THE BLACK
HALOS
The Violent Years CD
It is said in the Bible that saliva is a symbol of creation. Punk rock took this symbol and subverted it by encouraging that rock stars are to be spat on. Hmm. Semiotic reconfiguring? Our own Black Halos know a thing or two about subverting rock'n'roll - "their debut brought the machine down like a flaming chariot drunk on hedonistic fruits" - they have all the symbols they need to put a stick in your spokes and leave you like a 'twisted ball of trashed-up loose definition damage'. Come on and live.
CD 16.98
ROCKET
FROM THE CRYPT
Group Sounds CD/LP
Activated off the major label reserve list, John Reis and the Rocket boys return with another riff-rock shakeout. Thirteen tracks that follow up the now out-of-print split release with The Get Up Kids - this shit has swagger, spirit and spunk! Still from San Diego, still the horniest (trumpet and sax) band to blow rock-club speakers, and still juicier than a shark-meat burrito, RFTC are back! Rumoured to be on tour and coming with (International) Noise Conspiracy!!
CD 16.98 LP 14.98
FRANCOIS
HOULE
Cryptology CD
If you're unfamiliar with Vancouver-based clarinetist Houle, then you should get familiar. Really. His technique is simply phenomenal. And the range of his playing is equally extraordinary: from formal new music, proper swinging jazz, totally out free improvisation, contemporary electro-acoustic cum electronica, to any eclectic hybrid in-between. For this recording, Houle begins with improvisation, easing gently into composed elements, offered in an overall "chamber format." How can someone so established and, well, so great, be still little known? Good question.
CD 19.98
WAGON
CHRIST
Musipal CD/2LP
After a few pioneering electronic records in the early '90s on Rising High Records, Wagon Christ returns. Wagon who? Wagon Christ, a.k.a. PLUG ''Drum and Bass for Papa,'' a.k.a. Luke Vibert - sublime collaborator with BJ Cole, a.k.a. founder of UK's hip hop/beats imprint label Big Dada, a.k.a. the best bet to crack the top three: Aphex Twin, U-Ziq, Squarepusher! Credentials and then some, eh? Ninja Tune knows how to pick them. So should you!
AVAILABLE MARCH 6TH CD 16.98 2LP 22.98
MARK KOZELEK
What's Next to the Moon CD
Singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek is engaged in a prolonged game of self-referential deconstruction. Luckily, we get to hear all about it in rich, poetic detail. He's of that special type of songwriter who can make anything seem beautifully and addictively depressing. Just take a look at some of the material he's covered, and revealed within it a sad inner core: The Star Spangled Banner, Shock Me, and even Silly Love Songs. Come and share this most lovely and miserable gift. So, what's getting you down lately, Mark?
CD 18.98
ACEYALONE
Accepted Eclectic CD/LP
The foundation of the Freestyle Fellowship architecture, Aceyalone's unparalleled lyrical prowess is the pilaster supporting a multilevel network of underground hip-hop practitioners! You have come across his master workmanship on the improbably funky Haiku D'etat and much-revered Project Blowed structures. You may have witnessed his collaboration with Zulu favorites Anti-Pop Consortium. Or you may be about to hear Accepted Eclectic and discover the man who keeps rap's underground byways structurally sound.
CD 18.98 LP 18.98
LABRADFORD
Fixed Context CD
Well, they haven't gone death metal. While most rock bands who pitch their tents in the left field would like to kid us that they're in the middle of some great quest for progress, Labradford are unashamedly idling their time away. The scenery's nice. At night you can build a campfire and watch the stars - perfect conditions for listening to the Virginia trio's fifth (?) full-length, which is full of their trademark limpid keyboards and wistful guitars. The fact that it has fundamentally the same title as their second album (A Stable Reference) is indicative that languid stillness has always been their raison d'etre.
CD 18.98
DZIHAN
& KAMIEN
Refreaked CD
Study up on some sonic-geography! Continuing our investigations into emerging international electronics, we are pleased to unearth the latest remixes of these two BPM scholars, who run in the same circles as Kruder and Dorfmeister! From Vienna, these D&K remixed sessions cover the map: dub, Latin vibes, infectious late-'70s R&B, as well as some finely crafted electro-thump. Remixers include Matthew Herbert, Butterwerks, Menu B, Mum, Eddy & Dus, Fauna Flash, At Jazz, Ufo and more. Recommended.
