On her second album as Flock of Dimes, Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak fine-tunes the synth-forward style that has defined both projects to this point, dialling drum machines and other electronic sounds back while bringing guitars—sometimes thunderous and distorted, others gentle and twangy more to the forefront. The result, particularly on songs like “Price of Blue,” is something special, with Wasner’s vocals the lovely center-piece of her dynamic soundscapes. “I think I’ve finally reached a point in my career where I feel comfortable enough with myself and what I do, that I’m able to relax into a certain simplicity or straightforwardness that I wasn’t comfortable with before,” says the songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, who worked with Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanborn on her new album. Head of Roses is no less powerful for its simplicity, as its songs move from hushed to explosive and back again, becoming more than the sum of their parts in the process.
‘Price of Blue’ by Flock of Dimes from the album Head of Roses Release Date: April 2nd, 2021
The latest single from their debut LP “New Long Leg”, Dry Cleaning have shared a video for their new song “Unsmart Lady,” the latest single from their debut album New Long Leg. Check out the Tilly Shiner–directed clip, which features the band performing in a South London carpet shop, Dry Cleaning’s Florence Shaw, who wrote the lyrics, said in a statement: ““Fat podgy, non make-up’—I was thinking about these things that are supposed to be a source of shame about your appearance and wanting to use them in a powerful way. Just trying to survive when you feel knackered and put-upon and shit about yourself, but you say, ‘I don’t care what I’m supposed to be.’”
New Long Leg is the band’s first release since signing to 4AD Records. Dry Cleaning have previously shared videos for “Strong Feelings” and “Scratchcard Lanyard.” The band released two EPs in 2019: Sweet Princess and Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks.
You’ll be hearing more about Dry Cleaning in the coming days, but at the centre of it all is New Long Leg, their forthcoming debut album, which we’ve been looking forward to for months. Their stylishly alchemic art-rock juxtaposes nervy instrumentation from guitarist Tom Dowse, drummer Nick Buxton and bassist Lewis Maynard with vocalist Florence Shaw’s hypnotic spoken-word delivery, running hot and cool at the same time. From locked-in opener “Scratchcard Lanyard” to sprawling closer “Every Day Carry,”New Long Leg is an enthralling first full-length effort from the London quartet.
‘Unsmart Lady‘, from Dry Cleaning’s debut album ‘New Long Leg’. Released 2nd April on 4AD records.
Angel Olsen has announced a new box set called “Song of the Lark and Other Far Memories”. The release—out May 7th via Jagjaguwar recordings the release includes her last two albums, All Mirrors and Whole New Mess, as well as a bonus LP with bonus tracks, alternate takes, remixes, a cover of Roxy Music’s “More Than This,” and more.
Originally conceived as a double album, All Mirrors and Whole New Messwere distinct parts of a larger whole, twin stars that each expressed something bigger and bolder than Angel Olsen had ever made. Released in 2019, All Mirrors is massive in scope and sound, tracing Olsen’s ascent into the unknown, to a place of true self-acceptance, no matter how dark, or difficult, or seemingly lonely. All Mirrors is colossal, moving, dramatic in an Old Hollywood manner. Recorded before All Mirrorsbut released after, Whole New Mess is the bones and beginnings of the songs that would rewrite Olsen’s story. This is Angel Olsen in her classic style: stark solo performances, echoes and open spaces, her voice both whispered and enormous.All MirrorsandWhole New Mess presented the two glorious extremes of an artist who, in these songs, became new by embracing herself entirely.
Now, with Songs of the Lark… And Other Far Memories, these twin stars become a constellation with the full extent of the songs’ iterations: all the alternate takes, b-sides, remixes and re-imaginings are here, together. Alongside, a 40-page book collection tells a similar story, not just through outtakes and unseen photos but through the smaller, evocative details: handwritten lyrics, a favourite necklace, a beaded chandelier. As if it could be more plainly stated (there’s nothing more),
The box set will also come with a 40-page book. “It feels like part of my writing has come back from the past, and another part of it was waiting to exist,” Olsen said of the box set in a statement.
