Dead Oceans Vinyl & CDs

Review: Japanese Breakfast's fourth album is the first that they've recorded in a proper studio. They traded their usual makeshift spaces for the holy grail of recording studios: Sound City in Los Angeles. That's where Nirvana's Nevermind was recorded and Dave Grohl spotlighted in a major documentary. To make the most of the space they hired Perfume Genius, Laura Marling and Fiona Apple producer Blake Mills and together they've crafted a stunning album that, as the title indicates, takes the listener on a more melancholic journey than ever before. 'Orlando In Love' marries the strum of an acoustic guitar with stately string sections and it feels vulnerable yet hopeful. Meanwhile, 'Mega Circuit' works around a vocal melody that wouldn't be amiss in a Katy J Pearson song. In terms of the mix, it's an ambitious and sonically colourful affair with plenty to hold onto and keep the listener discovering new elements upon each listen.

Review: Michelle Zauner's music is lovely as ever on this, her fourth Japanese Breakfast album. Again, it's a thing of exciting beauty and big emotions, soft sounds and melancholic melodies. Harmonies that wrap us in thoughts of pure romance and falling head over heels, these sepia hued images cast from the memory bank of treasured moments made painful, then reflective and warming, by the passing of time. Clearly part of the loved and lost club, Zauner's songs almost feel effortless in their ability to invoke such tangible and raw feelings without really insisting on themselves. This is thoughtfulness with a capital T, set against a meandering backdrop of soft rock, indie balladry, and swooning string pop. As complex as it is easy to fathom - the unmistakable work of a human artist.

Review: Produced by Grammy winner Blake Mills, For Melancholy Brunettes sees Michelle Zauner move away from the bright energy of Jubilee to explore darker, more introspective themes. The album delves into the complex emotional landscape of melancholy, capturing the bittersweetness of desire and "the perilous pursuit of one's dreams." Reflecting on her transformative rise, which includes the success of Jubilee and Crying in H Mart, Zauner contemplates the dangers of longing and the consequences of unchecked ambition. The album's narrative unfolds through themes of temptation, regret and reflection and though that sounds heavy it culminates in a hopeful listen.

Review: Mrcy, the duo of producer Barney Lister and vocalist Kojo Degraft-Johnson, fuse soulful self-expression with a modern sensibility. Drawing from their distinct backgrounds, they blend Marvin Gaye's warmth with the genre-defying sounds of Anderson .Paak. First connecting over Instagram during the pandemic, their music reflects both individual perspectives and shared experiences. Debut single 'Lorelei' captures this essence, with their upcoming project, 'volume 1', offering a mix of commanding vocals, empathy, and compassion. Mrcy's music is a personal yet universal exploration of soul, grit and the magic of everyday life.