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Post by bob on Sept 26, 2006 4:29:20 GMT 1
10th post - darkel is an Air side project
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Post by 3 on Oct 1, 2006 3:21:39 GMT 1
Indie
Hi Folks Another bumper week of releases for you this week. Kicking of with albums first, Record Of The Week goes to the superb debut from The Early Years (we've got a limited quantity of SIGNED CD copies!). Other albums includes the debuts from Larrikin Love and I'm >From Barcelona, along with newies from Sparklehorse, Brightblack Morning Light (formerly just Brightblack!), James Yorkston (with an 'indie stores' only bonus CD while stocks last!) and finally, the long awaited return of The Lemonheads. On the singles front, two of the biggies this week have actually been out before in some shape or form, but are still a must: Voxtrot and The Blood Arm. The Blood Arm is one of those 2 part 7" type things, as are the releases from Dirty Pretty Things, Juliette And The Licks, The Pipettes and Jeremy Warmsley. The Acutes debut is causing a bit of a stir, as are the singles from Tiny Dancers, The Invisibles and The Bridge Gang. The Boyfriends have another great 7" out ahead of their album, there's Shins-style breezy pop from The Format, a rock'n'roll rumble from Dan Sartain, electro infused pop from Stockholm, from Lonely Dear, perfect pop from Jamie Says and more art-rock fun from The Victorian English Gentlemens Club. And last but by no means least there are newies from Pink Grease, Lily Allen and Yo La Tengo. I think that just about covers it! Have a good week
avant-post rock
They're back to scare the nation!!! Yes the mighty Wolf Eyes return with a fresh new album that destroys the opposition this week and takes ROTW. Hurrah!
downbeat
For some strange reason, the list of forthcoming records is bigger than the new releases this week! Top of the pile is Quiet Village's remix of Cosmo Vitelli, qualifying for this section only after changing the speed from 45 to 33.
Mr Scruff's Big Chill compilation arrives on vinyl, Aim's new CD drops and the only other record is that Toto reissue, which you'll either love or hate (for the record, I love it).
Electronica. Experimental
Andy Stott's "Merciless" is more of a techno album than anything else, but it's got easily as much right to be in here as the Four Tet remix compilation and Fonal CDs. Plus, we're suckers for the old Warp sound...
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Post by 3 on Oct 4, 2006 18:46:43 GMT 1
The release of Rough Trade's 30 year anniversary CD (we're especially liking the picture of Kieran Flynn in his Revolting Cocks t-shirt!) reminded me to mention that I've now worked at Piccadilly Records for 20 years!
It only seems like yesterday / an entire lifetime ago that I arrived at the old shop in the Piccadilly Plaza complex (yes, we're called Piccadilly Records for a reason you know) in September 1986 sporting a jaunty bleach-blonde flat-top and equally questionable clothes, too shy to actually speak to anyone, and spent the next three months filing records before being thrown in at the deep end and becoming head singles buyer - eek!
A lot's changed in the years since (staff, customers, where we are, the arrival of CDs, the departure of tapes, the interweb, the death of 7" singles, the rebirth of 7" singles, taking the shop over ourselves, our waistlines and hair styles), but the ethos of the shop - stocking exciting new (and old!) music (in a wide range of genres) and being served by friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff - remains the same and long may it do so.
indie
Record Of The Week award would have gone to two releases this week, had I been allowed to pick two, but as I can only have one, it's gone to the 7" from Late Greats. If I'd been in a less lively, more laid back mood then it'd have gone to the Simple Kid who's been away for a while, but has returned with a great 6 minute single. The much talked Scousers about Hot Club De Paris have their second single out this week - on the strength of what I've heard so far, can't wait for the album which is due soon. And while we're in their neck of the woods, there's a new Clinic single this week too. Back to Manchester, and High Voltage release another quality single, this time from Bureau, and there's a new single from The Longcut too. There's limited singles from Blood Meridian, Department of Eagles (with a Tunng remix), Candie Payne and DJ Methodist, along with not quite so limited singles from Hidden Cameras, Love Is All, Serena Maneesh and Yourcodenameis: Milo. We've also got the 7"s in from New Young Pony Club and To My Boy, both of which are already available on other formats. Not only do we have the new single, but we also have the CD album too of one of the most talked about bands of the moment too: Datarock. Quick note about the Datarock 7"; it may well be unavailable by the time you read this, but we are assured it will be back in at the end of the week so wishlist and you'll be the first to find out when. Beck has a new album available as a normal single disc or a double, Mercury Rev have a fantastic 'best of' in normal or lovely deluxe digipack packaging, and they also have a soundtrack album out too. Debut albums come from The Boyfriends, John Power (ex Cast front man) and Cord and there are newies from Juliette & The Licks, The Killers, and Tilly And The Wall (although we've already had upfront copies of this for a while!) along with a rather strangely themed compilation on 4AD entitled "Plague Songs". And last but by no means least there's the Rough Trade Shop double CD which celebrates their 30 year history, with some of their 'celebrity' customers chosing their favourite tracks. It comes in a really nice package with a booklet and is well worth getting.