AVAILABLE MARCH 13TH CD 16.98
MARK
Amy's Rocks. Marx Rolls Cass
A cassette tape in 2001? Yes indeed. And somehow this is almost the most appropriate format for this charming live recording (recorded at the mighty fine Sugar Factory, by the way). One side by Amy from Clover Honey, one side by Mark from Capozzi Park, two sides of smart indie pop. Are they some kind of Donny and Marie for the new millennium? Well, no. Are they great songwriters and entertainers just the same? Yes, absolutely. Support local music. We do.
Cass 3.98
Various-
Live Fat Die Young CD/LP - Punk rock on a tight budget.
O.s.t - The Gift CD - Billy Bob Thorton likes Neko Case!
Geoff Farina- Reverse Eclipse CD - Solo stuff from this Karate
guy!
Mouse on Mars- Actionist Respoke CDEP/12" - New house-deconstructions
Various- No Matches No Stamps CD - Fat Cat's comp of demos. BEANS!
Vert - Moremooseicforme 12" - New electro-experimentalism on Thrill
Jockey.
Brave Captain- Nothing Lasts.. CD - New stuff from a Boo Radley!
Kristen Hersh- Sunny Border Blue CD - A nice follow-up to Sky Motel
Pixies- Complete B-Sides CD - Dance the Manta Ray with Black Francis!
Various- Fuzz Flaykes & Shakes Vol. 4 CD - '60s Garage with supermuffs!
MICE PARADE- Mokoondi CD/LP - Amazon-esque, sonic vines and selva!
Badly Drawn Boy - Once Around the Block CDEP - 5 mixes of this
folk-pop 'genius'.
STYROFOAM- A Short Album About Murder CD/LP - On Morr = I have
a crush on German electro-rock!
*all prices in effect 'til March 31st.
LUNA
Live CD/2LP
Ten years ago GALAXIE 500 broke up. A chain reaction of events was set off: fans formed bands to fill the gap. Their motto was 'play slowly, put lots of reverb on the vocals, sing songs about getting drunk and about looking at the Empire State building'. The world was way out of whack and in a funk. Then, the new hope: Dean Wareham's solo live debut was with a band he called Pulsar, which featured his buddies from Mercury Rev. Sad-eyes no more. Then came his debut as Luna, and this made us feel better - life under a new enchanted Anesthesia! Fast forward to the future: Luna 's sixth full-length release, Live, featuring 14 tracks from a few shows at the 9:30 Club in DC and NYC's Knitting Factory.
CD 16.98 2LP 36.98
ARAB STRAP
The Red Thread CD/LP
Somebody broke Aiden's heart again. We're only working with one half of the story, but it'sÊcertainlyÊa grim picture that's been painted. In a fine return to the dirty, distressed, and disconnected stories of Philophobia, The Red Thread spins out ten tales of confusion, woe, and extreme suffering. One can't help but feel sorry for Aiden and his troubled love affairs,Êmaking everything about our ordinary lives pale in comparison. If you don't go in for heart-rending fuck-up love stories, you'll still fall flat for the epic soundscapes of this album. It might just be the biggest album you've everÊheard, but you've no idea... until you let yourself get wrapped-up in the intricate confessions of a man you've never met.
CD 18.98 LP 24.98
TIPSY
Uh-Oh CD/2LP
"My vinyl weighs a ton.'' Such is the motto of Dave Gardner and Tim Digullia, the diabolical duo who, under the Tipsy moniker, act as curators of some incredibly strange music. Armed with a sampler and source materials from all over the place, Tipsy are an incomparable elixir, combining the worlds of lounge, electronic, Lynch-like soundtrack-rock, '60s pop, and ''file-under-oddball'' kitsch. Steamy sounds for steamy people!
AVAILABLE MARCH 6TH CD 16.98 2LP 19.98
now showing:
Boys Will Be Boys
all-male art exhibit opening March 23rd
