And so another year ends (2011 in review)

BEST BRITISH ALBUMS OF 2011

The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
Frankmusik - Do It In AM
James Blake - James Blake
Rustie - Glass Swords
Kode 9 - Black Sun
Toddla T - Watch Me Dance
The Whip - Wired Together
Arctic Monkeys - Suck It And See
SBTRKT - SBTRKT
Radiohead - The King Of Limbs

The real question is...
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds or Beady Eye?

FINALLY: Massive Attack vs Burial - "Paradise Circus"

Arguably the best track from Massive Attack's excellent Heligoland remixed by arguably the best artist in the last 5 years, Burial. After posting "Four Walls" a couple weeks back I was eagerly awaiting this track's release... and now it is here and even better than I had imagined...



>Presents

MASSIVE ATTACK VS BURIAL

* Iconic Acts Massive Attack & Burial Release New 2 Track 12”
* 180g Vinyl Housed In Hand Numbered, Screen Printed Sleeve Designed By Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja

The subject of prolonged rumour and intense speculation, Inhale Gold and The Vinyl Factory are proud to present Massive Attack’s long awaited collaboration with Burial, 4 Walls / Paradise Circus.

Selling out within hours of going on sale 4 Walls / Paradise Circus was pressed on heavyweight 180g 12” vinyl, housed in a stunning hand numbered, gold glitter screen-printed sleeve designed by Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja (3D), crafted by The Vinyl Factory, and is already a highly coveted collectors item.

As you’d expect from these two acts these are no ordinary remixes and Burial has completely rebuilt both tracks in his own unique style providing a masterclass in production. At around 12 minutes each both tracks have been given the time and space to evolve and develop going way beyond the scope of normal remixes, with the end result two highly original, in every sense of the word, pieces of music.

Editor’s Notes:

Artist: Massive Attack vs Burial
Title: 4 Walls / Paradise Circus
Label: Inhale Gold / The Vinyl Factory
Release Date: 17 October 2011

Tracklisting:
A. Massive Attack vs. Burial - Four Walls
B. Massive Attack vs. Burial – Paradise Circus

Further information:

Available to pre-order exclusively from www.massiveattack.co.uk and www.vfeditions.com
* Release date 17 October 2011
* Limited to 1000 copies worldwide
* Artwork by Robert Del Naja
* Screen-printed cover with gold glitter
* Each edition hand numbered
* 180-gram heavyweight vinyl
* Crafted by The Vinyl Factory
* Inhale Gold 001

Price: £25 - SOLD OUT

About The Vinyl Factory:

The Vinyl Factory is an independent British company that aims to bring together art and music by creating ultra-premium handmade vinyl editions in strictly limited quantities. All their vinyl is created using the classic EMI 1400 Press at the original EMI vinyl pressing plant, now owned by the Vinyl Factory, at Hayes, Middlesex. This century-old landmark in British manufacturing now presses over 50% of the UK's vinyl.

The Vinyl Factory also run an independent music & arts magazine (FACT) and record shop (Phonica, Poland Street, Soho, London).

GAH! It's sold out! Now I've got to do something really unsavory to get a copy lol...

Don Diablo remixes JUSTICE!

Two favourites at once! I don't even have to write much about this one other than I think it's a good one to start sets with or like pre-party to... I'm going to figure out away to play this on my 7pm-9pm radio show because it's perfect for that time of night...

Justice - Helix (Don Diablo Remix) by Don Diablo

Kele feat Lucy Taylor - "What Did I Do"

Although contextually different I've been asking myself quite a bit "what do I do wrong" for the last week or so. An sort of relationship when it dissipates for what feels like an unknown reason (romantic, sexual, work, friendship, etc) it feels like a sliver in your brain. There is never ending second guessing that eventually will cause you to be bonkers "mad" if you let it.

