Silver Current US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Outtakes, B-sides, rarities and previously unheard tracks from the proto-shoegaze heroes on what is the most comprehensive archival release from the band, spanning their earliest studio recordings to their final sessions. The double CD includes never-before-heard tracks like 'Shout You Down' from the Today sessions and 'I Wanna Live' from the On Fire sessions. Drummer Damon Krukowski remarked on the nostalgic experience of revisiting these recordings, likening it to opening an old journal. Bassist Naomi Yang reflected on the developmental journey captured in the tracks, highlighting the evolution of their collective sound and her own bass playing. Galaxie 500's three seminal albums, Today (1988), On Fire (1989), and This Is Our Music (1990), were all recorded with producer Kramer at Noise New York. This compilation completes the band's recorded output from those pivotal years, offering fans a deeper dive into their creative process.

Review: Magic Fig's debut album is a kaleidoscopic journey through the realms of psychedelic pop, adorned with dreamlike hooks, celestial choral vocals, and mesmerizing Moog pitch-bends. Hailing from San Francisco, the band comprises alumni from esteemed Bay Area groups like The Umbrellas, Whitney's Playland, Almond Joy, and Healing Potpourri, lending their collective expertise to craft an album brimming with sonic fireworks and top-notch musicianship. Produced by Joel Robinow of Once and Future Band, the album resonates with the vibrant spirit of the city's psychedelic lineage while embracing a distinctive fusion of prog rock and pop joy reminiscent of Canterbury greats from the 60s and 70s. Magic Fig effortlessly navigates between West Coast indie pop sensibilities and the experimental ethos of the Canterbury scene, resulting in a sonic attack that feels both familiar and refreshingly original. With each track, the band invites listeners on a transcendental odyssey, evoking a sense of nostalgia while pushing the boundaries of contemporary psychedelic music. From ethereal ballads to euphoric anthems, Magic Fig's debut covers the allure of psychedelic soundscapes to delve into and get lost in.

Review: Paradigm-shifters Sonic Youth, who formed way back in 1981, performed their final US show in August 2011 at the Williamsburg Waterfront in Brooklyn, New York. Thus rounding off a three-decade career - from their debut album Confusion Is Sex to their final album The Eternal - this live album exhibits the band's signature blend of noise, melody, and experimentation, as well as their energetic and passionate approach to live performance, all channelled through many a recognisable and rare live song. Mixed from multitrack by longtime live engineer Aaron Mullan and mastered and cut by Carl Saff, this nostalgic LP was first released in 2020 by Goofin' Records, and once more comes out on vinyl and CD via Silver Current.