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