Vinyl B-Stocks

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


David Boulter returns to Clay Pipe with St Ann's, an evocative tribute to the Nottingham council estate that shaped his early years. Since his Yarmouth LP in 2020 and Lovers Walk in 2021, Boulter has focused on soundtrack work, scoring films like Volkan Uce's Displaced and Gregorio Graziosi's Tinnitus. St Ann's chronicles Boulter's childhood, contrasting the harsh conditions of the old estate with the improved, vibrant new development. The album's subtle use of guitar, double bass, vibraphone, tenor recorder, and field recordings vividly recreates the atmosphere of crumbling Victorian streets and the optimism of the post-1960s renewal. Boulter's narrative delves into personal memories, painting a poignant picture of community transformation. His reflection on moving to a new house with modern amenities, while still attending an old Victorian school being demolished, adds depth to the story. The project was deeply influenced by Boulter's emotional experience of clearing out his family home at the end of 2022. St Ann's is more than a personal memoir; it's a celebration of inner-city renewal and the enduring spirit of community. This album resonates with nostalgia, capturing the key moments of Boulter's formative years.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


The third volume in the Future Sounds Of Kraut series delves deeper into the experimental realms of krautrock, blending its hypnotic rhythms with modern sensibilities. On this release, Fred und Luna lead the charge with their distinctive sound, drawing from the genre's rich history while infusing it with fresh, forward-thinking elements. The album's varied tracks are a journey through intricate loops, motorik beats and atmospheric textures, offering a dynamic exploration of electronic and psychedelic landscapes. A collection that pays homage to Krautrock's pioneers while shaping its own space in the genre, this release is a must-listen for both old and new fans alike.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Newly, radically reimagined remixes created from John Lennon's classic song, Mind Games. These nine Meditation Mixes craft their own space while maintaining firm and authentic roots in John Lennon's original recording. Each have been radically altered, slowed down and extended, ranging from five to ten to over 33 minutes, allowing the soundtrack to wash over the listener and provide a relaxing deep listening experience. Four tracks are presented as binaural versions which each focus on different types of brain waves: Beta, Delta, Gamma and Theta. Named 'Mind', 'Space', 'Spirit' and 'Love', these exploit the response of the ear to left and right frequencies, which constructively combine to produce a new frequency, which in turn, as they say, activates beneficial brain patterns. Produced by Sean Lennon, these contemporary Lennon versions aim to positively impact the contemporary anxiety-racked listener, whose appetite for deep listening has only understandably increased in recent years.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


It's been a boom period for British post-punk, but with more than five years passing since the craze hit its peak, it's become easier to separate the wheat from the chaff and recognise those who are here to stay and those who had very little to sustain any interest. Squid are here to stay, having blossomed from their shouty beginning into one of the most compelling British bands of the past ten years, with genre-defying qualities and boundless creative spirit. This new album is about evil, nine stories whose protagonists reckon with cults, charisma and apathy. Real and imagined characters wading into the dark ocean between right and wrong. Recorded at Church Studios in Crouch End with Marta Salogni and Grace Banks and Dan Carey on additional production, it's a real gem with a real chance of being up for nomination at the next Mercury Prize ceremony.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


If you're not familiar with Jim Jarmusch and Carter Logan's SQURL project, then it's time to rectify that. Over the past eight years, the two interdisciplinary creatives have been touring some of the most prestigious venues in the world (Art Institute of Chicago, Elizabeth Hall, London, Center Pompidou, Paris), presenting live scores to the experimental films of Dadaist pioneer Man Ray. Can you guess where this is going? As Logan puts it: "It's a journey we want to take the audience on, illuminating themes throughout these films. They are discrete, but there are also recurring echoes throughout the whole programme". Music For Man Ray presents some of those spellbinding ideas-as-soundtracks in an album form. Tunes and noises created and developed to accompany the film Return To Reason, when experienced as standalone audio it emphasises just how captivating the tones are.