Brief Candles - Fractured Days [12", LP]

 

To be honest i never heard of this band or this album until just a few weeks ago. By coincidence i came across this LP and got curious what it was, so i did a quick check on the internet - and got really blown away! I just love their sound; a great mix of shoegaze and power pop / 90's college rock. If you need references: they remind me of bands like Swervedriver, Catherine Wheel, Ride, Silversun Pickups, Nada Surf and Ringo Deathstarr, to name but a few. Damn catchy tunes, female vocals and distorted guitars; an excellent combination. This album came out in 2011 and when i visited their Facebook i noticed that they're about to release a new EP in October. Definitely something i'm gonna check out.

Label: Guilt Ridden Pop
Cat.nr.: GILT 050
Year of release: 2011

SIDE A:
01. Intro
02. 10 Weeks
03. Sink Or Swim
04. Permafrost
05. The Sentiment
06. Small Streets

SIDE B:
01. Bitter End
02. Skylark
03. The Completist
04. Recognition
05. Nosferatu Monks
06. Knock 'Em Deaf

Slowdive - Morningrise [12", Promo]

Of course i already had the regular version of the MORNINGRISE EP by SLOWDIVE, but this was an offer i couldn't refuse. I rarely buy things on eBay, but when i do it's only because something's cheap. Which is rarely the case when it comes to shoegaze/dreampop vinyl these days. Those items either have absurd buy-it-now prices, or in case they're auctions, they're skyrocketing close to the ending. Well, not in this case :) So for less than 10 UK pounds including postage i got this beauty delivered at my doorstep. It comes in a typical Creation Records company sleeve, like their other promo vinyls that i own. A very nice addition to my Creation Records collection!

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

SIDE A:
01. Morningrise
02. She Calls

SIDE B:
01. Losing Today

Eternal - Breathe [10"]

Before Christian Savill joined Slowdive as a 3rd guitar player, he was in a band called ETERNAL. They released only one 7" in 1990, on the legendary Sarah Records label. It had three tracks: Breathe, Sleep and Take Me Down. Sleep was actually covered by Slowdive during the recording sessions for Souvlaki, but it didn't end up on the album. It can be found on various bootlegs, such as Hide Yer Eyes for example.
You can listen to the song Sleep in the original version here, and this is the version Slowdive did.
Earlier this year, Graveface Records released a reissue of this excellent shoegaze gem as part of their Charity Series, with proceeds going to Charge Family Support Group. This time around, the BREATHE EP was released on a 10" format with one extra track (Remember), which was recorded by Christian during the same recording sessions for Souvlaki.
I've been looking for the original 7" on Sarah Records for quite a while, but it's extremely hard to find. So this reissue was a welcome surprise, especially because it has this otherwise unavailable 4th track.

Label: Graveface Records
Cat.nr.: Grave080
Year of relase: 2013

SIDE A:
01. Sleep
02. Remember

SIDE B:
01. Breathe
02. Take Me Down

Brian Jonestown Massacre - Aufheben [12", 2LP]

 

Fantastic album by the BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE that came out in 2012. I only bought it quite late in the year, but if i wouldn't have done that, it probably would have ended up in my Top 10 list of last year. Anyway, AUFHEBEN only has awesome songs on it and it's still a regular on my record player. I love the artwork as well, and the two different kinds of blue vinyl that are used. Top notch product.

Label: A Records
Year of release: 2012
Cat.nr.: AUK023LP

SIDE A:
01. Panic In Babylon
02. Viholliseni Maalla
03. Gaz Hilarant

SIDE B:
01. Illuminomi
02. I Want To Hold Your Other Hand
03. Face Down On The Moon

SIDE C:
01. The Clouds Are Lies
02. Stairway To The Best Party In The Universe
03. Seven Kinds Of Wonderful

SIDE D:
01. Waking Up To Hand Grenades
02. Blue Order/New Monday

Deafheaven - Sunbather [12", 2LP]

DEAFHEAVEN's album SUNBATHER was discussed a lot this summer on the internet forums and blogs. Hardcore kids considered it to be too much black metal, while black metal purists hated it because of the pink artwork and the fact that they are simply not a "true" black metal band, but more like a post-metal band with a short-haired black metal vocalist. But the printed press and webzines loved it, and the album got some really good reviews. Metacritic even came to a 92/100, which is fabulous of course. As for myself, i think it's indeed a good album. When you leave out the vocals, it's still a good album in its genre, but not something extremely special anymore. So i'm not sure if it's deserving this whole hype. Well anyway, i'm happy with my copy, which is one of 4500 of the second press on what the label calls "baby pink and piss yellow" vinyl.

