Lush - Gala [12", LP]

This is a LUSH album i've been looking for for a long time, and i finally found it a few weeks ago at the Utrecht record fair. GALA is actually a compilation album. It contains 3 EP's, and 2 bonus tracks that can only be found on this release. Side A covers the Sweetness And Light and Mad Love EP's, while side B has the whole Scar EP and the beforementioned bonus tracks on it.

Hey Hey Helen is an Abba cover, by the way.

The album has some great (and typical 4AD-style) artwork, with two printed innner sleeves:

Furthermore, the inside of the outer sleeve is printed as well. Quite peculiar. I tried to make a picture but that wasn't too easy:

Label: 4AD

Cat.nr.: CAD 0017

Year of release: 1990

SIDE A:

01. Sweetness And Light

02. Sunbathing

03. Breeze

04. De-Luxe

05. Leaves Me Cold

06. Downer

07. Thoughtforms

SIDE B:

01. Baby Talk

02. Thoughtforms

03. Scarlet

04. Bitter

05. Second Sight

06. Etheriel

07. Hey Hey Helen

08. Scarlet (new version)

Esben And The Witch - Violet Cries [12", LP]

First time i heard about ESBEN AND THE WITCH was when some online zine wrote something about their 33 EP. Can't remember which one but I think it was voted their Demo Of The Week or so. I listened to the tracks on the band's Myspace and decided i just had to have this; i hadn't heard a new band that good for a long time. When i wanted to order a physical copy from the band, i got the message they were all sold out, but then a few days later i got a mail from frontman Daniel Copeman saying it was available as a free download from their Last.fm page. Since then we kept in touch occasionally, and i've seen them live a couple of times and went for some drinks after their shows. Really nice people.
Anyway, VIOLET CRIES came out in January 2011 and it was very well-received. It contains two re-recorded songs from their demo (Eumenides and Marching Song) and eight other songs. Haunting nightmare pop, as they called it themselves, and the icy cover artwork fits perfectly with the album. An excellent debut.

Label: Matador
Cat.nr.: OLE 939-1
Year of release: 2011

SIDE A:
01. Argyria
02. Marching Song
03. Marine Fields Glow
04. Light Streams
05. Hexagons IV

SIDE B:
01. Chorea
02. Warpath
03. Battlecry / Mimicry
04. Eumenides
05. Swans

Lush - Sweetness And Light [7"]

This is the 7" edition of the SWEETNESS AND LIGHT single by LUSH. One track less than the 12", which i described earlier. The title track is a great catchy tune.

Label: 4AD
Cat.nr.: AD 0013
Year of release: 1990

SIDE A:
01. Sweetness And Light

SIDE B:
01. Breeze

Sleepy Sun - Spine Hits [12", LP]

SPINE HITS is the brand new album by SLEEPY SUN, and the first one without Rachel Fannan after she'd left the band in 2010. I was curious to hear what it would sound like, as to me she was one of the key figures in the band; both on record and live. But i must say that this album pleasantly surprised me. Solid bluesy psychedelic rock, a bit more uptempo in general than on their previous albums and less "swampy". And vocally actually sometimes even pretty close to Jane's Addiction's Perry Farrell (listen to the song Creature for example). Which i see as a plus, by the way.
Without the female vocals it's simply not the same band as it used to be, but certainly not a worse one. They probably would have been though, if they'd stuck 100% to the same musical formula. Glad they didn't.

Label: ATP Recordings
Cat.nr.: ATPRLP45
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. Stivey Pond
02. She Rex
03. Siouxsie Blaqq
04. Creature
05. Boat Trip
06. V.O.G.

