hatte. Während The National ihren Popstar-Status genießen, ist Brent Knopf nur Eingeweihten
ein Begriff. Mit seiner aktuellen Band Ramona Falls veröffentlichte er zwei Alben, sonst produzierte er Bands
(Dear Reader) oder tourte durch die Lande. Auf einer solchen Tournee lernte Knopf Berninger kennen, die
beiden freundeten sich an. Seitdem wuchs die Idee eines gemeinsamen musikalischen Projekts. Im Winter
2014/15 war es dann soweit. Die Skizzen verdichteten sich zum Album "Return To The Moon", das unter dem
Namen EL Vy erscheint. Berningers Texte sind sehr autobiografisch, die Stimmung der Platte verrät, dass die
Musik sich vollkommen ohne Druck entwickeln konnte.

Seit Jahren schon befindet sich ein ganz besonderer Ordner auf Matt Berningers Laptop. Unter "The Moon"
sammelte der Sänger von The National Songfragmente, die er zusammen mit dem Musiker Brent Knopf
geschrieben hatte. Während The National ihren Popstar-Status genießen, ist Brent Knopf nur Eingeweihten
ein Begriff. Mit seiner aktuellen Band Ramona Falls veröffentlichte er zwei Alben, sonst produzierte er Bands
(Dear Reader) oder tourte durch die Lande. Auf einer solchen Tournee lernte Knopf Berninger kennen, die
beiden freundeten sich an. Seitdem wuchs die Idee eines gemeinsamen musikalischen Projekts. Im Winter
2014/15 war es dann soweit. Die Skizzen verdichteten sich zum Album "Return To The Moon", das unter dem
Namen EL Vy erscheint. Berningers Texte sind sehr autobiografisch, die Stimmung der Platte verrät, dass die
Musik sich vollkommen ohne Druck entwickeln konnte.

Strictly Ltd Edition (500) Vinyl Full-Colour Deluxe Package. With one-off digital download card & Poster (Poster with Initial Sales)

All new original artwork by highly regarded Sardinian collagist/artist Andrea Floris.

Sometimes it happens and no one can tell you why.  A great—nay—an excellent band comes around and releases some stellar music, only to be forgotten in the overly-huge Bible of Rock History.  (Pop Matters 2007)

Following the highly acclaimed recent release on CTR 'Perfect Motion'-Jon Savage's Secret History of Second-Wave Psychedelia 1988-93 (A Lauren Laverne BBC 6Music Compilation Album of the Week) comes a limited vinyl version of another previously very well received compilation on CTR. However, this album is cut from a different musical cloth, rooted firmly in the Manchester Post-Punk scene.

The Tokyo Times wrote of the original CD release in 2007:

'Manicured Noise possessed the kind of arty, angular sound (and asymmetrical haircuts) that so many bands of the current moment strive for. '

Manicured Noise were Manchester's prime Art/Post-Punk-Funk act. They're woven deeply into the legendary Factory/Russell Club scene of the late seventies. Their friends and peers included the celebrated artist Linder Mulvey and the godhead Joy Division (with whom they shared a rehearsal space)

This restructured &, restyled release features all-new artwork from Sardinian, Cagliari based, collagist and artist Andrea Floris. The album gathers together, the first time on vinyl for most of the tracks, almost all of their recordings including their two singles for Pre/Charisma Records, a BBC session and other archive material.

This enigmatic act formed in Manchester in 1978, the very early days of the band remain a mystery. Given their name by the aforemementioned prime Manc scenester and friend of Morrissey, Linder, the group peddled a form of spiky and angular Jazz Punk. Jeff Noon, acclaimed sci-fi writer (Vurt) was an early member of the group, adding to the particular retro-futurist edge they displayed, forged in the early 80's musical melting pot that was the Hulme estate.

Inspired by New York, Television, Ornette Coleman, Talking Heads, August Darnells' Machine, French Soundtracks and Disco Chic-along with a nod to Northern Soul and Moroder, the band cut a singular groove. Early hours inspiration from 70's cop and Kung-Fu soundtracks were incorporated, a good 10 years or more before Massive Attack and Portishead did the same. In doing so, Manicured Noise created a sound that's still difficult to pin down.

'Factory have expressed an interest in the Distractions, the Negatives and current musicians' favourites, Manicured Noise. (Ask Vic Goddard, the Banshees; Wire what they think of M Noise. Politely of course'. (Paul Morley NME Dec 1978)

Guitarist and later MN frontman Steven Walsh was an ex member of the Flowers of Romance, a legendary pre-Pistols vehicle for a certain Sid Vicious, and also various members of the Slits and Banshees.
A stringer for the NME and post-punk zine Zig-Zag, Steven bought an experimental and funky ethos to the band.

'Primitive funk learned by copying Chic singles played at 33 rpm' (Simon Reynolds-On manicured Noise in 'Rip it Up')

Faith, one of two highly acclaimed 1980 Pre singles boasts a tough Northern backbeat acknowledging the Manchester debt. A BBC session followed.

Julian Cope,the Arch Drood himself, suggested recently that Manicured Noise were fit for a residency at the fictitious Opposite Club which features in his latest novel 'One Three One '. They'd be playing 'Faith' no doubt, alongside Uri Gallagher and Spackhouse Tutti.

Almost written out of the Manchester story, this compilation will hopefully redress the balance, telling the tale of a band that were on the fringes of the Factory Records elite, (they generally shunned the Manchester scene inhabiting their own niche) but always creating their own script for the future.

Paul Weller releases the third single from his critically acclaimed latest album Saturns Pattern. 'I'm Where I Should Be' has been a firm fan favourite on this year's live dates and the inclusion of yet another brand new song on the B-side ('Open Road') is sure to make this a popular single with the devoted Weller fanbase.

Formed in 1981 by guitarist Scott 'Not' Ian and bassist Dan Lilker (later in Nuclear Assault, S.O.D., Brutal Truth), Anthrax is one of the pioneers of the thrash metal scene from the 80's, along with the ''rest of the 'Big Four': Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. This radio broadcast from Dallas' Z-rock radio station from July 1989 shows the band at the top, and features a great set of their early classics along with inspired cover of Sex Pistols and Judas Priest.

Debut Album for this rock blues italiant talent, winner of Janis Joplin international music contest, organized by Janis family at 30° death anniversary. Great Album !!!