SIGUR ROS & HILMAR ORN HILMARSSON
Angels of the Universe CD

What do we know about Iceland? With an area of 103,000 sq km, this little island is just south of the Arctic Circle. Much of its icy and volcanic landis unpopulated, with the majority of people living close to the capital city, Reykjavik. Yet, due to the North Atlantic Drift, Iceland's climate is kept surprisingly equable. Like many Europeans, the Icelandic people are well educated, and enjoy the benefits of a state funded social security and health insurance system. Sadly, however, Icelandic nights sometimes last nearly all day long. Brrr. In any case, this beautiful soundtrack, to a film by Thor Fridriksson, features two tracks showcasing the also beautiful Sigur Ros.

See them live October 1st at Andrew's Wesley Church.

CD 24.98 Avail. Sept 11th.

SPARKLEHORSE
It's A Wonderful Life CD

The left side of your brain has been hijacked by the Flaming Lips, while the right is held hostage by the mavericks that haunt the Giant Sand desert rock pueblos. Stumbling into the hostelry, you nod to the group of insects occupying the corner booth. Man, those insects look like Tom Waits! At the piano is your surprisingly talented stunt double, tinkling out songs fromthe Beatles records you didn't own. Sadly, you know that it is only a matter of time before someone smashes a candy glass bottle of Sarsaparilla juice over his head. Ah, It's A Wonderful Life. reach for those Zuzu's Petals and all will be just fine.

CD 19.98

RICHIE HAWTIN
Closer To The Edit Minus CD

Interpolating the practice of DJing into the digital realm, Richie Hawtin's latest is a dense recombination of over 900 finely edited loops, some as short as one note long. Ostensibly a fantastic dance-friendly mix, the result of Hawtin's careful work also overcomes the idea of DJ collage as merely a collection of references linking surfaces to more surfaces to be catalogued and name-checked. Instead, Hawtin reworks his sources into a new artifact - one still immanently bound to its original material but now able to stand independently of an accumulation of pop cultural proof for value and affirmation. The final test, of course, is that it rocks the house.

CD 19.98 Avail. Sept 11th.

VARIOUS ARTISTS
TEAM MINT VOLUME 2 CD

Just in time for their big tenth birthday bashes with the cream of their roster all playing, comes this, the latest sampler from local indie label, Mint Records. Featuring tracks culled from some five year's worth of albums, Team Mint Volume 2 is a musical potpourri that includes such mainstays as Neko Case, the New Pornographers, New Town Animals, I Am Spoonbender, the Smugglers, and more!

CD 5.98

http://www.mintrecs.com

VARIOUS ARTISTS Factory Seconds CD

A good-as-new compilation from Peanuts and Corn, the unusually self-effacing local hip-hop label, that gave you slightly-damaged LPs from Park Like Setting, Moves and Pip Skid. A 100 per cent Canadian Content bargain bin with a free bonus CD ROM video track to boot. Featuring the aforementioned Mr Skid plus John Smith and Anticon pin-up Josh Martinez. Get it while its going cheap!

CD 16.98

UP BUSTLE AND OUT
Master Sessions 2: Calle 23 Havana Cuba CD/2LP

Rarely are the worlds of electronic and live music fused so seamlessly as on this, the second installment of Up, Bustle and Out's Rebel Radio series. Again traveling to Havana to collaborate with Richard Egues and his Cuban orchestra then editing and expanding on the fruits of those sessions back home in Bristol, this album is a never less than compelling rhythmic and sonic journey. A must for lovers of human sounding stuff that you can shake your moneymaker to.

CD 16.98 2LP 20.98

QUASI
The Sword of God CD/2LP

On the surface, Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss seem like total bastards, quick to cynically dismiss any hopeful sentiment as inexorably doomed. A source of private amusement, this sour attitude is the basis for the darkly humorous tales of human woe that fill their songs. Yet, Coomes and Weiss' unabashed negativity is oddly well complemented by some of the bounciest and catchiest pop music we've heard, all jingle-jangle and buzzing thump. This latest album, and their first for Touch & Go, generously proves what we're talking about. Although the lyrics may make you frown or even cry, the music will make you dance and jiggle - such is the paradox of America.

