Conch Records

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December 04 2012

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The Greg Foat Group - Girl and Robot with Flowers (JAZZMAN)

Written By 1 - December 04 2012

Available here on CD, here on LP

It’s been a year since the magnificent ‘Dark is the Sun’ first enchanted listeners back in 2011, and we’re thrilled to announce the next installment of mesmerizing non-contemporary jazz by the Greg Foat Group with their new album ‘Girl and Robot with Flowers’.

Evading the dreaded ‘second album syndrome’ with consummate ease, ‘Girl and Robot with Flowers’ is a sonic soundscape of epic proportions that leaves ‘Dark is the Sun’ in the dust while propelling the listener into infinity – and beyond!

With a doff of the hat to sci-fi writer Brian Aldiss, we’re whisked off on a thematic journey into the emotive and enthralling realms of cinematic jazz, seductive ambience and exciting, majestic drama. Often unpredictable and certainly never dull, British pianist/composer/arranger Greg Foat uses everything from brass bands and kettle drums to Moog synthesizer and harmonium to take us above and beyond the stratosphere of our senses. Have spacesuit? Let’s travel!

As with ‘Dark Is the Sun’, this album was recorded in a unique, pure analogue studio in Sweden to capture the full warmth and dynamic range of the wide variety of instruments utilized. The spacious, high quality sound that was achieved by recording direct to tape through high quality vintage equipment is absolutely impeccable, revealing in stunning detail a magical atmosphere the likes of which is rarely heard in the current climate of digitalization and MP3s.

Over the years Greg Foat has collaborated withmusicians and artists such as Wendy James, Questlove of The Roots, The Black Lips, Justice and The Bees. This past year has been a busy one with tours of Europe and the UK, exposing their music to seasoned audiences: Jamie Cullum, Chris Evans, Gilles Peterson, Craig Charles, Ozwald Boateng, Helena Christiansen, Jude Law, Benicio Del Toro, Lyndsey Lohan are just a few of the many faces who have enjoyed the music of the Greg Foat Group.

Date

December 04 2012

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UPCOMING: Marcos Valle Brazilian Classics (LIGHT IN THE ATTIC)

Written By 1 - December 04 2012

2013 marks Marcos Valle’s 70th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the Brazilian native’s debut long player.  For the past few years, we’ve been obsessed with Valle’s early ‘70s masterwork, originally recorded for the Odeon label.   It’s where a new modern Brazilian pop sound effortlessly mixed bossa nova, baião and samba with foreign influences like jazz, rock, pop, soul and funk, bringing to mind the sounds of Jean Claude Vannier and David Axelrod.  

