Lush - Ciao! Best Of Lush [12", 2LP]

The compilation album CIAO! BEST OF LUSH was not released on vinyl originally when it came out in 2001. But when LUSH announced this year they were getting back together, 4AD decided it would be a good idea to do so after all, and for the occasion of Black Friday they made a limited coloured edition. I really hope that in the near future they'll do reissues of the regular albums as well, or at least of Split, since that's pretty hard these days to get in good condition for a good price. Same for Lovelife, but musically that's not as appealing as the first two albums - not only to my opinion, but to many others' as well. The label also released a great 5CD box called Chorus, by the way. It contains Lush's complete studio recordings and is definitely recommended if you're not only buying stuff on vinyl. Anyway, it's great that this compilation got the vinyl treatment. In reversed chronological order you hear the best tracks (or at least, sort of) that they ever released, and both the artwork and the red vinyl itself look great. The only thing that could've been done slightly better to my opinion are the sleeve notes, by either adding something about the band getting back together by the same author, or by someone else. Now everything's written in the past tense, about a band that sadly ended when Chris Acland committed suicide. Of course, this is in a way a reissue even though it's the first time it's out on vinyl, so a straight copy of the original release including the original sleeve notes is perfectly understandable. However the reason why it came out now, and the fact that the band is seemingly not planning to let it be a bunch of one-off reunion shows, might as well have been left noticed somewhere on this release. Fact is that 2016 promises to become a great year for Lush fans. A tour, an EP, and who knows what else they'll have in store. I really hope they'll play in Holland, just like Slowdive and Ride did over the past 2 years. Possibly at the Best Kept Secret Festival, like those bands? Fingers crossed!

Label: 4AD

Cat.nr.: CAD2K22

Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:

01. Ladykillers

02. Single Girl

03. Ciao!

04. 500 (Shake Baby Shake)

05. Light From A Dead Star

SIDE B:

01. Love At First Sight

02. Hypocrite

03. Desire Lines

04. Lovelife

SIDE C:

01. When I Die

02. Nothing Natural

03. Untogether

04. For Love

SIDE D:

01. Monochrome

02. De-Luxe

03. Sweetness And Light

04. Thoughtforms

05. Etheriel

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

Catherine Wheel - Crank [12", Picture Disc]

Earlier this year at the April edition of the Utrecht record fair i bumped into the promo version of CRANK by CATHERINE WHEEL, and at last month's edition i found the picture disc version. The B-side contains Peel Session recordings of Black Metallic and Painful Thing (from April 1991) and they are great lengthy versions. Especially Black Metallic sounds really awesome, and it's my favourite version of this Catherine Wheel classic.

Label: Fontana

Cat.nr.: CW 512

Year of release: 1993

SIDE A:

01. Crank

SIDE B:

01. Black Metallic (Recorded for John Peel BBC Radio 1 April 1991)

02. Painful Thing (Recorded for John Peel BBC Radio 1 April 1991)

Gang Of Four - To Hell With Poverty [12"]

A while ago i was at a Hacienda-inspired dance party, and TO HELL WITH POVERTY was one of the killer tunes they played there. At that moment i just knew i had to have this song on vinyl, to play in my own DJ sets. It's such an energetic song. Totally shows where James Murphy / LCD Soundsystem got his sound from over 20 years later, for example. I have a few GANG OF FOUR albums, but this song only appears on a 7" from 1981 and the "Another Day / Another Dollar" EP from 1982 which are not really easy to come by. It also appears on this remix EP from 1991, however. The disc contains a house remix that sounds pretty dated, and an instrumental version of that remix, but also the original version - and that's what i was looking for. So when i saw this particular 12" on Discogs for only a few euro including postage, i couldn't resist buying it. One of my least rare, yet best purchases of the past months.

Label: EMI

Cat.nr.: 12EM172

Year of release: 1991

SIDE A:

01. To Hell With Poverty (The Loaded Remix)

SIDE B:

01. To Hell With Poverty  (The Loaded Instrumental)

02. To Hell With Poverty  (Original Version)

Air Formation - Were We Ever Here [12"]

AIR FORMATION released 4 albums (which sadly only came out on CD) between 2000 and 2011, and a handful of EP's. They split up in 2011, but in 2014 they got back together and this WERE WE EVER HERE EP is their first release since then. And it's definitely a return to form; great to have them back. To be honest i think this is actually the best material they ever released. The limited EP (only 250 copies were made) contains 4 tracks that are simply a joy to listen to. Especially the last song, The Wasted Days, is brilliant. It balances on the boundaries between shoegaze, noise and post-rock. Also the artwork and the vinyl itself (blue splattered on orange) look absolutely gorgeous.

Label: Club AC30

Cat.nr.: AC3012104

Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:

01. I Could Stay

02. Last Resolve

SIDE B:

01. On The Floor

02. The Wasted Days

Secret Shine - Untouched [12", LP, Test Press]

There were 5 test press copies made of Saint Marie Records' reissue of UNTOUCHED, the classic SECRET SHINE album that originally came out on Sarah Records in 1993. Thought it would be cool to own one, so i pledged for the bundle of the test press and the coloured version earlier this year. You don't get your favourite shoegaze albums much more limited than this ;)

Label: Saint Marie Records
Cat.nr.: SMR079
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Suck Me Down
02. Temporal
03. Spellbound
04. So Close I Come

SIDE B:
01. Into The Ether
02. Toward The Sky
03. Underworld
04. Sun Warmed Water

Secret Shine - Untouched [12", LP]

UNTOUCHED was the only full length album that SECRET SHINE released during their first period of existence (during the early nineties). It originally came out on Sarah Records, and original copies of this album go for high prices on Discogs and eBay. Saint Marie Records had the brilliant idea to get it reissued, and they started a Pledgemusic project to get it financed. Because i love this album to death, and wanted to be sure to have a copy on vinyl finally, i stepped into it and pledged for a coloured copy and a test press. There were only 500 LP's made, and 300 of them are coloured (purple/white). The rest are black. Even though black is more limited for that matter, i wanted the coloured version because it's so beautiful and fits extremely well with the artwork.

