New In Store & coming soon

NEW CD RELEASES INSTORE WEEK COMMENCING 6/2/12

AIR – LE VOYAGE DANS LE LUNE. Following their work producing a modern soundtrack for this classic of silent cinema which premiered at Cannes last year, the French electronica duo decided to expand this into a full album inspired by Melies’ first science fiction film. Cinematic instrumentals have developed and include guest vocals from AU REVOIR SIMONE and VICTORIA LEGRANDE (BEACH HOUSE).
.
GOLDFRAPP – greatest hits collection from the archetypal electropop band showing their diverse career from glacial, crystalline vocals of FELT MOUNTAIN to the glam burlesque of OOH LA LA . Includes 2 new tracks

MARK LANEGAN BAND – BLUES FUNERAL – after many years of working with everyone from UNKLE, SOULSAVERS and THE BREEDERS to ISOBEL CAMPBELL, this is a revelation of an album from the SCREAMING TREES singer moving from deep menacing blues to screaming psych rock …. And all with THAT voice!

PAUL MCCARTNEY – KISSES ON THE BOTTOM – bit of a change of direction here as McCartney covers classics of American popular music of the 40s & 50s with tracks like IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON, INCH WORM, BYE BYE BLACKBIRD. Jazzy piano from Diana Krall and sensitive vocals from the great man.

VAN HALEN – A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH – first album from Van Halen for 14 years must be worth a listen …. Particularly as David Lee Roth rejoins for lead vocals – includes the single TATTOO

DR DOG – BE THE VOID – 60s influenced pop rock from the best band to come out of Philly in a long, long time.

PEPE DELUXE – QUEEN OF THE WAVE – 4 years after SPARE TIME MACHINE, James Spectrum and multi-instrumentalist Paul Malmstrom return with a pop opera loosely based on the 19th century sci-fi novel A DWELLER OF TWO PLANETS. Includes material played on the world’s largest instrument, the Stalacpipe Organ in caves in Virginia.

NEW CD RELEASES INSTORE WEEK COMMENCING 30/1/12

LEONARD COHEN – OLD IDEAS – much anticipated, Cohen’s first studio album since 2004’s DEAR HEATHER. Despite suggestions that this could be his valedictory album, it’s surprisingly full of life, grace and wistful sadness

CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG – STAGE WHISPER – 2 x CD plus DVD of TERRIBLE ANGELS video and footage from 2010 world tour

LANA DEL REY – BORN TO DIE – Ms Rey breathes and sways through her debut album… if you’ve heard the singles then you know what to expect – and her husky tones will stay with you for a long long time.

DJANGO DJANGO – impossible to categorise art pop from this London four piece

PORTICO QUARTET - a long way from being just a jazz record, the addition of Keir Vine on electronics and very trendy hang percussion takes this to new territory …. Atmospheric, chilled - wouldn’t sit out of place filed next to The Orb or Flying Lotus

JUST IN – NEW PROG AND METAL COLLECTION (VINYL)

Including:

TEN YEARS AFTER – STONEHENGE Deram SML1029 – vinyl exc

ARGENT – RING OF HANDS Epic 64190 b- vinyl exc

ARGENT – ALL TOGETHER NOW Epic EPC64962 vinyl exc

TITANIC – SEA WOLF CBS 64791 – vinyl virtually mint

GOLDEN EARRING – LIVE Polydor 2625034

BLACK WIDOW – BLACK WIDOW – CBS 64133 – vinyl exc

FREE – FIRE AND WATER – ILPS 9120 – orig pink island – vinyl vgc

BLACK SABBATH – BLACK SABBATH – Vertigo VO6 847 903 VTY – German release

JUICY LUCY – GET A WHIFF OF THIS – ILPS 9157 – vinyl exc

CREAM – WHEELS OF FIRE – Polydor 583033 – vinyl exc

URIAH HEEP – LIVE JANUARY 1973 Bronze ISLD1

LYNYRD SKYNYRD – ONE MORE FROM THE ROAD MCA MCSP279

IRON MAIDEN – NJUMBER OF THE BEAST

IRON MAIDEN – PIECE OF MIND

IRON MAIDEN – POWERSLAVE

IRON MAIDEN – WOMEN IN UNIFORM INVASION 12” single

NEW CD RELEASES WEEK COMMENCING 28/11/11

OLLY MURS – IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW – 2nd album from the nicest man in pop today …..no Muppets feature on the album regrettably

IL DIVO – WICKED GAME – possibly the most impressive release since their 2004 debut, with tracks like WICKED GAMES, DON’T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA and a beautiful setting of Barber’s Adagio for Strings (DOV’E L’AMORE).

