Few people are onto great records as quickly as a great record store.
After years spent discovering gems in Phonica’s end of year lists, it made sense to give them a regular space on FACT. Every Saturday, Phonica staff will pick out the five vinyl records you should grab this week.
TONY ESPOSITO
‘Je-Na/Pagaia’
(Archeo Recordings)
A double dose of frivolous, multiculti fun from Neapolitan musician Tony Esposito, combining sweeping Italo glamour with a Afro-Caribbean rhythms picked up by the magpie-like songwriter on a trip to Jamaica. Italian reissue specialists Archeo Recordings are behind the reappearance of these sought after 1983 cuts.
BICEP
Lyk Lyk EP
(Feel My Bicep)
Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar grace their own label with a diverse four-track ranging from dewy-eyed rave dreams (‘Lyk Lyk’) to saucer-eyed Italo (‘Poly Pineapple’) and pacey, spacey, early morning techno (Day 3). Meanwhile ‘Ice Bowl’ is a collabo with their old school chum Rory Hamilton, AKA Hammer, and all four tracks are proper weapons for your crate.
MAX D
Drizzling Glass EP
(The Trilogy Tapes)
Sparkling synth vibes abound on this four-tracker from Beautiful Swimmers boss Maxmillion Dunbar, which has been in the works since way back in January when we first got hot under the collar for the cold-as-ice ‘Calvin & Hobbes’. Weirdly weightless house that’s perfect for headphones.
PAUL WHITE
Shaker Notes LP
(R&S Records)
Known as a purveyor of hazily psychedelic hip-hop beats for the likes of Danny Brown and Trim, on his first LP for R&S the UK producer sets aside his sampler and shows us what he can do as a singer and multi-instrumentalist too. Fans of Mo Kolours, Stones Throw and mind-expanding stoner shit of all stripes will find something to love here.
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Work LP
(Other People)
Nicolas Jaar marks the first birthday of his Other People imprint with a compilation of unreleased music including two from his now-defunct Darkside project, a solo track from the cult slow-house producer himself, and more from the likes of Powell, Ancient Astronaut and Jelinek.
Audio / Buy here