It's been a few months since I sent out one of these newsletters. Sorry about that, been swamped with other things. However, the culminating awesomeness of some of the just-released and just-about-to-be-released records contained herein insist I write now! So, here's issue 4 of the Vortex Records Specialty Mailing List. Remember, some of these titles will NOT be in the store unless you special order them. Others are very limited quantities so let me know pronto if there's something you're after.
Grouper
Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill
3rd pressing - LP ltd to 1000
One of my favorite albums of the past 10 years, Grouper's Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill is haunting and sublime. Available on vinyl in very limited qtys, I occasionally see the record fetching over us$100 on eBay. Liz Harris (aka Grouper) is doing another pressing of 1000 copies and we're the first store in Toronto with the news. (Liz donated a prize to our Record Store Day raffle in April.) Here's a few quotes from critics about the album: "the kind of beauty that makes sailors run aground." -- MOJO; "a blissful, and sometimes eerie, haze ... Fragile acoustic and electric guitars and the occasional keyboard ... subtly, but stunningly, beautiful." --AllMusic Guide; "This remarkable album is actually what I personally always wanted 4AD records to sound like, ... druggy and sexy and arty and pretty, but never pretentious." -- Pitchfork. Note that we currently have one copy of this in stock on CD for $17.
Grouper
Wide
LP
Liz repressed this album in an edition of 1000 a few months back. We had stock but are now out. She says she has less than 50 copies remaining so if you want one, speak up!
Interpol
Interpol
Indie rock fans know this record's coming. However, it's available in different editions. The one that will concern the readers of this mailing list is the Limited Edition 2LP 45rpm edition. However, this record comes out next week so it might be too late to get one of these for you (we have a number already on special order for customers who inquired) but we can try.
Alan Lomax Releases
Mississippi Records
We brought in 10 sets of the 5LP Misssissippi Records releases of Alan Lomax titles. They sold out in 12 hours. Another order is being placed this week. Descriptions of the albums and all cover art are on our web site. We'll also be getting copies of some of the other MR releases on that page, including the Hurley and Been Here All My Days. Today, Mississippi Records announced some new titles and some represses...
Marika Papagika
The Further The Flame The Worse It Burns Me
Mississippi Records
LP
Marika Papagika was one of Greek music's greatest vocalists. She recorded 225 performances between 1918 & 1929. This LP features some of her most mystical & moving. Instrumental accompaniment is provided by various combinations of cymbalon, cello, violin & clarinet. Includes a booklet featuring all known photographs of Marika & extensive liner notes by Ian Nagoski which shed much deserved light on one of the deepest artists of the Rembetika & Greek folk music scene. Record is housed in an old school tip on sleeve.
Various
Been Here All My Days (Selections from the George Mitchell Archive)
Mississippi Records
LP
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, George Mitchell recorded extensively in the South. Mitchell concentrated mainly on local blues traditions recording some famous bluesmen and many otherwise ignored artists. The George Mitchell Collection was originally released as a series of forty-five EPs on Fat Possum, this LP contains our favorite fourteen tracks. This LP represents songs from many well known blues musicians such as Fred McDowell, Furry Lewis and Joe Calicott as well as some from criminally under represented artists like Jessie Mae Hemphill, Rosa Lee Hill and John Lee Ziegler. Comes with a short booklet of photos, discographical notes and recollections.
L'Orchestre National A de la Republique du Mali
s/t
Mississippi Records
LP
The National A Orchestra was founded by the new government at Mali's independence. They later divided into A and B formations. The A Orchestra was led by Keletigui Diabate a multi-instrumental virtuoso. An album of incredible Malian music reissued for the first time since the 1970s. Eight tracks with beautiful vocals and guitar work. This is the second in a series of six Mali music LPs we will be reissuing from Sterns.
