Cheatahs - Mythologies [12", 2LP]

MYTHOLOGIES, the second album by CHEATAHS, ended up in my top 10 list of the The Finest Vinyl of 2015. There are 13 great songs on this double album. All brand new, except for 紫 (Murasaki) that came out on an EP earlier this year. Like on their debut, there are influences from '90s indie rock and shoegaze, but this time also krautrock and sunshine pop clearly left their marks. Swervedriver and My Bloody Valentine meet Neu! and Beach Boys... something like that. Compared to the debut, the use of electronica is also one the differences. But they use their synths well, and it only adds more to an own distinctive sound. End of January they'll do a European tour, so that's something you don't want to miss. At least i won't, that's for sure.

Label: Wichita

Cat.nr.: WEBB440LP

Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:

01. Red Lakes (Sternstunden)

02. Channel View

03. In Flux

SIDE B:

01. Freak Waves

02. Signs To Lorelei

03. Hey, Sen

04. Deli Rome

SIDE C:

01. Colorado

02. Su-Pra

03. Seven Sisters

SIDE D:

01. 紫

02. Mysteci

03. Reverie Bravo

The Finest Vinyl of 2015

It's that time of the year again. And while going through my vinyl purchases of this year to select my favourite ones, i realise that not only i haven't posted something about all of these albums; i even haven't had the time yet to post something about what became my #1 album of the year. Shame on me! Time is my enemy.

Anyway, 2015 was a good year as far as i'm concerned. So good, that i decided to not only make a Top 10 list, but make a Bubbling Under list as well for 10 extra albums. More about that later.

These are The Fine Vinyl's albums of choice:

01. NEW ORDER - Music Complete
Brilliant album, even without Hooky on bass. All-time heroes of mine, i guess you can say that.

02. SWERVEDRIVER - I Wasn't Born To Lose You
Glorious comeback of one of my favourite bands. They still got the magic.

03. GIRLS NAMES - Arms Around A Vision
Giant leap forward for the coolest Irish band around.

04. TAMARYN - Cranekiss
I completely fell in love with this album. Simply stunning.

05. EDITORS - In Dream
Beautiful album, with guest vocals by Rachel Goswell on some tracks.

06. SPECTRES - Dying
2015's best noise maelstrom there was.

07. THE CHARLATANS - Modern Nature
Like the Swervedriver album, a return to form from another favourite band of mine.

08. PINKSHINYULTRABLAST - Everything Else Matters
Besides t.A.T.u. i only know one other Russian band, and they released the best debut album this year.

09. CHEATAHS - Mythologies
Another great album by these Londoners. Murasaki is arguably the year's best single.

10. TAME IMPALA - Currents
Took me a while to really get into it, but now i am.

Like said, there are plenty of other albums that should not remain unmentioned.
So here's the Bubbling Under list:

11. PAUW - Macrocosm Microcosm
I think it's fair to say that if this would've been an English band, these guys would be huge already.

12. JAMIE XX - In Colour
Some really excellent tunes on his solo debut.

13. RINGO DEATHSTARR - Pure Mood
Was released late in the year, and might have ended up higher if i had the chance to spin it more often.

14. HEALTH - Death Magic
More accessible than their previous stuff. Stonefist is a killer track.

15. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS - Transfixiation
Eventually it ends up higher in this list than i first expected when it just came out.

16. PURITY RING - Another Eternity
I just love this band's sound.

17. FOALS - What Went Down
Solid album. As in: really good, but not as adventurous as their previous work.

18. VENERA 4 - Eidôlon
Sensual shoegaze from France. Excellent debut full length.

19. CHVRCHES - Every Open Eye
Difficult second? Fact is i like the debut better, but this is still really good.

20. BATTLES - La Di Da Di
Even though instrumental, i like this better than Gloss Drop. Mirrored still remains their best though.

So there you go.

I´d also like to share my 5 favourite reissues of the year. It´s not only brand new releases that got the vinyl treatment in 2015!

01. SLOWDIVE - Blue Day
Their earliest work finally also on vinyl again! RSD15 edition on blue vinyl.

02. SECRET SHINE - Untouched
Shoegaze classic. Happy to help Saint Marie Records out, getting it realised via Pledgemusic.

03. LEVITATION - Meanwhile Gardens
Never officially released before in this original form, with Terry Bickers on vocals.

04. LUSH - Ciao!
Compilation that never was released on vinyl before. So happy they're back!!!

05. RIDE - OX4 (Best Of)
RSD15 edition on red vinyl of this great compilation.

Looking at all those albums that haven't been featured on this little blog of mine yet, i see there's a lot of catching up to do. I might skip a few, but many are just too good to leave unnoticed. So you know what to expect over next few days/weeks/months.

