THE NATIONAL
LAUGH TRACK
CD / 2LP / LTD 2LP
01. Alphabet City / 02. Deep End (Paul’s In Pieces) / 03. Weird Goodbyes (feat. Bon Iver) / 04. Turn Off The House / 05. Dreaming / 06. Laugh Track (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) / 07. Space Invader / 08. Hornets / 09. Coat On A Hook / 10. Tour Manager / 11. Crumble (feat. Rosanne Cash) / 12. Smoke Detector
The surprise companion to The National’s April release First Two Pages of Frankenstein, Laugh Track is the band’s most freewheeling, all-hands-on-deck album in years. If Frankenstein represented a rebuilding of trust between group members after 20+ years together, the vibrant, exploratory Laugh Track is both the product of that faith and a new statement of intent.
Revelling in the license to radically upend its creative process, The National honed most of this material in live performances on tour, and captured those invigorated versions in impromptu sessions at producer Tucker Martine’s Portland studio. Two nights later in Vancouver, the nearly eight-minute album closer “Smoke Detector” was recorded during soundcheck, completing a body of work bristling with spontaneity and vintage rock energy that makes a perfect complement to the songs found on its more introspective predecessor.
Available on limited pink coloured vinyl.
Label: 4AD
UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA
II 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION 2LP
LTD 2LP
A1. From The Sun / A2. Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark) / A3. So Good At Being In Trouble / A4. One At A Time / A5. The Opposite of Afternoon / B1. No Need For a Leader / B2. Monki / B3. Dawn / B4. Faded in the Morning / B5. Secret Xtians / C1. Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark) / C2. Faded in the Morning / C3. So Good At Being In Trouble / C4. Swing Lo Magellan / C5. Puttin’ It Down / D1. Two Generations of Excess / D2. Waves of Confidence
Unknown Mortal Orchestra came to life in basements and bedrooms, the musical vision of Portlander-via-New Zealand Ruban Nielson that fused guitar-god riffs, choppy percussion, soul and funk. II, the sophomore album from UMO, emerged in an era rampant of hedonism and isolationism and became the blueprint for everything Nielson has become renowned for. It was, and is, the solidification of Unknown Mortal Orchestra as an endlessly intriguing, brave and addictive band. Ten years on, it’s back with an expanded edition.
Written during a punishing, debauched touring schedule during which Nielson feared for both his sanity and health, II illustrates the emotional turmoil of life on the road, painting surrealist, cartoonish portraits of loneliness, love and despair. These conflicting themes are evident immediately; on the album’s sleeve is an unnerving image of Janet Farrar, the famous British witch, Wiccan, author and teacher of witchcraft. The chilling refrain of opener “Into The Sun” sees Nielson deliver the line “Isolation can put a gun in your hand,” softly, his words starkly intelligible above a warm, slow-burning melody that quickly brands itself onto your brain. His playful imagery (“I’m so lonely I’ve gotta eat my popcorn all alone”) mirrors the melody, before a solo that borders on psychotropic ends II‘s introduction. UMO is unafraid to dig deeper than the rest, their intoxicating, opiate groove bringing rock’n’roll’s exaggerated myths to life. And as it unfolds, II does find Nielson reenergized. “One At A Time” and “Faded In The Morning” boast dizzying choruses and instrumentals; these crusty hunks could have been excavated from a lost 1960s treasure trove. “Monki” unravels over seven minutes like the yarn from a stoner’s cardigan with an eye-frying pattern. “Dawn” is a minute of disconcerting noise that stands out between the nooks and crannies of the choruses, guitar solos, groove-heavy bass and drums that were recorded live by newly-recruited drummer Greg Rogove and Kody Nielson in a move away from the electronic percussion employed on album one. II closes with “Secret Xtians,” a tender observational puzzle that fizzes to a satisfied end.
In celebration of the album’s 10th anniversary Nielson’s complete collection from the II era is finally available in one compilation, and features the five acoustic tracks from the Blue EP as well as two additional B-sides. Unknown Mortal Orchestra was once Nielson’s closeted concern. With an album that uses his singular musical imagination and extraordinary talent to parade his emotions with unyielding honesty, it is now a fully realized band operating at the peak of its powers ten years on.