Avant/Post-Rock
The explosive quintet Dream/Aktion Unit consists of Thurston Moore, Paul Flaherty, Chris Corsano, Heather Leigh Murray and Matt Heyner and they combine to create some wonderful improv avant sounds. That album takes ROTW but also check out Below The Sea, Dove Yellow Swans, Fe-Mail & Carlos Giffoni on Important, Goldmund and the fiery KK Null.
Downbeat
Well, it's obviously not The Human Beanz' garage-pop track "Nobody But Me" that's record of the week for us, but actually the flip of the same twelve by Alan Parsons Project (just the name brings me out in a 70s prog rash). This new Dirty / Dark & Lovely edit of "I Robot" is a Balearic disco gem! Customers who bought this also bought Ginny "Can't Be Serious" (also for the B side hopefully).
Meanwhile, even the proper downbeat heads (Bonobo - my ROTW choice for here this week) have moved on to proper songs with singers and everything - what's going on!
Electronica. Experimental
Chris Clark's "Body Riddle" is exactly the kind of electronica album we like here at Piccadilly - not too beard-stroking and touching on musicality, AND it comes with a free extra mini CD in a little mini plastic case. It has to be record of the week doesn't it!
The other biggie is Merzbow's latest limited offering, this time housed in a hinged MARBLE box. Mmmm!
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Post by 3 on Oct 4, 2006 19:52:51 GMT 1
tracks i want to point out:
Beirut - The Gulag orkestar 8/10 Beirut - Branderburg 8/10 Dead Meadow - Green Sky Green Lake 9/10 You See Through Me - M.Gira 10/10 Unreal - M.Gira 7/10 Goldenhorse - Run Run Run 7/10 Head Like A Kite - Words Like a Friend 6/10 Head Like A Kite - Your Butt Crack Smile 6/10 Helicar Crago Lewis LLoyd & Friends - Lost at Sea 8/10 Killers - Sams Town 7/10 The Late Greats - Destroy My Brain 8/10 Love is All - Make Out Fall Out Make Up 8/10 M Craft - Sweets 8/10 Mercury Rev - Blackbirds Call 9/10 [More tracks which make me guess their new album is majestic!] Okkervil River - No Key, No Plan Pacific UV - Know 9/10 Serena Maneesh - Sapphyre Eyes 10/10 To My Boy - I am xRay 8/10 The Workhouse - Coathanger 7/10 The Workhouse - Shake Hands 10/10
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Post by 3 on Oct 9, 2006 15:32:20 GMT 1
indie
Some cracking albums for you this week, and top of the list is the superb Tokyo Police Club album, which isn't due out in the UK for a while, but we've managed to get our hands on some import copies. Other goodies include another great Sub Pop release, this time from Oxford Collapse, a classic John Peel Show collection, debuts from Jeremy Warmsley, compiling his EPs so far, the much talked about Hot Club De Paris, Milburn and Loney Dear, along with the solo album from Albert Hammond Jnr (from The Strokes - as if you didn't know!), The Drones, The Datsuns, Califone, a Luna 'Best Of' and a whole heap of others. Singles wise, the biggies this week includes the newie from Badly Drawn Boy, the debut from New Cassettes, a collaboration between Justin Robertson and Tim Burgess, and my two favourites this week which come from Field Music and The Archie Bronson Outfit. Others to check, include Vatican DC, The Hedrons, Hot Chip, Beck and The Lemonheads. Plenty there for you to get your teeth into!
avant-post rock
The Floatation Project is a real surprise this week, it's a really beautifully textured album complete with motorik rhythms, avant drones and Eno-esque melodic electronic twists. It takes ROTW.
downbeat
Quiet Village come up with another winner here, reworking Allez Allez' early 80s track "African Queen". As Tim says, it doesn't do much, but what it does we really love!
electronica
Well, EVERYONE knows that Afx's "Selected Ambient Works 85-92" is just one of the best electronic albums ever, so don't miss out on this re-press!