CD 19.98 2LP 19.98

PIANO MAGIC Son De Mar CD

Embarking on their career with 4AD Records, London's sublimely talented Piano Magic give us their first transcendent soundtrack work. Accompanying Bigas Luna's yet-to-be-domestically-viewed film, these quiet, untitled compositions find the group embracing the orchestrated beauty that made last year's Artists' Rifles a Zulu fave. Introspective and meditative, here's a nice listen for the autumn evenings fast approaching - times when the cascading lights beyond your curtains narrate their own surreal fictions!

CD 16.98 Avail. Sept 4th.

BOXHEAD ENSEMBLE Two Brothers CD

One might think that with no film to accompany, the Boxhead Ensemble may well justifiably disband, as loose and changing a grouping as it has been. Thankfully, however, the Ensemble has taken on a life independent of Braden King's solemn documentary, Dutch Harbor, becoming a self-functioning project under the direction of Michael Krassner. Now exploring new conceptual ground, Two Brothers is informed by the American Civil War's troubled aesthetic, a significant turning point in America's development. Part hopeful, part melancholic and always exquisitely recorded, this is perhaps the strongest Boxhead Ensemble recording so far. Featuring a distinguished list of musicians, including, Jeff Parker, Mick Turner, Jeff Tweedy and Jim White.

CD 19.98

SUPER FURRY ANIMALS Drawing Rings Around The World CD

Wherein the Welsh hit-makers take on a grandiose voyage, from the melancholy bedroom to the swingin' lounge via the experimental lab and back again. One of the UK's biggest critical hits of the year, this incredible journey isalready capturing the collective imagination of Vancouver's Britpop loyalists. Prepare yourselves for a psyche-pop circumnavigation of exceptional ambition.

CD 19.98

VARIOUS ARTISTS BOMBAY: ELECTRIC VINDALOO CD/2LP

At last, the encore release to Motel 6 Records' Bombay The Hard Way! This is a tasty 17-track masala mix of Bollywood sounds including remixes from Kid Koala, Ursula 1000, Mixmaster Mike and more. Now, all you've got to do is convince Monsoon or Clove to deliver some sustenance to fuel your trip through these sultry scores! P.S. You can't select the spice level on this mix - Electric Vindaloo is only served hot!

CD 16.98 2LP 20.98 Avail. Sept 4th.

ALSO IN STOCK:

Howe Gelb - Lull Some Piano CD - Howe finds time away from Giant Sand to coax these precious notes out of his piano!
Pullman - Viewfinder CD/LP - Chris Brokaw (Come, New Year) curates this fragile acoustics album featuring other Chi-town luminaries!
Preston School Of Industry - All this Gas CD/LP - Scott's post-Pavement solo debut. Grand.
The Damned - Grave Disorder CD/LP - Their first studio album since lastcentury.
American Analog Set - Know By Heart CD/LP - Soon appearing at the Starfish Ñ come see what the fuss is about.
Various - Tramps, Traitors and Little Devils CD/LP - Drag City spotlights the collective talents of Smog, Neil Haggerty, and Edith Frost!
Stereolab - Sound Dust CD/LP - Play this album to your friends so that they may understand you.
Various - Hi Fidelity Lounge 3 CD/2LP - Reserve your copy of the latesti nstallment of this electronica series.
John Zorn - In The Mirror Of Maya Deren CD - Orchestrated jazz to accompany this surrealists' dreamy short films!
The Real McKenzies - Loch's and Loaded CD - Now on Honest Don's Records! Hometown punks.
Schlammpeitziger - Collected Simplesongs CD - A collection of fascinating Neu-esque tracks. On Thrill Jockey!