Various Artists
I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore
Mississippi Records
LP
This compilation is our tribute to the music made in the U.S. between 1927 and 1948. We decided not only to focus on traditional genres (blues, old-time, Cajun), but to also show the music that was brought by the boatloads of immigrants coming to these shores. Their music influenced and still affects our culture today. The album starts off with a heavenly example of Greek rebetica from Marika Papagika. Also featured is early Tex-Mex pioneer Lydia Mendoza and gospel duo Two Gospel Keys. The latter gives us our title track. Louisiana Cajun music is beautifully executed by artists Cleoma Falcon and Blind Uncle Gaspard with Dela Lachney. The Blue Sky Boys may be considered old-time, but their haunting, melancholic harmonies belong in their own genre. The Caresser and Wilmouth Houdini bring on the Calypso with that New York jazz flavor. Hawaiian slack key guitar is demonstrated by Mike Hanapi's Ilima Islanders and Mme. Riviere's Hawaiians. Aside from Calypso, NY was also a big hub for Jewish klezmer, as shown by Jacob Hoffman playing with Henry Kandel's Orchestra. Sexteto Bolona is a great example of the roots of salsa and there's even a mystery track by an unknown Indonesian folk singer of the time. The comp ends with blues performer Big Boy Cleveland with his oddly original 'Quill Blues.' A beautiful record from beginning to end. A limited edition repress of this early out of print Mississippi LP. "The cover is hand made locally in our own pre-industrial style cover factory (All hand assembled using jigs - no electricity) faux "folkways" leather trim with a letter press print pasted on. Similar to our Joseph Spence and Mata La Pena covers. Real pretty."
Grouper
Hold / Sick
Room40
7"
TBD
I mentioned Grouper's full-lengths up above, but we've been promised a few copies of her Australia tour-only 7" which is due in October. She says, "They're about feeling like an observer of one's owns emotions. You're in that space where you're not sure whether to follow or reel them in." I've heard the A-side and it's lovely. This will be pricey (for a 7") because it's an Aus import and shipping sucks. I'm guessing around $14 but Room40 says it's "very limited".
Boris
Absolutego & Amplified Worship
Southern Lord
2LPs Each
Southern Lord is reissuing Boris' first two releases as Limited 2LP sets (2000 copies each). AllMusic gies each release from the Japanese sludge rock trio at least 4 stars. Black vinyl.
Brian McBride
1/2 of Stars of the Lid
CD or LP
The STARS OF THE LID frontman concentrated on four different themes for his score for "Vanishing of the Bees". He touches on the gloriousness of the species, the endurance & hardships of traditional beekeepers, pesticides & the holistic nature of non-industrial agriculture, with special intrigue around combining some of their mournful aspirations with something more serene. "Without flashy production, without a flashy image, and without a super-fast riff or commercial hook, McBride manages to create all the gravity in the world." - Brainwashed.
My Morning Jacket
Tennessee Fire & At Dawn
2LPs Each w/ dl code
Ltd. to 1000 copies each
Oct 12
Two of my favorite albums of the 00s available for the first time as 180 gm vinyl 2xLP. Of At Dawn, PopMatters says, "At Dawn has an ineffable magic to it from start to finish, one that leads me to scour my brain for words that could describe something that sounds so special. Anytime a pop or rock song can give you chills, that's something. When a whole album can do it that's something else entirely." AllMusic comments on Tennessee Fire: "Released to worldwide critical acclaim, The Tennessee Fire provides proof (200 proof) that heartfelt American music is alive and well and living in Kentucky. A must for anyone who loves the sound of Alt-country mixed with wide open spaces." In matte gatefold sleeve limited to 1000 copies each.
Hayvanlar Alemi
Guarana Superpower
Sublime Frequencies
LP
Hailing from the Turkish capital of Ankara, Hayvanlar Alemi is a group of contemporary players steeped in the art of psychedelics, surf, and expansive rock instrumental grandeur. Formed in 1999, the band is led by Özüm İtez (electric guitar) and Işık Sarıhan (percussion) and they've released a variety of CDs and mp3 tracks in Turkey and beyond leading up to this, Guarana Superpower, their first-ever vinyl LP. The tracks drift from majestic beauty to blazing delirium with İtez etching his manifesto for electric guitar every step of the way backed by Sarihan's wide variety of percussion styles. Although the group is rooted in classical and modern Turkish psych-rock in spirit, they draw on a large range of sounds and influences, and traces of Turkish styles are hard to pin down. Two of the tracks, "MEGA Lambada" and "Guarana Superpower," are more reminiscent of late '80s post-punk experimental mind-melting, referencing Torch Of The Mystics-era Sun City Girls in grand fashion. Other cuts expand on a diversity of areas including tripped-out surf, retro Cambodian rock, electrified Thai Mor Lam and Saharan guitar music. Every single track is memorable and the incredible variety helps confirm the fact that Hayvanlar Alemi is one of today's great rock instrumental combos. This extremely limited one-time LP pressing comes in a full color heavy- duty tip-on jacket.