SIDE B:
01. Martyr's Mantra
02. Still Breathing
03. Yellow End
04. Deep War
05. Lioness (Requiem)

M83 - Saturdays=Youth [12", 2LP]

With SATURDAYS=YOUTH, M83 got a poppier sound that made Anthony Gonzalez & co break brough to a wider audience. Morgan Kibby's vocals can be heard for the first time on this album and she'd become a steady band member for the live shows ever since. Her vocals in Skin Of The Night (and throughout the whole album actually) are stunning. I can actually listen to this album over and over without getting bored.

Label: Mute
Cat.nr.: 9384-1
Year of release: 2008

SIDE A:
01. You, Appearing
02. Kim & Jessie
03. Skin Of The Night

SIDE B:
01. Graveyard Girl
02. Couleurs
03. Up!

SIDE C:
01. We Own The Sky
02. Highway Of Endless Dreams
03. Too Late

SIDE D:
01. Dark Moves Of Love
02. Midnight Souls Still Remain

The Smashing Pumpkins - Ava Adore [7"]

The Adore album by THE SMASHING PUMPKINS i've learned to love over the years, but when it came out i was pretty much disappointed. AVA ADORE is one of the singles from that album and especially when this song is played live by the band i like it a lot. "Limited" pressing; around 10000 numbered copies.

Label: Hut Recordings
Cat.nr.: HUT 101
Year of release: 1998

SIDE A:
01. Ava Adore

SIDE B:
01. Czarina

Curve - Blindfold EP [12"]

One of my crate-digging finds at the Utrecht record fair a few weeks ago. Not an EP i'd been particularly looking for, but it wasn't very expensive and while i have most CURVE releases on CD as well, this BLINDFOLD EP i don't. Well spent money for that matter.

Label: Anxious Records
Cat.nr.: ANX T 27
Year of release: 1991

SIDE A:
01. Ten Little Girls
02. I Speak Your Every Word

SIDE B:
01. Blindfold
02. No Escape From Heaven

Simple Minds - Theme For Great Cities [12"]

THEME FOR GREAT CITIES is one of my favourite tracks by SIMPLE MINDS; originally released on the Sister Feelings Call EP back in 1981. When this 12" was released for Record Store Day this year i was at first a bit sceptic because i didn't see any added value to it, but then i found out that it contained two remixes instead of the original tracks. So after a quick check on Youtube how they sounded i was convinced i had to buy it, and so i did. Both Moby and John Leckie did a mighty fine job. The new versions of these songs still have that chilly new wave feel, while they don't sound outdated at all.

Label: Virgin
Cat.nr.: SMRSD 1
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. Theme For Great Cities (Moby Remix)

SIDE B:
01. I Travel 2012 (John leckie Remix)

Inspiral Carpets - Dragging Me Down [7"]

Bought this INSPIRAL CARPETS single recently at the same time at the same place when i bought the Charlatans' Weirdo single, and just for the very same reason: nostalgia. Played this song a lot back in 1992. Nice to have it on vinyl now!

Label: Mute
Cat.nr.: DUNG 16
Year of release: 1992

SIDE A:
01. Dragging Me Down

SIDE B:
01. I Know I'm Losing You

The Black Angels - Watch Out Boy/I'd Rather Be Lonely [7"]

This single was a Record Store Day release in the USA this year. Two new songs by THE BLACK ANGELS (or three actually, since there's a dropcard included for the these songs + a bonus song; a cover of She's Not There, originally by The Zombies) on nice brown/orange coloured vinyl.

Label: Blue Horizon Ventures
Cat.nr.: BHV-16788-7
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. I'd Rather Be Lonely

SIDE B:
01. Watch Out Boy

The Charlatans - Weirdo [7"]

THE CHARLATANS made some fine tunes in the early 90's (although their later stuff i don't find that interesting anymore). Just like The Only One I Know, WEIRDO is an indie classic from those days. One you'd see at MTV 120 Minutes for example.
I recently came across this single at a secondhand store in my hometown and i couldn't let it lie there obviously. Sweet memories. The single has an "art print" included which is nothing but an insert with a band pic, some bananas and the girl from the cover on it. Ah well.


