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...
- Quick ViewAdd to basket
Spiderland (Dark Blue Vinyl)
£28.00Slint
A welcome re-pressing of a legendary album, and one that came to define post-rock. Limited edition of 500 copies on dark blue vinyl.
- Quick ViewAdd to basket
Sun’s Signature (Marbled Yellow Vinyl)
£14.00Sun’s Signature
With a collective cheer from Cocteau Twins everywhere, Elizabeth Fraser returns, and on sparkling form. Marbled yellow vinyl edition.
NEU! 2 (Vinyl – Picture Disc)
£25.00Original price was: £25.00.£20.00Current price is: £20.00.NEU!
Special 50th anniversary limited edition picture disc.
- Quick ViewAdd to basket
Under Magnetic Mountain (Green Vinyl)
£25.00Ivan The Tolerable
Psychedelia, modern jazz, motorik beats & cosmic ambience – a cauldron’s worth of ideas on one album. Green vinyl, limited edition of 400.
Syrup House (Vinyl)
£21.00Original price was: £21.00.£10.00Current price is: £10.00.Jilk
A series of church based improvisations are reworked into clockwork symphonies of clattering percussion and driving, joyous synth workouts. Black and Amber vinyl.
- Quick ViewAdd to basket
Farmer’s Angle (Vinyl)
£11.00Belbury Poly
7-inch vinyl reissue of the Ghost Box label’s debut release in 2004.
- 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