Due out JAN/FEB 2013, to pre-order please contact us at info@conch.co.nz

 
ARTIST: Marcos Valle
TITLE: Marcos Valle
CAT #: LITA090
LABEL: Light In The Attic
FORMATS: CD/LP
Evolving from samba’s percussive pulse in the late 1950s, bossa nova (literal translation: new trend), is Brazil’s internationally accepted gift to the global melting pot of music. Initially brought to prominence by the likes of Antônio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, and João Donato, by the mid-1960s, there was an emerging pool of youthful talent ready to make their voices heard. Marcos Valle and his lyricist brother Paulo Sergio were no exception. After signing to Odeon Records (a subsidiary of EMI) the pair penned a classic of the South American songbook, “Samba De Verão”—known in English as “So Nice (Summer Samba).” A musical trip to the United States in 1966, where the singer worked with Sergio Mendes and jazz giant Verve Records, provided even more inspiration. By the dawn of the 1970s, the multi-talented Valle was entering a new era, ready to test the government censors (Brazil was under strict military rule since a coup d’état in 1964) and express a socially aware stance and a playful hodge-podge of musical styles including samba, bossa nova, baião (a rhythmic beat from the rural northeast of Brazil), black American music, and rock.
Marcos Valle was originally released in 1970 and not only features a seductive cover image of Marcos reading the local papers with a bottle of liquor on a side table, but a dynamic musical backing from some of Brazil’s most gifted players. Hip-hop fans may even recognize the opening horn blasts of “Ele E Ela,” sampled to great effect on Jay Z’s “Thank You.” Any way you spin it, we at Light In the Attic are extremely proud to present Marcos Valle as part of our four-album Marcos Valle reissue campaign. Consisting of an ambitious string of early 1970s landmark studio sessions (sympathetic in spirit to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye’s game changing work from the same era) and released on CD and LP, Marcos Valle (including a rare bonus track on the CD version) features extensive liner notes by San Francisco-based writer Allen Thayer (Wax Poetics) with exclusive interview content and song-by-song breakdown from Marcos himself. Fans new and old will finally have easy breezy access to these once hard-to-find Brazilian classics. With legendary progressive rock group Som Imaginário backing the Valle brothers’ animated music and lyrics, Marcos Valle is a welcome addition to any South American friendly record collection and sits proudly with the best of Brazil. File after Os Mutantes and before Caetano Veloso. TRACKLIST:  1. Quarentao simpatico    2. Ele e ela     3. Dez leis     4. Pigmaleao     5. Que eu canse ou descan    6. Esperando o Messias    7. Freio aerodinamico     8. Os grilos     9. Suite imaginaria     10. Berenice (CD only bonus track)
ARTIST: Marcos Valle
TITLE: Garra
CAT #: LITA091
LABEL: Light In The Attic
FORMATS: CD/LP
The follow-up album to Brazilian singer, songwriter, and musician Marcos Valle’s 1970’s self-titled long player, Garra continues to express a socially aware stance combined with a playful hodge-podge of samba, bossa nova, baião (a rhythmic beat from the rural northeast of Brazil), black American music, and psychedelic rock. Marcos and lyricist brother Paulo Sergio recorded the disc with some of Brazil’s top studio musicians and created the pair’s most overtly political statement. Recorded amongst sessions for a steady stream of popular TV novella soundtracks—a side gig for the sun-kissed composer—the results tested the military led government’s hand picked sensors, looking over the country’s art and music with sharp eyes for critical or objectionable content. Unfortunately, some of Valle’s peers didn’t’ fare as well and were either exiled (like Tropicália movement icons Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso in 1969) or fled the country for the United States or Europe.
Garra was originally released in 1971 and brought us the rare groove classic “Wanda Vidal,” heralded by UK, European, and Japanese music fans years after the disc’s initial release. Amidst an intoxicating mix of instruments, vocals, and orchestration, it’s a deep cut on an even deeper document. Any way you spin it, we at Light In The Attic are extremely proud to present Garra as part of our four-album Marcos Valle reissue campaign. Consisting of an ambitious string of early 1970s landmark studio sessions (sympathetic in spirit to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye’s game changing work from the same era) and released on CD and LP, Garra features extensive liner notes by San Francisco-based writer Allen Thayer (Wax Poetics) with exclusive interview content and song-by-song breakdown from Marcos himself. Fans new and old will finally have easy breezy access to these once hard-to-find Brazilian classics. Tackling topic from Presidential corruption, rampant consumerism, and the black power movement, Garra is a welcome addition to any South American friendly record collection and sits proudly with the best of Brazil. File after Os Mutantes and before Caetano Veloso. TRACKLIST:  1. Jesus Meu Rei   2. Com Mais de 30   3. Garra   4. Black Is Beautiful   5. Ao Amigo Tom   6. Paz e Futebol   7. Que Bandeira   8. Wanda Vidal   9. Minha Voz Vira Do Sol Da America   10. Vinte e Seis Anos Anos de Vida Normal   11. O Cafona
ARTIST: Marcos Valle
TITLE: Vento Soul
CAT #: LITA092
LABEL: Light In The Attic
FORMATS: CD/LP
During the hot Brazilian summer of 1971, Marcos and Paulo Sergio Valle, along with their significant others and six additional couples, rented a few modest fisherman shacks in the small village of Búzios to escape from Rio’s more populated beaches. The focus was making music and soul searching, as was the practice for affluent young hippies back then. They stayed for two months. “I wanted to go in a new direction,” says Marcos looking back. “I wanted to try out a rock influence and to risk a little bit more.” Shifting away from the studio musicians used on 1971’s Garra, Vento Sul (translation “South Wind”) was a rewarding collaboration with Brazilian progressive rockers O Terço.
Originally released in 1972, Vento Sul not only channeled the Búzios beach bum vibe, but also manifested a floating dream like psychedelic sound. Any way you spin it, we at Light In The Attic are extremely proud to present Vento Sul as part of our four-album Marcos Valle reissue campaign. Consisting of an ambitious string of early 1970s landmark studio sessions (sympathetic in spirit to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye’s game changing work from the same era) and released on CD and LP, Vento Sul (including a rare bonus track on the CD version) features extensive liner notes by San Francisco-based writer Allen Thayer (Wax Poetics) with exclusive interview content and song-by-song breakdown from Marcos himself. Fans new and old will finally have easy breezy access to these once hard-to-find Brazilian classics. Elevated by a strong union between Valle and O Terço, Vento Sul’smagical spell of an album is a welcome addition to any South American friendly record collection and sits proudly with the best of Brazil. File after Os Mutantes and before Caetano Veloso.
TRACKLIST:  1. Revolucao Organica   2. Malena   3. Pista 02   4. Voo Cego   5. Bodas de Sangue   6. Democustico   7. Vento Sul   8. Rosto Barbado   9. Mi Hermoza   10. Paisagem de Mariana   11. Deixa o Mundo E o Sol Entrar   12. O Beato (CD only bonus track)
 
