Slowdive - Slowdive [12", LP]

Wow. They did it.
Three years ago, when SLOWDIVE reunited and i flew to London to see their first ever show since 1994 (read more about that here), i didn't even dare to wish for some brand new recordings. But over the past year or so, you could see updates on social media of the band members being in the studio, jamming and having fun. And this amazing self-titled fourth studio album, the first one in 22 years, is the result of that. It totally captures where the band is now. The album breathes the ambiance of their live shows of the past years. Of course there are songs on this album that will remind you of Just For A Day and Souvlaki, but if you saw/heard for example how they revamped Crazy For You into a danceable tune in their set, you'll understand a song like Star Roving.
Also - funnily enough the album exactly demonstrates how the band has influenced other acts over the past decades. Don't Know Why is the Slowdive that inspired Pinkshinyultrablast; Everyone Knows is the Slowdive that inspired M83. And i could go on and on.
Closing song Falling Ashes deserves some special attention. It is simply the most beautiful song i've heard in many years, in all its vulnerability, that balances between David Sylvian's Forbidden Colours and Nils Frahm.

Today the band announced a club tour in autumn. So after two London shows in May 2014, a festival show at Best Kept Secret in June the same year, and an amazing show at Rewire Fest in Den Haag earlier this year, i can't wait to see them for the fifth time - this time at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. Save the date; October 6th!

Label: Dead Oceans
Cat.nr.: DOC132
Year of release: 2017

SIDE A:
01. Slomo
02. Star Roving
03. Don't Know Why
04. Sugar For The Pill

SIDE B:
01. Everyone Knows
02. No Longer Making Time
03. Go Get It
04. Falling Ashes

A Place To Bury Strangers - Transfixiation [12", LP]

After a few spins i've come to the conclusion that TRANSFIXIATION, the new album by A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS is a "grower". First time i heard it, i was slightly disappointed to be honest. Secretly i was hoping for a return to the sound of the first two albums (their 3rd, Worship, already having a cleaner sound) but instead they've taken it to a next level. There's loads of noise and distortion still, but it's crystal clear. I'm slowly getting into it though. The sound comes closest to 80's post-punk, goth and noise. The album was recorded in Norway with Emil Nikolaisen of Serena-Maneesh, who also co-produced it. Having read that in the liner notes, the pieces of the puzzle started to fit together. If there's one man who knows how to create an organic brew of sounds and noise, it's him. Job well done. I think i need a few more spins to be really convinced, but i already know for a fact now that i'm liking it better than the previous album. The version i have is the limited coloured edition (apparently of 2000 worldwide) and as you can see it looks really good.

Label: Dead Oceans
Cat.nr.: DOC099
Year of release: 2105

SIDE A:
01. Supermaster
02. Straight
03. Love High
04. What We Don't See
05. Deeper
06. Lower Zone

SIDE B:
01. We've Come So Far
02. Now It's Over
03. I'm So Clean
04. Fill The Void
05. I Will Die

A Place To Bury Strangers - Worship [12", LP]

Last month i saw A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS in Amsterdam; it was the show where i bought the Ego Death 2010 tour EP. They were playing some songs of their new album WORSHIP as well, which was not released yet at the time. Great songs so i was sure to buy this album when it came out two weeks ago. Compared to their previous two full lengths (A Place To Bury Strangers and Exploding Head), this new album sounds a little more polished. Not necessarily a bad thing in my eyes. One of my friends said he misses that "vacuum cleaner sound" of the other albums a bit; and maybe that describes it best. Don't expect an easy-listening album though. A really nice piece of noise/shoegaze, even when the guitar wall-of-sound isn't as thick as it used to be.


Label: Dead Oceans
Cat.nr.: DOC 066
Year of release: 2012


SIDE A:
01. Alone
02. You Are The One
03. Mind Control
04. Worship
05. Fear
06. Why Can't I Cry Anymore

SIDE B:
01. Dissolved
02. Revenge
03. And I'm Up
04. Slide
05. Leaving Tomorrow