Cheatahs - 紫 (Murasaki) [12"]

Within reasonably short time, CHEATAHS has become one of my favourite bands. Their debut album is still spinning rounds on my record player quite often, and so is their previous Sunne EP. Last month 紫 came out (pronounced as "murasaki"), and on top of that i had the privilege to finally see them perform live. It was at the Best Kept Secret festival last weekend, and it was an amazing show. These guys produce such a glorious wall of sound. Made some pics; they can be found here. 
Back to this EP: it has 4 tracks, of which the title track is definitely my favourite. But also Wash Out is awesome. With the song 3D Milk they are pushing new boundaries, with a repetitive beat on the background. The first time i heard this song, i got flashbacks from when i first heard the last 3 songs of the latest MBV album. Progressive, definitely different than they've done before, but foremost and certainly: quality stuff. I like it when bands discover new grounds. 
The band's bass player Dean was kind enough to give me a setlist after the show and he told me that they hope to be back later this year for a club tour. Damn sure i will be there. A band like Cheatahs can be best seen in a small venue, and obviously they'll be playing a bit longer then as well. So i'll be keeping an eye on their concerts list, and i'd advise anybody else to do that as well. Cheatahs is a band to watch!

Label: Wichita 
Cat.nr.: WEBB438T
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. 紫 
02. Warm Palms

SIDE B:
01. 3D Milk
02. Wash Out

Cheatahs - Sunne EP [12"]

Last year, CHEATAHS released one hell of a debut album. It ended up at #3 in my yearlist and i'm happy they release something new now. This SUNNE EP is yet another excellent release by these world citizens (the quartet is based in London but originally they come from Canada, Germany, the USA and the UK). Musically it's in the same vein as the full length, and for comparisons with other bands i suggest you read the piece that i wrote about the debut. Actually; after having made an album like that, there's no need for comparing them with other bands anymore. They just sound like Cheatahs, and i really like that sound. These 4 new tracks will keep me going for a while but i sure hope they'll release a new full length anytime soon.

Label: Wichita
Cat.nr.: WEBB 432EP
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Sunne
02. Campus

SIDE B:
01. Controller
02. No Drones

The Finest Vinyl of 2014

Yes indeed, it's that time of the year again. Time to think which album i played the most, gave me the most goosebumps, which cover art or vinyl pressing i liked best... the so-called Finest Vinyl has become a tradition already.
And like previous years, it's been a tough choice to decide which albums i'd have to remove from my shortlist, because there are way more than 10 that i'd like to put in the spotlight right here. Also it was extremely hard to choose which album belonged on which spot exactly. But my mind's made up now...

First of all, let me tell you which 5 titles were very close but did not make it to the top 10 (in no particular order):

Ringo Deathstarr - God's Dream
I Break Horses - Chiaroscuro
Smashing Pumpkins - Monuments To An Elegy
Lamb - Backspace Unwind
The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream

Then, if i'd have to choose a best 7" single of the year, it would be Newmoon - Invitation To Hold.
And a best 12" EP would definitely be the Split EP by Whirr & Nothing.

But on with the show, here's the moment you've been waiting for:
THE FINEST VINYL of 2014:

01. NOTHING - Guilty Of Everything

02. WARPAINT - Warpaint

03. CHEATAHS - Cheatahs

04. THE RAVEONETTES - Pe'Ahi

05. FUJIYA & MIYAGI - Artificial Sweeteners

06. ESBEN AND THE WITCH - A New Nature

07. THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE - Revelation

08. DEAD HORSE ONE - Without Love We Perish

09. MOGWAI - Rave Tapes

10. WHIRR - Sway

Cheatahs - Cheatahs [12", LP]

One of my favourite albums of this year so far, is without doubt the energetic self-titled debut by CHEATAHS. Catchy as hell, drenched in fuzz, and sounding like it was released in 1992 or so. It combines the best that bands like Swervedriver, Sugar and Catherine Wheel had to offer in those days. Also My Bloody Valentine isn't too far away, when you listen to songs like IV, the last bit of Kenworth and Fall for example. A great mix of shoegaze and college rock, like we heard more often in recent years from the likes of Brief Candles and Yuck. Would love to see a live show by these guys some day.

Label: Wichita
Cat.nr.: WEBB415LP
Year of release: 2014

SIDE A:
01. I
02. Geographic
03. Mission Creep
04. Get Tight
05. The Swan

SIDE B:
01. IV
02. Leave To Remain
03. Kenworth
04. Fall
05. Cut The Grass
06. Loon Calls