Nova is the third album on Ghost Box for Lisbon based band Beautify Junkyards. As ever, the songs have a wide instrumental palette with ethereal vocals from both João Branco Kyron and new singer Martinez. This time around however, there’s a more electronic feel to proceedings and the usual rich and melodic songwriting has a somewhat more experimental and Avant-pop sensibility. Kyron’s synths and electronics are now augmented by the most recent recruit to the band Bernard Loopkin. Together their contemporary sound design combined with meticulous period sampling evoke a world of 60s & 70s movie soundtracks, library music and vintage electronica; the sounds reminiscent of White Noise, Piero Umiliani, Mort Garson and Broadcast.
This is not machine music though; Antonio Watts’ mesmerising drumming and percussion beautifully underpin the songs and the bass and guitars of Sergue and João Moreira intertwine throughout, ensuring that there’s always a sinuous, human feel.
Lyrically the songs explore a surreal and abstract dreamscape, taking stylistic cues from situationism, Dada, cut-up and the wider reaches of the psychedelic imagination. This is reflected in Julian House’s beautiful and carefully researched design work for the album, which draws its inspiration from the situationist and revolutionary underground press of 1960s Europe.
Special Guest Artists:
Beautify Junkyards have always enjoyed working with writing and performing collaborators. Nova is no exception and features some very special guests. Paul Weller sings and plays guitar on the co-written song, “Sister Moon”. Dorothy Moskowitz (of United States of America) co-wrote and sings on “Turn the Tide”. Jesse Chandler (of Pneumatic Tubes, Midlake and Mercury Rev) contributes flute on “Groundstar”
Tracklist:
Black Cape / Dancers Reward / Sister Moon / Sonora / Here everything is still floating / Raridade de Contrastes / Somersault / Groundstar / Orbit / Pulsing Abstractions / Turn the Tide
You may also like...
The Carrier (Vinyl)
£16.99Original price was: £16.99.£14.00Current price is: £14.00.Large Plants
A succint distillation of folk-rock magnificence.
- Quick ViewAdd to basket
A Letter From Treetops (Vinyl)
£16.99Pneumatic Tubes
A collection of sonic Polaroids with soothing powers. 5 stars. Vinyl edition.
Sketches and Spells (CD)
£11.99Original price was: £11.99.£9.00Current price is: £9.00.The Focus Group
The spirit of a certain experimental, baroque psychedelia is alive in every one of these tunes. CD re-issue.
The Universe Also Collapses (Vinyl)
£18.99Gong
The Gong legacy gets a blast of adrenaline. Propulsive, mystical and ecstatic. 180g heavyweight black vinyl.
Worm! (Vinyl)
£20.00Original price was: £20.00.£13.00Current price is: £13.00.Regal Worm
Wriggly, playful, the fizzy, dizzy follow up to 2021’s The Hideous Goblink. Limited Edition, 18og Black Vinyl.
Spirits (Vinyl)
£20.00The Circling Sun
“Brilliant from start to finish, Spirits is an impressive debut and will certainly have you on an astral trip through the cosmos. Definitely a strong candidate for record of the year!”
- Acid Folk
Cosmorama (CD)
£10.99Original price was: £10.99.£9.00Current price is: £9.00. Add to basket - Acid Folk
The Invisible World Of (Vinyl)
£16.00Original price was: £16.00.£13.00Current price is: £13.00. Add to basket