Among the tracks on the Far Memory bonus LP are Johnny Jewel’s remix of “All Mirrors” and Mark Ronson’s remix of “New Love Cassette.” There’s also an alternate version of “Whole New Mess” called “It’s Every Season (Whole New Mess),” which you can hear below.
Angel adds one cover here: a loving, assertive rendition of Roxy Music’s “More Than This.” It is a definitive collection, not just of these songs but of their revelations and their writer, from their simplest origins to their mightiest realizations.
An exploration of repression, longing and ‘otherness’ amidst illusory landscapes, ‘Rain’s Break’ is the new EP and lead single from Lucy Gooch. Inspired by the early technicolour films of Powell and Pressburger, Lucy uses synthesisers and vocal layering to concentrate elements of each film’s score and narrative into songs which move through different moods of yearning and renewal. Title track, ‘Rain’s Break’ takes inspiration from the monsoon scene at the end of Black Narcissus (1947). The exquisitely produced otherworldly new music video directed by Derrick Belcham (Ryuichi Sakamoto, Laurie Anderson, Max Richter, Julianna Barwick) and featuring a self-choreographed performance by Stephanie Crousillat sees a woman isolated in the natural world communicating her inner monologue and emotions through light and colour.
From Lucy Gooch’s new EP ‘Rain’s Break’, out 25th June. ‘Rain’s Break’ Dinked Edition LP: Fire-records.
As a thank you to fans for their patience during these times, Pearl Jam will offer a free video stream of the band’s 2010 Hard Rock Calling Festival (Hyde Park, London) concert, in support of their 2009 release, Backspacer.
The stream will run from Friday, April 2nd at 8 PM ET through Monday, April 5th at 11:59 PM ET on Pearl Jam’sYouTube and Facebook as well as on nugs.net. There will be no cost to stream this performance.
This 27-song show was professionally filmed by the Hard Rock Calling crew and the audio was remixed by Gigaton producer, Josh Evans. “Red Mosquito” features guest Ben Harper on slide guitar.
Cream’s “Live At The Forum”, featuring the band’s performance recorded at the Los Angeles Forum during their Goodbye Tour of 1968, will be released in a limited edition, blue, 2LP version by UMC/Polydor Records on April 23rd.
The 2LP release is taken from the four-CD set that commemorated the tour and was released in 2020. “Live At The Forum” is produced by Bill Levenson and marks the first authorised release of the full concert on vinyl. The recording of the historic show captures the mighty trio of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker at the height of Cream’s powers, but poignantly also nearing the end of their all-too-brief two-year reign.
Cream’s final album Goodbye, which followed their split and was released in February 1969, contained six tracks, three of which were recorded at the Forum. The LP topped the charts in the UK, where it went platinum, and reached No.2 in the US, where it was certified gold.
“Cream was a shambling circus of diverse personalities who happened to find that catalyst together,” observed Clapton. “Any one of us could have played unaccompanied for a good length of time. So you put the three of us together in front of an audience willing to dig it limitlessly, we could have gone on forever… And we did….just going for the moon every time we played.”
The Goodbye Tour comprised 22 shows at 19 venues across the US from October 4th to November 4th, 1968. Cream’s famous finale, in two shows at London’s hallowed Royal Albert Hall, followed on November 25th and 26th.
“Cream was a shambling circus of diverse personalities who happened to find that catalyst together… any one of us could have played unaccompanied for a good length of time,” Eric Clapton said of the 1968 farewell shows in a statement. “So you put the three of us together in front of an audience willing to dig it limitlessly, we could have gone on forever… And we did… just going for the moon every time we played.” (The announcement of the Live at the Forum vinyl notably comes on the same day, March 30th, as Clapton’s 76th birthday.)
