The first of three 10” comprising Charlotte Courbe’s third album; her compelling return to Honest Jon’s after two decades, laced with surprise and subversiveness, and a refreshing, unique candour.
After a cancer diagnosis last year, Charlotte felt the urge to produce and release new music. “It became like a vital thing.”
MRI Song and Planet Ping Pong were recorded during chemotherapy. Mind Contorted is a duet with Terry Hall, also featuring Terry’s son Theodore and Noel Gallagher on guitars, in a cover of Daniel Johnston. The song Fourteen Years is the oldest inclusion, announcing a fresh, freer direction.
The sleeve exclusively presents new work by John Stezaker, in the first of a triptych.

“I put out the first Le Volume Courbe single in 2001… she reminded me of a female Syd Barrett…  real psychedelic soul” (Alan McGee).
“Inspiring originality, fiercely independent, beautiful music, always years ahead of its time. I remember hearing Charlotte’s music for the first time and being immediately taken by the freshness, great melodies and utterly unique approach” (Kevin Shields).

Wicked early-eighties Wackies, unsteady and moody, with a Hudson connection.

Toddler at the control tower, over heavier-than-lead Roots Radics. Scientist cuts the dub right back to the bone.

Plus the melodica instrumental and three dubs.

A lovingly presented, outer-disciplinary collaboration featuring Ben Lancaster playing Moog, Sean Roche on saxophones, and visual artist Justin Hibbs. The music is a no-nonsense jazz stomper with Sun Ra running through its veins, and an eastern flavour; in two quite different arrangements.

Lovely, mystical, incantatory, roots singing over a deep, knock-off-Rhythm-&-Sound rhythm.

Terrific, grooving Black History from the Roy Ayers camp.
‘Remember to remember, to never forget. How long… how long… how long will it take?’

Inspired singing, feel-the-vibes deejaying, and awesome Scientist/Tubbys mixes via Channel One in 1980.
Jeesus Chroyss, we noice.

‘The Dark Of The Psychic Unknown’.

With an Actress.

‘Psychological Drama’.

Crucial Arthur — with a deadly Walter Gibbons mix.

Scientist, Roots Radics.

Right on for the darkness. Twelve minutes of shifting, sunken drones, massive kicks, shimmering veils of free-jazz drums, bells, synths. Warehouse runnings scared witless by Unit Moebius and Shitcluster on the flip.

A magnificently malevolent two-hander.
The Ekman is a furiously maxed-out piledriver; the Vereker is more Thing than machine, massive and roiling, scorpion-tailed and owl-eyed. The pulverising besiegement; the gory carnage.
Proper warehouse bangers, with a vengeance.