Meanwhile, I'm pointing you in the direction of the new Hu Vibrational LP, which combines a spiritual avant-jazz feel with hiptronic electronics. Lovely.
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Post by 3 on Oct 18, 2006 13:15:32 GMT 1
indie
By far the biggest indie release in ages this week, so I'll keep my chat to a minimum and let you wade through all the goodies yourselves! Record Of The Week this week goes to one of two quality releases this week from the excellent High Voltage label. It's the debut single from local band The Answering Machine and it's great! The other release comes from Snowfight In The City Centre and is also rather good. Other singles include lovely indie jangles from The Strange Idols, another classy double pack from Duels, the debut from new rising star Duke Special, more quality from Tigertrap records in the shape of Look-See Proof, a reissue of their debut from The Rifles, (this time it's not pressed off centre either!!!!), The Infadels cover The Raconteurs on the flip of their new single and finally there's a two part 7" from Jamie T. Albums wise, Black Angels is becoming a bit of a shop favourite. Badly Drawn Boys long awaited return comes in a very nice limited edition CD version and a nicely packaged LP, as well as the normal CD. This weekend I have been mostly listening to the new Clinic album and The Blood Arm debut. The Magnolia Electric album is now out in the UK, and we've got a few copies of Jason Molina's latest solo album back in on vinyl too. Talking of vinyl, Sparklehorse, The Ettes, The Drones and Bonnie Prince Billy's classic "Master And Everyone" are all in stock now. Like I say there's heaps of other stuff too - this is just the stuff that's stood out for me. But what do I know eh? Have a browse through yourself (and a listen too!) and make your own mind up.
avant-post rock
Taking the ROTW award this time around is the limited 10" single from avant 'supergroup' Crippled Black Phoenix, these are limited to just 500 copies, so don't delay on this one!! Also this week we have the CD version of the Grabba Grabba Tape album (they're Spain's answer to Lightning Bolt apparantly!), Library Tapes (a subtle and atmospheric workout for tired ears), Moly (excellent space rock) and much more.
downbeat
The quirky nature of the My Toys Like Me 45 brings it into the realm of weird shit, and the cuteness and oddball flavours on both sides make it our record of the week.
Apparently major labels have been sniffing round the duo, so don't expect these 45s to be around for long!
electronica. experimental
Bass slapper extraordinaire Squarepusher is back with one of his most accessible albums to date, and becomes our record of the week.
Also coming with a free CD is the Subtle album, while the Bass Clef 12" has no free CD but is just STUNNING (ROTW in reggae).
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Post by 3 on Nov 20, 2006 19:31:57 GMT 1
indie
Due to us being up to our ears in end of year booklet stuff (yes Christmas is only around the corner) at the moment, I shall be very brief today.
ROTW goes to the rather wonderful single on Transgressive Records from Mechanical Bride, it's a soothing understated folky stunner and quite different to the labels usual output. Be warned though, it's limited so hurry my pretties!!!
Right, that really is all you're getting as an intro this week, so read on and consume....
avant-post rock
The Aethenor album is a deeply cosmic experience like diving into the deepest darkest sea, a dark and epic ROTW.
downbeat
With Matt Edwards at home in bed suffering from tonsillitis, how coul we not make Quiet Village's remake of Ronny & Renzo's "Uniqorns" record of the week here (the sympathy vote wins every time!).
electronica. experimental
Dollboy's new LP "Casual Nudism" is a lovely record, as are Ronny & Renzo's "Uniqorns", the Subtle single, Nobody remixes and Hefty compilations. Enjoy.
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Post by 3 on Nov 20, 2006 19:48:47 GMT 1
surprised at Guillemots' "She's Evil"... sure it's Guillemots?
