This was one of the things I wanted most to get at Record Store Day this year, and I did. Although I had to get it at Sister Ray, who I thought were really good at organising themselves this year.
It was worth it too. A really good 12″.
Category: Music
Music is a huge part of my life so it’s almost certain that this category will have a lot of stuff in it.
Sylvian / Sakamoto … Bamboo Houses RSD release
This is one of the things I really wanted to get this year at RSD. I have the tracks already, in fact, I think I have multiple versions in multiple formats too, but that’s not what this is about.
The two songs are really important to me. They bring back special memories, and any opportunity to have a new version or iteration, even in just the packaging, well, I’ll take it. This edition, for Record Store Day, is rather lovely. I’ve played it once, just once. That’s enough. It’s a thing of beauty, and I’m glad to have it.
My Record Store Day experience
This is the third year I’ve been along to Record Store Day, and personally I think it’s a great idea and I’m a big fan of it. This year I thought I’d put down a few thoughts about the event and what I think could be better for next year.
I started off the day at Rough Trade East. I expected to queue up there and that is exactly what I had to do. Queuing from 8 am until gone 10 am is rough though, and it was cold and windy. But, finally I got in and was able to have a look for the Record Store Day exclusives I wanted to buy. Sadly only 2 of them were available. Rough Trade was a bun fight to be honest. It’s the same as it has been in previous years, but I just don’t think it’s very well organised, and I don’t like it.
After that disappointment I headed over to Berwick Street. It was approaching midday and they had a lot going on over there, so I thought I’d try out Sister Ray and see if there was any chance of getting any of the other items I’d hoped for.
Of course, the queue there was pretty long too. Not as long, but long enough. However, this was a much better managed queue. Sister Ray staff came out and handed out stock lists so people could see what the store had. They were also available to people in the queue to tell them if a given item had gone out of stock or not, which was very useful. As you got closer to the store itself we were asked to write down the items we wanted and given a ticket number. These were collected so that the items you wanted could be prepared for you by the time you got into the store.
Overall my experience at Sister Ray was far more positive than Rough Trade. Sister Ray were organised and prepared and helpful. I really appreciated that. I think that next year I’ll start there and not at Rough Trade.
And some more messing around with an Olegtron …
Olegtron experiments …
More noodling about with the Mute Synth II
This is a really good first(-ish) album …
I say first(-ish) as it is from Portico in their current form, and not as the Portico Quartet. I think you can hear a lot of what they were like in the new album even though the overall style is quite different.
I haven’t listened to the bonus tracks as yet though, I didn’t know I was getting those.
What I’m hoping to get my hands on from Record Store Day 2015
I’m really looking forward to RSD2015 and there are good reasons too, in fact, quite a number of good reasons, all of which I’m hoping to get hold of. Here’s my list of stuff I’m after:
- Eno, Brian – My Squelchy Life (2LP)
- ADAM & THE ANTS “KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER / ANT MUSIC”
- Blancmange – I Want More (Extended Version)
- David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto Bamboo Houses / Bamboo Music This new twist on the Bamboo Houses / Bamboo Music 7” single was overseen by David Sylvian himself. The bespoke sleeve has been designed by long time Sylvian collaborator, Chris Biggs (23 Envelope ) and the photographs are by internationally renowned photographer, Yaka Fujii. Format: 7″ Single
- Dexys Midnight Runners – 30th anniversary purple vinyl edition of this masterpiece.
- HOLGER CZUKAY – HIT/FLOP. Format: 2×10″
- HOLGER CZUKAY – 11 YEARS INNERSPACE. Format: 2×10″
- Simple Minds – Waterfront (Picture Disc). Format: 7″ Single
- The Doors – Strange Days (Mono). Format: 1 x 12″ / black vinyl
It’s a big list this year. The last couple of years I haven’t been looking for nearly as many items, but this year there are just too many good things.
A little bit of Elastic Drums from me
Awaiting the new album from Portico
I really them as the Portico Quartet too. In fact I saw them live a couple of times, first at WOMAD a few years ago and then at the Roundhouse too. The WOMAD gig was actually amazing. They played for an hour in the big red tent and I thought the sound was incredible. I’d never really heard them before, but after WOMAD I was hooked. So I went along to see them at the Roundhouse, and sadly was a bit disappointed by that performance.
So when I heard that they were playing over at Rough Trade East and had a new album coming out I was intrigued. Also, it seems that they’re no longer the Portico Quartet, but now just Portico. I’ve been listening to their new tracks on Spotify for a while and I’m getting quite into them. It’s different from the old sound although I think that there are traces of it there, but I do like it.
So I’m going along tomorrow to see what it’s like and grab a copy of the album too. I’ll post some thoughts and pictures if I get any good ones.
I am Ashley Elsdon 