Another musically corkin’ week instore for you, you’ll be glad to know. As you’ll see above, The Soft Pack’s lo-fi preppy garage-rock-pop-punk vibes are our pick of the week but this week also sees the 3rd immense album from Midlake released on Bella Union (quite a run they’re having already this year eh?) & this time the band are looking more to the late 60’s British folk of Fairport Convention & Steeleye Span than to the soft rock of Neil Young & Fleetwood Mac but the sound remains undeniably theirs & Tim Smith’s vocals are as mesmerising as ever (there’s a jolly expensive, jolly limited edition box set version of the album due in this week – just ask if you want to know more)…………Hot Chip are back with an uplifting, warm & soulful collection of songs that, as always, mines a host of diverse influences & comes up trumps – truly a one of a kind band………(if you’re after the vinyl, it’s due in the next couple of days but it’s ultra limited & fairly pricey. However, we’re selling it cheaper than we’ve seen it online so get yer orders in quick if you want one – they won’t be here long)…….Welsh yelpers Los Campesinos! administer another sugar rush for the energy depleted……..shop favourites Husky Rescue provided one of our best selling albums with their 2005 debut & now, on their 3rd album, they still sound as chilled as ever but there’s a slightly lighter pop edge to their blissfully warm melodies……..the folk inspired Swedish teenagers First Aid Kit finally deliver their debut album proper which more than lives up to the promise of that lovely little Ep last year………..off-kilter electro-popsters Chew Lips have crafted a synth washed debut to follow up their sold out Kitsune singles – buy it here & you’ll get an exclusive free remix bonus disc……..on the bonus disc front, you’ll also get a bonus disc if you pick up the awesome Bob Blank compilation on Strut – the 1st ever retrospective of one of New York’s most revered producers………it’s been a while since RJD2 put out his last album (that bizarre song-writing exploration that left us all craving beats) but he’s back & you’ll be glad to know, he’s brought the beats with him- ‘Deadringer’ fans rejoice!……….there’s some top notch soul comps this week in the form of the Complete Goldwax Singles Vol 3 & Westbound Detroit Northern Soul………if you like your folk a bit wonky, check out Ian King’s acclaimed debut – there’s splashes of dub, brass & hip hop keeping proceedings lively………Thee Silver Mount Zion’s rich, lush new record gets an early release on limited double 10″ in a fancy pack (cd out next week)……….if you’re into Welsh psych-pop of the SFA & Gorki’s ilk, you’ll definitely want to check out  Race Horses‘ debut this week………all this & brand new albums from White Hills, Corinne Bailey Rae, The Sunshine Underground, Postdata, We Are The Ocean, The Hot Rats (Gaz & Danny from Supergrass), Jason Urick & many more. To check out the full new release listing, click on the link below.

resident new releases february 1st 2010

Forthcoming Instores : Erland & The Carnival - Tuesday 26th January @ 6pm
Field Music – Friday 19th February @ 6pm

Before we get on to the New Releases we would like to draw your attention to the Memory Tapes album which, from now until we run out, comes with a 4 track bonus disc including a ‘Cosmic Dub’ remix by The Horrors of the single ‘Bicycle’. If this album has flown beneath your radar (we had it as an upfront release last year but it was officially released last week), then now is the time to pick it up! It garnered great reviews including Album of the Week status in The Times & Pitchfork described it succinctly as thus: “intriguingly hazy & wistful but beat-informed.” To these ears: New Order meets those long hot summers of school days & it is, of course, recommended.

& so…..Welcome to this week’s musical news!
This week sees the release of many fine albums including a baroque pop extravaganza from Owen Pallett (formerly known as Final Fantasy)……a fabulous stripped back, raucous affair from Scout Niblett, shop favourites…..A Grave With No Name release their debut full-length (of sorts) – it’s a collection of the sold out singles, b-sides & hidden gems – spellbinding freak/folk art rock of the highest order……. Mark Oliver Everett (aka E) of Eels has a serious case of heartbreak right now & ‘End Times’ is a break-up album right up there with the finest……Guillemots’ main man Fyfe Dangerfield takes a little bit of time away from his day job & delivers a raw & bare-bones solo record……hip hop producer Blockhead returns with a blunted late-night album on Ninja Tunes for instrumental hip hop heads & Tru Thoughts fans alike… Robert Henke returns under his Monolake moniker with an album of the deepest minimal techno in a while……there are also new albums by Lost Prophets, The Irrepressibles, Angelique Kidjo & singles by Beach House, Erland & the Carnival, Lyre Birds & more. For the complete New Release listing click on the link below.

Right, that’s it for another week. Hope you all have a good one & we look forward to seeing you.

Sam, Nat & the rest of the Residents (Derry, Matt, James, Daniel, John, Simon & Liv). x