Label: Situation Two
Cat.nr.: SIT 88
Year of release: 1992

SIDE A:
01. Weirdo

SIDE B:
01. Theme From "The Wish"

Belly - Now They'll Sleep [12"]

BELLY was formed by Tanya Donelly after she'd left Throwing Muses (and had joined The Breeders for a while after that). This 12" is from their second album King. NOW THEY'LL SLEEP features four cool songs (non-album tracks except for the title track) and since it's a 4AD release it has this distinctive 23 Enevelope (or v23 if you wish) artwork.
Another nice find at the Utrecht record fair earlier this month.

Label: 4AD
Cat.nr.: BAD 5003
Year of release: 1995

SIDE A:
01. Now They'll Sleep
02. Thief

SIDE B:
01. Baby's Arm
02. John Dark

Iggy Pop - I'm Bored [7"]

No idea why exactly someone decided to reissue an old single of IGGY POP from his New Values album, because that's certainly not the man's best period. A replica of a single from his earlier two albums (Lust For Life and The Idiot) would've been more interesting as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, this I'M BORED single (originally released in 1979) was reissued in a limited run of 2000 numbered copies for Record Store Day 2012, on green vinyl.The one i have is # 1498/2000.

Label: Arista
Cat.nr.: 88691961117
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. I'm Bored

SIDE B:
01. African Man

M83 - Mirror [7"]

The song MIRROR by M83 is an outtake from their Hurry Up, We're Dreaming album, and previously only available as a download. It's been put to vinyl, as a one-sided etched 7", released on Record Store Day 2012. Naïve did the UK pressing of 500 copies; this is a copy of the USA version on Mute. No idea how many were made, but it was a limited quantity anyway.

The etching has the code to download the digital track from www.m83mirror.com

Label: Mute

Cat.nr.: 9531-1

Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:

01. Mirror

SIDE B:

etching

M83 / Fairewell - Team Ghost Remixes [7"]

Sonic Cathedral did an excellent job recently by releasing a split 7" by M83 and FAIREWELL, containing remixes for both artists by Team Ghost. I am not familiar with the original song by Fairewell, but what Nicolas Fromageau did with M83's Midnight City is just fabulous. The speed is heavily reduced and he created a whole new track that way; one that would serve perfectly as some movie soundtrack song.

Label: Sonic Cathedral
Cat.nr.:  SCR042
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. M83 - Midnight City (Team Ghost Remix)

SIDE B:
01. Fairewell - Wild Meadow / I've Been Locked Away (Team Ghost Remix)

Swervedriver - Rave Down [12"]

RAVE DOWN is without doubt one of the top tracks from SWERVEDRIVER's best album, Raise. The 12" has some nice B-sides as well that don't appear on any of their albums. Result from a day's crate digging at the Utrecht record fair.

Label: Creation Records
Cat.nr.: CRE 088T
Year of release: 1990

SIDE A:
01. Rave Down
02. She's Beside Herself

SIDE B:
01. Afterglow
02. Zedhead

The Charlatans - The Only One I Know [7"]

A classic indie tune from the '90s by THE CHARLATANS. One of my favourites from this era and i was happy to come across this 7" for a cheap price at the Utrecht record fair recently.

Label: Situation Two
Cat.nr.: SIT 70
Year of release: 1990

SIDE A:
01. The Only One I Know

SIDE B:
01. Everything Changed

Ride - Fall [12", EP]

For me, another highlight of my recent purchases at the record fair in Utrecht. One of my favourite RIDE songs, Dreams Burn Down, is featured on this FALL EP. All 4 songs can be found on their Nowhere album as well by the way, so no interesting rare songs or so. Still a brilliant EP with great cover artwork, just like the other Ride EP's.

