‘You could scarcely find two more contrasting bottleneck stylists… the ‘Hawaiian Guitar Wizard’ played upbeat, concerned with smooth tone. Arnold usually played solo, with strident tones, generally frenetic…’
Pure soul from Muscle Shoals in 1973. Heart-stopping interpretations of Carole King, Burt Bacharach, George Soule, Bob Dylan, George Jackson… he even makes an Aretha his own. Wonderful record.
Uproarious mix-up of Molam pop, Thai acid-rock, Javanese dangdut, default TwoTone and Cambodian instro-drama from the Oakland CA seven-piece including Sublime Frequencies’ Mark Gerghis (with Alan Bishop guesting).
Demdike Stare and Andy Votel.
‘This second AG recording for Treader sees Charles Hayward passing the drumsticks to Rupert Clervaux. Together with Coxon’s simple and insistent guitar themes, the elegant drum-work underpins four extended group compositions, containing a surprising collision of sounds and influences, bringing together Pat Thomas from the Improv scene, Floating Points-collaborator Susumu Mukai, and Alexis Taylor’s mooger-foogered rhodes. Somehow it all crystallises perfectly. The clearest precedent for this engaging recording is Ege Bamyasi-era Can, but really it occupies a position all its own.’
‘An album of cathartic intimacy, built around electronic textures and sparse percussion, with White’s gently yielding, half-spoken vocals pitched pleasingly between Laurie Anderson and Joni Mitchell’ (Mojo).
Laid-right-back — with old buddies Dave Reisch and Lewi Longmire, and Tara Jane O’Neil; a Blind Willie McTell and a Lightning Hopkins; and unmissable goes at favourites like Light Green Fellow. One of the very best Hurleys of them all.
Instrumentals on electric guitar and organ. Tiny pressing from last year.
Gorgeous, downbeat, giddy with reverie, longing and loss. Led by Inigo’s guitar, banjo, ukelele or harmonium; with classic brass-band charts. Recorded by James Blackshaw’s engineer; mastered by Rashad.
Tear-up cumbias from this mighty label’s treasure-rooms, handsomely sleeved.