I Trawl The Megaherz

I didn't pick up on this when it was originally released (as a Paddy McAloon album) but it really is a remarkable album.

The Phantom Band - Checkmate Savage

Oh how I love this album. Checkmate Savage is probably my most listened to album of the last ten years and the first of four stunning albums released (so far?) by the band. I bought it purely on the write up that Piccadilly Records gave it. Listening to it now still gives me that first-time buzz.

Soil Sample #3: Brian Eno - Ring of Fire

Between 1990 and 1997, Warner Bros. Records in the US had the smart idea of releasing a series of 25 promo singles for artists signed to the label who had upcoming or current releases. Called Soil Samples, most of these were split 7" singles featuring two or more artists and many were also pressed on coloured vinyl.

The enticing thing about these singles was that they featured exclusive songs, some of which were recorded during the sessions for their latest album; an interesting way of promoting an album with a song that wasn't featured on it! It appears that many of these recordings have yet to make there way onto any other releases, making them some of the less well known collectable items.

Anyway, here's Soil Samples #3, released to promote Wrong Way Up by Eno/Cale and an album by House of Freaks (who I know nothing about). Eno and Cale each contribute a solo song - John Cale with the serviceable instrumental track Shuffle Down to Woodbridge, whilst Eno turns in the highlight, a haunting reverb heavy cover of Ring of Fire.

Autobahn Edited

Autobahn is perfect in its full 22'43" glory, but it clearly needed to be edited down for radio play and tonfktt on a 7" single.

The UK single version was hacked down to a measly 3'06', whilst the rest of the world, for some unknown reason, got a generous extra 22 seconds on their single version. Both these versions felt as though they had barely got started to me.

There is, however, one lesser known edit out there. Released as a promo 7" in the USA, the 5'46" Edited Long Version of Autobahn keeps an extra couple of minutes of the original and is all the better for it. The b-side is the Edited Short Version that the non UK fans got.

Mother Earth's Plantasia

Inspired by the book The Secret Life Of Plants, and in particular the science that proved "beyond any doubt that harmonic sound waves affect the growth, flowering and seed yield of plants", Plantasia was composed to help your plants grow.

The album was released in 1976 and given away for free when you bought a plant from Mother Earth plant shop in LA (or, for some reason, when you bought a mattress from Sears) and has since achieved cult status. It's easy to see why - full of delightful melodies all played by Mort Garson on a Moog synthesiser, it has aged surprisingly well.

Now available officially for the the first time since 1976, it has been pressed on vinyl in a variety of different greens and comes with a replica of the original plant care guide booklet that explains how your plants will benefit from each track. It also has an innovative download card, which is embedded in wildflower seeds so you can plant it once you've downloaded a digital copy of the album.

I'm using the music right now to keep our aspidistra happy. Gronda Gronda.

Eno, Anderson, Oke - Dokument#2

Brian Eno with Laurie Anderson and Eve Oko.

Enjoyable avant garde nonsense, including Eno reciting the line "frozen desert lollipops" in a tone of voice that Chris Morris would approve of.

500 vinyl copies only, with no digital version. Rate as hen's teeth and already for sale as 8 times the original price.

Thursday: A 7" Sorting Kind of Day

12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2... Inches

Every inch from 2 to 12 on vinyl.

Records chosen:
12" AFX - Analord 10 (picture disc)
11" Wagon Christ - London is a Country (glow in the dark ginyl)
10" Julian Cope - China Doll (picture disc)
9" Nine Inch Nails - Sin
8" Electronic Audio Research - Falling / Tail Chaser (picture disc)
7" Ultravox - Visions in Blue (picture disc)
6" Jona Lewie - Big Shot Momentarily
5" Squeeze - If I Didn't Love You
4" The Happenings - Go Away Little Girl
3" Foo Fighters - Big Me
2" Various Artists - Pea Brian Presents the ADHD EP

Ian McNabb - Star Smile Strong

Just arrived today, here's the long awaited double vinyl edition of Star Smile Strong, with new artwork and a signed print.

I've already given this two spins and it really is a stunning pressing. I knew and enjoyed the album from the original 2017 CD release, but there's a much fuller sound audible here, with the two discs allowing the tracks to breathe and really come to life. The new artwork is also much improved from the original (sorry, but I was never a fan of the original sleeve design) and we're also treated to the song lyrics on the inner sleeves.

Clarabella, the 13 minute closing opus, deservedly gets a side to itself. As requested on the inner sleeve, I cranked up the volume for this one.

Already a good Ian McNabb album, with this pressing it's just got better. A highlight in a career of highlights.

Steve Mason - About The Light

About the Light is my first new music purchase of 2019 and want a great way to start. It's always a pleasure to hear Steve Mason's soothing voice and it's backed up once again by some strong melodies, rousing brass and blissful choruses. This time round the songwriting is, for the majority of the album, credited to Steve Mason and the rest of his band.

It's pressed on great sounding silver vinyl and the back sleeve shows, once again, that Bowie's Station to Station has a lot to answer for.

FSOL- ISDN. The Longest Record I Own

Not including locked groove records, I think this, the original pressing of ISDN, is the longest single piece of vinyl I own. It's quiet, but still sounds pretty good.
Side 1: 38:37
Side 2: 36:20

I know there's some classical music that is longer, but I wonder how much non-classical music packs this much onto one disc.

My Second New Album of 2018

Open Here by Field Music. Blue Vinyl. Very good.

Now Playing: Fridge - Ceephax

I'm up to F in the "listen to all my albums" challenge.

The 1997 debut album by Fridge, on white vinyl. Still sounding great.

A Friend Asked Me To Recommend Three Mogwai Albums...

....and this was my room 30 minutes later.

Science Fiction/Science Fact

Calexico Collection

The sun is out and so are my Calexico records. I sometimes forget how much I love their music. 

I just need to fill in the gaps with vinyl copies of their tour only albums.

That moment when there didn't seem to be much point in releasing your album on vinyl only to see the format's popularity increase a few years later

Kruder & Garfunkel

Simon & Dorfmeister

Hello (Not Quite) Everything by Squarepusher

Inspired by the Shobaleader One gig last Friday, I've been listening to all of this over the last week. That's a LOT of beats, even if there are some gaps in my collection.

Some of this I've not listened to for a long long time, but it's refreshing how well the majority of it still holds up.