Label: Creation Records
Cat.nr.: CRE087T
Year of release: 1990

SIDE A: 
01. Dreams Burn Down
02. Taste

SIDE B: 
01. Here And Now
02. Nowhere

My Bloody Valentine - To Here Knows When [7"]

Another item i dug up at the record fair in Utrecht last week. TO HERE KNOWS WHEN is the 7" edition of the Tremolo EP by MY BLOODY VALENTINE. Just 2 of the 4 tracks are on it: To Here Knows When and Swallow. Not a single i've been particularly looking for, but nice to add to my Creation Records collection.  

Label: Creation Records  
Cat.nr.: CRE 085  
Year of release: 1991  

SIDE A:
01. To Here Knows When  

SIDE B:
01. Swallow

Slowdive - Morningrise [12", EP]

I've been looking for ages for this release, but last weekend i found it at the record fair in Utrecht. The biggest in Europe, they say. This MORNINGRISE EP by SLOWDIVE alone already made my day, but i bought quite some other good stuff as well that i'll be posting here over the next few days/weeks.
The EP was released before debut album Just For A Day came out in 1991, and was later featured on the Blue Day compilation. Three fabulous dreampop tracks, and i'm extremely happy that i finally have an original vinyl release with these tracks on it. ♥

Label: Creation Records
Cat.nr.: CRE 098T
Year of release: 1991

SIDE A:
01. Morningrise
02. She Callls

SIDE B:
01. Losing Today

The Black Angels - Passover [12", 2LP]

PASSOVER by THE BLACK ANGELS; their debut full length that came out in 2006. Originally with an embossed sleeve, but this is the reissue from 2009 with a (thicker but) normal gatefold sleeve. Great album!

Label: Ligt In The Attic
Cat.nr.: LITA 0018
Year of release: 2006 (originally; this one's from 2009)


SIDE A:
01. Young Men Dead
02. The First Vietnamese War
03. The Sniper At The Gates Of Heaven

SIDE B:
01. The Prodigal Sun
02. Black Grease
03. Manipulation

SIDE C:
01. Empire
02. Better Off Alone
03. Bloodhounds On My Trail

SIDE D:
01. Call To Arms

The Last Town Chorus - Modern Love [7"]

I picked up this single by THE LAST TOWN CHORUS because the title caught my eye. Indeed it turned out to be a cover of the David Bowie song MODERN LOVE, so i was curious and bought it. And it's a pretty good version actually. Totally stripped down, with a steel guitar; quite atmospherical. Apparently this track has been used for the Grey's Anatomy series.

Label: Loose
Cat.nr.: VJS8
Year of release: 2007

SIDE A:
01. Modern Love

SIDE B:
01. Wintering In Brooklyn

The Black Angels - Directions To See A Ghost [12", 3LP]

This is THE BLACK ANGELS' second album, and actually the one that i got to know them through. Maybe that's why its also still my favourite of the three so far. The vinyl edition of DIRECTIONS TO SEE A GHOST has two bonus tracks (on side F) that are not on the CD, and it's an extremely good looking package with nice artwork and a poster. Supposedly only 1000 copies were made.
This band is one of the best contemporary psychedelic rock bands for sure.

Label: Light In The Attic
Cat.nr.: LITA 033
Year of release: 2008

SIDE A:
01. You On The Run
02. Doves
03. Science Killer

SIDE B:
01. Mission District
02. 18 Years

SIDE C:
01. Deer-Ree-She
02. Never/Ever

SIDE D:
01. Vikings
02. You In Color
03. The Return

SIDE E:
01. Snake In The Grass

SIDE F:
01. Surf City (Revisited)
02. Paladin's Last Stand

School Of Seven Bells - Lafaye [7"]

LAFAYE is SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS' first single off their latest Ghostory album. A cool uptempo song and a b-side that's not on the album. Cover art is not really special but the single is on nice white vinyl, which kinda makes it up for that.

Label: Full Time Hobby
Cat.nr.: FTH141S
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. Lafaye

SIDE B:
01. Love From A Stone