STACK #201 Jul 2021

MUSIC FEATURE

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Each month we handpick a collection of reissues, limited editions or just straight classic long-players that deserve a place

in any record collection. Words Paul Jones, Amy Flower & Zoë Radas

SARAH BLASKO AS DAY FOLLOWS NIGHT (2021) 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION VINYL

Australia was already familiar with Sarah Blasko's fragile, husky and totally self-assured folk-pop stylings when she released her third album, As Day Follows Night (her previous album, What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have , had won an ARIA two years prior). But it was this record – launched with the single All I Want , an

THE BEATLES ABBEY ROAD (1969) 50th ANNIVERSARY VINYL EDITIOn

The Beatles' 11th studio record, Abbey Road , is now a few years past its Nifty Fifty anniversary, and a Genesis-level flood of ink has been spilled writing about this most seminal of albums. With spectacularly good reason, of course: it was the last LP the Fab Four would release while still publicly together. John Lennon had privately left the group six days before the album dropped, though fans wouldn't know of The Beatles'

intriguingly moody lament on self-discovery – that made Blasko's bed in the constellation of Oz music stars, and netted her an ARIA, a J Award, and an ARIA nom for Album of the Year. Produced by Bjorn Yttling of Swedish pop powerhouse Peter, Bjorn and John, As Day Follows Night was described by Blasko as a reflection on her own life in “heightened reality”, which she attributed to her love of musicals. It is fitting, then, that this 10th anniversary edition devotes a whole second disc to the 'Cinema Blasko' bonus songs of the original Special Edition CD release, featuring stunning, stripped-back covers of tracks from The Sound of Music , The Wizard of Oz ,

disbandment until seven months later. But its revered status is also about the music: the band's then-radical decision to use a Moog synthesizer amongst the record's blues and pop-rock sounds sent many purist critics into hysterics, though fans loved it; Abbey Road hit number one around the world and has reached multi-platinum status in numerous countries (including 12 x platinum in the US). Worldwide, the album's total sales are estimated to have exceeded 31 million. TOP TRACK: Here Comes the Sun FAST FACT: There’s a free, continuous livestream online from a webcam set up at the Abbey Road zebra crossing in London, where the album’s cover image was shot.

Xanadu , Cabaret and more. TOP TRACK: Bird on a Wire

FAST FACT: The original Special Edition included four black and white 'magic ink' cards, which would reveal coloured patterns when painted with water.

THE ARCTIC MONKEYS AM (2013)

Between the edgy and explosive debut, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not and the Arctic Monkeys’ fifth album, the quite brilliant AM , the band’s transmutative odyssey has witnessed development and growth with every release. On AM , Alex Turner still trades in his unique, concise and vibrant urban poetry, if not a little

MASSIVE ATTACK MEZZANINE (1998)

After the phenomenal double whammy of their Blue Lines and Protection albums, it took a few years for Massive Attack to get around to creating a third long-player, spread lavishly over two slices of vinyl. On Mezzanine their sound delved into darker spaces, no better demonstrated than by the relentless, bass-driven slow build of album opener

– and eventual single – Angel . It was A-side closer and second single Teardrop , however, that captivated the most. From the heartbeat- reminiscent rhythm and the stunning vocals from Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser, to its strange video featuring a miming animatronic foetus, it stunned and delighted all the senses. A few years later, it also meant that we never skipped the opening credits to House ! TOP TRACK: Teardrop FAST FACT: Liz Fraser wrote and sang the lyrics for Teardrop , having beaten out Madonna as guest vocalist for the track in a band vote.

tempered, but his songwriting draws upon a more mature and brooding tone; it’s an album for the witching hour. Weaving irrepressible cool bluesy rock, stylistic R&B and dark pop riffs into his unique indie formula, Turner is in full control here, exuding confidence in his craft. AM is the Arctic Monkeys’ transitional record and a marker of how far the band had evolved in seven short years. TOP TRACK: Do I Wanna Know? FAST FACT: Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme sings backing vocals on two tracks.

10 JULY 2021

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