It's that time of year again - Record Store Day 2012 is upon us and the ClashMusic are busy rifling through our wallets, raiding our piggy bigs and selling our vital organs to secure our vinyl fix.
There's a lot to choose from. To view the complete list of associated releases click HERE. If you want to know our thoughts then read on...
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Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) (Soulwax Remix)
Soulwax have put out some great remixes in recent years so it's no surprise that they've taken Arcade Fire's best track from the The Suburbs and made it sound huge. There's also a glorious and beefed-up extended remix of Ready To Start by Damian Taylor as a b-side.
Future Of The Left – At Magnetic West
These songs will not be found on Future Of The Left's upcoming third album, The Plot Against Common Sense, so fans should snap this up at any cost. If this trio of new songs is anything like the Polymers Are Forever EP last year it should be bursting with riffs, anger and more trademark wit from Andy Falkous.
Words - Max Raymond
Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves Of Destiny – Atlas
Newcastle’s Beth Jeans Houghton releases one of the finest moments from her excellent debut, 'Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose', on Record Store Day. 'Atlas' is a jaunty number travelling through the many facets of her LP. Her soft vocals are backed by The Hooves’ pounding drums, and tender banjo plucks.
Bat For Lashes – Strangelove
Natasha Khan takes on Depeche Mode’s synth-pop single, adding more depth and drama to the original. Her inimitably husky vocals command the track while the staccato piano rhythm is backed by a bass-heavy broodingly intense atmosphere.
Words - Simon Butcher
Beach House – Lazuli
Dream pop duo Beach House are set to release their fourth album Bloom next month and after releasing debut single ‘Myth’, which hints that new material is going to be eerily similar to Teen Dream; they’re releasing a second single, the preciously titled ‘Lazuli’ exclusively for Record Store Day.
St. Vincent – Krokodil/Grot
Whilst most artists are releasing tracks from albums to come or have already gone, the undeniably incredible and sweet-natured St. Vincent is releasing two new songs, ‘Krokodil’ and ‘Grot’. Clark has already been testing out ‘Krokodil’ live and it sounds heavier than previous material as she screamed the lyrics out at her Coachella performance earlier this week.
Words - Aurora Mitchell
The Membranes - Triple A-side
Full time cultural warrior and part time ClashMusic scribe John Robb led The Membranes through thick and thin for over a decade. Blasting out the traps with a new single, the typically uncompromising band have shoehorned three tracks onto a solitary slice of seven inch vinyl. Grab it while you can.
Smuggler's Way
Domino are caring sorts. The label have gathered together exclusive material from some of their finest acts - Dirty Projectors! Real Estate! John Maus! More! - for a series of flexi discs bundled into a fanzine. Hipper than James Brown's hip replacement f'sure, but there's substance as well.
Words - Robin Murray