The vinyl release of Live at the Forum is available to preorder now and will arrive as a limited edition double-LP set pressed on blue vinyl. The record was produced by Bill Levenson, while Kevin Reeves mastered the tapes from the original 1968 analogue mix reels. Along with the Forum show, last year’s Goodbye Tour Live 1968 box set featured two other Cream shows in California from October 1968 (San Diego and Oakland), as well as their November 26th, 1968 farewell gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
So happy to share one more song with you in advance of this Friday’s release—this one is called “One More Hour“.
This song is about getting lost in a fantasy– of another life, of someone else, or of a different version of yourself.
And it’s about the ways in which a combination of nostalgia and longing can make imagining the past or dreaming about the future so much more appealing than whatever present reality we happen to be inhabiting. It’s in our nature to make myths and tell stories about the events of our lives, and in doing so create a deeper meaning out of the most seemingly mundane events.
But so often this interior projection can act as a distraction from presence—standing in the way of our ability to be awake to the fullness of our experience as it unfolds, making it difficult to see and appreciate the entire world of experience and sensation that’s right in front of our eyes. I’m paying attention now.
Flock of Dimes (aka Jenn Wasner) is sharing the official video for “One More Hour,” co-directed by Urzulka and Jenni Kaye.
“One More Hour’‘ is the final prerelease offering and highlight from Wasner’s second solo LP, “Head of Roses”, out this Friday, April 2nd worldwide on Sub Pop. It’s an album that showcases her ability to embrace new levels of vulnerability, honesty and openness, combined with the self-assuredness that comes with a decade-plus career as a songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and prolific collaborator.
Shot in Austin, TX, the “One More Hour” video is an ode to internal conflict when re-evaluating a relationship. Says Wasner, “This song is about getting lost in a fantasy– of another life, of someone else, or of a different version of yourself. And it’s about the ways in which a combination of nostalgia and longing can make imagining the past or dreaming about the future so much more appealing than whatever present reality we happen to be inhabiting.
“It’s in our nature to make myths and tell stories about the events of our lives, and in doing so create a deeper meaning out of the most seemingly mundane events. But so often this interior projection can act as a distraction from presence—standing in the way of our ability to be awake to the fullness of our experience as it unfolds, making it difficult to see and appreciate the entire world of experience and sensation that’s right in front of our eyes. I’m paying attention now.”
In my experience this is a lesson we have to keep learning over and over again–can I forgive myself for falling back into it? But there’s so much beauty to uncover in the process, and in meeting ourselves with compassion and grace, even—and especially!—when we lose sight of where we are.
It was a pleasure to work with Urzulka and Virgo House on this video, shot at Pace Bend park in Spicewood, TX. I’m so grateful to them and actor Lauren Nelson for the beautiful world they’ve created for this song, and for making me feel comfortable and at ease while perched precariously on these gorgeous limestone cliffs.
Thanks, as always, for listening, and I’m so excited for everyone to hear the album in its entirety in just a few more days. The album was produced by Nick Sanborn (Sylvan Esso) and Wasner at Betty’s in Chapel Hill, NC, engineered by Bella Blasko with additional engineering by Sanborn, mixed by Ari Picker and Blasko, and mastered by Huntley Miller. The album features appearances from guitarist Meg Duffy, Bon Iver’s Matt McCaughan, Wye Oak’s Andy Stack, and Landlady’s Adam Schatz. Head of Roses follows the release of Like So Much Desire, her acclaimed digital EP released June 2020 on Sub Pop.
The Yardbirds,(often known as ‘roger the engineer’) recorded by the classic line up of Jeff Beck, Keith Relf , Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja and Paul Samwell Smith, the band began exploring new sonic territories, pushing their blues rock sound into the realms of the avant garde, psychedelia and indian music. Using the original tapes, this super deluxe edition features new and definitive remastering by Phil Kinrade at alchemy mastering at air, overseen by original album producer Paul Samwell Smith,
Both versions include: Yardbirds in mono remastered from the original British ¼” mono master tapes, newly transferred for this release at Abbey Road Studios. pressed on 180g blue vinyl, housed in a replica of the original British album sleeve. Yardbirds in stereo considered by producer Paul Samwell Smith to be the definitive version of the album, the stereo mix has been remastered from the ¼” master tapes which were newly transferred for this release at alchemy mastering at air. pressed on 180g red vinyl, housed in a replica of the ultra rare German sleeve.
