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Posh Isolation
Varg 'Star Alliance'
£23.99
Posh Isolation
Varg 'Star Alliance'
£23.99
After "Star Alliance"'s initial release as a limited six tape-box set late last year, it was apparent that there was a need for a reissue, which now comes in the form of this remastered double LP set with a selection of the best work and even a few new tracks added.
The story is the same but the narrative has been sharpened. Over the last few years, Varg has manifested himself, not only as one of the most productive new voices in European electronic and techno music - with countless releases and projects - but also as one of the most interesting of the lot.
Completely free from any concern of genre notions towards his music, he moves freely between fields and does this in such a fluent way that it is hard to think of anyone that can match him. With the music that makes up "Star Alliance", it is clearer than ever before that Varg - while being an extremely talented techno producer, at the same time is much more than that.
"Star Alliance" has tracks of spacious acid standing next to heavy industrial rhythms, piercing abstract modular synth work, beautiful soundscapes, piano pieces and field recordings. And while the techniques, qualities and styles differ with almost every track, they stand perfectly together and shape a beautiful narrative.
Thematically "Star Alliance" deals with movement. The heavy melancholia that is present throughout the entire release, reminds us that when traveling to any destination, we will have to leave somewhere else behind. "Star Alliance" that takes its name from a point system between airline companies has a sort of sad restlessness about it.
Wherever we are traveling to, it is clear that we won't be there for long; the people are faceless and the cities nameless, The airports, night clubs and company blur, but Hilton always looks like Hilton and Ecstasy is called Ecstasy everywhere.
The story is the same but the narrative has been sharpened. Over the last few years, Varg has manifested himself, not only as one of the most productive new voices in European electronic and techno music - with countless releases and projects - but also as one of the most interesting of the lot.
Completely free from any concern of genre notions towards his music, he moves freely between fields and does this in such a fluent way that it is hard to think of anyone that can match him. With the music that makes up "Star Alliance", it is clearer than ever before that Varg - while being an extremely talented techno producer, at the same time is much more than that.
"Star Alliance" has tracks of spacious acid standing next to heavy industrial rhythms, piercing abstract modular synth work, beautiful soundscapes, piano pieces and field recordings. And while the techniques, qualities and styles differ with almost every track, they stand perfectly together and shape a beautiful narrative.
Thematically "Star Alliance" deals with movement. The heavy melancholia that is present throughout the entire release, reminds us that when traveling to any destination, we will have to leave somewhere else behind. "Star Alliance" that takes its name from a point system between airline companies has a sort of sad restlessness about it.
Wherever we are traveling to, it is clear that we won't be there for long; the people are faceless and the cities nameless, The airports, night clubs and company blur, but Hilton always looks like Hilton and Ecstasy is called Ecstasy everywhere.
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Sleaford Mods are one of the most important, politically charged and thought-provoking duos currently making their mark on the UK music scene and beyond.Visit product page →
They are now poised to release their fifth studio album entitled Eton Alive'in February 2019.
The new album, which features 12 new tracks from the prolific artists, was recorded in Nottingham. The record will be the first release on Jason and Andrew's newly formed label Extreme Eating'and their first album since parting ways with Rough Trade Records.
'Eton Alive speaks for itself really. Here we are once again in the middle of another elitist plan being digested slowly as we wait to be turned into faeces once more. Some already are, some are dead and the rest of us erode in the belly of prehistoric ideology which depending on our abilities and willingness, assigns to each of us varying levels of comfort that range from horrible to reasonably acceptable, based on contribution.
So after the digestive system of the Nobles rejects our inedible bones we exit the Arse of Rule, we fall into the toilet again and at the mercy of whatever policies are holding order in the shit pipe of this tatty civilisation. It is here our flesh regenerates as we rattle into another form, ready, and ripe for order'. - Jason Williamson Eton Alive'
Tracklisting:
1. Into The Payzone
2. Kebab Spider
3. Policy Cream
4. OBCT
5. When You Come Up To Me
6. Top It Up
7. Flipside
8. Subtraction
9. Firewall
10. Big Burt
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Release Date: 22/02/2019 -
On saleVisit product page →Through these strange and uncertain times it is sometimes a little hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel but this is where The Moons have stepped in. This long player is an album full of colour and raw songwriting recorded live in the legendary Studio 2 at Abbey Road Studios. With cinematic string arrangements and masterclass songwriting from the pen of singer/songwriter Andy Crofts this album will be your happy escape.
'Most of this album had been unintentionally sat in my pocket for quite some time. Songs that I had written and forgotten about or had just lost their way and left unfinished. So that is why I wanted the album to simply be named Pocket Melodies. I had this inner feeling to pull them all together and it turned out my favourite Moons record.' Andy Crofts
Pocket Melodies takes you on a journey of glorious melodies leading you through love, romance, nostalgia, regret and unity.
'I wanted to be true to myself with this record. My best strength is writing melodic pop songs so I just let it all flow as I wanted this album to be soaked in colour and completely natural. There's no pretence, it's just straight up pop songs. I have always worn my heart on my sleeve when it comes to my feelings and I think you can hear this in the lyrics this time.' Andy Crofts
The album features singles Riding Man and Today which received high praise and championed on BBC London and Radio X and a collaboration with Paul Weller on the song Tunnel Of Time.
