Album of the year

2013 AOTY

My Bloody Valentine: MBV This album was always going to be number one in the year that it hit. Any album that takes 25 years gestation cannot but achieve mythical status and shoegazie perfection, 'stand aside kiddies and let the adults show you how it's really done'! Holden: The inheritors This album really grows on you and was one of my top played albums for the year. The frequency play, the pulsating rhythms and looped samples all work to give the feel of an archaeological dig, gradually unearthing some huge prehistoric mammoth. Zomby: With Love. A pretty unusual follow up from his 2011 Dedication album, this is what a double decker bus tour around London’s secret underground might be like. With over 30 tracks the album covers a lot of ground but leaves you wanting to explore a little more. My Panda Shall Fly: Tape Tekkno What a beautiful album, everything that My Panda (not to be confused with Gold Panda or Panda Bear who plays with the Animal Collective) touches turns to gold. Working more in the middle to high frequency range, obscured 4/4 + beats and mixing some found sounds. Laurel Halo: Chance of rain For all Laurel’s classical training and art sensibility there’s a dammed good reason why she is released through Hyperdub, and that’s primarily because she rocks. A chance of rain might have synth sophistication and beat nuance but overall it is singularly dance worthy, play loud. Disappears: Era This album is solid. Although from Chicago there are strong hints of UK post punk acts such as The Fall and more recently The Horrors, great staff. KVB: Immaterial Visions What a blast! Similar to a few other albums on this list (MBV and Daft Punk) in that the sound pays homage bands of the past. But there is nothing derivative about this album, just a celebration of sound which leaves you wanting more. Floorplan: Paradise Who else can resurrect a 1996 alias and be instantly relevant. The godfather on minimal returns to the floor, respect! Gardland: Syndrome syndrome Aussie, aussie, aussie… taking it to the rest of the world no less. Bringing breathtaking freshness and innovationto classic 303 and other analogue sounds reminiscent of the motor city, Nebulo: Castles Nebulo (which incidentally is also the name of a Marvel comic character who first appeared in an Incredible Hulk special edition in October 1968) has released 6 albums with Castles his most recent through Hymen Records. Specialising in ‘rough technoïd & ambient music’ this release is an infectious organic sonic exploration filled with warm addictive bass and sparkling synthetic nuance. Tim Hecker: Virgins Piano excursions and layered atmospheres with moments of Reich like phasing; Hecker’s follow up to his 2011 album Ravedeath is an altogether lighter affair but nonetheless deeply absorbing listening experience. Think of Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians with an industrial edge. Boards of Canada: Tomorrow’s Harvest I keep on waiting for the Sesame Street audio samples to pop their head out from under the covers. More ambient brilliance from these pour-voyeurs of all things soft focus and subliminal. Kniφe: Shaking the Habitual Remarkably weird; Karin Dreijer Andersson was once asked how she managers the long Swedish winters, to which she replied that she watches re-runs of Miami Vice. This perfectly explains this album and I blame Don Johnson. Forest Swords: Engravings Forest Sword’s albums are like an exotic oriental travel journal, complete with cherry blossom gardens, geisha girls and jade dragons. Drop the needle, sit back and relax as opium smoke and incense issue forth from the speakers, slowing time and transporting the listener. Chelsea Light Moving:  Chelsea Light Moving Chelsea Light Moving was the name of Philip Glass’s furniture removal company and is now the name for Thurston Moore’s side/main band project. This album spent quite some time in gestation to eventually show itself as a sophisticated piece of pop rock. Flaming Lips: The Terror This album is a ‘Heart of darkness’ style exploration of creativity out of adversity. Everyone works their shit out in different ways; and Flaming Lips are true alchemists using heart and soul to turn darkness into light. M83: Oblivion OST Joseph Kosinski directs musicians as well as movies and the 2 go hand in hand, check out Tron’s OST by Daft Punk (also a Kosinski collaboration). The Mondo Records pressing on clear vinyl and fully reworked gatefold graphics adds a nice 2000ad sci-fi feel to this future artifact. Daft Punk: Random Access Memories The maestros of disco perfection, or is that infection return. Everything about this album has been tweaked to perfection, the analogue synths, the arrangements, accompanying musicians and although there is a little self indulgence you you still have to love their work. ‘Everyone calls me Giorgio…’ Basic House: Caim in Bird Form ‘Came from out of the blue’ might be an alternative name for this fantastic piece of electronica which snuck up on me from completely out of left field.  Pushing the time stretched envelope of dub to breaking point and beyond, the best tracks hit toward the end. Gold Panda: Half of Where You Live The good old sophomore album; ‘Lucky Shiner’ is a tuff act to follow but Derwin is the animal for the job. I think the guy must be synesthetic because the album cover describes the music better than I could, stand out track is Brazil. All India Radio: Red Shadow Landing Local musos extraordinary drop this exceptional piece of red wax.  Sort of like Ennio Morricone meets Mogwai in a bar and have a beer on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Mika Viano: Kilo Solid stuff; like cement setting around your feet and ankles, but rather than being afraid as you sink you become mesmerized by primeval whale song and ancient titanic wreckages. Heavy devy square wave generator. Actress: Silver Cloud EP Although only an EP, these 3 tracks are worth 12 from many other producers and is just too good a release not to include. Skyscraper tall textures and slow burn percussive builds… now you’re in the heart of the machine. Kylesa: Ultraviolet Female deathmetal with seamless cross genera excursions through progressive, sludge and deathmetal to almost glam. Rock and rolllllll! Patten: Eolian Instate 12” Having just moved to the Warp label this EP gets all the love with a picture disc release, sweet as. Screen Vinyl Image: 51:21 Synth pop shoegaze duo extraordinaire. Keeping it real with tape distribution through bandcamp, go to the source! The sage tea drinkers of the golden oak also agree, two thumbs up. Laurie Spiegel: Expanding Universe Although initially released in 1980 the album was lovingly remastered and re-released earlier this year, bringing this seminal work to a whole new generation. Just as fresh and exciting today as it was 33 years ago. Zeahourse: Pools Late but worthy inclusion, Sydney garage rock group.

