The Fat Angel Sings

Slow Pulp are from Madison, Wisconsin, the band have just announced their N. America headline tour in support of Moveys and Deleted Scenes. Scroll down for dates and tickets. “Deleted Scenes” is out right now everywhere digitally. Listen to the track “Iowa”, the hazy, fever-dream take on Moveys standout “Idaho”.

Paired with “At It Again (Again)”, you can pre-order this collection of songs on black 7″ vinyl.The 7″ will ship out later this fall and will also be available to pick up at your local record shop. Bundle with the recently re-pressed Moveys.

Released June 30th, 2021

Slow Pulp; is Alexander Leeds, Emily Massey, Theodore Mathews, Henry Stoehr

All songs written and performed by Slow Pulp

Following on from the announcement of “The Metallica Blacklist”, a massive covers album celebrating 30 years of The Black Album, St Vincent’s cover of “Sad But True” has landed on streaming services. The full cover album will arrive on 1st October.

The cover will sit alongside 52 other tracks from the likes of Jason Isbell, Rina Sawayama, Phoebe Bridgers, The Hu, Idles, Moses Sumney, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Chase & Status and Igor Levit.

Alongside the announcement of the covers album, Metallica also revealed the plan to remaster and reissue the original Black Album. The remastered Black Album will land in multiple configurations including digitally, as a 180-gram 2LP, a standard CD, a 3CD expanded edition and a limited-edition boxset. This set includes the album remastered on 180G 2LP, a picture disc, three live LPs, 14 CDs (containing rough mixes, demos, interviews, live shows), six DVDs (containing outtakes, behind the scenes, official videos, live shows), a 120-page hardcover book, four tour laminates, three lithos, three guitar picks, a Metallica lanyard, a folder with lyric sheets, and a download card for the digital edition of the album.

The launch of The Metallica Blacklist also came alongside the release of Miley Cyrus’ version of Nothing Else Matters, featuring WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo and Chad Smith.

St Vincent’s take on Sad But True features her trademark vocal style, as well as her off-kilter lead playing. 

Sad But True · St. Vincent THE Metallica Blacklist Blackened Recordings Released on: 2021-06-29

PNKSLM’s Recordings recent signees Mister Strange share their latest single ‘High Heel Heavy”.

Realities a drag, and at a time where turmoil pollutes the water, and the solution to 15 months trapped indoors is rapidly becoming a healthy dose of nihilistic freak-out, Manchester’s self-described ‘Wunder-Fuzz’ trio are thrillingly all over the place.

We’re all seeking new vices to pass the lull between last night and tomorrow morning. Be it a cry for tangible escapism, a brief intermission from routine daydreaming or otherwise, ‘High Heel Heavy’ is the three-minute equivalent to a spiritual recharge, or, the instant hit from a cigarette and black coffee; a grinning kick up the soul that’s guaranteed to carry its weary listener straight on through to the Nth degree of hyperactive addictiveness.

An uncompromising cross between the manic charisma of The Dead Kennedys, and the contemporary fury of Melbourne rockers Civic, this is the very kind of fuzz-fused anarchy where collective mischief thrives; and so there’s absolutely no question that Mister Strange are an unholy trinity to be reckoned with. 

‘High Heel Heavy’ is borderline discordant, chaotically unselfconscious, and seismically savvy. In the words of The New York Dolls David Johansen: “Rock n Rollers don’t dress for the weather”, so why would Mister Strange?.

PNKSLM Recordings are proud to present the latest addition to the family – Manchester quartet Mister Strange. The project of Tomas Walmsley (drums/vocals – also of acclaimed Manchester garage rockers Fruit Tones), Callum Rogers (bass), guitarist Ste Bradbury (guitar, synth, vocals) and Daryl Taylor (lead guitar), Mister Strange’s brand of heavy garage psych brings to mind the likes of Ty Segall’s FUZZ, Thee Oh Sees and The Stooges, operating fast-paced heavy rock machinery. New single “High Heel Heavy” is the band’s first release with their new label partner, with more news coming soon…

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Olivia Kaplan came to music through the American folk and jazz standards swimming throughout her childhood. At 13 she started writing songs on her dad’s Guild acoustic and has dedicated herself to the craft with ever growing acuity since. After pursuing a formal vocal and music education in high school and college, she left a conservatory level jazz program at McGill University in Montreal and made her way back home to record her own songs, while getting her degree in ethnomusicology at UCLA.

Olivia has self-released two EPs, Goddamn, I Miss You (2014) and At the Seams (2018), and singles “Comfort Food” (2019), and “What You Want” (2020). 2021 finds her embarking on a new chapter with single “Wrong”, a warm and bouncing groove dedicated to everyone trying their best to find balance in devastation and absurdity. The track features Buck Meek (Big Thief) on guitar. Her debut record “Tonight Turns to Nothing” was released on Friday, and now we can all revel ~together~ in what a gorgeous collection of songs she has given us!.

