Your Food "Poke It With A Stick (Drag City)"
Sure, most people have never heard of Your Food or their only LP Poke It With A Stick. But those who have hold in in such high regard that they’d likely love to tell you about it in great detail at any opportunity. Thanks to Drag City, now we can all become like those chosen few who happened to stumble upon this long out of print, highly collectable album from the KY post-punks. How music that sounded like this was being recorded in KY in the days before the internet 700 miles away from their angular sound’s NYC epicenter is baffling. Sounding a little bit like rhythm obsessed NY bands ESG or Bush Tetras, this is sure to get your motor running. Check out the first track from the reissue, “Leave.”
The Skull Eclipses "The Skull Eclipses (Western Vinyl)"
What a year 2018 is turning out to be for Philadelphia! First, the Eagles win The Super… er… The Big Game, and somehow Philly as an infrastructure has survived. Now, Philly’s own Lushlife has teamed up with Austin producer Botany to supply suits to gameshow hosts. Wait. That isn’t right. They teamed up to form The Skull Eclipses, a ‘90s electronica-influenced hip-hop group. This self-titled debut is sure to please anyone with even a passing interest in hip hop (or pocket squares). Check out the smooth head nodding’ energy of “Gone” featuring Open Mike Eagle!
Erasure "World Beyond (Mute)"
If you were a fan of Erasure’s last album World Be Gone, then do I have good news for you! It’s back! In POG form. Ok, now that I’ve got your attention with talk of Erasure and Simpsons references, let’s get down to business. World Beyond (Mute), the newest LP from the long-lasting Erasure, is a post-classical reworking of their last LP World Be Gone. The arrangements of these songs have been stripped down to fit the seven players from Echo Collective that Vince and Andy worked with. The result is a sophisticated take on already sophisticated music. This collection of reflective songs have plenty of space here to breathe, and Andy can really dig into his vocals here. Check out the haunting strains of “Oh What A World.”
of Montreal "White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood (Polyvinyl)"
Like a lot of people, the last election cycle effected Kevin Barnes of of Montreal profoundly. Turned him deeply paranoid. But another thing happened. He fell in love. These two opposites make up the backstory for his latest stunner White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood (Polyvinyl). Also, he rediscovered his love of the extended dance mixes of pop hits of the ‘80s. The long versions of songs that you ould only hear if you went to the club. So he set out to make this LP sound like it was the extended mixes of the songs found here. The result is somewhere between Bowie’s Berlin era and extended mixes of Prince’s most beloved albums. Check out the eff-word heavy “Paranoiac Intervals-Body Dysmorphia.”