SUGARBUSH RECORDS Rare Vinyl Mail Order

KONTIKI SUITE - "THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH" (SUGARBUSH SB039) out now on vinyl, buy it here!

KONTIKI SUITE - "THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH" (SUGARBUSH SB039), this fabulous album sees a timely reissue on vinyl (only 300 copies) as we recently released their debut LP ON SUNSET LAKE. This album is equally as good and I am happy to let our friends at the ACTIVE LISTENER blog take up the story:
"Kontiki Suite proudly flies its Byrds banner via some obvious stylistic hat-tips to 1968’s "The Notorious Byrd Brothers". This time out, the band boasts a batch of impressive new Rickenbacker-based janglers (mainly from the pen of guitarist Ben Singh) and a tougher sound from the rest of the band (Jonny Singh, lap steel guitar; Marcus Dodds, guitar; Mario Renucci, bass; Chris Brown and Craig Bright on drums and percussion respectively). The result is a cohesive, 50-minute flight high above exquisitely atmospheric psych/country-rock/chamber pop soundscapes.
The opening moments of guitar/rim shots in the rousing, Golden Smog-like opener “Bring Our Empire Down” recall David Crosby’s serene “Dolphin’s Smile,” after which some Neil Young-like crunch is thrown in as the song gathers steam. “My Own Little World” features the kind of textured ‘n’ trippy triple-guitar interplay (including lap steel and 12-string Rickenbacker) that characterizes the overall tone of the album – tone that is often upended by deliciously abrupt shifts in tempo: the lads in Kontiki Suite are more than happy to jolt you out of the hypnotized state in which they deftly placed you. Occasional, judiciously chosen blasts of harmonica tug on the same heartstrings as in Big Star’s “Life is White.”
“Free From Sound” and “Here for You Now” are tremendous pop songs, the kind of tracks that, back in the day, would’ve jumped out of an AM radio and grabbed you by the throat. The former features a keening pedal steel hook that’s hell-bent on becoming your next earworm. The latter blends a “Ticket To Ride” beat with power-poppy rhythm reminiscent of Gene Clark’s evergreen “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better.” Remastered and re-cut for this new vinyl edition to offer an improved sound spectrum!

THE PRIMARY 5 - "NORTH POLE" (SUGARBUSH SB038) buy it here on vinyl, only 300 copies.

THE PRIMARY 5 - "NORTH POLE" (SUGARBUSH SB038), a new Sugarbush Records release. This time a classic British Pop gem by this fantastic band led by Paul Quinn (ex- Soup Dragons & Teenage Fanclub). When originally released on CD (and only on CD) this album sold a staggering 30,000 copies worldwide including masses of sales in the USA and Japan. To give you an idea of what to expect I can tell you that this is a top notch album which was years ahead of its time. Shades of Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, The Hollies, Gram Parsons, The Flamin' Groovies all melt together in a quite unique album that is simply stunning. Recorded on an 8-track in an Scottish Village Hall (really!) the production values are, nevertheless, sky high with beautiful arrangements, great playing and singing and - most of all - superb tunes. This is the great lost British Pop album of the 90s, there is no equal. £19.99 including postage worldwide.

Psychotic Youth - "The Voice Of Summer" buy it here on vinyl!

PSYCHOTIC YOUTH - "THE VOICE OF SUMMER", one more in our series of SPECIAL IMPORTS from around the world of titles we like ad think our customers will like (IMP 038). Of this one we only have a handful of copies, and it is such a nice album by Sweden's legendary Psychotic Youth who have been making great records since the 1980s. Psychotic Youth deliver REAL POWER-POP, with the word power written in capital letters. Putting together the essential elements of the music of the Ramones, the Plimsouls and the Ohio Express, the 6t's and the 70's, bubblegum and punk, pop and rock'n'roll, just to create their very own sound, which has influenced many bands ever since they started back in the 80s.
So if you dig extremely catchy pop-music with a fat, rockin' guitar sound, well executed vocal-lines, ridin'-on-the-waves drums and a crunchy punk feel to it, the music of the Yum Yums, Paul Collins Beat and the Kurt Baker Combo, this one's a true must have for you!! Only £17.99 including worldwide postage.