Record Paradise

Record Paradise
15 Union St
Brunswick
http://recordparadise.com/

This shop was a real surprise, it seemed from the outside to be one of those record warehouse type places which are only open P.R.N. and when you do manage to find them open you find a disappointing collection of dusty old L.P.'s from the 80's. However I couldn't have been more wrong and was happily surprised to find mature and sophisticated collection of new and used vinyl available behind this modest looking refurbished factory frontage.


The shop/warehouse is new to Brunswick having moved across town from St Kilda, where according to their logo it was established in 1955 and you can tell that they have spent those decades building up an outstanding catalogue. The move across town is a huge boon for Brunswick as the shop contains a large collection of vinyl spanning practically the whole spectrum, is arranges in easily manageable sections and managed by friendly and knowledgably staff. I was awed to find 7 foot high shelves around the walls containing a broad range of second hand albums arranged in alphabetical order, so much content where to start? While in the middle of the room were the genera specific  racks covering all the usual suspects. All records were well priced, $10'ish to $30+ and all in goon condition.

I ended up picking up the Fuck Buttons' new album 'Slow Burn', I haven't listened to these guys much before and was impressed at the depth and intensity of their sound. I also picked up V.Spy V.Spy's album 'A.O. mod TV', a truly great Aussie garage band and Ice House's 'Flowers' album which the shop manager said never stays on their shelves for long (nothing like dusty ol' records from the '80's). All up a great shop and well worth regular revisits.

The Search and Lost and Found

The Search 93 Smith St
Fitzroy.
99390096

The Search was a pretty cool shop and appeared committed to the vinyl medium with a solid range on offer including, soul, blues, jazz, a pop-rock section and a small Australian section. There was a mixture of new and second hand albums and pricing was average to high. There was also a large selection of books with a lot of the artistic coffee table style books available which no one ever reads.
It was a nice surprise to find 3 techniques 1200 turntables which looked in great nic for sale.
All up, worth a drop in, especially as it is around the corner from Northside Records (my first post back March).








Lost and Found
1-5 Perry St
Collingwood
(03) 9419 4477

Lost and Found on the other hand was more lost than found, similar to 222 Retro and Vintage which I visited back in June but with just  more care and attention given to the vinyl (they had their own table rather than being stored on the floor!).
However there was still only a small collection of vinyl squirreled away amongst the tonnes and tonnes of second hand junk, aka vintage/retro clothing, kitsch and my fave 'industria'.
I wouldn't really bother from a vinyl perspective but an interesting shop all the same.