New Releases - 3/12/21

Hitting The Racks

Here's your weekly rundown of what's hitting the new release racks at Grimey's

New Releases

Anohni – I Will Survive b/w R.N.C. 2020 7”+MP3 (Secretly Canadian)

Anohni shares an emotive cover of Gloria Gaynor's 1978 classic “I WIll Survive”. The track was a staple of her early live shows and opens with a graceful string arrangement by Maxim Moston, paired with piano performed by Anohni. “R.N.C 2020”, is a track inspired by the Republican National Convention which took place in August and the dread Anohni felt while watching it.

Cabaret Voltaire ‎– Shadow Of Funk 12” (Mute)

Cabaret Voltaire is Richard H. Kirk, who has also released countless acclaimed solo albums, including under other monikers such as Sandoz. He also invented bleep techno along the way via his groundbreaking work in Sweet Exorcist. The industrial funk tracks on this EP were recorded in the sessions for Cabaret Voltaire's 2020 full length Shadow Of Fear, the project's first studio album in 26 years. Shadow Of Funk delves deeper into Cabaret Voltaire's arsenal of vocal samples, harsh rhythms and threatening detonations.

Tara Clerkin Trio - Tara Clerkin Trio LP (Laura Lies In)

Similar to that directorial effect of filming at double speed and then slowing down for playback, Tara Clerkin Trio's debut album ambles with assurance, expertly paced. A record existing disconnected from the daily getyadowns, a holiday from life, optimism as resistance against mundanity, something extraordinary amongst the ordinary, positively grey. Tara Clerkin Trio create a variety of whimsical soundscapes. The group cover a lot of sonic territory here -- acid jazz, off-kilter psych-pop, avant-garde songcraft and atmospheric dub-wise experiments in the African Head Charge mold can all be found across these seven tracks. All styles are approached with a quiet and disarming guile which are reminiscent of Micachu And The Shapes.

Dollar Signs – Hearts Of Gold CD/LP (Pure Noise)

A boisterous masterstroke from the Jeff Rosenstock school of punk: resourceful and scrappy, catchy as it is cathartic.

El Michels Affair feat. Piya Malik – Murkit Gem b/w Cham Cham 7” (Big Crown)

El Michels Affair is back with another two-sider picture sleeve 7”. The A-side, “Murkit Gem”, taken from the upcoming album, Yeti Season, is another pairing of El Michels Affair's unpredictable brand of soul and the lilting vocals of Piya Malik.

EyeHateGod – A History Of Nomadic Behavior CD/LP (Century Media)

EyeHateGod, "the quintessential Southern sludge band" (Pitchfork) that Rolling Stone dubbed one of "America's great live bands," return with their first album in seven years: A History of Nomadic Behavior. The album is introduced with "High Risk Trigger". Lyrically, the song is cryptic and abstract, but it touches on the all-pervasive fears bred by an invisible germ storm sweeping through the nation and a society sickened by police brutality: "Infection is the way, disruptive crowd takes aim/Burn down the rail yard house, destroy the U.S.A." [A limited indie store exclusive vinyl pressing is available.]

Valerie June – The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers CD (Fantasy)

Produced by Jack Splash (Kendrick Lamar, Alicia Keys, John Legend) and Valerie June, The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers achieves a transcendent effect thanks in no small part to the splendor of its sound, an exquisitely composed tapestry of folk, soul, gospel, country, blues, psychedelia, and time-bending symphonic pop. The result is a selection of songs both ornate and elegant, each moment crafted with a profound awareness of what's most essential in creating enduring beauty. The follow-up to June's widely adored The Order Of Time – a 2017 effort that earned the admiration of Bob Dylan and landed on best-of-the-year lists from the likes of Rolling Stone and the New York Times – The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers is a potent catalyst for that kind of magic. With her spellbinding vocals and infectious sense of wonder, Valerie June gently eases the listener into a far more charmed state of mind, one that quickly restores a powerful feeling of joyful possibility. [Indie exclusive white vinyl edition out today, 180-gram black vinyl due March 19.]