GROUP INERANE
Guitars From Agadez Vol. 3 (Music Of Niger)
Sublime Frequencies
LP
Volume 3 of the now legendary Guitars From Agadez series is finally here. Group Inerane's sophomore LP is the latest missive from the now sound of Niger's Tuareg guitar scene. Led by guitar hero Bibi Ahmed, this new incarnation introduces another legend on second guitar, one Koudede Maman. Koudede is considered to be a cornerstone of the second wave of the Tuareg guitar lineage, while Tinariwen and Abdulla Oumbadougo are the godfathers of the scene and Group Inerane and Bombino are the third and most current incarnation of the Tuareg's voice for hope and equality. Koudede's addition to Group Inerane's line-up arises from unfortunate circumstances -- Adi Mohammed, Inerane's original second guitarist, was shot dead in the endlessly festering rebellion battles. This new line-up is testament that the music of the Tuareg will not be stopped. The sound represented on this LP is the apex of the trance stun guitar style that this scene has perfected. This is rock music as played with Saharan modes. There is a propulsive entropy to these songs that is infectious and narcotic! Two guitars, bass and drums chug along on a hypnotic choogle that rivals both the Magic Band's early '70s marathon workouts and The Velvet Underground's drone on tracks like "Sister Ray." This is music made from revolution and its message of hope and validation of equality of the Tuareg way of life is unstoppable. Recorded by Hisham Mayet on location in Niger's capital Niamey in 2010 as travel to Agadez was forbidden by the military Junta that had just overthrown then President Mamadou Tandja. This limited edition LP comes in a beautiful full-color gatefold jacket with photos of the musicians and liner notes by Hisham Mayet.
Muslim Gauze
Soliel Moon
3LP
Bryn Jones died January 14, 1999. The man best known as Muslimgauze was 37 years old, and at the peak of his career. During his short life he recorded an astonishing number of albums, some 200 at last count, a great many of them in years immediately preceding his death. Indeed, his output was so great that his labels couldn’t keep up with the virtual flood of music he produced. It’s no wonder new material continues to surface so long after his passing. “Uzi Mahmood” was recorded to satisfy a specific request. Soleilmoon wanted a 12 inch single that DJs could play in nightclubs. The idea was to introduce Muslimgauze to a potentially enormous new audience. The request was made in the autumn of 1999, in a phone call lasting less than five minutes; Bryn was never one for small talk. He was all business, and he could record a complete album in three or four days, sometimes faster. Two weeks after agreeing to record a disco album for Soleilmoon, “Uzi Mahmood” was delivered to the label. But instead of the agreed on two or three tracks, he sent an eleven song compact disc, followed a week later by a 90 minute digital audio tape containing the entire CD plus two more pieces. Four songs were eventually selected for the experiment, and in the spring of 1998 a dirty-and-dubby 12″ EP was released. Two more songs were later used to replace a pair of corrupted tracks on the master tape for “Hussein Mahmood Jeeb Tehar Gass”, released on CD in 1999. The music was well received by fans, but the hoped-for dance floor revolution never happened, and the little record with the unconventional beats went out of print a few years later. Fast forward to the present: The year is 2009 and the four song EP has been out of print for more than five years, seven more songs lie waiting in the vault, still unreleased, and the two tracks tacked onto “Hussein Mahmood Jeeb Tehar Gass” are the only ones in wide circulation. Which is why Soleilmoon is so very pleased to finally be releasing all thirteen songs together on one record. “Uzi Mahmood” is 90 minutes of the sexiest, most booty-shakin’ Muslimgauze music ever heard. It stretches luxuriously across three LPs – two running at 33 RPM and one at 45 RPM – presented in an lavish, no-expense-spared gatefold jacket, and is limited to 500 copies. Shocking cover art and design has been furnished by the fine folks at Plazm, again, already, of course.