Limited aluminum vinyl.
Label: JAGJAGUWAR
SCRITTI POLITTI
EARLY 2LP
2LP
A1. Skank Bloc Bologna / A2. Is And Ought The Western World / A3. 27/8/78 / B1. Messthetics / B2. Hegemony / B3. Scritlocks Door / B4. Opec – Immac / C1. Bibbly-o-tek / C2. Doubt Beat / C3. Confidence / C4. P.A.s / D1. The “Sweetest Girl” / D2. Lions After Slumber
Early brought together a series of formative recordings from the late 70s and early 80s, for an America-only vinyl release in 2005.
The collection, accompanied by sleeve notes from Green Gartside, included the band’s debut single Skank Bloc Bologna, along with seminal tracks including The “Sweetest Girl”, 28/8/78 and Lions After Slumber, and offered a stunning chance to enjoy the long-overlooked musical foundations of Scritti Politti again.
Label: ROUGH TRADE
SCRITTI POLITTI
WHITE BREAD BLACK BEER LP
LP
A1. The Boom Boom Bap / A2. No Fine Lines / A3. Snow In Sun / A4. Cooking / A5. Throw / A6. Dr. Abernathy / A7. After Six / B1. Petrococadollar / B2. E Eleventh Nuts / B3. Window Wide Open / B4. Road To No Regret / B5. Locked / B6. Mrs. Hughes / B7. Robin Hood
Fittingly, for the release of White Bread, Black Beer, which was a beautiful expression of the creative energy Gartside had sustained over two decades at that point, Scritti Politti returned to Rough Trade for the first time since the mid-1980s.
Humbly described by Green on release as “an album of me playing around in the back room… just me alone at home”, White Bread, Black Beer was universally acclaimed. Described as “a return to the top” by The Guardian, “the best record of this restlessly self-critical career” by Uncut and “a sophisticated, gloriously gentle thing” by Pitchfork, the record was duly nominated for the 2006 Mercury Prize (and was only pipped by Arctic Monkeys’ debut).
Label: ROUGH TRADE
THE CULT
ELECTRIC
LP / LTD LP
A1. Wild Flower / A2. Peace Dog / A3. Lil’ Devil / A4. Aphrodisiac Jacket / A5. Electric Ocean / A6. Bad Fun / B1. King Contrary Man / B2. Love Removal Machine / B3. Born To Be Wild / B4. Outlaw / B5. Memphis Hip Shake
Electric, their third album, came out in 1987 and really caused the band to explode to new levels of fame. It contains the massive hits “Love Removal Machine”, Wild Flower” and “Lil’ Devil” and was produced by Rick Rubin.
Electric is a seminal work, featuring some of the band’s most iconic songs. It is a departure from the band’s previous work, with a raw, agressive and stripped-down sound. The album’s opening track, “Wild Flower,” sets the tone with its pounding drums, blistering guitar riffs, and Ian Astbury’s powerful vocals.
Electric was a commercial and critical success, propelling The Cult to the forefront of the hard rock scene and cementing their status as one of the most influential bands of the era. The album remains a touchstone for hard rock and heavy metal fans, a classic work that captures the spirit of rebellion and the power of rock and roll.
Available on limited opaque blue coloured vinyl.
Label: BEGGARS BANQUET
JAI PAUL
LEAK 04-13 (BAIT ONES)
LP
A1. one of the bredrins / A2. Str8 Outta Mumbai / A3. Zion Wolf Theme (Unfinished) / A4. garden of paradise (Instrumental, Unfinished) / A5. Genevieve (Unfinished) / A6. raw beat (Unfinished) / A7. Crush (Unfinished) / A8. good time / A9. Jasmine (Demo) / B1. 100,000 (Unfinished) / B2. Vibin’ (Unfinished) / B3. baby beat (Unfinished) / B4. Desert River (Unfinished) / B5. Chix (Unfinished) / B6. All Night (Unfinished) / B7. BTSTU (Demo)
Label: XL RECORDINGS