Lake Street Dive – Obviously CD/LP (Nonesuch)

Lake Street Dive's new album, Obviously, was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Mike Elizondo who is best known as a songwriting collaborator for Dr. Dre, Eminem, and 50 Cent and has also served as a record producer for Fiona Apple, Mary J. Blige, Carrie Underwood, and 21 Pilots, among many others. Utilizing Elizondo's hip-hop record-making expertise coupled with the permanent addition of keyboardist Akie Bermiss, Lake Street Dive's wide-ranging taste in pop, rock, R&B, and jazz has blended together to make an impressively cohesive sound, combining retro influences with a contemporary attitude. [Limited indie store exclusive white vinyl.]

Charles Lloyd & The Marvels – Tone Poem CD/2xLP (Blue Note)

Tone Poem is the third album by Charles Lloyd & The Marvels, the genre-straddling quintet that features the master saxophonist with Bill Frisell on guitar, Greg Leisz on pedal steel guitar, Reuben Rogers on bass, and Eric Harland on drums. The nine dynamic instrumental tracks here include new Lloyd originals along with pieces by Ornette Coleman, Thelonious Monk, Leonard Cohen, Gabor Szabo, and Bola de Nieve.

Joyner Lucas – Evolution LP (Twenty Nine Music)

Sophomore album from two-time Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist. Evolution features collaborations with Ashanti on the single “Fall Slowly” and Rick Ross on the track “Legend”, along with the viral hit single “Snitch”. [Limited color vinyl.]

nothing,nowhere. – Trauma Factory LP (Fueled By Ramen)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Over the course of 15 tracks, Trauma Factory cuts deep and finds nothing,nowhere. (the musical endeavor of Vermont songwriter/singer/guitarist Joe Mulherin) once again emerging from darkness, shedding external expectation, and moving forward into the glow of pure creation. Whether it be the anesthetized beats and intoxicating lull of love or chemistry, the cold piano-laden longing of crave, or the emotional immediacy of upside down, nothing,nowhere. paints from a wide palette of pain. "Trauma Factory is an accumulation of songs written during a confusing time," Mulherin says. "It is about accepting the present and following your true north through the pain and suffering of human life. I wanted to make an album that was truly genreless and inspire others to challenge themselves artistically. I believe the most inspiring art is unpredictable and unrestrictive. To me that's what Trauma Factory is."

Routine – And Other Things 12” EP (Dead Oceans)

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., Chastity Belt's Annie Truscott descended into a state of mourning. Her plan had been to join her partner, Jay Som's Melina Duterte, as violinist on tour, a privilege rarely afforded since both maintain busy road schedules, and for Truscott, the prospect of spending most of the year in a van wasn't met with exhaustion so much as exhilaration. At long last, she'd be making a living playing music, no side hustle needed. The cancellation of the tour represented a sidelined dream. Routine was born of this disappointment. Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, Truscott and Duterte's collaborative project offers a glimpse of the creative possibilities that can emerge from a state of defeat.

Rob Zombie – The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy CD/LP (Nuclear Blast)

As a shock-rock icon and filmmaker with a unique vision, Rob Zombie has continuously challenged audiences as he stretches the boundaries of both music and film. October 2020 saw the release of his first new track in over four years – "The Triumph Of King Freak (A Crypt Of Preservation and Superstition)" which ushers in the new slab of Zombie madness, The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy. Produced by Zeuss, the follow-up to 2016's The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser is a classic Zombie album through and through with high-energy ragers like "The Eternal Struggles Of The Howling Man" and "Get Loose" to heavy-groove thumpers like "Shadow Of The Cemetery Man" and "Shake Your Ass-Smoke Your Grass". Speaking to NME, Zombie said: "I think it's the best record we've ever made."

Reissues, Compilations, Live Recordings & Vault Excavations...