What can i say about the album... some people say it was the last of the original great shoegaze albums of the early nineties. That might indeed be true. It's definitely become a classic in the genre, over the years. Songs like Spellbound, Into The Ether and So Close I Come can definitely compete with the best songs of Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine.

Label: Saint Marie Records

Cat.nr.: SMR079

Year of release: 2015 (originally released in 1993)

SIDE A:

01. Suck Me Down

02. Temporal

03. Spellbound

04. So Close I Come

SIDE B:

01. Into The Ether

02. Toward The Sky

03. Underworld

04. Sun Warmed Water

Blind Mr. Jones - Eyes Wide EP [12", Promo]

Last year was actually the first time i heard about the band BLIND MR. JONES, when Saint Marie Records were doing a reissue of their 1994 album Tattooine. I listened to a few tracks online and wasn't really impressed to be honest. It was a bit too much britpop to my taste, so i didn't bother to check out more stuff of this UK band that disbanded in 1994.

Last month however at the record fair in Utrecht i bumped into this promo 12" of their very first EP, and when i read the press sheet that was still attached, i saw that it was co-produced by Neil Halstead from Slowdive. So that made me curious again, and i decided to buy it. Glad i did! It's a great piece of shoegaze history. The four tracks on this EYES WIDE EP breathe that typical early 90's Thames Valley shoegaze atmosphere, as we know from bands as Ride, Slowdive and Chapterhouse. Wikipedia says that Neil Halstead wrote guitar parts for this EP, but since it's a white label promo in a generic sleeve i can only assume that's correct. My favourite track is "Going On Cold", but the other three are great as well. Maybe i should give their other material a second chance.

Label: Cherry Red

Cat.nr.: 12Cherry122

Year of release: 1992

SIDE A:

01. Over My Head

02. Eyes Wide

SIDE B:

01. Going On Cold

02. Henna And Swayed

Levitation - Meanwhile Gardens [12", 2LP]

This album has a very interesting history. In 1990, Terry Bickers left The House Of Love. Together with their drummer David Francolini and 3 others he formed a new band: LEVITATION. They released a few EP's and a full length on Rough Trade, called Need For Not. Then they signed to Chrysalis and recorded enough material for two whole albums, but during that period there were arguments and at some point Bickers walked off stage during a concert. A new singer, Steve Ludwin, took his place eventually and even their album MEANWHILE GARDENS was released with the new singer's vocals replacing the original recordings of Bickers'. It came out on CD only, in Australia in 1994.

Now, after 22 years, Flashback Records did a great job releasing the album as it was meant to be. They got the original band members to authorize the album with a definitive tracklisting order, and -most importantly- with Bickers' original vocals. It was remastered from the original analogue tapes. Earlier this year they already released the limited Never Odd Or Even 12" for Record Store Day, with 3 songs from these sessions that hadn't made it to the album.

It's a brilliant psychedelic, progressive rock album. Labeling it as such might suggest it's boring and unnecessarily bombastic, but it's everything but that. It's gentle, subtle and can be very strong at the same time. And Terry Bickers' vocals are just really good. Hard to describe how it sounds, but if you like bands like Porcupine Tree, Radiohead and Mogwai, you're in for a treat. And it never sounds outdated, after all those years. My favourite songs are King Of Mice and I Believe, but there are plenty of more gems like that on this album.

Label: Flashback Records

Cat.nr.: FB009

Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:

01. Food For Power

02. Gardens Overflowing

03. Bodiless

SIDE B:

01. Magnifying Glass

02. King Of Mice

03. Imagine The Sharks

SIDE C:

01. Evergreen

02. Even When Your Eyes Are Open

03. I Believe

SIDE D:

01. Burrows

02. Sacred Lover

New Order - Music Complete [12", 2LP]

Since i decided that this album would be #1 in The Finest Vinyl of 2015, it was obvious that NEW ORDER's MUSIC COMPLETE needed to be written about on this blog. Until now, i haven't been really inspired however to do so.You can find many reviews online and in printed media, and the bottom line is that they all say that it's a great album, even though their signature bass player Peter Hook is not part of the band anymore. I can only agree. I actually think it's the best release they did since their Technique album. Personal favourites are dancefloor filler Plastic and their go at italo disco Tutti Frutti. The artwork is great as well, and looks like it's inspired by Dutch painter Mondriaan and the art movement De Stijl that he belonged to.

As you can see on the picture i have the limited edition clear vinyl. Looks great and sounds even better.

Label: Mute

Cat.nr.: STUMM390

Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:

01. Restless

02. Singularity

03. Plastic

SIDE B:

01. Tutti Frutti

02. People On The High Line

03. Stray Dog

SIDE C:

01. Academic

02. Nothing But A Fool

03. Unlearn This Hatred

SIDE D:

01. The Game

02. Superheated

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.

