Stones Throw US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Pearl & The Oysters, made up of duo Juliette Pearl and Joachim Polack, have been described as "Florida's best kept secret," owing to their sweetly unforgettable style of psychedelic indie. With dreamy vocals, catchy melodies, and experimental instrumentation, the duo have been said to channel the influence of classic French composers like Serge Gainsbourg and Michel Legrand into their work, nailing a filmic atmosphere that is otherwise lent to a Mario Kart-esque bedroom pop.

Review: Is there a more famous nutcase in music than Lee Scratch Perry? The legendary producer is still very much on the musical money, though, no matter how weird he gets in person. This record for Stones Throw finds him working with Peaking Lights' Aaron Coyes and Argentinian dubber Ivan Diaz Mathe on a series of heavyweight tunes that are brilliantly psychedelic. The title track is a cosmic stepper then "No Age" is a wandering dub with oodles of trippy effects and stoner leads that make way for some of his textbook vocal musings on "Magik." After immersive closer "No Age" you'll be keen to do it all again.

Review: Peyton's debut full-length PSA finally lands on Stones Throw having been started back in 2018 with help from producers including Vicky Farewell, Julie Lewis and Biako. The Houston singer and songwriter exudes real confidence across all of these tracks, with self-love a key motif throughout. This is a record that will have your thoughts turning to warm summer days and back yard BBQs thank to its gloriously sunny and breezy atmospheres. Featured guests like Brice Blanco and Ian McGilber bring their own steez but Peyton's signature sound always remains front and centre as the artist muses on love, friendship and life itself.

Review: A track per year is said to have gone into the making of Quasimoto's 2013 hip-hop 12-tracker. The long haul is documented across a quirky, frequency-surfing selection, which at times veer from the usual wonky, tongue-in-cheek, nasally prod-rap flows and into subvertised sound collage. 'Seasons Change', for example, detours into a bolshy sample tapestry about alcoholism and the substitution of natural highs for synthetic high. Even so, it's the irreverent, conversational miasmas of 'Youngblood', 'Planned Attack' and 'LAX to JFK' that really define this mixtape slash compilation from the yellow Madlib alter-ego.

Review: Brittney Denise Parks aka Sudan Archives has released some of the most fascinating music of the last couple of years. What makes it so unique is Parks' voice, which tumbles down to melancholic depths or soars to uplifting highs. On this new album, though, she makes more of her own virtuoso violin playing, stretching the sounds in all manner of wonderful directions, couching her voice in lush sonic layers. There is an orchestral, chamber music feel to this most grandiose of works, and it is one that feels rich, poignant and moving from start to finish. Smart, inventive, but soulful, it might be one of the albums of the year.

Review: Brittney Denise Parks aka Sudan Archives has released some of the most fascinating music of the last couple of years. What makes it so unique is Parks' voice, which tumbles down to melancholic depths or soars to uplifting highs. On this new album, though, she makes more of her own virtuoso violin playing, stretching the sounds in all manner of wonderful directions, couching her voice in lush sonic layers. There is an orchestral, chamber music feel to this most grandiose of works, and it is one that feels rich, poignant and moving from start to finish. Smart, inventive, but soulful, it might be one of the albums of the year.

Review: Sudan Archives is a cutting-edge violinist, singer, songwriter and producer who has quickly become one of the most innovative new artists in electronic music. Her second album Natural Brown Prom Queen again shows off her unique talent. She says that the record is about "discovering your worth, and manifesting a life around that understanding." It is a record about making progress and artistically it sure does that with tunes that pair meticulous production with powerful messages. Both lyrics and vocals are tight, making this a potent listen.

Review: The guys over at Stones Throw did us a massive favour this year by compiling these long-forgotten experimental pieces form the 80s and 90s. This is the second chapter and we couldn't have expected any better from Peanut Butter Wolf's imprint. There's plenty of rarities and gems here, starting with with the opener by Hard Cops, "Dirty" an italo-influenced electro stomper with an unmistakable 80s edge to it. Philippe Laurent's "Distortion" is another massive track, with those wavering lyrics falling apart over the grinding beat beneath it; "HSTA" by Das Ding is also unmissable and worthy of any collectors shelf. To be honest, there isn't a single average piece here and if you haven't got this compilation already, you're making a huge mistake...