N DUBZ – GREATEST HITS – pursuing separate careers …..?? Time to release a greatest hits album ….!

JOHN RUTTER – THE COLOURS OF CHRISTMAS – with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bach Choir, Rutter’s new album features new orchestrations of traditional carols plus new works of his own including the title track.

ANTHEMS – ALTERNATIVE 80S – Bowie, Smiths, Kate Bush, Cure …….. and so much more from the Ministry of Sound bods

DON’T FORGET

We still have some Black Friday ltd edition vinyl left …. NIRVANA, GRATEFUL DEAD, KINGS OF LEON, JANIS JOPLIN, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, BLACK KEYS. Perfect Xmas fayre for the vinyl collector in your life!

NEW CD RELEASES INSTORE WEEK COMMENCING 21/11/11

KATE BUSH – 50 WORDS FOR SNOW- Now this is more like it ….. the first real new work from Ms Bush since 2005’s AERIAL and SO worth waiting for! With cameo vocals from Sir Elton, Stephen Fry and even her 12 year old son, Bertie. Not really a Xmas album …. Bit definitely a wintry one.

ROLLING STONES – SOME GIRLS - remastered

RIHANNA – TALK THAT TALK – latest offering from the mega hitsongstress including WE FOUND LOVE with Calvin Harris … and she’s wearing those shoes so you can work out the naughty words for yourselves

WESTLIFE – GREATEST HITS – as they announce their retirement, yet another group produces a compilation just in time for Xmas ……

NEW CD RELEASES IN STORE WEEK COMMENCING 14/11/11

SNOW PATROL – FALLEN EMPIRES – album number 6 from Gary and the boys (no – not THAT Gary). Definitely more Chasing Cars than Chocolate but a bit like Coldplay, Snow Patrol are now one of the untouchables!

JLS – JUKEBOX – who doesn’t love the Abs 4?? 3rd album just in time to be put under the tree for Xmas

PIXIE LOTT – YOUNG FOOLISH HAPPY – another stocking filler – includes the hits singles ALL ABOUT TONIGHT and WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR?

KATE RUSBY – WHILE MORTALS SLEEP – 2nd album of Yorkshire inspired carols and songs from the UK’s foremost folk singer/songwriter

SEASICK STEVE – BEST OF WALKIN’ MAN – career spanning compilation from the multi selling blues master

SLASH – MADE IN STOKE 24/7/11 – recorded earlier this year at Slash’s homecoming gig with songs from his solo album, Velvet Revolver, Slash’s Snakepit and Guns n Roses.

And not forgetting

HOLY COW – IT’S THE WURZEL’S CHRISTMAS ALBUM – no more needs to be said … everything you could possibly want from WHITE CHRISTMAS to HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER)

Plus
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER – PHANTOM OF THE OPERA DVD
ANDREA BOCELLI - CONCERTO ONE NIGHT IN CENTRAL PARK
BAND OF HM ROYAL MARINES – SUMMON THE HEROES
HUGH LAURIE – LET THEM TALK – special edition including DVD

NEW CD RELEASES INSTORE WEEK COMMENCING 7/11/11

PARADISE LOST – DRACONIAN TIMES MMXI – the classic 1996 album from Yorkshire death metal masters played live in London this year

PINK FLOYD REMASTERS – WISH YOU WERE HERE
WISH YOU WERE HERE IMMERSION BOX SET
A FOOT IN THE DOOR (BEST OF)

BRIAN ENO – PANIC OF LOOKING – 6 track EP and a further collaboration between Eno and poet Rick Holland. Even more spare and isolationist than DRUMS BETWEEN THE BELLS, a masterpiece in ambience.

DAVID LYNCH – CRAZY CLOWN TIME – it sounds kinda how you’d expect a debut album from Lynch to sound …. Weird, disturbing with enough surface American normality to lull you into a false sense of security …. Just like his films really.

LAURA VEIRS – TUMBLE BEE – a follow up to last year’s magnificent JULY FLAME. This time, Veir tackles classic US children’s songs with help from various Decemberists and Jim James from My Morning Jacket. Plenty of stomping and hollering and fantastic clawhammer banjo work.

THEA GILMORE & SANDY DENNY – DON’T STOP SINGING – research for the recent box set revealed lyrics for 20 unrecorded songs amongst Denny’s effects. Thea Gilmore has set these to music and the result is beautiful and uncannily like listening to Denny herself.