Hollow Sunshine - Bring Gold [12", LP]

By coincidence i came across HOLLOW SUNSHINE somewhere on the internet last month and i liked what i heard so much that i decided to order this BRING GOLD album, which was released in summer. It sounds a bit like a mix between Jesu, Nadja and Nothing: generally slow-paced, fuzzy distorted shoegaze with post/sludgemetal influences. Good stuff, but not groundbreaking or anything. My favourite track would be opener Coral, which is also the one that caught my attention online. I've got the "milky clear" edition, of which there were 400 made. There's also an edition of 200 on "black haze & cloudy clear" out there.

Label: Iron Pier
Cat.nr.: IRP15
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Coral
02. Bring Gold
03. Careful Travel
04. Last Chamber

SIDE B:
01. Firmament
02. Morning Green
03. On A Balance
04. Companion

Pauw - Macrocosm Microcosm [12", LP]

MACROCOSM MICROSCOSM is the debut full length by Dutch psychedelic rockers PAUW. An amazingly good album, packed with melodic psychedelic gems. It would very much surprise me if these guys don't break through internationally in 2016.
They had a limited 12" and a 7" out previously, and some of those songs (Visions, Abyss and the simply brilliant Shambhala) are featured on this album as well. The new songs on Macrocosm Microcosm are equally good. They really stick in your head and it's like you already know them for years. Maybe it's because the sound of the music at itself is familiar: Glare has a fuzzy Tame Impala feel to it, Glare Pt.2 although based on the same theme sounds more like Pink Floyd, and (unexpectedly) even Madonna's Beautiful Stranger is not too far away in High Tide. You can say it's all been done before - but then again what hasn't, if you're talking about sixties-inspired retro rock? Fact is that it's rarely done this good. Pauw is definitely right up there with the likes of Tame Impala, Temples and Pond.
Debut album of the year as far as i'm concerned. Also the artwork is amazing, as you can see.

Label: Caroline Benelux
Cat.nr.: 475 180-8
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Memories
02. Today Never Ends
03. Visions
04. Glare
05. Intents

SIDE B:
01. Shambhala
02. Abyss
03. High Tide
04. Glare Pt.2

Girls Names - Arms Around A Vision [12", LP]

My favourite Irish band is back with an absolutely great album. ARMS AROUND A VISION is another huge step forward for GIRLS NAMES, just like The New Life already was compared to their first album. One of the first things you notice, is that Cathal's vocals are much more in the front of the mix. No more soft mumbling, no echoes. Call it less new wave, more post-punk. Actually it reminds me the most of Felt's singer Lawrence. Musically it's more experimental than what they did before. You'll hear a saxophone, eerie screeches and weird noises, short instrumental interludes... yet still it's typically Girls Names. Their sound is like an eclectic mix of all bands that influenced them; without ever sounding as a copycat. No need to sum them all up here, but you'll surely hear familiar sounds. And if those bands happen to be your own favourite bands as well, like they are (amongst) mine, you're in for a treat for 46 minutes. This album is definitely one of the best releases of this year as far as i'm concerned. Also they'll be going on a month-long European tour in two weeks from now, so check them out if you get the chance.

Totaly unrelated: I just noticed this is my 500th post on this blog. Anniversary post, yay! ;)

Label: Tough Love Records
Cat.nr.: TLV083
Year: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Reticence
02. An Artifcial Spring
03. Desire Oscillations
04. (Obsession)
05. Chrome Rose
06. A Hunger Artist

SIDE B:
01. Málaga
02. Dysmorphia
03. (Convalescence)
04. Exploit Me
05. Take Out The Hand
06. I Was You

Swervedriver - Space Travel, Rock 'N' Roll [12"]

This SPACE TRAVEL, ROCK 'N' ROLL EP was released in 1998 and lifted from SWERVEDRIVER's 4th album 99th Dream. The title of the EP came from some of the lyrics of the title song of that album (and opening song of this EP). I must admit i don't even own the album; i never saw it anywhere in the shops back in the days and kind of lost track of the band after their 3rd album Ejector Seat Reservation. That's not really surprising though, because the album was supposed to be released on Geffen first, but then the band got dropped before it even got a release. Which resulted in the album being in limbo for nearly a year, until indie label Zero Hour picked them up and released it after all. It just never got the same exposure the other albums had. The songs on this EP are also not really the strongest i've heard by them, but still it's a solid EP and i'm happy i bumped into it last week.

Label: Sonic Wave Discs
Cat.nr.: SWD098EP
Year of release: 1998

SIDE A:
01. 99th Dream
02. Good Ships

SIDE B:
01. Hate Yr Kind
02. Stimulini

Snow In Mexico - Juno Beach [12"]

The moment i heard a song online of this one-sided JUNO BEACH 12" by Italian duo SNOW IN MEXICO, i knew i had to buy it. It's a great electronic EP that finds a good balance between dreampop and 80's synth pop. It's kinda like a mix between M83, Pet Shop Boys, Vangelis and Giorgio Moroder. The phone conversation in The Call even reminded me a bit of Clouds Across The Moon by Rah Band ;) My favourite track is definitely Sunshine. Nice 'n hazy, and very danceable.

Label: Saint Marie Records
Cat.nr.: SMR077
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. The Call
02. Juno Beach

SIDE B:
01. Sunshine
02. Gentle Rain

Slowdive - Holding Our Breath [12"]

It took me quite some time, but last week i finally came across a copy of the regular edition of the HOLDING OUR BREATH EP by SLOWDIVE. I had the promo version for some time already, but not the regular one. So now i'm closing in on completion ;)
This EP contains some excellent tracks: Catch The Breeze, which was my introduction to the band back in the days, the amazing Syd Barrett cover Golden Hair (a live favourite with which they close their shows), the dreamy Shine which is one of my absolute favourite Slowdive songs, and the beautiful yet somewhat unsettling Albatross. Extremely happy that i finally found this!