Happenings ten years time ago 7” the classic psychedelic single (featuring future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones) has been newly remastered for this release. pressed on white vinyl.
3 cds featuring the mono and stereo mixes of the album on cds 1 and 2 and bonus tracks on cd 3. highlights on cd 3 include newly remastered non album singles, rare alternate versions, and a previously unreleased early mix of ‘Turn Into Earth’ which reveals a searing guitar solo by Jeff Beck. 24 page 12” x 12” booklet includes rare memorabilia and photographs, an exclusive introduction by Jeff Beck, testimonials by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and MC5’s Wayne Kramer, plus an extensive essay and track by track liner notes by David French based on new interviews with Jimmy Page, Paul Samwell Smith, Jim McCarty and Simon Napier Bell. A2 fold out poster inspired by the original ‘over, under, sideways, down’ single release advertisement.
“Remastering this album has been a joy. To hear the tracks sounding just as we heard them all those years ago while we were recording them – energetic, edgy, and in your face – is an unexpected treat. In 1966, it was a rare and exciting opportunity to be given a recording studio for 5 days and allowed to experiment. That excitement still shows.” – Paul Samwell-Smith.
“This is what rock ‘n’ roll beauty is – the true freedom of creative impulse.” – Thurston Moore
“The Yardbirds produced some of the most compelling musical art of the 20th century.” – Wayne Kramer
180g standard black 2lp + 3cd + 7″ (24 page booklet, a2 fold out poster)
The Yardbirds“Roger the Engineer” super deluxe box set released on Demon Records
Francis of Delirium deliver powerful homegrown indie rock on “Red.” The track comes ahead of their forthcoming EP “Wading” and follows the track “Let It All Go.” The Luxembourg-based duo offer choppy, repetitive verses against a fuzzy guitar, giving the band their signature grunge-infused indie sound. In the chorus, singer Jana Bahrich repeats, “It all turned red when it all made sense / and it all turned red,” which she explained in a statement as lyrically describing “the pushing away of someone and justifying it with your anger rather than rationally discussing your feelings. It’s believing something you thought to be true and then that being switched. It’s the loss of trust in a relationship.” The song arrived with an animated music video, created by Bahrich.
Today the band are back with another new song from it, “Red,” which features the same sort of hypnotic repetition and surging urgency.
“Red is the pushing away of someone and justifying it with your anger rather than rationally discussing your feelings. It’s believing something you thought to be true and then that being switched. It’s the loss of trust in a relationship,” the band’s Jana Bahrich said in a statement, continuing:
You’re left angry and confused, unsure of yourself, or who to trust. Instead of communicating effectively, you start to push away, preemptively moving into isolation as a defence mechanism to stop yourself from more hurt. Simultaneously the song challenges the goodness I see in myself, as a good friend, someone filled with love is gone, which distances you from this idea of yourself even further. So you’re pushing away someone else and pushing away a version of yourself you enjoy.
Most of this footage was taken by my grandfather around the 70s and part of the footage is of me as a child, me at the age I am now. Lakes explores identity and feelings of being lost. We are all bodies that feed into each other to make our own individual lakes. I found a great deal of identity through community and through isolation that sense of self was lost. Through the music video I wanted to find identity through family and heritage. I never really developed a relationship with my grandfather and I found a large sense of self through making the video. Many tears were shed.
Wading follows the band’s previous EP, 2020’s All Change. The band consists of 19-year-old singer/songwriter Jana Bahrich (from Vancouver, British Columbia) and drummer/producer Chris Hewett (from Seattle, Wash.), who’s several decades her senior.
The Fat Angel Sings 