December is on us again, and as we always try to do during the holiday season, we’re sending out two albums instead of the usual album and EP! A couple of very different releases for you this month, so hopefully there’s something for everyone here. We hope you are safe and well wherever you are in the world, and are hoping to bring some exciting music to your ears in 2024.
Now, on to the vinyl:
Our first album this month is a little different for W&S - an album with a hard rock flavour blended with blues and grunge. Idlewar is a Californian trio definitely influenced by QOTSA, Rival Sons, Clutch, Soundgarden, Zeppelin, & Sabbath. The thing that catches most people’s attention when they listen to Rite for the first time is the powerful vocal presence from Blake. He knows how to get your attention, and tracks like “Sullen Moon” can testify. His voice has been compared to Chris Cornell (which is high praise) because of his style of power and control when he sings. The whole of “Rite” is really one to listen to the top volume!
Our second LP, “Memphis Soul 65,” is funnily enough a slice of music from Memphis in the early 1960s.This was a truly exciting time, as its new studios began to attract the notice of major record companies like Atlantic Records. By 1965, Stax Records was a true Memphis powerhouse and as it became successful enough to manage its studio for its own contracted artists, it closed its doors to outside productions. But a few singers just nipped in under the wire and these unofficial Stax productions form the major part of this collection. And here we have some perfect 'Blue' Stax music from a bunch of vocalists accompanied by that fabulous Stax studio band. Enjoy!