Label: Creation Records
Cat.nr.: CRE 112T
Year of release: 1991

SIDE A:
01. Catch The Breeze
02. Golden Hair

SIDE B:
01. Shine
02. Albatross

Tamaryn - Cranekiss [12", LP]

Out of the blue, or at least for me, came this new album by TAMARYN, called CRANEKISS. I love her previous albums The Waves and Tender New Signs so much that i bought this one without any hesitation. However to my surprise Cranekiss sounds much different: less guitar (actually almost no guitar), more electronics, samples and her voice is clearly present everywhere. So that's not quite what i expected - but i simply love it! The whole sound is clearly influenced by Cocteau Twins: ethereal and very well-produced. Even the artwork looks like it's a 4AD release with a 23 Envelope/Vaughan Oliver-style sleeve (Pixies - Velouria era, especially the back). However it's done by Shaun Durkan (of the band Weekend) with whom she worked on this album. Also Jorge Elbrecht (of Violens) participated, and did the production as well. Standout tracks as far as i'm concerned are the title track, Softcore, I Won't Be Found and the delicious Sugarfix. One of the most surprising releases of 2015 so far for sure, and only in a good way.

Label: Mexican Summer
Cat.nr.: MEX202
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Cranekiss
02. Hands All Over Me
03. Last
04. Collection
05. Keep Calling

SIDE B:
01. Softcore
02. Fade Away Slow
03. I Won't Be Found
04. Sugarfix
05. Intruder (Waking You Up)

Spectres / Lorelle Meets The Obsolete - Record Store Day Is Dying [7"]

Back from my summer break now, and this split 7" by SPECTRES and LORELLE MEETS THE OBSOLETE was one of the last things i bought before my holiday started. There's been a lot of fuzz about this RECORD STORE DAY IS DYING release. The statement by the labels (about RSD having turned into a big circus with useless reissues for crazy prices, only feeding the greed of the major labels and resulting in indie labels getting into trouble and having to wait for months before their new releases can be pressed) and RSD's reaction to that, caused many discussions online and beyond. Personally i think these two labels absolutely have a point, although there's still a lot of excellent stuff coming out on the majors for RSD each year (not just reissues, let alone useless reissues) and the waiting times for vinyl pressing affect any record company, during the whole year - simply because all major companies have dismantled and sold their own plants years ago. So everyone's depending on the same independent pressing plants these days. The demand for vinyl during the past years has grown so tremendously that there is by far not enough capacity worldwide to get things pressed in time, throughout the year. Obviously, RSD is causing a peak in the production. This increased demand, just for the record, had already started quite some time before the first RSD took place and to my opinion the RSD organisation is taking way too much credit for the returned interest in the format we all love so dearly.
Anyway, this 7" is being released one copy per day until RSD 2016, with a stamp of the date on it, distributed in various ways. Mine was obtained via the most boring way: simply by being the first who clicked the webshop link that Sonic Cathedral put on their Facebook page, that 16th of July.
Both bands cover one of eachother's songs (Lorelle's Sealed Scene being renamed to Stealed Scene here) and they do it in an equally cool way. Even if it had been a "regular" RSD release without the fuzz around it, it would've been one of the musically most interesting releases of RSD 2015. Especially Spectres have been one of the revelations of this year as far as i'm concerned, and i'm happy i managed to get hold of a copy of this single. Unfortunately i can't make it to their show in Den Haag next month, but i'd urge anyone to go and see them. And i surely hope they'll return to the Netherlands not too long after that, so i can finally see them on stage myself as well.

Label: Sonic Cathedral / Howling Owl Records
Cat.nr.: SCR 086 / HOWL 038
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. SPECTRES - Stealed Scene

SIDE B:
01. LORELLE MEETS THE OBSOLETE - The Sky Of All Places

Loop - Array 1 [12"]

Reunions of bands like Slowdive and Ride are getting (most rightfully so) a lot of attention in the press, but the fact that LOOP -although musically quite different than the other bands i just mentioned- came back to make music again at the end of 2013, shouldn't be overlooked either. And this ARRAY 1 EP is their first release since 1990's A Gilded Eternity - and apparently there are two more EP's to follow. They have not lost any bit of their strength with this EP. The first two songs on side A sound like the band we know from the late 80's/early 90's, yet still very modern. Coma, the third one on side A, is a (rather uncomfortable) ambient soundscape. The whole B-side is taken by Radial, a song in 3 parts. An instrumental beginning (vaguely reminding me of Bowie's instrumental tunes during his Berlin period, like Warszawa), then an uptempo part with vocals, and at the end another instrumental ambient part. This 17-minute song is definitely my favourite one of the EP. Great to have them back, and looking forward to hear EP number two, which is scheduled for the autumn.

Label: ATP Recordings
Cat.nr.: ATREP07
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Precession
02. Aphelion
03. Coma

SIDE B:
01. Radial

Girls Names - Zero Triptych [12"]

GIRLS NAMES have recently announced that their new album Arms Around A Vision will come out in October, and i can't wait. This 11-minute long ZERO TRIPTYCH one-sided 12" single came out in May this year, as a little taste of what to expect of Girls Names anno 2015. And man, it's fantastic! Simply a brilliant piece of post-punk/krautrock that proves that this three-quarter Belfast/one-quarter Dublin band is one of the best in their league. Adventurous, tight and in-your-face. The song won't be on the album, but i can only imagine at this point that it will become one of my favourite albums of the year. There were 500 copies made of this 12": 350 on black (like mine is) and 150 mailorder copies on clear transparent vinyl.

