Recently Played: A Column on Vinyl Records #61

      As in the previous month, fresh releases are the main focus as we explore what populated the shelves of the country’s record shops in February. The beginning of 2025 has been remarkably strong, presenting some truly noteworthy offerings to immerse yourself in with this edition of the column. Familiar artists share the space with several rising talents that are showing signs of becoming long-term fixtures. Additionally, there are several outstanding Blue Note releases to savor. Perhaps you might want to hold off on saving for those RSD zoetrope picture discs for a week or two?

      **Freshly Pressed:**

      With some hesitation, your columnist unwrapped the latest Doves album, *Constellations for The Lonely*. Their debut, *Lost Souls* from 2000, is a definitive classic, and their initial run of four albums boasted an impressive success rate. However, their 2020 comeback, *The Universal Want*, didn’t resonate with me, even though it was generally well received. The news that the band is touring without frontman Jimi Goodwin added to my apprehension. Fortunately, this album is heartfelt and less focused on being overtly grand. Tracks like "Cold Dreaming" and "In The Butterfly Home" echo their earlier style, marked by distinct Doves guitar motifs, melancholic atmospheres, and more intricate vocal work. In the former, the Williams brothers' harmonies remind us that multiple voices have always been part of the band, while the treatment on Goodwin in the latter evokes haunting elements reminiscent of their earlier albums.

      Nevertheless, their sixth album doesn’t merely replicate previous sounds, which could be provocatively argued about its predecessor. These beautiful songs possess their own unique, creaky, and poignant identities. Regardless of touring complexities, it’s easy to understand why the band wished to continue creating music of such high quality. The closure of side one, "A Drop In The Ocean," is a simmering, gothic contemplation of loss, while "Last Year’s Man" is nostalgically sweet, even featuring a harmonica solo. The vocal layers in "Saint Teresa" recall "The Cedar Room" without feeling overly calculated, and throughout the album, the unmistakable Doves essence feels like it has naturally evolved without pretension. Matt Colton’s robust mastering provides ample width, and the vinyl cut, pressed nearly silently by Optimal, is commendable.

      ---

      ---

      The popular Arctic Monkeys tribute band, The Lathums, returns with their third album, *Matter Does Not Define*. The opening track, "Leave No Stone Unturned," unabashedly imitates the chilly vibe, yet it remains a majestic melodic burst of the highest order. They know their craft well and excel at it. It's exuberant indie jangle, with choruses large enough to rival your local Tesco Extra, designed for belting out while muddy-kneed with a tepid pint in the air. Graeme Lynch ensures the mastering isn’t overly heavy, and Alex Moore's vocals are well-presented at the core of their sound. However, the accent in "Stellar Cast" is puzzling, conjuring faint memories of Sting’s collaboration with Shaggy. The eye-catching sleeve includes a pin-drop silent Optimal pressing that is quite crankable, if you're inclined.

      ---

      ---

      Nadia Reid’s fourth album may be her best yet. *Enter Now Brightness* is filled with immediately captivating melodies and rich, beautiful vocal performances. Sampling the chorus of "Emmanuelle" or the entirety of "Second Nature" provides a pure sense of her talent, while also showcasing majestic arrangements. The hypnotic, percussive winks of "Cry On Cue" contrast with the heartrending yet compelling "Baby Bright." This track has quickly become one of your correspondent's favorites of the year, with superb songwriting throughout. D. James Goodwin's mastering is impeccable, offering Reid significant space in the soundstage with ample headroom for the surrounding instrumentation. Unfortunately, the pink vinyl edition, like other variants, produced by GZ, has minor surface noise at times. These songs are worth hearing, so some perseverance may be necessary.

      ---

      ---

      Andrew Rumsey, the singing bishop, previously released one of Just Played's favorite albums of 2023 and now returns with *Collodion*. Named after a substance famed for its durability as a glue, this album is a lean, sparse exhibition of a singer-songwriter with a slightly raspy, caramel voice, evoking comparisons to Frank Reader of the Trashcan Sinatras and the incomparable Gavin Clark. Positioned closely to the mic, he commands the center of the soundstage, holding your attention thanks to Ian Button's excellent mastering. "Pulling On A Thread" triumphs as a slowly unfolding piece, while "Instead Of A Heart" stands out as a profoundly beautiful and moving highlight among several. Recorded in a Wiltshire church dating back to the eleventh century in one day in August 2024, Rum

Other articles