TRAPPIST AFTERLAND BAND - "LIKE A BEEHIVE, THE HILL WAS ALIVE" buy it here on vinyl!

TRAPPIST AFTERLAND BAND - "LIKE A BEEHIVE, THE HILL WAS ALIVE", another volume in our "special imports series" (IMP037), this is a very limited vinyl pressing of 300 copies from the USA, still sealed. "
The music Trapped Afterland create is very hypnotic and rich and, while I just sort of look around when they have an abundance of lyrics such as: “I feel like a sketch... lalala... Without any shading”, the understated richness of the multitude of odd and compelling vocals and instruments makes it all work.
Don’t pass Trappist Afterland up if you truly want a heavy, melodic dose of authentic modern psychedelic music. While they advertise themselves as producers of spirit music for the dispossessed (Not exactly the target audience for great financial reward...), they have a marketable musical product here which is well worth listening to by any fan of late 60s pop music at its purest. " £21.99 including postage anywhere.

THE CAROUSELS - "SAIL ME HOME ST. CLAIR" (SUGARBUSH SB037) buy it here on vinyl!

THE CAROUSELS - "SAIL ME HOME ST. CLAIR" (SUGARBUSH SB037), finally released is this Scottish band's second long player. Their first album - you may recall - was highly praised and received excellent reviews and (a little know fact) is actually Sugarbush' best ever selling album in terms of numbers sold of both pressings over the years. In many ways this was a real surprise but then again a band of such heart and soul and invoking the spirit of Gene Clark, Gram Parsons and Sweethearts-era Byrds ought to sell a lot of records. Especially when the songs are so poignant and beautiful. The band have built a firm worldwide following with tours of the continent in their back (denim and patchwork) pockets. This second LP carries on where the first one left off with another excellent clutch of songs (see track list below). £19.99 (with no extra postage charged)

Here are some of the nice things people said about the first album:

Highlands-based combo The Carousels echo the likes of Teenage Fanclub or Whiteout with a dose of The Beatles' 'Please Please Me' thrown in for good measure on countrified rocker 'Call Along The Coast'.' Drowned In Sound

'The Carousels deliver an important reminder that it's quite possible to be psychedelic without overloading the eardrums, opting instead for a Byrds-flavoured twelve-string jangle.' Louder Than War

'Melodious and up-tempo, the Live Revolution rendition of The Carousels' Mayflower blows its studio recording out of the water. With vocals perfectly spun among sunshower guitars and heady percussion, intricacy is intensified in the live arena yet made to sound effortless.' Britpop News

'Moving more in to the more pop arena, the octahedron of sound is squared up with The Carousels, whose song craft is very reminiscent of the Liverpool band Shack in their pomp around the release of the HMS Fables album.' Qromag

The Carousels take influence from Gene Clark, The Byrds and Gram Parsons and have been compared to fellow Scots Teenage Fanclub, Whiteout and the Cosmic Rough Riders. They have received multiple plays and Song of The Day on KEXP Radio for Marianne and have received airplay by Steve Lamacq on BBC6 Music.

Track listing:

1. Josephine
2. Lord Speed My Hurricane
3. Silvio
4. Wishing Well
5. Lake Eloise
6. Little Darlin'

Side B
1. By Your Side
2. New Morning
3. Here In Time
4. Like A Loaded Gun
5. Man Out Of Me

KONTIKI SUITE - "ON SUNSET LAKE" (SUGARBUSH SB035), finally this fantastic album is out on vinyl.

KONTIKI SUITE - "ON SUNSET LAKE" (SUGARBUSH SB035), finally this fantastic album is out on vinyl. In some ways a companion album to our fantastic GREEK THEATRE Lps, as it delves into the same trippy waters as those, recalling along the way more than a hefty dose of THE BYRDS NOTORIOUS BYRD BROTHERS 1968 album. "On Sunset Lake is a pleasing concoction no mistake - equal parts cosmic Americana, west coast psychedelia, and pastoral Englishness, this is a style we've seen a lot of this year from English bands. Alfa 9 and the See See have already both delivered very fine albums in this idiom in recent memory, but Kontiki Suite have upped the ante considerably on both of them, through a combination of impeccable songwriting and arranging and particularly lush production - potentially the nicest sounding album I've heard this year, including major label releases.
Gems abound, but my favorites are "See You In The Morning" which mixes the twelve string jangle of early Byrds with their more easy-going psychedelic country rock shamblings of the late sixties even better than the Byrds themselves managed and "Hollywood" which sounds like Candidate produced by Jonathan Wilson.
And where a lot of otherwise excellent albums tend to taper off at the end, Kontiki Suite have saved the best for last with "Music Man" a lush piece of canyon rock with subtle mellotron touches, and "Magic Carpet Ride" which is aptly named, feeling just like one with it's hypnotic psychedelic coda." (Review by Nathan Ford)