Label: Tough Love Records
Cat.nr.: TLV079
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Zero Triptych

SIDE B:
-

Tess Parks & Anton Newcombe - I Declare Nothing [12", LP]

When i wrote about their RSD release some months ago, i already mentioned that TESS PARKS and ANTON NEWCOMBE would release a full length later on. So here it is. Both songs of the RSD 10" (Cocaine Cat and Mama) are featured on this album, and 8 other songs in the same vein. I find it hard to choose a favourite one because i think they're simply all great. Listening to I DECLARE NOTHING is like a 40 minute trip, and certainly not a bad one. Tess' husky vocals go extremely well with the duo's music. It's not only a humble gesture of Anton to let just her pretty face grace the front cover of the album, but also a smart move because, hey... she's ten times better to look at. No offense, mr. Newcombe ;) It's a damn shame i can't make it to any of their shows in a few weeks when they end their tour in Holland, but hopefully i'll get a second chance some day.

Label: A Records
Cat.nr.: AUK120LP
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Wehmut
02. Cocaine Cat
03. Peace Defrost
04. German Tangerine
05. Gone

SIDE B:
01. October 2nd
02. Mama
03. Voyage De L'Âme
04. Meliorist
05. Friendlies

The Telescopes / A Place To Bury Strangers - Split [10"]

A nice 10" on white coloured vinyl, this split release by THE TELESCOPES and A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS. It's number 6 in a series of splits on Fuzz Club. 1000 copies were made of this; 200 on orange and 800 on white, all numbered on the inlay. The Telescopes came up with a cover of the Iggy & The Stooges classic, I Wanna Be Your Dog. It's a lengthy version, and certainly a solid and noisy one, but still i'd prefer the original. Nothing beats Iggy, you know. APTBS provided a furious skull-crushing ice cold tune, called Down The Stairs. It's one of the best new songs i heard in years by them, actually. Their recent Transfixiation album wasn't bad at all, but this track is representing the APTBS sound i really like.

Label: Fuzz Club
Cat.nr.: none
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. THE TELESCOPES - I Wanna Be Your Dog

SIDE B:
01. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS - Down The Stairs

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

Flyying Colours - Roygbiv [12"]

Absolutely great to hear some new tunes by FLYYING COLOURS not too long after their debut EP saw the light of day. And to be honest i love this second EP even better than the first one. "Not Today" is actually one of my favourite songs of this year so far! I don't know how many times i've been playing the youtube video for it already, but since this ruby pink gem arrived today for me, i can finally spin it now on my record player as well. Yay! Only 300 were made of this colour on Club AC30, while another 300 on purple were released on Shelflife. ROYGBIV may sound like a funny word for non-native English speakers, but it stands for red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet - the colours of the rainbow. Yeah, i admit i had to look it up too ;)

Label: Club AC30 / Shelflife
Cat.nr.: AC30 12074 / LIFE126
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. I Don't Want To Let You Down
02. Running Late

SIDE B:
01. Not Today
02. In The End
03. Leaks

Various Artists - Holidays In The Sun [12", 2LP]

Bumped into this HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN compilation on my way out of the Utrecht record fair a few weeks ago. A double LP for a ridiculously cheap price (just over 1 euro per side) and in mint condition, or at least the records are. Clearly never played. I've never seen this compilation before but that is probably because it was only released in Greece, and those albums rarely show up in the western parts of Europe. It's from 1994, which means there are probably not many copies floating around, since vinyl was already clearly on its way back at that time. But for this price and with the tracklisting on the back i knew i couldn't go wrong at all, even though i already have a lot of these songs on other vinyl releases. It covers alternative rock, (post-)punk, new wave and synthpop - and all of them hits! Just check below and you'll see what i mean.
By the way, Gary Numan's "Cars" is the '93 Sprint Mix version. It's not credited like that on the cover though.

Label: Mercury / Polygram Greece
Cat.nr.: 516 849-1
Year of release: 1994

SIDE A:
01. SEX PISTOLS - Pretty Vacant
02. BAUHAUS - She's In Parties
03. XTC - Making Plans For Nigel
04. JOE JACKSON - I'm The Man
05. GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOURS - Hey Lord Don't Ask Me Questions

SIDE B:
01. SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES - Christine
02. MAGAZINE - Shot By Both Sides
03. THE JAM - Going Underground
04. P.I.L. - This Is Not A Love Song
05. GARY NUMAN - Cars

SIDE C:
01. VIOLENT FEMMES - Blister In The Sun
02. IGGY POP - Real Wild Child (Wild One)
03. MADNESS - Baggy Trousers
04. NEW ORDER - True Faith
05. HEAVEN 17 - (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang
06. LES NEGRESSES VERTES - Sous Le Soleil De Bodega

SIDE D:
01. NICK CAVE - Deanna
02. THE HOUSEMARTINS - Me And The Farmer
03. THE LA'S - There She Goes
04. THE HOUSE OF LOVE - Shine On
05. INSPIRAL CARPETS - This Is How It Feels
06. THE MISSION - Butterfly On A Wheel

Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - 1992 The Love Album [12", LP]

I used to have this album by CARTER THE UNSTOPPABLE SEX MACHINE as a cassette tape, which i bought in Turkey (!) on summer holiday in the year it came out. Played it until it got all stuck in my cassette deck at some point a few years later, and strangely enough i'd almost forgotten about how genius it is until i discovered it recently at the Utrecht record fair. So for the past few weeks, it's been spinning a lot on my record player. 1992 THE LOVE ALBUM is a trip down memory lane for me and i was completely surprised that i could sing along most of the cynical and witty lyrics of these bombastic electronic punky songs after 20+ years. Even though a couple of my mates are big fans I must shamefully admit i never bothered to check out Carter's other albums. So besides a few singles like "Sheriff Fatman" and "Bloodsport For All" i don't know much other music of this band. I think that needs to change soon; better late than never.