"I wrote all of the songs on the album except Tunnel Of Time which is a collaboration between myself and Paul Weller. He once approached me with a little idea and we slowly worked at it in dressing rooms etc until I took it away and put it all together. Its a nice little song and im glad it found a home with The Moons." Andy Crofts
Tracklisting:
1. Today
2. Riding Man
3.The Old Brigade
4. Far Away
5. Tunnel Of Time
6. Where Are You Now?
7. Sleep
8. Maybe I'm The Perfect Man (For You)
9. The Lone Wolf
10. Midnight
11. Rear Window
12. An Ordinary Romance - ¦
CD Only Bonus Tracks :
13.Sunday Love In
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15.Today (Le Superhomard Remix)
16. Riding Man (Instrumental)
17. Don't Be Long -
#EXCLUSIVE NEON GREEN VINYL#Visit product page →
Public Image Ltd. (PiL) have decided to continue plans to announce their 11th studio album and first album in 8 years, End of World, today, following the sad passing of John’s wife of more than 4 decades, Nora Forster, on 5th April. End of World will be released on 11th August 2023 on PiL Official via Cargo UK Distribution, followed by a 38-date UK and European Tour.
Earlier this year, PiL released Hawaii, the most personal piece of songwriting and accompanying artwork that John Lydon has ever shared. The song is a love letter to John's wife Nora, who sadly passed away from Alzheimer’s on Wednesday 5th April. A pensive, personal yet universal love song that has resonated with many since its release in January, the song sees John reflecting on their lifetime well spent and in particular one of their happiest moments together in Hawaii. John said, “Nora loved the album, she wouldn’t have wanted us to postpone it or change any of our plans.” Previously he has said of Hawaii, “It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most.”
The band began writing and recording End of World in 2018, during their 40th anniversary tour. After The Great Pause, the band regrouped in the studio and “there was just this massive explosion of ideas,” Lydon says. The result finds PiL set to release 13 of the best tracks they have ever written.
The announcement comes with the release of new single Penge, which John has described as, “something of a mediaeval Viking epic.”
Celebrating their 40-year anniversary in 2018, the band is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential bands of all time.
PiL’s music and vision has earned them 5 UK Top 20 singles and 5 UK Top 20 albums. With a shifting line-up and unique sound - fusing rock, dance, folk, pop and dub – Lydon guided the band from their debut album First Issue in 1978 through to 1992’s That What Is Not, before a 17 year hiatus. Lydon reactivated PiL in 2009, touring extensively worldwide and releasing two critically acclaimed albums This is PiL in 2012 followed by their 10th studio album What The World Needs Now… in 2015, which peaked at number 29 in the official UK album charts and picked up fantastic acclaim from both press and public. (The album also peaked at number 3 in the official UK indie charts and number 4 in the official UK vinyl charts). What The World Needs Now… was self-funded by PiL and released on their own label ‘PiL Official’ via Cargo UK Distribution. In 2018 PiL celebrated their 40th anniversary with a career-spanning box set and documentary, both called ‘The Public Image Is Rotten’, and a 32-date UK/Europe tour, plus dates in Japan.
John Lydon, Lu Edmonds, Scott Firth and Bruce Smith continue as PiL. They are the longest stable line-up in the band's history and continue to challenge and thrive.
PiL will be touring the UK and Europe in September and October 2023 - dates below.
Press quotes for lead single ‘Hawaii’, which was released in January:
“A beauteous and touching love song” - Mojo
“Uncharacteristically soul-bearing” - Pitchfork
“an understated and emotional ballad” - Rolling Stone
“a swooning, poignant ballad awash with memories of happier times… He’s remarkably tender as he croons: “Don’t fly too soon / No need to cry, in pain / You are loved.” It’s the vulnerability that is most striking. Lydon’s love for his wife shines through like sunrays breaking through clouds, casting everything in a golden light: “I remember you,” he reassures her. He’s backed by harmonising chants of “aloha”, the Hawaiin term that is both a greeting and a farewell. It’s a message from the heart, overflowing with spirit and compassion. What better word for what Lydon is trying to convey here?” - The Independent
“a beautiful and rueful ballad written by Lydon to his wife Nora, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. It’s a peach of a track: both pensive and personal, it reflects on one of their happiest times together in Hawaii. “Remember me / I remember you… You are loved,” not-so-Rotten sings over a lush soundscape of gently twanging guitars vaguely reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac’s Albatross.” - Telegraph
Tracklisting:
1. Penge
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3. Car Chase
4. Being Stupid Again
5. Walls
6. Pretty Awful
7. Strange
8. Down On The Clown
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10. The Do That
11. L F C F
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Sold outVisit product page →Nottingham duo the Sleaford Mods are due to release their third proper'album on July 24th via abstract-punk label Harbinger Sound on vinyl, CD and download.
The album will be housed in a gatefold sleeve designed by Steve Lippert and was mastered by Matt Colton at Alchemy. Everything else was done by Sleaford Mods.
'Key Markets' was a large supermarket bang in the centre of Grantham from the early 1970's up until around 1980,' explains Jason Williamson. 'My mum would take me there and I'd always have a large coke in a plastic orange cup surrounded by varnished wood trimmings and big lamp shades with flowers on them. Beige bricks with bright yellow points of sale and large black foam letters surrounded you and this is why we called the album 'Key Markets'. It's the continuation of the day to day and how we see it, the un-incredible landscape.'
'The album was recorded in various periods between summer 2014 through to October of that year. We worked fast as we normally do, the method was the same as the other albums and like the other two, the sound has naturally moved itself along. 'Key Markets' is in places quite abstract but it still deals heavily with the disorientation of modern existence. It still touches on character assassination, the delusion of grandeur and the pointlessness of government politics. It's a classic. Fuck em.'
Sleaford Mods are: Jason Williamson - words Andrew Fearn - music
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