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Post by 3 on Dec 5, 2006 13:40:37 GMT 1
Well here we are in the first week of December (only three weeks to Christmas folks!), which can only mean one thing: Yes, it's time to reveal the Piccadilly Records 2006 chart: 1) Vetiver: "To Find Me Gone" 2) Midlake: "The Trials Of Van Occupanther" 3) Cat Power: "The Greatest" 4) Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators: "Keep Reachin' Up" 5) CSS: "Cansei De Ser Sexy" 6) Tapes 'n Tapes: "The Loon 7) Espers: "II" 8) M. Ward: "Post-War" 9) Calexico: "Garden Ruin" 10) J Dilla: "Donuts" 11) Pink Mountaintops: "Axis Of Evol" 12) The Ettes: "Shake The Dust" 13) Rekid: "Made In Menorca" 14) The Beauty Room: "The Beauty Room" 15) Lily Allen: "Alright, Still" 16) Sol Seppy: "The Bells Of 1 2" 17) Lone Official: "Tuckassee Take" 18) Yeah Yeah Yeahs: "Show Your Bones" 19) Howling Bells: "Howling Bells" 20) Six Organs Of Admittance: "The Sun Awakens" indieWell this is probably the last 'big' release list until the New Year I reckon. I don't think there'll be much else over the coming weeks. Still, there's plenty here to keep you going anyway! Record Of The Week goes to Polytechnic, with both The Low Miffs and Chow Chow running it a close second. The Chow Chow has almost sold out though, so sorry if you miss out. Other goodies include the debut 10" single from Cortina Deluxx, new My Dad Recordings (home of Jim Noir) signing Crash My Model Car, another 10", this time from GoodBooks, and a rather good single from My Luminaries. There's another limited edition in the Brainlove records singles club series featuring Applicants and Open Mouths, a limited Brakes single which is really good, a new 1965 records release from Baxter Dury, quirky country stylings from Indigo Moss, a great newie from Twisted Charm, electro-punk madness from Lost Penguin, cute pop from Gruff Rhys, rather nice 60s tinged sounds from Paper Spaceman and melodic electronics from Pagan Wanderer Lu. And last but not least on the singles front there's a reissue of Echo And The Bunnymen's "Rescue" with original artwork and all that. If you're into ethereal Icelandic sounds, then there's a Mum Peel Session out this week. Babyshambles release a mini album / EP type thing as do Piccadilly faves Blanche. In fact it seems to be the week for mini albums, with Twilight Singers also releasing one which features Mark Lanegan too. And finally, we've got upfront copies of the debut album from Jon Redfern on Reveal - it's been getting rave reviews all over the place and is well worth a listen. www.piccadillyrecords.com/m3u/indie-2006-12-04.m3uavant-post rockWe have a couple of very limited releases on the Latitudes label, from Circle and Magik Markers, and the later's avant primitve noise rock takes the ROTW award. In another congested week also check out the superb Flowers Of Hell CD, Animal Collective's Panda Bear's limited 12", and a couple of Static Caravan releases - a split 7" from SJ Esau/Bronnt Industries Commercial Division, and a rather lovely avant-folk effort from Serafina Steer. www.piccadillyrecords.com/m3u/avant-postrockdrone-2006-12-04.m3udownbeat . weird shitAnything decribing itself as Conan The Destroyer meets The Streets of San Francisco just has to be record of the week here really doesn't it? www.piccadillyrecords.com/m3u/downbeatweirdshitbalearic-2006-12-04.m3uelectronica . experimentalAhead of new material next year, Mum remind us how good they are / were with this Peel session release. Lovely. www.piccadillyrecords.com/m3u/electronicaexperimentalhiptronica-2006-12-04.m3u
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Post by 3 on Jan 1, 2007 15:44:39 GMT 1
indieI hope you've all had a good Christmas! New releases are a bit thin on the ground this week, but there's one release that really shouldn't be missed: the long awaited debut album from Johnny Boy. It includes their amazing "You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes...." single, and it's full of shimmering pop gems to lift those post Christmas and New Year blues! The pick of the singles is the new Hatcham Social single, but we're sold out already - fingers crossed we will get a few more copies though, so keep an eye on the 'just-in' section over the next couple of days. And finally, check out our 'lost treasure' feature for a whole host of indie gems that we found while tidying up the office! Have a very happy new year! Laura www.piccadillyrecords.com/m3u/indie-2007-01-01.m3uavant-post rock . droneIn an unsurprisingly quiet few weeks the shimmering beauty of Apse's avant-post-rock takes ROTW. Taking influences from a diverse range of styles Apse deliver a rhythmic tour de force good enough to win ROTW at any time. Cheers Darryl. www.piccadillyrecords.com/m3u/avant-postrockdrone-2007-01-01.m3udownbeat . weird shitWell, the new Otterman Empire 12" came and went in a day, Japanese Synchro System is record of the week in nu-jazz and we're waiting for more Fred Deakin (yes, it's a Lemon Jelly type thing) mix CDs to come in, leaving the Todd Terje re-edits of Chris Rea and Andreas Vollenweider as our choice for record of the week. Actually, even if all the other releases had been here, it would STILL have been record of the week cos it's just ace - and we know you agree because you've bought shed loads! Philippa www.piccadillyrecords.com/m3u/downbeatweirdshitbalearic-2007-01-01.m3uelectronica . experimentalVarious Production kick off 2007 with another winner on the grimetronic tip! Philippa www.piccadillyrecords.com/m3u/electronicaexperimentalhiptronica-2007-01-01.m3u
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Post by bob on Jan 2, 2007 9:31:26 GMT 1
I heard three tracks off the Johnny Boy album and I liekd it very very much. Recommended!
