Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs.
Kitchens of Distinction
RELEASE: Folly
BACKSTORY: The reunited dreampop trio this week releases its first new album in 19 years, a 10-track set preceded by single “Japan to Jupiter. ” The record is being released on CD, vinyl and digitally in the U.K., but appears only to be receiving a digital release in the U.S. (full tracklist).
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Gary Numan
RELEASE: Splinter (Songs From a Broken Mind)
BACKSTORY: The former Tubeway Army frontman and synth pioneer returns this week with a brand-new solo album, featuring a dozen new songs, including current single “Love Hurt Bleed,” as well as “I Am Dust,” “Everything Came Down to This,” “Where I Can Never Be” and more (full tracklist).
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Dean Wareham
RELEASE: Emancipated Hearts
BACKSTORY: The former Galaxie 500 and Luna frontman this week releases a solo mini-album, featuring six songs that each “started with one line or phrase I borrowed from a poem or film or newspaper headline,” according to Wareham. There’s also a remix exclusive to the CD release.
BUY: Amazon.com
The Chills
RELEASE: Somewhere Beautiful
BACKSTORY: The New Zealand indie-pop legends this week christen their new partnership with Fire Records by releasing a triple LP live set recorded in 2011 that’s a collaboration with artist Shane Cotton, with each copy coming with a unique art print inscribed with Martin Phillipps‘ lyrics (full tracklist).
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
John Foxx and the Maths
RELEASE: Rhapsody
BACKSTORY: The onetime Ultravox frontman and synth master returns this week with a new album recorded with his band The Maths live in the studio. The 10-track set features performances of songs from Foxx’s albums with The Maths, plus older material including Metamatic-era songs.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Various Artists
RELEASE: The Organization of Pop: Music From The First Thirty Years of ZTT Records
BACKSTORY: Trevor Horn’s groundbreaking electro-pop label is commemorating a major milestone this week with new 2CD, 28-track compilation that collects songs from Propaganda, Art of Noise, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Buggles, 808 State and more (full tracklist).
BUY: Amazon.com