THE SCORPIONS – COMEBLACK - yes I know they did a final album & a farewell tour but they’re back with new recordings of classics like WINDS OF CHANGE and ROCK YOU LIKEA HURRICANE …. And some really quite surprising covers from the like of SOFT CELL and THE KINKS.

NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL XMAS (2011) – yes it’s that time again

THE WANTED – BATTLEGROUND – 2nd album from the boys including the hit single LIGHTNING

NEW CD RELEASES IN STORE WEEK COMMENCING 31/10/11

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE – CEREMONIALS – staggering 2nd album from the staggering Ms Welch – an extension of LUNGS rather than a radically new direction ….. but that’s no bad thing. Grandiose, mad and fantastic

PROFESSOR GREEN – AT YOUR INCONVENIENCE – 2nd album from the Prof finds him rather bemoaning how awful being famous is! Contains the single “READ ALL ABOUT IT”.

THE BEACH BOYS – THE SMILE SESSIONS- 44 years after its original release, Brian Wilson’s epic “teenage symphony to God” is re-released … remastered and reassembled as Wilson originally intended – awesome!

MANIC STREET PREACHERS – NATIONAL TREASURES : THE COMPLETE SINGLES COLLECTION. National Treasures indeed! After 21 years and 10 studio albums the Manics produce this …. All 38 singles in release order (and a DVD in the ltd edition with all the promo videos) ….. just as they announce that they are taking a break. Remember “No reunions, no comebacks, no encores …..!”

BUSH – SEA OF MEMORIES – Yes , Mr Stefani, has finally been released from baby sitting duties. 5th studio album from the post grunge masters and the first since 2001.

BBC LIVE LOUNGE VOL 6 – 2011’s collection of hits of today done acoustically by the original artists or covered (sometimes surprisingly) by other artists including Ed Sheeran, DJ Fresh, Labrinth, Leona Lewis etc

CHRISTY MOORE – FOLK TALE – just as folk tales change over time, Moore has revisited older songs and presents new versions here of his own (TYRONE BOYS, BALLYDINE ) and those of others (ON MORECAMBE BAY). Always exquisite, sometimes tragic and sometimes witty (MY LITTLE HONDA 50).

NEW CD RELEASES INSTORE WEEK COMMENCING 24/10/11

COLDPLAY – MYLO XYLOTO – the biggest band in the world are back with yet another nonsensical title and hummable pop – perhaps doesn’t have quite the mercurial charm of VIDA LA VIDA but eminently pleasant. Contains PARADISE and EVERY TEARDROP A WATERFALL.

GARY NUMAN – DEAD SON RISING - fantastically atmospheric, brooding album from the recooled master of electronica …. Stand out tracks include the anthemic THE FALL and the ghostly WE ARE THE LOST. Strange eh …. From irretrievably naff to uber influential in one twist of the ATP logo.

THOMAS DOLBY- A MAP OF THE FLOATING CITY – 1st album from the ‘80s pop maestro in 20 years and sounding strangely now with help from Imogen Heap, Mark Knopfler and Regina Spektor.

DARREN HAYES – SECRET CODES AND BATTLESHIPS – arguably the most commercial offering from former Savage Garden man since his solo debut SPIN with tastes of Madonna, Sigur Ros and even U2 … all highlighting the trademark falsetto

TOM WAITS – BAD AS ME- 7 years after REAL GONE, Waits brings us his best album for years …. Help again from Keef and even Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers with key tracks PUT ME BACK IN THE CROWD, LAST LEAF and NEW YEAR’S EVE (his Fairytale of New York moment!)

MACHINE HEAD – UNTO THE LOCUST - after recovering from a nasty dose of rap metal, Machine Head are back on top of the metal pile with these 7 tracks of mellow intros leading to full on bludgeoning, headbangers.

ANE BRUN – IT ALL STARTS WITH ONE –Fresh from working with Peter Gabriel on NEW BLOOD, this album of minimally produced folk pop, showcases Brun’s haunting voice – the musical equivalent of cool, wet grass.

PAUL SIMON – GRACELAND and RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS – two more in Simon’s back catalogue remastered & reissued

NEW RELEASES INSTORE WEEK COMMENCING 17/10/11

NOEL GALLAGHER – HIGH FLYING BIRDS – well it’s finally here and it certainly has the songs (The Death of You and Me, If I had a Gun) and some of the finest lyrics Gallagher has ever written but the argument about whether Noel needed Liam to sing them will run and run…..!

MATT CARDLE – LETTERS – debut album from the X factor winner, including hit single RUN FOR YOUR LIFE. Look – if we all buy it then he might be able to afford a new hat!