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Post by 3 on Jan 2, 2007 12:07:56 GMT 1
the clips from that file are a good taster for the album. i was sure you would have loved Johnny Boy, Bob
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Post by bob on Jan 2, 2007 14:39:45 GMT 1
theres more on their myspace - i love the song fifteen minutes
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Post by 3 on May 7, 2007 12:38:58 GMT 1
this week's thoughts...
Hello all. A decent pile of goodies for you to tuck into this week. I'll kick off with the Cheap For A Week albums this week: Newies from Elliott Smith, Bjork, Cinematic Orchestra, Marc Presents Visioneers and Manic Street Preachers. And while we're on albums, we've got our Record Of The Week this week, the fantastic debut from Windmill, only on vinyl so far but the CD will be released soon. Other albums worth checking include the excellent Twilight Sad debut, more garage cool from The Detroit Cobras, sweet folk from Lavender Diamond, the Help She Can't Swim album comes on CD or very limited coloured vinyl with completely different artwork, French Canadian rockers Malajube's album finally gets a UK release, and there's a lovely new album from The Sea And Cake. Finally on the albums front, we have a few Fall reissues. Check out our Fall feature too for loads of their albums at nice cheap prices! On to singles now, a few local things worth checking: punky boy/girl pop from Vile Vile Creatures, Steven Fretwell has a great new 10" and CD, and there's a quirky split single from Islands Lost At Sea and Soft Priest. A couple of singles people have brought in for us to sell too that are all worth a listen: The Stations, Little Lee and Mickey P And The Dudes and a couple of very good singles from Fitzrovian Phonographic: Jacob Fletcher and Brian Olive. There are a few 2 part 7"s this week: The Hold Steady (which I love!), Jamie T, Maccabees and Noisettes. And on top of that little lot, we've also got singles from Blood Brothers, Figurines, Good Books, Lionheart, Maps, Milk Kan (which we'll hopefully have back in later in the week), Josh Pyke and Sondre Lerche. Phew! Plenty there for you to get your ears round I'm sure you'll agree! Have a good week. Laura
new features piccadilly albums of the month - april For lovers of lists and top 10's etc, we bring you a monthly round up of the best album releases drawn from recommendations by not only the Piccadilly staffers, but also from sales instore (so that's you Piccadilly shoppers!!). Rather than just doing a top ten or twenty we've compiled this all singing all dancing list on the basis of quality rather than quantity, so some months will have more albums than others. Now read on and reminisce or maybe discover for the first time, this years essential albums so far...
piccadilly cheap for a week 07/05/07 In an attempt to allow you to support an independent record shop without being out of pocket, we bring you the 'cheap for a week' feature. This is a new regular feature that will highlight a choice selection of the week's biggest CD album new releases at 'cheap as chips' prices. We're squeezing our margins on these CD's in order to compete with the likes of Amazon and HMV and their huge buying powers. We will guarantee these prices for a week not only on the web but also instore too, and then offer our best possible price after that. Now to the important bit, the music! This weeks offer includes the sixth Bjork album, Cinematic Orchestra, Manic Street Preachers, Marc Mac's "Dirty Old Remixes", and another essential album of largely unreleased material from the late Elliott Smith.
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Post by bob on May 7, 2007 12:58:45 GMT 1
there's also a hawk and a hacksaw cd/dvd - worth investigating
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