bannedinjapan

Is a box set confirmed? I haven't seen anything about that. (Would be amazing, though!) Side note: I wrote to Numero months ago when the first digital versions were posted to Bandcamp. I had two questions: A, Would there be vinyl versions as well? B, If so, would these releases be remastered at all from the original versions? The initial reply back that I got was "I don't understand your questions." lol Eventually, I got a 'yes' and a 'yes', thankfully.

HALLELUJAH. Thank you very much!!!

Literally disappeared from my cart 4 times in a row at 4 different shops. I hate this stuff.

Oh man, I wish I'd known they would provide the download right away - I assumed they wouldn't and bought the digital so I could listen sooner. :/

Hey guys! I have a new wave of stuff that's coming out in the next few months, and I thought I'd post up a bit of info. These are a little different than my first batch: one is a private press synth-funk record from '87, another is a classic soul collector's item from '76 and then we have a series of jazz reissues from the '70s and early '80s from the artists Brother Ah and Milton Marsh. The Brother Ah stuff is part of a BIG reissue series, which you can read about HERE at Secret Decoder. Details and a few clips are below - hit me up with any q's! Thanks! Million Dollar Ecstacy: Private press 12" from 1987 that was limited to 100-200 copies originally and only used for promo efforts. This album is crazy fun. Heavily inspired by early Prince, Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. We are working with the songwriter on another future release of his earlier recordings which are completely ILL. Like Devo meets R. Stevie Moore or something. Lots more to come with that one! The California Playboys: "Trying to Become A Millionaire" - These guys were studio musicians in the mid-70s and backed an R&B guy named Lester Young on a series of singles, before they recorded this LP in '76. This will be the first time it's back in print since! Discogs ballers have dropped over $1,000 for originals. It's that good! Milton Marsh: "Monism" - This is an avant/spiritual jazz record. It was also originally a private press, on the Strata East label. It's one of only two records the guy ever made and there was a huge gap between them. Very mysterious, but this record is beautiful! It starts off fairly mild-mannered, but gets bonkers as it goes along. I can't stop listening to it lately! Another one that's been OOP since the 70s. Brother Ah: "Sound Awareness", "Move Ever Onward" and "Key to Nowhere" - Brother Ah (aka Robert Northern) is a major jazz innovator and famously collaborated with the Sun Ra Arkestra for over a decade. His first three LPs run the gamut from free jazz freakouts (Sound Awareness) to African folk influences (Move Ever Onward) and even new age leanings (Key to Nowhere). We're reissuing these three LPs for the first time since their original runs, and then we're doing a big box set of these releases and three albums of previously unreleased material! It's gonna be bonkers.

It's a hand silkscreened cover (numbered), and the LPs inside are actually mislabeled as another CT band, with "DIIV" hand stamped on top of it. Otherwise, it's a regular version of Oshin. Just a little funny way to package some of the mislabeled stock so it didn't have to be scrapped.

Didn't see a thread about this anywhere just yet, but Merge seems to have very quietly posted a pre-order for a new box set of the 69 Love Songs releases! This has been a white whale of mine for a while - I totally slept on the original box set (didn't realize it was limited). There is a color version available for the first 1,000 pre-orders. Looks good! Especially since I've never seen a second hand copy go for less that $250... Have at it! http://www.mergerecords.com/69-love-songs-lp-reissue

Hey guys, Just for posterity's sake, wanted to post the pre-sale links for each of these reissues. Limited edition color is available for the first two titles, while supplies last! The Beach Bullies - We Rule The Universe - LP/CD The Wild Poppies - Heroine: The Wild Poppies Complete Collection, (1986-1989) 2xLP/CD Momus - Circus Maximus - 2xLP/CD These are all expected to ship on or before October 16th. If you have any questions, let me know. Thanks!

Same. That stuff was all so great! I still def think he's talented, but he kinda lost me with each progressive album after he started doing studio recordings. But THIS, I can totally get into.

Ah, so cool - didn't know that 4MWB release of Sharrock was out! I gotta look into it. I've been really digging "Ask The Ages" lately - it's so incredible. Not available on vinyl, though. But it's killer! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiDR87-HRhA

Wow, this is one of those records I honestly thought would just never be reissued. Cool surprise!

Hey guys, For those interested in sampling the three upcoming releases I posted about above, we just put up a series of YouTube playlists with the full tracklisting for each album. Links below - check em out! MFG-027 // THE BEACH BULLIES ‘We Rule The Universe’ LP/Expanded CD MFG-031 // THE WILD POPPIES ‘Heroine: The Wild Poppies Complete Collection, (1986-1989)’ 2xLP/Deluxe CD MFG-034 // MOMUS ‘Circus Maximus’ Expanded 2xLP/CD We should have pre-order info posted very soon!

Hey guys! I have some updated info on a few of our upcoming releases. Some short descriptions are posted below, but click on the titles for full details. Thanks! And let me know if you have any questions. MFG-027 // The Beach Bullies 'We Rule The Universe' LP and Expanded CD In January of 1980, James A. Smith’s band, The Containers (which, at one time, featured his friend Robyn Hitchcock of The Soft Boys on guitar) suddenly broke up and he was left on his own. With only a guitar, a drum machine and his friend Jill on backup vocals, he formed The Beach Bullies. Their dual vocals and minimal approach recall The Television Personalities and Young Marble Giants, as well as later acts like The Vaselines. This reissue presents their long out of print debut with a bonus download of demos and rough mixes for a never-released follow-up album. Click here to listen to a remastered version of the song "Zip Zip"! MFG-031 // The Wild Poppies 'Heroine: The Wild Poppies Complete Collection, (1986-1989) 2xLP and Deluxe CD Arriving at the back end of the ‘80s, The Wild Poppies resided somewhere between the jangle pop of The Rain Parade and The Church and the proto-shoegaze of Loop and Spacemen 3. Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, but basing themselves in Oxford, The Wild Poppies played often with well-known 80's contemporaries such as Ride and Swervedriver and forged a name for themselves as a touring favorite, before dissolving in the face of the impending U.K. rave culture. While their material sells for hundreds in online auctions, this 2xLP collection compiles their complete discography, along with a full digital download of all tracks, at a fraction of the typical asking price. Click here to listen to the previously unreleased song "Islands" exclusive to this release! MFG-034 Momus // 'Circus Maximus' Expanded 2xLP and Deluxe CD The wily and prolific musician known as Momus began his career in 1986 with “Circus Maximus,” a quietly striking collection of inventive acoustic songs. With a sunny voice befitting Donovan and musicianship worthy of Bert Jansch, Momus delivers what some consider the template for early Belle & Sebastian. This expanded 2xLP edition features the long out of print debut LP, plus his first three out-of-print singles, which were recorded around the same time as 'Circus Maximus'. Click here to listen to the song "Nicky" (a Jacques Brel cover) included on this release!

I'm willing to bring it up at the next meeting!

"I'll have what he's having."