Our novel #coveroftheweek feature is shaping up nicely! This week Juan has selected another great reissue from the even greater Mond Musik. Click the image down below to listen to the release.

Run by Berlin disco don Alexander Arpeggio aka Spacelex, the german imprint focuses on re-releasing obscure electronic private pressings which were made in the late 70s and early 80s.

G-ZX LP was released in 1986. Only 50 Tapes were distributed and just a handful are still alive. The mysterious Der Gøtling definitely got it right picking Roy Lichtenstein's iconic image, which actually samples an original work from political cartoonist Bruno Premiani. That's all I know about the image duplicator! #COTW04

Looking for something a little different? Kenny's got you covered with episode 15 of the Going Good mix series. It's an eclectic selection of celestial ambient, astral noise & rhythmic meanderings from the dimly lit corners of record world. Next Friday he'll be opening up for Nick Höppner at the The Pickle Factory.
BE THERE. 

This weeks Staff pick comes from one of our beloved interns and all around great girl, Lucie! When Lucie's not slaving away here at phonica, she makes some pretty sweet music which you can check out ->here<-

Notorious for their refined taste, Sean Canty and Miles Whittaker of Demdike Stare are making every release on their DDS label a highly anticipated affair. Their devotion to record digging, affiliation with Finders Keepers and mind open to yet undiscovered and long forgotten sounds has delivered some mind blowing rare material since the labels initiation in 2009. Top picks of the list are, apart from their own numerous outings, Shinichi Atobe's 'Butterfly Effect' and a repress of his masterpiece 'Ship-Scope' as well as solo drone LP of Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley.

The latest release comes from a freeform jazz, metal, drone and vocal enthusiast and keen collaborator, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe. His output varies from meditative vocal explorations (Lichens) to dreamy eastern aesthetics of his last years collaboration with Ariel Kalma to his guest appearance in the drone metal band Om and his eponymous project which assumes a life of its own. This 12" combines some of the elements present in his collaborative work, exploring obscure textures of masterfully designed modular synth sounds and slow tribal rhythms.

A side, "Cognintion (Forbes)",  keeps it grainy with discordant string arrangements and distinctive modular percussion and bass. The drums are heavy and patient, suggestive of collective memory from a distant past. A ritual gathering, substantial presence of spirituality. Occasional rips of noise and heavy harmonics. There is a certain ancestral energy. The hypnotic element of repetition, seemingly static, is slowly evolving into an curiously dissonant peak before being stripped to bare bones by the very end. "Observation (Sophrons)" on B side is showing off influences from contemporary techno, drone and glitch. Slow drum loop topped with fluctuating percussions, potent looming bass and primordial strings with complex timbres which are appearing seemingly at random all over the composition are morphing into a hell of a trip!

 A true gem for all the experimental drone and eccentric ambient connoisseurs out there! Beautifully weird stuff!

For the third episode of our brand new #coveroftheweek we have selected a not-so-new album by electronic music pioneer Mort Garson. Originally released in 1976 as a free gift with the purchase of plant food, Mother Earth’s Plantasia is an album of immersive Moog passages especially composed to aid in the growing of your plants. To round up this charming concept, the LP includes a booklet about indoor plant care! Take a listen by clicking the cover!

Self-described on the cover as “warm earth music for plants and the people who love them”, this plant-themed record was definitely a truly original addition to anyone’s garden err.. collection back in 1976, and still is to this day.

February has arrived and we've decided to go with something a little different for episode 21 of the Phonica Mix Series. Andrew Weatherall is a legend of the UK music scene and also one of our regulars here at the shop. We've always considered him to have a finely tuned ear and he loves to dig for music across all genres and styles. We always wanted him to contribute to the series and this month's episode is one of the most original submissions we've had as it doesn't contain a single track of House & Techno which is arguably the main sound our shop has become associated with. There isn't much that hasn't already been said about this legendary producer, DJ and master remixer so we've decided to let the music do the talking here. Down below you'll find an eclectic mix that includes everything from slow-mo Patrick Cowley cuts to afro rhythms from William Onyeabor and mid 80's cold wave from Nagamatzu. Full tracklist down below and since this is Andrew's 'Phonic-a-delic (A Trip Through the Back Wall)' mix, you'll find that all of these records were selected from the back wall of phonica and some are still in stock! Enjoy!

