INVISIBLE INC EP #6 - VARIOUS ARTISTS

Invisible Inc is a Glagsow based label who I've recently come across in my post March Depeche Mode madness. In an attempt to discover something new and, importantly, something that wasn't Black Celebration, I headed to Glasgow's wonderful Monorail, saw Invisible Inc EP #6 and snapped it up. It was a good decision. The e.p. features tracks from four bands and each one is well worth a listen.

Opener Lakeside Sunrise is by Legion of Light and it kicks the record off perfectly. The riot of burbling synths mixed with some Kraftwerk or Yellow Magic Orchestra like swooshes sounds like the start of spring and its upbeat, housey feel is bound to grab you. The next track is the e.p's highlight for me. Glasgow's Delta Girls give us the glorious Coloured Flares, which is the point where disco and Krautrock meet and, happily, they get on tremendously well together. The track's relentless groove is an utter joy - you HAVE to hear this one. Side 2 begins with a track by Claudio Cremonesi recorded live in 1983 at the Rimini Psych Festa. Now, I'm not going to pretend I knew anything about Claudio before I heard this track, but what I have learned since I bought the record is that he is the leader of prog psychers Gruppo Cosmico and this track, Inner Path To Outer Space, is a cracker, stuffed to the gills with shuffling beats and the type of synth sounds that people like me (and you - go on admit it) love. It;s a swirling soup of noise and it's quite brilliant. Finally, the e.p. ends on its most out there track Stairway To Love Dungeon by The Immaculate Rivombo. Krautrock, tribal percussion and beats, guitars, horns, effects and much more all combine in a cacophony of dark, fascinating music that's impossible to ignore.

Four very different tracks then, but all of them work well together on the e.p. It's available in all good independent record shops or from Invisible Inc's Bandcamp pages in a limited edition of 300 so be quick. Have a listen to the tracks below and then either buy the record or download. You won't be disappointed.

Invisible Inc Bandcamp https://invisible-inc.bandcamp.com/

Invisible Inc Home http://www.invisible-inc.uk/

RECORD STORE DAY 2015 AT MONORAIL RECORDS

After telling myself I was too tired for this sort of thing, I got up at 6.45 this morning and headed down to Monrail Records in Glasgow to join the queue of vinyl lovers awaiting the early opening for Record Store Day. In my opinion, Record Store Day is a good thing. Obviously, record shops like the superb Monorail should be visited as frequently as possible and not just one day per year, but having a day that specifically focusses on independent record shops is a tremendous notion. 

 

The beauty of Record Store Day is that it isn't just about picking up rare vinyl, although that's my main aim on the day itself. A quick look at Twitter shows that record shops all over the UK are putting on events throughout the day and there are more bands and DJ's to see that you could actually count. Monorail is no different - there are 8 different acts to see today (see below) and whilst you watch them, Mono will be serving food and drink, creating a marvellous atmosphere. The early punters like me weren't forgotten though as we all got free cakes after purchasing our goods.

 

So what of the record purchasing itself? Well, I queued from around 7am and was about 40th or so in a queue that had clearly been in place for some time given the number of sleeping bags in evidence. That was the same at one of Glasgow's other great record shops, Love Music, too where people such as Edd Stark had been in the queue since Friday lunchtime. I should say that Love Music is also putting on a day of live music and events with a really cool line up. Anyway, the queue I was in at Monorail was slightly subdued given the early hour but everyone livened up when some kind soul passed around a box of mini doughnuts. Once the store opened, everyone filed in and checked lists etc whilst we slowly made our way into the shop. Once inside, I handed my phone which contained my want list to Stephen from The Pastels (that's surreal in itself!) and I managed to get the vast majority of my wishlist. I picked up:

 

Suede - Dog Man Star live at the Royal Albert Hall

Happy Mondays - Pills N Thrills and Bellyaches yellow vinyl reissue

Marnie - Wolves 7"

Tuff Love/Lazy Day split 7"

Chvrches - Get Away/Dead Air 7"

Johnny Marr - I Feel You 7"

 

 

 

 

All I missed out on was the Erasure Violet Flame Remixes 12" but picking up the Johnny Marr 7" more than made up for that. Johnny Marr covering Depeche Mode? Superb.

 

Yet again then, Record Store Day has been fantastic and, as a vinyl collector, I love being there, taking part and soaking up the atmosphere. If you're reading this on the day itself (18 April 2015), get down to your local record shop, check out the bands and grab a record or two - you'll love it.

 

And if you're reading this after Record Store Day, get down to your local record shop anyway. Don't just visit it once a year.