ARTIST: Marcos Valle
TITLE: Previsão Do Tempo
CAT #: LITA093
LABEL: Light In The Attic
FORMATS: CD/LP
  • In-depth liner notes interviewing Valle
  • First Time Available in North America
  • Lyrics in Portuguese & English
  • 180-gram wax LP with original art expanded on a gatefold old-school “tip-on” jacket

Ten years after Marcos Valle’s debut long player (Samba Demais) introduced Brazilian music lovers to the immense talents of the Valle brothers, a new direction and backing band helped the singer expand his musical palette. Showcasing a groovy funk and jazz-fusion influence with help from then current backing band Azimuth (later known as Azymuth), synthesizers, Fender Rhodes, and electronic sounds took Valle’s samba, bossa nova, baião (a rhythmic beat from the rural northeast of Brazil), along with the inspiration of black American music and psychedelic rock from prior albums, to dimensions unheard. While not a complete departure, the vocals, grooves, and engaging songs of Previsão Do Tempo are guaranteed to make you feel free and think deep.

Previsão Do Tempo was originally released in 1973 and quickly became a favorite of Valle disciples. Still committed to political/cultural criticism through his music, Marcos was reaching a plateau in terms of sound and vision (Previsão Do Tempo sports an arresting sleeve shot of Marcos underwater and also features contributions from Waltel Branco and O Terço). Any way you spin it, Light In The Attic is proud to present Previsão Do Tempo as part of our four-album Marcos Valle reissue campaign. Consisting of an ambitious string of early 1970s landmark studio sessions (sympathetic in spirit to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye’s game changing work from the same era) and released on CD and LP, Previsão Do Tempo features extensive liner notes by San Francisco-based writer Allen Thayer (Wax Poetics) with exclusive interview content and song-by-song breakdown from Marcos himself. Fans new and old will finally have easy breezy access to these once hard-to-find Brazilian classics.

Powered by the jazzy electronic feel of Azimuth (thought by some to be Brazil’s finest musical combo), Previsão Do Tempo is a highlight in the Valle discography and a welcome addition to any South American friendly record collection and sits proudly with the best of Brazil. File after Os Mutantes and before Caetano Veloso.