Label: Deathwish
Cat.nr.: DW146
Year of release: 2013

SIDE A:
01. Dream House
02. Irresistible

SIDE B:
01. Sunbather
02. Please Remember

SIDE C:
01. Vertigo

SIDE D:
01. Windows
02. The Pecan Tree

Fuck Buttons - The Red Wing [12"]

Most of the vinyl i own that was originally advertised by its record label as being "gold" is actualy more like transparent yellow, but this 12" by FUCK BUTTONS at least really looks like gold. It's a limited edition of 1000 copies, and the first single off their new album Slow Focus. THE RED WING is a lengthy dubby track, that like many Fuck Buttons songs takes a while to take off. But once it has, it's unfolding as a majestic tune that really sticks in your head during the nearly 8 minutes it lasts. B-side The Whip on the other hand isn't bad, but a little too monotonous to my taste. All in all, a pretty cool maxi by this electronic band with quite a distinctive sound.

Label: ATP Recordings
Cat.nr.: ATPRSP20
Year of release: 2013

SIDE A:
01. The Red Wing

SIDE B:
01. The Whip

Inspiral Carpets - She Comes In The Fall [12"]

Not really a band i've ever been particularly into, the INSPIRAL CARPETS, but they made a few nice singles. Dragging Me Down is still my favourite while Caravan and Bitches Brew come second and third, but SHE COMES IN THE FALL is not bad either. Ran into this 12" at the Utrecht recordfair last spring and it was pretty cheap so i couldn't refuse buying it. If only i'd known in advance that i would discover the album where the song comes from (Life) a few hours later at the same fair for just a few bucks more. Ah well, it's got a nice cow-cover.

Label: Mute
Cat.nr.: DUNG 10T
Year of release: 1990

SIDE A:
01. She Comes In The Fall
02. Commercial Reign

SIDE B:
01. Sackville

Field Mouse - How Do You Know [7"]

Never heard of the band FIELD MOUSE before, and i actually bought this 7" just because of the B-side. Stumbled upon their cover of Julee Cruise's Falling on Youtube and then found out it came from this single, so i ordered it. It's a great dreampop version of the Twin Peaks tune. But the song HOW DO YOU KNOW on the A-side is pretty cool as well. The single's pressed on some kind of purple/black/grey swirl mix. Until now, they released only this 7" and one other 7", plus a few download-only tracks. Really a band to watch and let's hope they'll release a full album sometime.

Label: Lefse Records
Cat.nr.: LEFSE044
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. How Do You Know

SIDE B:
01. Falling  (Twin Peaks Theme)

Medicine - To The Happy Few [12", LP]

Little over a year ago i got into the band MEDICINE and i never expected that they'd release something new. But guess what? In the same year that My Bloody Valentine finally release their long-awaited successor of Loveless, their american counterparts (as some people always considered them to be) come up with a brand new album called TO THE HAPPY FEW. You could even call it a triumphant return. Really good stuff - the more i listen to it, the better i think it is. It's got that typical Medicine-sound (mechanical noises, shrill guitars) but somewhat more organic, and certainly better produced than their earlier work. It's actually more psychedelic than shoegaze. My favourite song of the album (at this moment at least) is All You Need To Know. It's got a bit of a Flaming Lips vibe.
Oh yeah, one funny detail: the last song, Daylight, ends in an eternal groove. A loop that goes on and on and on. I only noticed it after a minute or so, when i thought that the song's end lasted just a bit too long ;)
Anyway, To The Happy Few is definitely a contestant for my Top 10 list for 2013.

Label: Captured Tracks
Cat.nr.: CT-183
Year of release: 2013

SIDE A:
01. Long As The Sun
02. It's Not Enough
03. Burn It
04. Holy Crimes
05. The End Of The Line

SIDE B:
01. Butterfly's Out Tonight
02. All You Need To Know
03. Find Me Always
04. Pull The Trigger
05. Daylight