February
Well, lots of exciting goings on in and around Chez Boat lately – rave reviews of recent shows by Les Savy Fav, Sufjan Stevens and Lloyd Cole, lots of new releases creeping their way out from the shadow of Christmas dross – not least of which is the superb EP from young local indie-tronica (awful description, but you get my drift!) duo Glass Vaults, which has been released on a rather fabulous 2 tone black/ blue 12″ (it is also available for free download here: http://glassvaults.bandcamp.com/album/glass-ep) – we have limited copies, let us know if you want us to hold you a copy (UPDATE – SOLD OUT! Hopefully some more soon!).
Also out now are the latest albums from recent tourists Lloyd Cole (“Broken Record” – STOP PRESS – number 11 in the national charts – HOORAH!!) and Sufjan Stevens (“The Age Of Adz”), as well as the new EP from The Veils, “Troubles Of The Brain”, a CD box set comprising three albums from legendary Kiwi psych-rocker Human Instinct, “The Zodiac Years 1972-1975”, Paddy Free & Richard Nunns collaboration “Karekare – Te reo o te whenua”, a reissue of the amazing one-off album from spiritual jazz drummer David Lee Jr entitled “Evolution” (on the fine Soul Jazz label), as well as new albums from ‘intelligent disco’ ensemble LCD Soundsystem and local reggae faves Katchafire – whew, plenty to be getting on with, then!
We also have new albums from Bright Eyes, “The People’s Key” and PJ Harvey “Let England Shake” – very fine, both of ’em.
Also sparing a a thought for the passing this year of Japan bassist Mick Karn, singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, film composer John Barry, and, most recently, former Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore – all desrving of a big, Slow Boat thumbs up for their contributions to the musical canon…
Hope everybody is fit and well, hope to see you all soon – will leave you with a fine clip of our homeboys The Phoenix Foundation playing one of our favourite tracks from the ‘Buffalo’ album live instore at the Rough Trade East store in London, where they are presently touring in support of the UK release of the record – terrific!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umVIevNTV9U
The Slow Boat Crew