Olivia Kaplan’s debut full-length album, “Tonight Turns To Nothing“, coming soon, introduces this dazzling songwriter to a musical landscape primed for her ease and duality. In 11 songs, she reflects on the pitfalls of modern intimacy and her own personal defeats with a measured self-awareness, melancholy and wit. The songs were written and recorded during the off hours of her side-hustle as a waitress in Los Angeles and made in the garage studio of the album’s producer and her band-mate, Adam Gunther. While the unmistakable anchor of Kaplan’s music is her rich, smoky voice and cathartic storytelling, her songs are elevated by inspired production choices, delicate arrangements, and the musicianship of the people in the room: including drummer Jorge Balbi (Sharon Van Etten), Alex Fischel (Spoon), and Buck Meek (Big Thief). The album was mixed by Joseph Lorge (Perfume Genius, Phoebe Bridgers).

The slow-burning track has detailed narrative lyricism reminiscent of Andy Shauf and an intense sincerity similar to Squirrel Flower.
-Flood Magazine on “Still Strangers”

Olivia Kaplan is the kind of writer and musician I’ve been yearning for. Clever and composed, her words and melodies perfectly intertwine to evoke an overwhelming and lush wave of nostalgia.
-Playdate

The band:

• Olivia Kaplan – vocals, guitar
• Adam Gunther – bass, guitar, synth
• Jorge Balbi – drums
• Georgia Lill – cello

“Ghosts” is taken from Olivia Kaplan’s debut album ‘Tonight Turns to Nothing,’ out June 25, 2021 on Topshelf Records

In 1982 U2 recorded their new album War. The new record was very well received, and during early 1983 U2 embarked on the War Tour of Europe, the US, and Japan. This powerful double album is the re-energised U2 broadcasting live in concert from the Orpheum Theatre Boston, 6th May 1983.

This new edition is limited to just 2000 copies and there is no guarantee that this collector’s album will ever be re-pressed, so if you want one you should get your order in quick!

• Documentary film: U2 The Road To War featuring the members of U2, plus insiders, telling the story of U2

• Full-length E-Book – U2 We Will Follow  

Bono – lead vocals; The Edge – guitar, piano, vocals; Adam Clayton – bass; Larry Mullen Jr. – drums

When Bono stepped up to accept the Album of the Year Grammy in 2006 for U2’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, he commented that “there’s nothing like the feeling of being onstage with a tight rock ‘n’ roll band on a great night.” He probably felt that exact sensation the night this show was recorded at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, back in 1983, for the King Biscuit Flower Hour radio concert series.

While in high school in Dublin, Ireland, the quartet formed under the name Feedback in 1976 and got their start as a cover band doing mostly Beatles and Stones songs. They changed their name to U2 and began writing their own material in 1978. After winning a talent contest sponsored by Guinness Ale, they were brought them to the attention of Paul McGuinness, the manager for The Stranglers.

By 1981, the band had signed with Island Records and quickly started riding up the European charts. They were writing songs that combined the edgy brashness of U.K. punk with more adult, lyrical concepts that often embraced everything from the New World Order to modern Christianity. The Edge’s textured guitar delivers a signature sweeping sound and the rhythm section maintains U2’s defining propulsive edge. It was their third album, “War”, which focuses on the struggles of the Catholic-Protestant conflict in Ireland, and especially the hit single “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” that established the band as a superstar act. Constantly reinventing themselves both musically and philosophically, U2 has endured for nearly 30 years and is certainly one of the biggest bands in the world today.

This concert was recorded on the tour that promoted the War album and features many songs that have since become U2 classics, including the foreboding “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “New Year’s Day,” “October,” “Gloria” and “I Will Follow.

Track Listing:

Side A

1. Out Of Control, 2. Two Hearts Beat As One, 3. Seconds, 4. I Fall Down

Side B

1. Sunday Bloody Sunday, 2. New Year’s Day. 3. Gloria,

Side C

1. Surrender, 2. The Cry / The Electric Co. 3. Twilight

Side D

1. A Day Without Me, 2. Party Girl, 3. I Will Follow 4. “40”

10-INCH DOUBLE ALBUM ON BLUE VINYL IN GATEFOLD SLEEVE

“Watusi Rodeo” is the debut independent EP from the American jangle pop group Guadalcanal Diary. It was released in 1983 on DB Records. The EP was included by Rhino Handmade on the same CD as the reissue of the band’s debut LP, “Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man”.

A song called “Watusi Rodeo” by Guadalcanal Diary taken from the independent “Watusi Rodeo” from the American Indie guitar jangle pop group Guadalcanal Diary. It was released in 1983 on DB Records.  I recall these guys being around the time of R.E.M and it gets better and better. This band had a sophisticated and spiritual bent to the band’s lyrics.

