LARRY JUNE & THE ALCHEMIST - THE GREAT ESCAPE

(GATEFOLD VINYL LP)

Two of the most talked about acts in hip-hop right now meet for their first collaboration album and it sure does not disappoint! The Alchemist's soul-sampling slamming suites are the perfect accompaniment for Larry June smooth-as-silk bars. Throw in guest spots from a who's who of the hip-hop world (Action Bronson, Ty Dolla $ign, Slum Village, Boldy James, Wiz Khalifa, & Joey Bada$$, to name a few!) and you have yourself the best hip-hop album of the year!

MATTHEW HALSALL - AN EVER CHANGING VIEW

LIMITED EDITION CLEAR 2LP VINYL

A long-standing favourite of VENUS VINYL, Manchester's masterful Matthew Halsall has been at forefront of the modern UK jazz resurgence for over a decade now. And with this, his 10th studio album, he has potentially delivered his best album yet! An Ever Changing View, as the name would suggest, sees Matthew and his band taking his modern mixture of spiritual and global-influenced jazz on its widest screened journey to-date. There's touches and textures from all previous Halsall outputs and more - even including a set of musical metal triangles bespoke-made by a hippy in Bristol... magical!

FLORRY - THE HOLEY BIBLE

(LIMITED EDITION VINYL LP)

Rootin' tootin' country-rockin' goodness with a twist! Florry are the best modern country band you'll hear this year. Francie Medosch, leader of the rag tag Philly country-rock band, puts a pulsating positive spin on a genre that's far too often down in the dumps. Imagine a mixture of early Wilco, the spirit of Nana Grizol with the vibes of Big Thief & lo-fi feels of label pals MJ Lenderman (Wednesday) and you're kinda close to lassoing... YEE-HAW!

(sorry I couldn't help myself)

FAR CASPIAN - THE LAST REMAINING LIGHT

(SUPER LIMITED EDITION CLEAR WITH BLACK MARBLE VINYL)

Far Caspian, aka the music output of Irish producer/musician Joel Johnston, is back with their 2nd album! Their 2021 debut was our vinyl of the month for November and also VENUS VINYL OF THE YEAR that year... so a lot to live up to! Thankfully, it does that and more. 'The Last Remaining Light' has all the shimmering nostalgic lo-fi indie-rock elements of it's predecessor, yet is a more mature and complete body of work. Less standout tracks - more album as a whole vibe. You will stick the album on and before you know it you're slyly sucked into the Far Caspian vortex, spat out only demanding to experience the feeling over and over again. And repeat (and repeat etc.)!

For Fans Of: Hovvdy, Deerhunter, Strange Ranger, Crisman

BONNY DOON - LET THERE BE MUSIC (VINYL LP)

Bonny Doon are back, having been away working with Waxahatchee & playing as her backing band. Let There Be Music arrives at the perfect time to remind us what we've been missing. Easy rollin', country-tinged 70s-vibed folk-rock, sure to soundtrack your summer! The album features Waxahatchee, as well as a keys solo Bill Murray's Phil in 'Groundhog Day' would have been proud of on the incredible title track, 'Let There Be Music' - when it's this good - keep it coming!

For Fans Of: Waxahatchee, Kevin Morby, Cut Worms, Rose City Band

HOT MULLIGAN - WHY WOULD I WATCH (LTD. ED. BABY PINK VINYL W/ OBI STRIP)

May’s Album of the Month was the latest heavy hitter from the emo/pop-punk outfit, Hot Mulligan, out on Wax Bodega Records.

'Why Would I Watch' continues the band's unique hybrid of emo-rock, pop-punk with a touch of post-hardcore too. It's like golden era Drive Thru Records emo-heavy pop-punk mixed with the more mature emo approach of today but with enough of an angst and angry post-hardcore bite to it to stay on the right side of cheesy. Why would you NOT listen!

Available on a limited edition vinyl variant pressing of only 3,000.

DEATHCRASH - LESS VINYL (LTD. ED. VARIANTS)

April’s Album of the Month was from our Album of Year 22 pick - the incredible Deathcrash, with their 2nd album, out via Untitled Records.

‘Less’ is more. Quite literally! The band have stripped back their sound to such a degree that the whole album is as if you’re in the room with them playing it live. ‘Less’ is an intimate heart on sleeve listen using their unique mixture of slowcore, post-rock and post-hardcore elements. Listen. Let ‘Less’ into your life.

Available on 3 different limited edition vinyl variants.

MAMMAL HANDS - GIFT FROM THE TREES (LIMITED EDITION VINYL VARIANTS)

No surprises for March’s pick! One of our personal favourite modern acts. One of the best modern jazz bands around. Norwich’s finest… it’s the one and only Mammal Hands & their incredible 5th album ‘Gift from the Trees’, out via the great Gondwana Records. Their most mature & complex album yet. The ‘gift’ that keeps on giving.