Folk Sale 262 Items

The latest album "Concert for Modern Times," originally released in October 2022, is now available in long-awaited analog LP to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Ren Takada's solo debut!! This work was recorded live by an eight-piece band in the auditorium of the Jiyuugakuen Myonichikan, one of the national important cultural property. "The modernism of the building brought out the literary nature of Ren Takada. You can hear the tranquil concerto that sprouted deep within the famous performer." - Haruomi Hosono

Self-labeled "dream-fi folk from the Cajun prairies," Renée released her first two songs in 2020 - "Out Loud" and "Until Tomorrow", which Gorilla vs. Bear described as "an effortless, inspired union of the haunting folk music that Reed was raised on and a lilting, lost '60s French-pop gem." Renée's statement on "Fast One" and her album: "This album is a collection of songs about toxic relationships, seeing ghosts, ancestral baggage and blessings, and daydreaming about love. It is about certain feelings and experiences I've had over my life coming to fruition in the past three years. It was all made on a four track recorder at home, in a place and in a way I feel most natural, and I believe that quality comes through in the sound." She has drawn comparisons to Jessica Pratt, Mazzy Star, and Cate le Bon. Renée's music has a mysterious quality with a strong melodic undertow.

This record is a jewel for followers of the more obscure sounds of the 1960’s and 1970’s. In Catalonia, at the end of Franco’s dictatorship, a group far-out singers and musicians experimented with genres such as folk-rock, rhythm&blues, garage rock, psychedelia or Catalan rumba. Their names were Pau Riba, Sisa, Ia & Batiste, Toti Soler, Gato Pérez, Guillermina Motta and many others, who were responsible for the creation of masterpieces such as Dioptria, Galeta Galàctica, Chichonera’s Cat or the Miniatura EP. Now, Barcelona’s power-pop mainstay Ricky Gil teams up with high-energy rockers Biscuit to recreate the repertoire of those pioneers. Together they have unearthed a dozen nuggets and have recorded a powerful, intense and fully enjoyable album, featuring the collaboration of some of the surviving original artists.

Island Of Lost Souls is the first of four new albums by Roy Montgomery coming out in 2021 to commemorate Montgomery’s forty years in music. His debut release was also Flying Nun’s first, the Pin Group 7-inch from 1981. Roy Montgomery, a pioneer of the NZ underground, believes there is always new sonic terrain to investigate. His latest album for Grapefruit marks forty years of rigorous exploration in which he’s managed to navigate disparate genres, scenes, and atmospheres, always at the forefront of experimental independent music. Island Of Lost Souls follows his acclaimed 2018 LP Suffuse—a novel departure in which he consigned all vocal duties to ambient / experimental peers Liz Harris (of Grouper), Julianna Barwick, Purple Pilgrims, Haley Fohr (of Circuit des Yeux), Katie von Schleicher, and She Keeps Bees. But the veteran evolves again. On this release Montgomery creates resounding, aerial compositions for guitar. Where some might be inclined to relax and lean into their legacy at this stage in a sprawling career, Montgomery’s new music continues to seek and challenge, moving like the eye of a storm. This latest album cries out like a chorus, though there are no vocals on the record. Its tracklist instead builds upon the lonesome and polyphonic dimensions of guitar in order to express universal feelings of communion and isolation, resisting conclusion but never resorting to fatalism. Life is all about navigating these contradictions and everyone is with Montgomery on this island whether they’d like to admit it or not. Here, the artist has created a work of wisdom and grit, a searing beauty, a new masterpiece for an uncertain and restless time.

Following on from Soundway’s 2022 compilation, Padang Moonrise, are two late 1960s tracks from Java, Indonesia. one instrumental psychedelic organ version of Classic Indonesian track ‘Bubuj Bulan’ and the other a raw funk cut sung in Arabic. Rully Djohan recorded this unique, psychedelic instrumental version of Benny Corda’s classic ‘Bubuj Bulan’ for his album of instrumental organ versions of popular Indonesian songs recorded in 1971-72. With echoes of Indian, Ethiopian and Egyptian jazz melded with traditional Javanese music this version is a shimmering, dubbed-out take on a song that has been recorded by many Indonesian vocalists. Djohan is backed by The Galaxies Band, and led by one of Indonesia’s most original band leaders and arrangers Jopie Item, who also plays sitar and guitar alongside Djohan’s electric organ. On the flip-side, Munif Bahasuan delivers a deep funk track sung in Arabic. Munif was a Jakarta-based vocalist who sung mostly in Arabic and English. Jakarta has a small population of Arabic, ethnically Middle Eastern people who settled in Indonesia via connections with Islam and Islamic culture, the dominant religion in Java, Sumatra and many other of the main islands in the Indonesian archipelago.

Vancouver-based vocalist Laucan makes a captivating entrance onto the Astral Black stage with his inaugural LP, 'Lorcan.' Partnering with the accomplished producer Samuel Organ, renowned for his recent collaborations with musical luminaries like Caroline Polachek, Shygirl, Sega Bodega, and others, the album is a sonic journey through the realms of ethereal folk and avant-garde electronica. Samuel Organ, the executive producer behind the entire project, brings his expertise to the forefront, drawing inspiration from his role as the chief practitioner at Northamptonshire’s Nene Valley Sonic Research Centre. His specialization in ethnosonic-archaeology is evident throughout the LP, as he skillfully documents and restores found audio, transforming them into the primary source material for the album's mesmerizing productions. The opening track, 'Aignish On The Machiar,' perfectly exemplifies Organ's unique approach. Laucan's vocals harmonize seamlessly with one of the earliest recordings of the traditional folk classic, showcasing the projects intricate blend of past and present. The album weaves through a diverse tapestry of musical moments, from 'Keeping My Head Down,' where Laucan's vocals shine against Samuel Organ's acoustic guitar, layered atop field recordings from the Nvsrc project, to the sun-soaked 4x4 track 'The Chalk,' which draws inspiration from both the worlds of traditional folk and modern electronic music. In tracks like 'Future Musings' and 'Cyren,' Samuel Organ takes the reins with his electronic-infused production, offering listeners a glimpse into the folk-infused avant-garde electro that defines his distinctive style. Lorcan is available on 12” vinyl, with full colour sleeve designed by Kerrie IRL - limited to 100 copies worldwide.

This is one of the best albums of the diva's musical career. Originally released in 1986 on CD and cassette, her 7th studio album is finally available on vinyl. With lyrics by Aysel Gurel, album concept and music by Onno Tunç, this album contains many hits such as "Değer mi", "Git", "Kolay Değil", "Unzile" and "Beni Unutma".

Stephen Fretwell is back and unveils his long-awaited third album Busy Guy via Speedy Wunderground/[PIAS]. Described by Fretwell as "a kind of songbook," the album examines the seasons of a lifetime by exploring themes like fatherhood, grief, and rebornness, always with the eloquence and wit that characterize Fretwell. Busy Guy was produced by Dan Carey, Stephen's close friend and boss of the Speedy Wunderground label.

Djiguia is an Ode to Life. It is a calm breathing, a sigh, a rage to live, a reflection. a resistance as much as a letting go...It is the word, the silences and the cries of what Strange o'clock carries and defends.This new Strange o'clock album is intended to be even more distinctive and diversified, while keeping this African'Blues touch well known to the duo.Imbued with blues, rock, jazz, psyche, Tuareg and Mandinka music. this album is a real journey without borders or space-time...