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