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Hey Andrew, how have you been doing?

A few tedious interviews and questionnaires to attend to but I'm not letting it get me down. A sometimes necessary part of an otherwise extremely enjoyable job.

Could you tell us about the mix you prepared for us today?

It was lovingly prepared using vinyl and is designed to show that there is more to Phonica than that frightful “oompty-boompty" music.

You're one of our regulars here at Phonica and you always grab a wide spectrum of music across the board. Care to share any recent finds?

"Youth Stand Up", an all analogue recording project between Green Door Studio in Glasgow, Lebeha drumming school in Belize and the Tafi Cultural Institute in Ghana.



The most recent release we've had of yours is a collaboration with Nina Walsh titled 'The Phoenix Suburb (And Other Stories)'. We know you've collaborated with her in the past and also worked together on your forthcoming Convenanza LP so could you tell us a little more about your relationship together and why it works so well in the studio?

Our relationship is purely professional and based largely on laughter. That's why it works so well.



Over the years we've heard a bit about the "the Scrutton St axis" and how its acted as a creative hub for the likes of Timothy J Fairplay and Scott Fraser. Are you all still making tunes together down there and what gives it such a creative vibe?

Sadly the axis has been rent asunder by commercial forces beyond our control. The "creative vibe" is alive but dispersed.

Have there been anymore collaborations in the works we should keep an ear tuned to?

The Woodleigh Research Facility has collaborated with the poet Joe Duggan on a release that will hopefully see the light of day in the not too distant future.

We know you're a real book worm and also write a thing or two from time to time. What's the best thing you've read recently?

A long out of print book from 1956 called  "Viper:The Confessions Of A Drug Addict". A story of Soho's demi-monde, a dark but ultimately redemptive snapshot of a slowly disappearing Bohemia. I've also been gorging on the oeuvre of Stefan Zweig, particularly his analysis and account of the life and works of 16th century French philosopher Michel de Montaigne.

                                     

Dub and Rockabilly are two forms of music close to your heart. What are two cuts from each genre that are inspiring you at the moment?

"All I Can Do Is Cry" by Wayne Walker and the "Trojan Records Nyahbinghi Box Set".





You've been in the game for longer than some of our customers have been alive... what advice would you give to young producers coming up in the world?

If you're in a hurry to share your art destroy it and start again as it's bound to be sub-standard.

Andrew Weatherall's Convenanza LP is released on Vinyl & CD on the 26th of February. Reserve your copy now.

TRACKLIST:

01. Patrick Cowley - Cat's Eye

Danielle splits her time between working as an illustrator and working for us every weekend behind the counter as part of the regular Saturday and Sunday crews. She has been working here for the last 7 years! She’s based in Bristol during the week and can be found DJing as a resident for the BRSTL parties and our parties alike. You can check out her mixes here!

I’m sure I’ll be preaching to the choir here, but considering I was 3 years old when this was first released, I don’t feel too bad about this being new music to me! For those that don’t know, this is Derrick Carter under his other alias Sound Patrol, and was a way for him to explore deeper more groovy aspects of his work, making house music which incorporates aspects of disco, jazz and acid. 

First song ‘Tripping among the stars’ is an 18 minute masterpiece that to be honest is hard to get bored of.  The whole album goes to places you don’t expect and from grooving along to one slower paced song you find yourself among other fast pace almost acid house tunes. ‘Mars’ is one of them, (along with ‘Catina’s Benny’s’ and ‘Griff’s Opus’) but they matches perfectly with the slower tracks surrounding it. ‘Because this is how it feels when I miss you’ uses synths to great effect and even though you can tell it’s made a while ago, it still sounds current. ‘Long Ass Zitz Groove Ay’ is as grooving as its vocals say it is and chugs along until the next tune starts. 

The last four previously unreleased tracks fit perfectly at the end and are a very welcome addition. ‘Marches’ is my personal favourite, the percussion matching the keys to perfection and really, I can’t help myself from dancing when this is on, therefore nicely securing my opinion on this being record of the week. I could happily listen to an 18 minute version of this track too.