New releases last eight weeks: Library/Archive

Review: Danielle Boutet's Pieces is a mysterious artifact of Quebecois marginalia, self-released in 1985. Seeming to land squarely in the French no wave niche, yet nonetheless defying it through sinister inversions of the form, the reissued album comes as a reminder of Boutet's impressive command over atmosphere and narrative. Arabesque monologues in her native French soar over warblingly warm arpeggios, which sound ready-primed for traversals of Transylvania, while the more languid cuts make use of impressively synthetic emulations of what could otherwise sound like affectedly acoustic instruments, such as the "harmonica" on 'En attendant l'aube'. This is a welcome unearthing of an otherwise unconscious album, made in the space between REM sleep and authentic, out-of-the-limelight living.

Review: Woman by Monica Lassen & The Sounds is a rare and beautiful album that has finally been reissued on vinyl in 2024. Originally released in 1970, the album is a mix of easy listening and jazz-funk with a distinctly cinematic feel. The lack of vocals gives the music a dreamy and evocative quality, perfect for soundtracking your own mental movies. If you're a fan of either easy listening or jazz-funk, or if you're just looking for something new and different, we highly recommend checking out this rare piece of Japanese music. It's a truly unique and special album that deserves a place in any music lover's collection.

Review: Magnetic Sunshine will be the fifth studio album from the dynamic sound fusion band The Men From S.P.E.C.T.R.E. The band formed in 1997 and are known for their cinematic grooves and dancefloor destroyers. You could compare this to some sort of James Bond lost movie soundtrack cover but it is so much more than that. Songs romp into Go-Go, pop and fusion, funk and rock music. And that's not all. Check out the beautiful bridges and passages in 'Raven' or the sonic assault on 'Enceladus '. We really like the psychedelia in 'Blackberry Gardens' as well. This unique band is a great example at how music can enthrall and entertain you. This great looking package and cover art comes complete with matching orange vinyl.

Review: Proper wackjob broken beat concrete from Miles Newbold, touching down on swampy terrain somewhere suspended between the stark, dub-damaged bruk of Dennis Mcfarlane et al, 50s B-movie sci-fi soundtracks, 60s lounge kitsch, and the close bedroom drum machine soul experiments of pioneers like Shuggie Otis, but avoiding cliche at every turn. Highlights include the opening klang of 'Vital Signs' with its driving drum break giving way to a fantastic planet-esque sea of modular squealings and contractions and the abstract and disarmingly groovy plod of 'Possible Danger'.

Review: A Special Radio: TV Record No 23 is a deep dive into the eclectic world of Belgian radio and TV music from the 1980s and is exactly the sort of esoteric record that we nerdish collectors fawn over owning. Arriving on limited transparent yellow vinyl, it features a diverse selection of tracks ranging from funk and jazz to synth-pop and electronic experimentation. Each song is a snapshot of the vibrant and innovative music scene that thrived during that era and comes with some nice infectious grooves, catchy melodies, and nostalgic charm that all serve as a delightful homage to the golden age of Belgian broadcasting. It's a must-have for those who seek out hidden gems and forgotten treasures.

Review: With roots that date back to 1967, when Weekly Manga Action magazine decided to take a punt on a new character, master thief Lupin III, grandson of gentleman robber Arsene Lupin, and his criminal gang, Takeo Yamashita and Otomo Yoshihide's collaborative soundtrack has cult status written all over it. While not made to accompany the core Lupin III series, the music here featured on the critically acclaimed Lupin Zero, a saga that takes us back to the early years of the protagonist - a young boy opening the door on a life of crime in mid-1960s Japan. On record, that sounds like a flamboyant and intoxicatingly heady brew of jazz, psychedelic rock, electronic experimentation and pure groove. As vivid as both the original printed cartoons and the subsequent screen adaptations that continued the legacy.