Atmosphere – God’s Bathroom Floor 7” (Rhymesayers Entertainment)

Initially written and recorded when Atmosphere and fledgling label Rhymesayers Entertainment were still making a name for themselves in the Minneapolis hip-hop scene, "God's Bathroom Floor" was an early standout for the group. Turning heads and drawing new fans in with Slug's introspective raps over producer Stress' hypnotic jazzy beat, the song was performed live frequently, becoming an audience favorite before ever appearing on an actual release. Even then, it was only a live performance they made available, and only on a limited mixtape they released in 1996. It would be another year before the 4-track studio recording would surface on Atmosphere's Overcast! EP, a collection of focus tracks promoting their debut full-length album, but "God's Bathroom Floor" never made it onto the album itself and slowly slipped into obscurity from there.

Jarvis Cocker – Jarvis [Reissue/2006] LP+MP3 (Rough Trade)

Vinyl reissue of Jarvis Cocker's debut solo album. Jarvis was three years in the gestation and 13 days in the making. Along the way he roped in Richard Hawley and Steve Mackey (ex-Pulp) to be in his band. Jarvis is a both a thoughtful and thought-provoking record, shot through with lavish beauty, dark humor, satire - both subtle and savage - and a genuine and much-missed sense of Northern conviction. The songs seem to exist on a sometimes- delicately-balanced-some-times- swinging scale between sentiment and cold-eyed analysis, each distinguished by the unmistakable (and never better) voice of our lanky protagonist.

Nils Frahm – Tripping With Nils Frahm LP+MP3 (Erased Tapes)

When Nils Frahm kicked off his world tour at Funkhaus Berlin in January 2018 to bring his highly acclaimed studio album All Melody to the stage, an ambitious journey was just to begin. In December 2018, Nils Frahm eventually returned to Funkhaus Berlin to host another set of four shows Tripping With Nils Frahm is an illustration of Nils' lauded ability as a composer and passionate live artist as well as the enchanting atmosphere of his captivating, and already legendary Funkhaus shows: An extraordinary musical trip – rare and exclusive, close and intimate, bringing a unique concert experience to the screen and wax. [CD edition due April 9.]

Neal Francis – Changes (Demos) LP (Karma Chief)

Here's where it started. The initial demos that eventually became Neal Francis' debut album, Changes. Since releasing his debut album to critical acclaim from KEXP, KCRW, NPR, and more. Neal has toured the country headlining and supporting acts such as Black Pumas, Cat Power, and The Revivalists. As he prepares for his sophomore LP, we get to peek into the initial sketches at the onset of his career as a singer and songwriter.

Gang Of Four – 77-81 5xLP+Cassette+Book (Matador)

77-81 is a stunning box set gathering the band's hugely influential early work. The set contains remastered editions of Entertainment! and Solid Gold, an exclusive Singles LP, and an exclusive double-LP of the never officially released Live At American Indian Center 1980. Additionally, the package includes a cassette tape compiling 26 never-before-issued outtakes, rarities and studio demos from Entertainment! and Solid Gold. The box also includes a 100-page handbound book detailing the history and legacy of the original Gang Of Four with never before seen photos, contributions from surviving original band members, rare posters, ephemera, flyers, essays, artwork, liner notes and more. It also marks the first official publication of their lyrics. [CD edition due April 23.]

Grateful Dead – Dick’s Picks Vol. 36—The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 9/21/72 7xLP (Real Gone Music)

In The Grateful Dead firmament, there are countless good shows, shining like stars in the sky. Then there are the great shows, those that shine the brightest. And then there are the truly transcendent shows, those that exert a gravitational pull-dare we say it, like a Dark Star-on all the other concerts from that particular year or tour. These are the nights that every Dead Head learns about right after getting on board the bus... and the September 21, 1972 performance at the Spectrum in Philadelphia is truly one of those nights.