JANE’S ADDICTION – THE GREAT ESCAPE ARTIST – despite the difficulties of the last year (personnel changes, postponement of the album, cancellation of festival appearances), this album is well worth the wait for fans of pummelling drums, neogothic interludes and wailing vocals. Guess you can see what they’ve been working on since 2003’s STRAYS.

YANN TIERSEN – SKYLINE – lighter in tone that his previous DUST LANE, but a world away from the quaint AMELIE soundtrack that made his name. Electronica of a chamber hue, but with bruising guitars, theremin…. And even some vocals.

FOREST FIRE – a big step on from the rather ramshackle Americana of debut SURVIVAL. Bit more Velvet Underground, smoky and sleek, moving through strutting rock and bright pop back to the ballads – heaven knows where they’ll go next!

REAL ESTATE – follow up to the self-titled debut from New Jersey based purveyors of lo-fi. Bittersweet songs and includes OUT OF TUNE, previously released as a 7” single

NEW CD RELEASES INSTORE WEEK COMMENCING 10/10/11

RYAN ADAMS – ASHES AND FIRE – back after a long period of hiatus, following the dispersal of his band, the Cardinals, but the difficulties seem to have rekindled the musical fires and produced an album of country space, personal grace and beautiful ballads

BJORK – BIOPHILIA – Less a CD and more of a science project this one. But ignoring the app, multi-media features, and children’s science workshops, this is a humdinger of album tied to the natural world, with songs about space, creation myths, microbes – a work of great vision …… and good tunes!

JEFFREY LEWIS – A TURN IN THE DREAM- Wise and wacky but more accessible than previous 5 albums from the lower east side’s king of maverick antifolk

LISA HANNIGEN – PASSENGER – recorded in Wales, Hannigen’s 2nd album stays with the softly spoken vocals and even-keeled folk sounds – heavy on the ballads!

JAMES BLAKE – ENOUGH THUNDER – 6 track mini album after his stunning debut earlier this year. Features the collaboration with Bon Iver ‘Fall Creek Boys Choir’

PINK MARTINI & SAORI YUKI -1969 – Based in Portland Oregon this tongue in cheek lounge band, founded by classical pianist Thomas Lauderdale jumps effortlessly from French chanson to Bossa Nova (but going the long way round via Japanese vocalist Saori Yuki) – definitely conjures up the spirit of ’69!

EVANESCENCE – EVANESCENCE – 3rd album (really ….only the 3rd??) from the leaders of Christian goth metal

CLIFF RICHARD – SOULICIOUS – 15 new and old songs produced by the great Lamont Dozier and the late great Ashford and Simpson

PETER GABRIEL – NEW BLOOD – classic Gabriel tracks arranged by the man himself for orchestra (a bit like his SCRATCH MY BACK project – no guitars or drums). Includes Solsbury Hill, Red Rain, Mercy Street

NEW CD RELEASES INSTORE WEEK COMMENCING 3/10/11

ROOTS MANUVA – 4EVEREVOLUTION – the 8th studio album from the elder statesman of UK rap shows he can sum up the state of the nation better in one line than most mc’s half his age! His best since 2001’s RUN COME SAVE ME, features added James Bond style strings and Skunk Anansie’s Skin guests.

DJ SHADOW – THE LESS YOU KNOW THE BETTER – the original sample artist back at the top of his form with 17 colossal and eclectic tracks with samples from just about everything you could imagine!

FEIST – METALS – it’s been 4 years since the last album (you know the one with the ipod ad tune on 1-2-3-4) and there’s been a bit of reassessment. The fabulous voice works here with piano, strings and Beirut style brass to produce an album of yearning, elegiac lovesongs.

BEN HOWARD – EVERY KINGDOM – not really another surfer dude despite the Devonian accent but sweet, slightly folky guitar songs.

PAUL MCCARTNEY – OCEAN’S KINGDOM- music commissioned by The New York Ballet for a new work, just opened to huge acclaim

BONNIE PRINCE BILLY- country maverick Will Oldham’s latest, featuring guests ranging from Ben Boye to Angel Olsen

JUST IN …. VINYL JUST IN …… VINYL JUST IN…..