Ninni Morgia Control Unit
2LP
Brooklyn-based guitarist Ninni Morgia (Quivers, The Right Moves), on this occasion with multi-instrumentalist Daniel Carter, one of the most active and talented musicians of New York’s free jazz community, who has played, among others, with: Sun Ra, Sunny Murray, Test, Matthew Shipp, Other Dimensions In Music, Plastic Ono Band… and drummer/percussionist Jeff Arnal, create a beautiful mix of psychedelic free jazz and Indian raga with a wide range of instruments like thumb piano, kalimba, bells, gongs, all centered around Morgia’s versatile guitar work, previously compared to great masters like Keiji Haino, Sonny Sharrock and Hendrix. On the various tracks of this 2LP, Morgia’s guitar goes from Miles-electric style funky-wah and the acid trips of Jerry Garcia, to the fury of Haino and Sharrock, and finally reaches the ecstatic visions of the great kosmische bands Popol Vuh and Ash Ra Tempel. The record has been mastered by audio wizard Scott Colburn (Sun City Girls, Magik Markers, Animal Collective). In stock now. $22. You can hear some tracks here.
Joanne Grauer
s/t
Primo (Japanese Import)
"Ultra-rare, private release from the early seventies, and what an album it is too. Prepare to be dazzled by Ms Grauer's awesome explosion of Fender jazz!! Funky fusion of the highest order, this LP is truly a delight to listen to. Intricate playing, funky beats, great tunes. Including the original version of "Frog Child" taking a funkier, more direct approach, the effect is electrifying. "Inside, Outside" - that groove just won't stop." You can hear some tracks on Youtube.
Concern
Cæsarean
(Slow Fade) Japanese Import
CD
At least 10 of you bought Concern's beautiful Truth & Distance from us when we did the focus on Digitalis Industries. He's touring Japan this fall and this CD is being offered there. Let me know if you'd like one imported. Here's the description: the new album by solo artist Concern is primarily composed of piano, banjo and extensive tape manipulation. Rejecting the heavily electronic/synthesizer foundations of modern ambient music, Cæsarean is a uniquely beautiful and organic album; mournful collages of decaying tape loops, swelling acoustic tones, and harmonious, shimmering banjo drones. Included in the CD version released by Slow Flow Recs are two earlier Concern pieces, previously released in a very limited edition by Students of Decay in 2007.
Star Room Boys
Why Do Lonely Men and Women Try to Break Each Other's Hearts
Used CD
Out of Print
Here's an odd one: I have tried to bring this CD into the store for almost two years. I've spoken directly with the label and the lead singer-songwriter, Dave Marr. They're just not to be found. The CD is out of stock and out of print and the label doesn't have the right to repress; they also haven't surrendered the master tapes and artwork to singer Marr, so he can't get other labels to release it, though he insists he's had multiple offers. AllMusic gives it five stars, highlighting the group's "tight playing and songwriting, as well as Dave Marr's world-weary twang of a voice. ... A fine debut from a group unafraid to delve deeper into country's blue side." Easily one of my favorite albums of the last 20 years and probably in my top ten country albums of all time. We have one used copy and it'll be in the Featured Titles section tomorrow (Tuesday). I expect it will be gone quickly as every time I spin my copy at the store, 5 people ask me what I'm playing. $20. In stock on Tuesday.
Liars
We No Longer Knew Who We Were
Hand Held Heart
3 Song CDEP
This short CD came out just before Liars' Mute debut masterpiece, They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top. It was released in 2002 and was limited to 3000 copies. I managed to find 3 copies in a distro warehouse. $8.99 each. Short but great. In stock on Tuesday.
Okay, that's all I got for this issue. If you see anything you want, let me know. And remember, we have access to 10s of thousands of other titles. If there's something you're looking for, email me and I'll let you know if we can get it. Thanks!
Lincoln