Madness – Our House LP (BMG)

Madness was one of the leading bands of the UK ska revival of the late '70s and early '80s. As their career progressed, Madness branched away from their trademark nutty sound and incorporated large elements of Motown, soul, and British pop; their songwriting becoming ever-more nuanced and sophisticated. Although the band enjoyed one crossover American hit with “Our House” in 1983, they remained a British phenomenon, but their influence on several successive generations of international musicians looms large.

Magic Roundabout - Sneaky Feelin' b/w Song for Gerard Langley 7" (Third Man Records)

Like so many other disenfranchised kids in the heady days of mid-eighties United Kingdom, Magic Roundabout came armed with leather jackets, charity shop instruments, singles by The Fall and Buzzcocks, good haircuts, a healthy VU obsession and a little psychedelic inspiration. The gang established a clubhouse in early 1986 and began rehearsing, recording and gigging. Playing a ton of legendary shows with the likes of The Pastels, Spacemen 3, Loop, and My Bloody Valentine, and picking up a bunch of fans along the way. Rumor has it that Noel Gallagher roadied their final show. Now, these 1987 recordings, recently unearthed by Ian Masters (Pale Saints) and Third Man Records and given the “treatment” by Warren Defever, are presented to you lucky ones as the debut single by Magic Roundabout.

Maulawi ‎– Maulawi [Reissue/1974] LP (One Eighty Proof)

Reissue of the 1974 hard bop release. Considered to be one of two Holy Grails on Strata Records, Maulawi Nururdin, 180 Proof presents a stellar reissue featuring a previously unheard instrumental version of ‘Street Rap’. This 180 Gram vinyl album has been remastered from the original reel to reel master tapes and is presented with an alternate cover artwork done by Ge-ology and Mr. Krum.

Motörhead / Lemmy – Live To Win LP (Cleopatra)

Deluxe colored vinyl pressing in gatefold jacket. Celebrating the life and legacy of Lemmy Kilmister with this unique collection of both solo and band tracks. Includes the Motörhead classic Overkill as well as killer covers of AC/DC, Judas Priest, Elvis, Queen, U2, Johnny Burnette and more.

Linda Smith – Till Another Time: 1988-1996 LP (Captured Tracks)

When Linda Smith purchased a 4-track cassette recorder in the mid-1980s, it was not with the intention of launching a solo career. At the time, she was playing guitar in a band called the Woods and thought it would be useful for sharing demos with her bandmates. In the end, the 4-track outlasted the Woods, but Smith had already started toying around with her own songs. Till Another Time: 1988-1996 is the first retrospective collection of Smith's charmingly lo-fi music, situating her as a pioneer of the home recording boom that persists today. Sparse and gentle, Linda's music is tinged with lovelorn melancholy despite the sweetness of her voice.

Various Artists - Silk Road: Journey Of The Armenian Diaspora (1971-1982) LP (Terrestrial Funk)

Terrestrial Funk’s sixth release explores over a decade of Armenian disco, funk, and soul. Compiled by Darone Sassounian who spent three years tracking down the records and artists; fulfilling a calling to lift his people's voice, a people that have always faced the threat of erasure. The music was made a generation after the Armenian Genocide, a testament to perseverance. The seven tracks featured are incredibly inventive and unique in their interpretations of Western seventies sounds. This compilation comes at an urgent time as 2020 set the stage for Azerbaijan and Turkey to perpetuate genocidal rhetoric as they invaded Armenian borders and bombed civilian cities eventually resulting in the loss of lives and land stewarded for millennia. All while the western world paid little notice. It is with great gratitude and purpose that Terrestrial Funk rebirths this music and uplifts the voice of the Armenian Diaspora.

Kelsey Waldon – I’ve Got A Way [Reissue/2016] LP (Oh Boy)

2016's timeless I've Got A Way finds Kentucky-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Kelsey Waldon drawing on her deep love of classic country and bluegrass.

Butch Walker – American Love Story (Live And Quarantined) LP (Ruby Red)

American Love Story was recorded pre-quarantine, the collision of upbeat, radio friendly melodies and dark subject matter make for a thought-provoking rock opera, a snapshot of American life that is needed in these troubled times.