£19.99 (no extra postage charged)

GREEN PEPPERS - "RETROSPECTIVELY YOURS", stunning Scottish pop album, buy it here on vinyl.

GREEN PEPPERS - "RETROSPECTIVELY YOURS", another volume in our "special imports series" (IMP 036). "Jim McCulloch has long been regarded with huge respect and affection amongst musicians in the Glasgow/Lanarkshire indie scene, yet the Motherwell-born guitarist has somehow managed to successfully hide his considerable talents from wider recognition. The new album by Green Peppers may rectify this.
A founder member of both The Soup Dragons and BMX Bandits, McCulloch also lent his sublime guitar skills to the ill-fated Superstar, fronted by his friend Joe McAlinden (ex-Groovy Little Numbers) and in recent years has played and toured with Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan as well as playing on and contributing songs to Campbell’s albums. McCulloch is also a current member of BMX Bandits and is the songwriting force behind folk-rock outfit Snowgoose, fronted by the exquisite vocals of Anna Sheard.
With liner notes by Pete Paphides, ‘Retrospectively Yours’ is a stunning overview of a bafflingly over-looked trio of albums. From the 60s folk-pop of ‘Angel Angel’ to the cinematic swoon of ‘Shabby Horses’, there is a depth and range to McCulloch’s deceptively subtle song-writing that reveals itself with repeated listening. The eleven selections here will steal into your heart and nestle in your soul; take the time to explore these songs and they will stay with you forever."

£19.99 (no extra postage)

LUNAR LAUGH - "MAMA'S BOY", another volume in our "special imports series" (IMP 035) buy it here on vinyl

LUNAR LAUGH - "MAMA'S BOY", another volume in our "special imports series" (IMP 035). "Mama's Boy abounds with catchy melodies, moreso even than The Lunar Laugh's last project. The trio traverses many flavors of sound while adhering to a core foundation in the classics of 60's/70's pop and 90's/00's alternative rock. Even with its many influences, though, the band offers a signature sound that is as personal as the stories it tells. Add to that a thoughtful spread of vocal harmonies, and one has a stellar pop record with plenty of replay value. It's easily one of the highlights of early 2017."
£19.99 (no extra postage!)

DAVID BROOKINGS - "KING WITHOUT A THRONE", another volume in our SPECIAL IMPORTS SERIES (IMP 034), a really strong Power pop album and a sampler of his best tracks from a career spanning 2004-2016, also on YOU ARE THE COSMOS our Spanish friends who specialize in this kind of thing - if you dug the RENO BO album, then this is for you.

£19.99 (no extra postage)

THE PARSONS RED HEADS - "IN A HAZY DREAM", for sale on vinyl.

THE PARSONS RED HEADS - "IN A HAZY DREAM", another volume in our "special imports series" (IMP 033), this fantastic album is on its second pressing nowm this time on red vinyl - the first pressing from a few years ago having sold out in double quick time.

"Portland quartet the Parson Red Heads may well be the epitome of the 'under-appreciated band'. Sure, they've got fans (and anyone who hears their music tends to become one of these), but this is a band who should be reaching millions, not thousands of listeners.

The Byrds meet Big Star, with a healthy dose of the Jayhawks on these exquisite country-pop gems. There are certainly correllations to be made between the Parson Red Heads, and another band beloved of Active Listener readers - the Young Sinclairs. Both channel vintage influences into fresh, timeless songs, which are more than the sum of their influences." (Nathan Ford http://active-listener.blogspot.co.uk)

£19.99 (no postage charged).

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