After unceremoniously getting my ass handed to me last Wednesday I've been searching for something that conveyed the level on confusion I'm experiencing... and along comes Kele (from Bloc Party), along with Lucy Taylor (his keyboardist), with a pop dubstep banger that creates a lot of anticipation for Kele's Hunter EP (out November 7th). While the song is obviously about romantic entanglements it does express the desperation of someone who can't full put together why they've been kicked to the curb. It's songs like this that help us move past such traumatic moments and it seems Bloc Party and Kele are prime musical fodder for the difficult moments in life.

Kele - What Did I Do? - Single by PluggedIn

Whether we will see another Bloc Party release remains to be seen (although their camp swear up and down the band is still together despite NME posting phone calls that express the opposite)... but until then we have this gem.

Massive Attack and Burial release limited edition single!

I don't even want to share the news with you guys on this one. I want to beg/steal/borrow until this record is in possession (oh pardon me, not steal, I've been accused of that enough recently).

Massive Attack and Burial have released a HAND NUMBERED, SCREEN PRINTED IN GOLD GLITTER, LIMITED EDITION of !000 single which features Burial's remixes of "Four Walls" and "Paradise Circus". See why I didn't want to tell you! A THOUSAND COPIES! One of you will own it and I won't and I'll cry forever! You can see why I cannot stand for this...

...however at $50 (roughly) a copy we're almost all too poor to own it so maybe I can sell my worthless liver or something in time to get one!

Below are the official artwork AND a taste of this truly amazing release.

Available to pre-order exclusively from www.massiveattack.co.uk and www.vfeditions.com
* Release date 17 October 2011
* Limited to 1000 copies worldwide
* Artwork by Robert Del Naja
* Screen-printed cover with gold glitter
* Each edition hand numbered
* 180-gram heavyweight vinyl
* Crafted by The Vinyl Factory
* Inhale Gold 001

Price: £25



I would probably do something very stupid to be in possession of this record. So please, if you love me, just by me a copy so you don't see me in some weird viral Japanese video I had to do to raise the money for a copy j/k lol...

A little note about the Grand REOPENING of The Corner Record Shop Kalamazoo!

I realize this blog appeals to an international audience but every once and a while I have to do something for the town I live in (which then ties into this blog because of the people I've asked to write for it, the radio show on WIDR where you lot get your records played, and the circle continues).

So with that said THE GRAND REOPENING OF THE CORNER RECORD SHOP BEGINS TOMORROW! Yessir we've got a load of new vinyl, some drawings we're going to be doing, some awesome discounts... but most importantly I'm running their new blog! It can be found here at The Corner Recordshop!

For those of you in the Midwest (especially Michigan or South Western Michigan) I really suggest finding your way over here. We have gems that are priced to sell... things that would be crazy expensive on eBay and are considerably less here. Why? Because we aren't in Chicago and we know that times are tough... we want people to get the music they enjoy at a price they can enjoy as well. Why put up a mint copy of the Japanese import of The Doors LA Woman (complete with obi) for $40 (which is roughly what it's going for on the internet) when we can let someone pick it up for $19.99?

Anyway I'd appreciate it if you guys would follow that blog and stop in if you get the chance. And artists? You know you're being represented here as I'm asking for your records to be brought in so you can show some love too :)

NEW VARIOUS (aka Various Production) - "Air (feat Asher Dust)"

The only thing I'm more excited about than this new Various Production song is hanging out with Frankmusik tomorrow!

Various - Air (feat Asher Dust) by Various

Buy this one when it comes out kiddies... it's awesome...

What's The Story Morning Glory?

Pffft. This blog has all but lost it's pulse. Before I go into some long winded whatever... I do want to thank the people, especially those who didn't need to keep it up, who supported this blog while I dealt with some significant and personal struggles.

So am I finally closing this down? NOPE.

I'm getting some new blood in here. I've got a couple people working behind the scenes, and a young buck who couldn't be better suited for writing for this blog. I met him through The Spirit Of Albion and he's one of the FEW people I trust enough to give total access to the blog. He's got amazing taste and, frankly, he's more on top of new stuff than I am...

Long story short, keep your eye on this space. A relaunch is in the works :)