Label: Chrysalis
Cat.nr.: CHR 1946
Year of release: 1992

SIDE A:
01. 1993
02. Is Wrestling Fixed?
03. The Only Living Boy In New Cross
04. Suppose You Gave A Funeral And Nobody Came
05. England

SIDE B:
01. Do Re Me, So Far So Good
02. Look Mum, No Hands!
03. While You Were Out
04. Skywest And Crooked
05. The Impossible Dream

Catherine Wheel - Ferment [12", LP, Limited Edition, Bonus EP]

Been looking for this album on vinyl for quite a while already. It's become pretty rare (and expensive, for that matter), but recently i finally got my hands on a copy of FERMENT by CATHERINE WHEEL. It's even the limited edition with a bonus Live EP. This is such a magnificent debut album. It features quite a few re-recorded versions of songs that had already been out on various EP's during the years before this was released, like I Want To Touch You, Black Metallic, She's My Friend and Shallow. All of them absolutely great songs. But my favourite song on the album is definitely Flower To Hide. It's also the one that comes closest to shoegaze; the band never liked to be labeled as a shoegaze band, and i must say i never really considered them as such either. But they sure knew how to use the pedals and create some proper feedback noise. Funny trivia that i only found out recently: singer Rob Dickinson is a cousin of Bruce Dickinson, the frontman of Iron Maiden. That was documented on both Wikipedia and Discogs when i did some research, but what it didn't say is that both bands' names derive from torture devices. Coincidence? I think not.

Label: Fontana
Cat.nr.: 510903-1
Year of release: 1992

SIDE A:
01. Texture
02. I Want To Touch You
03. Black Metallic
04. Indigo Is Blue
05. She's My Friend

SIDE B:
01. Shallow
02. Ferment
03. Flower To Hide
04. Tumbledown
05. Bill And Ben
06. Salt

I already mentioned the Live EP: it features live recordings of 3 songs that also appear on the album, recorded at Bath Moles, November 6th 1991. Pretty cool versions as well.

Label: Fontana
Cat.nr.: 866535-1
Year of release: 1992

SIDE A:
01. Shallow
02. I Want To Touch You

SIDE B:
01. Salt

Toy - BBC Sessions [12"]

No idea if these six songs were recorded over various BBC SESSIONS, as the title suggests, or only one - however the band was in pretty good shape. It features songs from the first few singles (+ B-sides) and the debut album by TOY. Supposedly only 300 copies were made of this, and i was lucky enough to come across a copy at the Utrecht record fair recently. Their last album Join The Dots is already two years old now, so hopefully they'll release something new this year.

Label: Heavenly
Cat.nr.: HVN248
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. Left Myself Behind
02. Clock Chime
03. Bright White Shimmering Sun

SIDE B:
01. Motoring
02. Colours Running Out
03. When I Went Back

David Bowie - Heroes / Helden / Héros [12"]

This 12" is a nice score from the recent Utrecht record fair. I was already on my way out, when i spotted this DAVID BOWIE maxi in the crates of a stand that was selling everything for half-price. And since it was very reasonably priced already in the first place, i now got it for a real bargain. The only reason i was actually interested in it, was that it contains the French version of the song HEROES: HÉROS. HELDEN, the German version is much more common. I already had that on a compilation album called Rare, for example. And while the German version is already quite horrible when it comes to David's foreign language skills, the French one is even worse :) Nevertheless a great find and a very welcome addition to my Bowie collection.

Label: RCA
Cat.nr.: PC 9821
Year of release: 1977

SIDE A:
01. Heroes/Helden

SIDE B:
01. Heroes/Héros

Venera 4 - Eidôlon [12", LP]

The EIDÔLON album by VENERA 4 is definitely one of the best shoegaze albums of 2015. Very danceable for most parts as well. It's got wailing guitars, sexy rhythms and ditto whispering vocals. Think of a mixture of Curve and Charlotte Gainsbourg. You only have to listen to songs like Red Blooms and Black Paws as an example, and you'll understand what i mean. Brilliant stuff. I was already stoked about their Seabed Terror 7" and Deaf Hearts EP, but this full length meets all expectations. Also the artwork (front, back, insert) by singer Morgane Caux is classy. This limited edition on white vinyl was pressed in 500 copies. Hopefully they'll do some touring this year because i'd love to see them over here in the Netherlands. It's not that far from Paris, guys - hint, hint ;)

Label: Requiem Pour Un Twister
Cat.nr.: RPUT 15
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Pygmalion
02. Red Blooms
03. Black Paws
04. Eidôlon
05. 3 Studies For A Portrait

SIDE B:
01. Aimer Ann
02. Orange
03. Some Girls
04. Colored Fields
05. Metal Shells

Pinkshinyultrablast - Everything Else Matters [12", LP]

I've been waiting quite long for this album to arrive, but it's been definitely well worth the wait. The debut full length by PINKSHINYULTRABLAST (a shoegaze band from Russia that named themselves after an Astrobrite album) is not only a delicious album, but also pure joy to look at, as you can see on the picture. Vocally, EVERYTHING ELSE MATTERS reminds me of bands like Lush, Cocteau Twins and School Of Seven Bells. Musically for a great deal as well, but a song like Metamorphosis for example has breaks that come very close to the sound of post-hardcore bands like Fugazi and At The Drive-In. I'd be very surprised if this album won't end up in my top 10 of 2015. We're not even halfway the year yet, but this album is simply too good. From Russia with love.