Large folk collection just arrived featuring work by BERT JANSCH, JOHN RENBOURN, PENTANGLE, DICK GAUGHAN, BOB JOHNSON & PETE KNIGHT, NEIL ARDLEY, GAY & TERRY WOODS

Also –
THE SUPREMES – A FEAR OF SYMPHONY – vgc
THE SUPREMES AT THE COPA – vgc
JAMES BROWN – PAPA’S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG - vgc

NEW CD RELEASES INSTORE WEEK COMMENCING 26/9/11

This week we celebrate the greatness that is PINK FLOYD with new digital remasterings of the classic albums. It’s been a long wait but at last they’re here …
PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN
A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS
MORE
UMMAGUMMA
ATOM HEART MOTHER
MEDDLE
OBSCURED BY CLOUDS
DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
WISH YOU WERE HERE
ANIMALS
THE WALL
THE FINAL CUT
MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON
DIVISION BELL
All 14 studio albums remastered by James Guthrie (producer of the Wall) with newly crafted packaging and booklets by longtime collaborator Storm Thorgerson

DARK SIDE OF THE MOON appears in a variety of formats:
Single standard cd,
2cd Experience set containing original remastered album plus bonus cd of un-released live recording of DSOTM at Wembley 1974 & booklet
6disc Immersion box set also contains stereo & quad mixes, a disc of unreleased audio and tour video footage

ALSO RELEASED THIS WEEK

BRETT ANDERSON – BLACK RAINBOWS – not a new Suede album …. But very nearly!

WILCO – THE WHOLE LOVE – 8th studio album form the innovative US alt-rockers and a veritable sonic stew of synths, guitars, mellotron, loops, strings and percussion

BETH HART & JOE BONAMASSA – DON’T EXPLAIN – LA based Hart is best know for her powerful blues rock but here tackles classic soul covers with the help of best mate Bonamassa

NIRVANA- NEVERMIND – 20Th ANNIVERSARY REMASTERING
NEVERMIND – LIVE AT THE PARAMOUNT – DVD – the complete Hallowe’en 1991 concert

BLINK 182 – NEIGHBOURHOODS- the boys (??!@)) are back in town!

JAMES MORRISON – THE AWAKENING

NICOLA ROBERTS – CINDERELLA’S EYES

NEW CD RELEASES INSTORE WEEK COMMENCING 13/2/12

SPEECH DEBELLE – FREEDOM OF SPEECH – despite the fact that her debut album seemed to follow the curse of the mercury prize winner, Speech Debelle’s second album is gutsy and revelatory hiphop … lyrically, vocally and musically stunning.

EMELI SANDE – OUR VERSION OF EVENTS debut album from the voice de jour (remember HEAVEN). A fantastic soul talent, brit nominee and the list of those for whom she has written goes on and on (Cheryl Cole, Leona Lewis and Susan Boyle to name but a few)

GOTYE – MAKING MIRRORS – you can’t have missed SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW, the single taken from this 3rd studio album from the Australian/Belgian Wouter de Backer. If you have - think a little bit Sting, a little bit Peter Gabriel …. You get the idea?

NEW CD RELEASES INSTORE WEEK COMMENCING 6/2/12

AIR – LE VOYAGE DANS LE LUNE. Following their work producing a modern soundtrack for this classic of silent cinema which premiered at Cannes last year, the French electronica duo decided to expand this into a full album inspired by Melies’ first science fiction film. Cinematic instrumentals have developed and include guest vocals from AU REVOIR SIMONE and VICTORIA LEGRANDE (BEACH HOUSE).
.
GOLDFRAPP – greatest hits collection from the archetypal electropop band showing their diverse career from glacial, crystalline vocals of FELT MOUNTAIN to the glam burlesque of OOH LA LA . Includes 2 new tracks

MARK LANEGAN BAND – BLUES FUNERAL – after many years of working with everyone from UNKLE, SOULSAVERS and THE BREEDERS to ISOBEL CAMPBELL, this is a revelation of an album from the SCREAMING TREES singer moving from deep menacing blues to screaming psych rock …. And all with THAT voice!

PAUL MCCARTNEY – KISSES ON THE BOTTOM – bit of a change of direction here as McCartney covers classics of American popular music of the 40s & 50s with tracks like IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON, INCH WORM, BYE BYE BLACKBIRD. Jazzy piano from Diana Krall and sensitive vocals from the great man.

VAN HALEN – A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH – first album from Van Halen for 14 years must be worth a listen …. Particularly as David Lee Roth rejoins for lead vocals – includes the single TATTOO

DR DOG – BE THE VOID – 60s influenced pop rock from the best band to come out of Philly in a long, long time.

PEPE DELUXE – QUEEN OF THE WAVE – 4 years after SPARE TIME MACHINE, James Spectrum and multi-instrumentalist Paul Malmstrom return with a pop opera loosely based on the 19th century sci-fi novel A DWELLER OF TWO PLANETS. Includes material played on the world’s largest instrument, the Stalacpipe Organ in caves in Virginia.