Our staff here at Juno Records select their top music picks to hit the shelves this week. Including new vinyl 12” and 7” releases, reissues, represses and limited editions.
Review: Spanky Wilson is one of the fiercest, sweetest voices in the golden era of late 60s / early 70s soul, with a modest but mighty mark left behind by her run of classic albums and later collaboration with The Quantic Soul Orchestra. This handy 7" gathers together two classic Wilson cuts, leading in with the heavyweight soul-funk of "You". On the flip is her evergreen cover of "Sunshine Of Your Love", which for our money bests Jack Bruce's original vocal performance to take the vintage track onto a whole other level of raw, passionate power.
Review: Moog mastermind Jean Jacques-Perrey first released "E.V.A." on his landmark 1970 album "Moog Indigo", but most children of the '90s would recognise the distinctive, effervescent lead hook from the Fatboy Slim remix that totally encapsulates the big beat era. This handy jukebox 12" carries Perrey's original on one side, and on the flip another iconic piece of Norman Cook source material. Camille Yarborough's "Take Yo' Praise" was a cult slice of jazz funk released in 1975 that really is just perfect in its original state, but there's no denying Cook struck gold when he flipped it into chart-topping hit "Praise You".
Review: Al Campbell and Trinity's "Respect" is now available on 12" for the first time thanks Greensleeves. Campbell provides the vocal work, which is aloof and detached on "respect", with dreamy trumpets somewhere off in the distance as the rhythm section rolls on with real warmth. Trinity's production is fully on point throughout. The flip is more direct, with heavier beats and more reverb underlining the crisp Al Campbell, and it also features an exclusive dub mix of the same tune that is scorching hot and carries serious weight.
Review: Polly Jean Harvey is currently midway through an epic reissue series, delivering freshly re-mastered versions of numerous albums across a multitude of formats. The latest set to get a new vinyl pressing is 1993's "Rid of Me", which saw the celebrated singer-songwriter make her major label bow after years spent operating on small indie imprints. Widely considered one of Harvey's finest moments, the set was far more raw and aggressive than her previous work - despite using the same stripped-back line-up of musicians as its predecessor - with producer Steve Albini, famed for his work with the Pixies, conjuring a particularly "psychotic" sound (as its main protagonist has since called the album in interviews).
Review: Sven Wunder is a Swedish outfit who turned plenty of heads with their 2020 album Easter Flowers. World, fly, country and jazz all coloured its widescreen sounds and now Mr Bongo serve up two singles from it on a tidy and limited edition green 7". "Magnolia" is an epic prog rock track laced with a Balearic undercurrent and run through with intoxicating and world leads that take you on a real trip. "Lotus" then layers up live drums with more neat guitar playing as well s arching great riffs and Eastern melodies that intoxicate every step of the way.
Review: Nina Kraviz's Trip label welcomes back mainstay Vladimir Dubyshkin with his provocatively entitled Pornographic Novel EP. It's another blistering effort that is dedicated to the 90s Russian prom phenomenon and takes cues from absurd dialogues, bad acting and comic plots. The results are deadly serious however, with stomping beats driving forwards "The Return Of The Drunken Son", brutalism defining the hard edged techno of "Driving The Bus" and molten Mills style minimalism the order of the day on "Deaf Artist." The off-beat urgency of "Company Of 302s" closes in unforgettable fashion.
Review: When it comes to robust, far-sighted and futuristic machine music, Posthuman can usually be relied upon to deliver the goods. Here they make a now rare outing away from their I Love Acid label, offering up a must-check four-track on Lobster Theremin's nostalgia-tinted There Is Love In You offshoot. The long-serving UK duo hits the ground running with sweaty opener "Chevrolet", a weighty, bass-heavy, warehouse-ready affair featuring the distinctive vocals of Josh Caffe, before switching to mind-altering acid techno heaviness on "The Depth". Over on side B, "Jupiter Traxx" sees them eagerly join the dots between electro, breaks and hip-house, while "My House Rules" is vintage deep house taken to the outer realms of the galaxy.
Review: LTJ X-Perience's 2015 album Don't Let The System Get You Down became a mini classic soon after release. It was the producer's fifth at the time, and he has serve dup two more since, but this one remains the most in demand, hence a timely reissue on Italy's IRMA. The six sides of vinyl serve up plenty of disco treats that lean on funk, soul and downtempo and ooze a real authenticity and authority. The title track itself is a fine example, with its loose and jailing grooves, organic percussion and soaring, serene strings.
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