Label: Shelflife / Club AC30
Cat.nr.: LIFE118
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Wish We Were
02. Holy Forest
03. Glitter
04. Metamorphosis

SIDE B:
01. Umi
02. Land's End
03. Ravestar Supreme
04. Marigold

Catherine Wheel - Crank [12", Promo]

There's still a pile of stuff that i bought at the Utrecht record fair recently, that needs some attention on this blog. This CRANK promo 12" by CATHERINE WHEEL for example is part of that. On vinyl, the only regular release was a picture disc with different B-sides: Black Metallic and Painful Thing. Something Strange and Pleasure were otherwise only available on two different CD-maxi formats. Especially Pleasure is a cool song, and well worth the purchase. It wasn't very pricy anyway.

Label: Fontana
Cat.nr.: CWDJX5
Year of release: 1993

SIDE A:
01. Crank

SIDE B:
01. Something Strange
02. Pleasure

The Lilac Time - Astronauts [12", LP, Promo]

Another interesting find at the Utrecht record fair recently: a white label promo edition of the ASTRONAUTS album by THE LILAC TIME. It was the band's only album they released on Creation Records. A gentle album with definitely some nice songs on it, but absolutely nothing like what their labelmates came up with in that year 1991 (Loveless, Just For A Day, Raise and Today Forever, to name but a few). I had no idea until today that the band's main man Stephen Duffy was one of the original founders of Duran Duran (together with John Taylor and Nick Rhodes), was the same Stephen ("Tin Tin") Duffy who had the hit Kiss Me in 1984, and wrote songs for Robbie Williams and co-produced his Intensive Care album. All in all, this promo version with the original insert is a nice little nugget in my ever expanding Creation Records collection. I especially like the song The Darkness Of Her Eyes. Really beautiful.

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

SIDE A:
01. In Iverna Gardens
02. Hats Off, Here Comes The Girl
03. Fortunes
04. A Taste For Honey
05. Grey Skies And Work Things
06. Finistere

SIDE B:
01. Dreaming
02. The Whisper Of Your Mind
03. The Darkness Of Her Eyes
04. Sunshine's Daughter
05. North Kensington
06. Madresfield

Rachel Goswell - Coastline / Plucked Remix EP [12"]

Although i'm a huge Slowdive fan, i must admit i don't own a physical copy of the band's singer RACHEL GOSWELL's only solo album Waves Are Universal from 2004. But at the recent record fair in Utrecht i came across this nice 12" REMIX EP which features remixes by Ulrich Schnauss and Names On Records (a.k.a. The Earlies). It's been used as promo copy because it has a sticker from Beggars with some info about the tracks on it.
Especially the name Ulrich Schnauss caught my attention and i must say it's a beautiful remix that he made of the song Coastline. But also the versions of Plucked by Names On Records are really gorgeous. I guess it's about time to buy the album after all, one of these days.

Label: 4AD
Cat.nr.: TAD 2501
Year of release: 2005

SIDE A:
01. Coastline (Ulrich Schnauss Vocal Mix)
02. Coastline (Ulrich Schnauss Instrumental Mix)

SIDE B:
01. Plucked One (Re-Produced By Names On Records)
02. Plucked Two (Re-Produced By Names On Records)

Daughter / Warpaint - Split EP [12"]

This split 12inch for Record Store Day 2015 was already announced way back in November last year. Both bands have a mutual admiration and re-worked one of eachother's songs, while the original versions are also included. So on side A there's DAUGHTER's song Winter, which WARPAINT turned into a enjoyable dance track. Although i must say i still like the original better in this case. Since the other side has its own artwork, i thought it'd be good to show that here as well:

Feeling by Warpaint was transformed by Daughter into a gentle chillout tune, which is never too far away from the original. Definitely a great remix, and this alone was well worth the purchase of this pretty limited 12inch: only 500 copies were made.

Label: 4AD
Cat.nr.: BAD3452
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. DAUGHTER - Winter (Warpaint Remix)
02. DAUGHTER - Winter

SIDE B:
01. WARPAINT - Feeling Alright (Daughter Remix)
02. WARPAINT - Feeling Alright

Fujiya & Miyagi - Daggers/Little Stabs At Happiness [12"]

This limited 12inch (1000 copies) was released for Record Store Day 2015, and contains two remixes of tracks that originally appeared on FUJIYA & MIYAGI's latest Artificial Sweeteners album. Stephen Morris (of New Order and Joy Division fame) remixed DAGGERS, which resulted in a pretty synthy and electronic version, and Umberto did a great remix of LITTLE STABS AT HAPPINESS. With remix 12inches you can go terribly wrong sometimes, but this one's a winner.

Label: Yep Roc Records
Cat.nr.: YEP 2434
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Daggers (Stephen Morris Remix)

SIDE B:
01. Little Stabs At Happiness (Umberto Remix)

Tess Parks & Anton Newcombe - Cocaine Cat [10"]

The collaboration between TESS PARKS and ANTON NEWCOMBE (of The Brian Jonestown Massacre) will result in an album in June and a tour to support it, but for Record Store Day they've already released this limited COCAINE CAT 10inch (2000 numbered copies, clear vinyl) as a taste of what to expect. And i must say that the result is definitely making me want to hear more from this duo. Both songs sound as a perfect combination of Tess' solo work and a stripped down, less orchestrated Brian Jonestown Massacre. I saw they'll be playing the Amsterdam Paradiso in July, so i'll try to be there for sure.