TRACKLIST:  1. Flamengo Ate Morrer   2. Nem Paleto, Nem Gravata   3. Tira a Mao   4. Mentira   5. Previsao do Tempo   6. Mais do Que Valsa   7. Os Ossos do Barao   8. Nao Tem Nada Nao   9. Nao Tem Nada Nao (II)   10. Samba Fatal   11. Tiu-Ba-La-Quieba   12. De Repente, Moca Flor

Date

December 01 2012

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UPCOMING: Wax Poetics 53 - The RZA b/w Jesse Boykins III‏

Written By 1 - December 01 2012

Due out very soon, to pre-order please contact us at info@conch.co.nz

Like a highly trained Shaolin monk, this issue has many styles. And many of our featured artists are masters and leaders of their respective styles and movements. And most have combined multiple styles to create a new one. RZA put his two loves, hip-hop and kung fu flicks, together and created the Wu-Tang Clan, becoming its self-appointed leader and arguably the master of New York's grittiest period of hip-hop. To sing the hook on Ghost's "After the Smoke Is Clear," RZA recruited William Hart, leader of the Delfonics and master of Philly's sweet-soul period.Nite Jewel looks to the past for inspiration, whether '80s synth pop or the recording techniques of experimental-music pioneer Brian Eno, who quickly rose to fame during his brief stint in Roxy Music, the art-rock band formed by painting student Bryan Ferry. Ferry, who was mentored by England's most famous pop artist and collagist, likened Roxy Music to that of a collage: all of his interests—art, fashion, women, and music—mashed together. With two different phases of music, Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music would influence countless musicians and bands. Another influential figure whose name never fails to show up is the late J Dilla, who is pinpointed as influence number one by Bilal, who noted, "J Dilla pulled from all different genres, and he had a record collection like I've never seen before...rock, jazz, electronic, everything. And he mixed it all into what he did—which was hip-hop." Bilal would absorb this multi-style influence and return the favor to his protege, Jesse Boykins III, who is sharing his philosophy through his Romantic Movement, recruiting artists like Mara Hruby along the way. J Dilla's music spurred multi-instrumentalist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson to interpret his songs for orchestra, enlisting Dilla cohort Karriem Riggins to add that beat. Ferguson finds himself as Los Angeles' most in-demand arranger and recently collaborated with the Gaslamp Killer, who is leading L.A.'s turntable scene with his Low End Theory night. Leroy Sibbles was not only the lead singer of the Heptones but also the musical director of Studio One, where he brought a new bass style to reggae. Sinkane brings together many styles and genres—polyrhythmic Afrobeat and modern electronic—to create his unique, indefinable music that sets him apart on the dance label DFA.Danny Alias brought together his love of spoken word, parody and humor, promotion, and house music to create the brief but influential dance label Persona Records. Portland'sPleasure was pleased with the label support from Crusader Wayne Henderson but always stuck to their guns and championed their own polished and funky blend of R&B and jazz. Last but not least, influential Bay Area rapper Mac Dre had two creative periods in his short career, including pioneering the long-lasting hyphy movement, a subculture that combined its love of cars, partying, music, and dance.

Date

November 27 2012

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GIG: Apollo Brown (US) @ Rakinos, Sun 2nd Dec

Written By 1 - November 27 2012

Dopamine is proud to introduce this very special Sunday Session with the Official Launch of the 'BY ALL MEANS' Live Sunday's at Rakino's, kicking off with extra special guest

APOLLO BROWN (Detroit), The Means, Submariner, Lokey and Haz Beats.

Tickets for this special feature are only $10 which include a humble feast of BBQ classics and a beer on us! Don't miss this afternoon gathering of quality and new beginnings.
Apollo Brown (US)
with The Means, Submariner, Lo-Key & HazBeats
Sun 2 Dec, At Rakinos From 3pm
Tickets $10 at www.undertheradar.co.nz or Rakinos Level 1/31 High St, AK City

Date

November 27 2012

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UPCOMING: East Liberty Quarters - The 206 12" (ROTATING SOULS)

Written By 1 - November 27 2012

Due out December 2012, to pre-order please contact us at info@conch.co.nz

Here's a preview of a few tunes on the next Rotating Souls Records release. ELQ-East Liberty Quarters are back, with their new EP in progress, "206." 6 trks from PGH crew picks up where their very popular 7" left off & takes it further. You get Saturday night funk jams, boogie styled joints, retro-Afro-Future funk gems, vocal numbers, instrumental numbers, slow jams... 

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