This song is off of the EP “Watusi Rodeo” released in 1983. The song writing in this band was a step above many of their peers…clever lyrics with a mixture of jangle and country. When you start listening to this band later on you can see a lot of eclecticism as they could bounce from one style to another.

They did get picked up by a major label after this release. Their LP  Jamboree  released in 1986 was on Elektra. They unsuccessfully attempted a commercial breakthrough, adopting the style of a country-rock band with some  religious sentiment.

Jeff Walls and singer Murray Attaway were friends in high school in Marietta, Ga., just outside of Atlanta. Along with bassist Rhett Crowe and drummer John Poe, they formed Guadalcanal Diary. The band quickly became staples on the Athens and Atlanta club circuit, signed by Danny Brown’s Atlanta-based dB Records.

“Walking In The Shadow Of The Big Man” produced by Don Dixon. Filled with rich but moody songs about faith, doubt, and the legacy of life in the Deep South, and driven by thundering drums and the clarion call of electric guitars, “Walking In The Shadow Of The Big Man” quickly won an enthusiastic reception from critics and college radio programmers, and in 1985 Elektra Records signed Guadalcanal Diary and reissued the album.

In 2011, Guadalcanal Diary briefly reunited to play Athfest, and celebrated their 30th anniversary there. Jeff Walls died, May 29th, 2019, of a rare pulmonary disease

New York’s Acid Dad will return with their new album “Take It From The Dead”, which will be released on July 16th via Greenway Records and Levitation’s The reverberation Appreciation Society. Acid Dad is an American alternative-rock band composed of singer-guitarists, Vaughn Hunt and Sean Fahey, and drummer, Trevor Mustoe. Vaughn first started recording the band in his Bushwick, NY basement releasing singles “Brain Body” and their first EP “Let’s Plan a Robbery.” Appearing live in the New York City rock scene in 2016, Acid Dad quickly moved to a world stage with their self-titled debut album, released by Greenway Records in 2018.

They have recently returned with the psych-leaning “Searchin’” which captures. a bit of an old school classic rock groove with some more modern day jangly dream pop in the vein of Real Estate or Kevin Morby.

Searchin’ is the third single from the bands new record “Take It From The Dead” out July 16th via The Reverberation Appreciation Society and Greenway Records.

“Love Nobody” is the new EP from Jenn Champion and Oyster Kids. The three song EP is packed with as many sexy synth lines and longing looks as an 80s teen movie. The project was born when Champion met Andrew Eapen (Oyster Kids) at a party, not long after she moved to LA. They became fast friends after they realized they share a passion for sad pop songs. The two started writing music together only a few weeks later, and the song “Love Nobody” materialized in their very first session.
The eponymous first track, Love Nobody is lithe and breezy with Champion’s signature vocal style. Champion says, “‘Love Nobody’ is about the fear of falling so hard for someone when you know it’s destined to crash and burn. Those crushes where it feels like your heart is cannibalizing your brain. We’ve all been there, when you look into someone’s eyes and know they will destroy you, and yet, nothing can pull you away. You are all in. You hate it and have never wanted anything more.”

She continues, ”’Push’ is about the imagined love we have with strangers in dance clubs. It’s a lo-fi new wave song that captures the moment of feeling both so good and so consumed, being crushed out on a dance floor. Where the music is loud and you have immediate sexual eye contact. Like invisible hands pushing you together. A song for that moment of lust and the unknown.”

The two also included a paired down version of Love Nobody – a down tempo piano version to play when your crush leaves the party with someone else. Because, isn’t that just the way?

Jenn Champion + Oyster Kids’ “Love Nobody” will be available worldwide on June 29th, 2021 from Hardly Art Records.

Xoxo,

Gossip girl 

Released June 29th, 2021

In building on a theme we have made a live stripped back version of my 3rd studio album “The House That Jack Built“. The result, The Deconstruction of Jack’s House will be released on white vinyl for Record Store Day on 17th July (UK Only, but it will be available online subsequently). ahead of that, I thought I’d share one the saddest tunes of the bunch. I hope it makes you sad. Shout out to my friend Tom Lloyd Goodwin who accompanied me on guitar. 

Jesca Hoop has a tradition of reimagining and rerecording her own albums and having previously created beautifully stark versions of her albums “Kismet” and “Hunting my Dress” it is the turn of “The House That Jack Built”. Recorded in her Manchester based home-built studio in December 2020, these intimate and immediate reworkings shine the spotlight on Hoops intricate, complex song writing with her astonishing vocals front and centre.

In celebration of the Record Store Day release we are going to live stream a performance of The Deconstruction in Jacks House on 17th July at 20:30 BST  from a shed in my garden. Chloe Foy, Rachel Rimmer and Tom Lloyd Goodwin will join me to play the album to start to finish.