Label: A Records
Cat.nr.: AUK118-10
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Cocaine Cat

SIDE B:
01. Mama

Slowdive - Blue Day [12", LP]

For me personally, the best Record Store Day release this year was the limited (numbered to 2000 copies, blue vinyl) version of BLUE DAY by SLOWDIVE. As returning visitors of this blog will know, i'm a huge fan of this great band and even though i already have the nowadays very rare original version from 1992, i'm extremely glad that Music On Vinyl made this compilation of songs from their earliest EP's available again on vinyl. Until now, vinyl aficionados had to do with not the best quality bootlegs if they didn't want to pay three-digit numbers for the original.
It's a pity that there was a slight controversy when the band only had to find out via social media that this RSD reissue would be released. As Rachel Goswell stated on Twitter: "Advice to young musicians signing record deals: do not agree to sign the recording rights away for life. And get a good manager."  Sadly they have no control over their back-catalogue anymore. The band was young and naive, and one can not revert time unfortunately.
But for what it's worth to them, they can be assured that Music On Vinyl did an extremely good job with this release. It sounds just as fabulous as their previous official reissues of Just For A Day, Souvlaki and Pygmalion, which were all three reissued well before there was even talk of a reunion and which reminded the people who prefer their music on vinyl what a great band Slowdive was (and now again is). And for that matter, it was only a logical step to also release this missing link in the Creation Records legacy of Slowdive LP's. It sounds ten times better than the aforementioned bootlegs, which use CD's or who knows even MP3's instead of the original masters as source. Also the artwork is fully restored, and edited with an eye for details. Bootlegs for example show "for further information,send a large s.a.e. to Slowdive, po box 1880 London N16 0DE" like it was on the original album, which is absolute bollocks these days of course. Here it's replaced with "for further information: www.slowdiveoffical.com".
Especially since the band is back together and always start their shows with the song Slowdive (from their first self-titled EP) which is the first song on this album, this release will please many fans who didn't have these early songs on vinyl yet. And now let's wait for what Slowdive has in store for us in 2015. They've been recording earlier this year and i can't wait to hear any new material by them. A release (or better still: many releases) that they'll finally make some proper money on. Would be totally well-deserved.

Label: Music On Vinyl
Cat.nr.: MOVLP 1380
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Slowdive
02. Avalyn 1
03. Morningrise
04. She Calls

SIDE B:
01. Losing Today
02. Shine
03. Albatross

Ride - OX4_ The Best Of Ride [12", 2LP]

Now that RIDE has reunited and has just started touring again for the first time since they broke up in '96, this OX4_ THE BEST OF RIDE compilation couldn't have a better timing. Released on red vinyl for the occasion of Record Store Day 2015, and sounding great. I already have the original edition of this release from 2001, but as a pretty big fan of this band -which i'll be seeing two times this year; yay!- i just needed to have this reissue as well.

Label: Rhino
Cat.nr.: 081227955137
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Chelsea Girl
02. Drive Blind
03. Like A Daydream
04. Taste

SIDE B:
01. Dreams Burn Down
02. Vapour Trail
03. Unfamiliar

SIDE C:
01. Leave Them All Behind
02. Twisterella
03. OX4

SIDE D:
01. Birdman
02. From Time To Time
03. How Does It Feel To Feel?
04. I Don't Know Where It Comes From
05. Black Nite Crash

Swervedriver - I Wasn't Born To Lose You [12", 2LP]

The new SWERVEDRIVER album I WASN'T BORN TO LOSE YOU was released a couple of weeks ago and ever since i've been eagerly waiting for the vinyl edition to appear. But here it is, and what a great album it has become! Definitely top 10 material for my yearlist. The band is completely back in shape, as if time stood still and as if there aren't 18 years between their previous album 99th Dream and this instant classic. It's got that typical Swervedriver feeling: lazy and summery vibes on one side, but with so much power and totally kicking ass on the other. Right from the start when you hear the intro to Autodidact you recognise it's Swervedriver. I've written it before: i really hope they'll play on the European mainland (and preferably Holland of course) soon. The vinyl has two bonus tracks that don't appear on the CD version: Dub Wound was the B-side to the Deep Wound 7" from 2013, and Days is the Television cover that was on the B-side of the Setting Sun 7" which was released for Black Friday 2014.

Label: Cobraside/Cherry Red
Cat.nr.: CSDLP 1186
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Autodidact
02. Last Rites
03. For A Day Like Tomorrow
04. Setting Sun

SIDE B:
01. Everso
02. English Subtitles
03. Red Queen Arms Race

SIDE C:
01. Deep Wound
02. Lone Star
03. I Wonder?

SIDE D:
01. Dub Wound
02. Days

Sugar - Changes [12"]

CHANGES is of course a track from SUGAR's excellent Copper Blue album. Came across this 12" at the Utrecht record fair last weekend. It was a bargain; the three non-album tracks were the reason i decided to buy it and i wasn't disappointed. The acoustic version of If I Can't Change Your Mind is great, and also the other two songs are pretty good. Especially Needle Hits E wouldn't have been misplaced on the album.

Label: Creation Records
Cat.nr.: CRE126T
Year of release: 1992

SIDE A:
01. Changes
02. Needle Hits E

SIDE B:
01. If I Can't Change Your Mind (Solo Mix)
02. Try Again