Whaddya mean you don't know The Purple Sun

Check out The Purple Sun's apocalyptic fuzz-enhanced whumper "Doomsday" cut for Houston's Rampart Street Records in 1970.

The Pro-Teens vs. MF DOOM

Melbourne's Pro-Teens just knocked out a swell instro versions of "Doomsday" and the Madvillain gem "Curls" for a tribute 7". 

Here's the scoop...

Melbourne (Naarm), Australia’s enigmatic instrumental soul group The Pro-Teens emerge from mystery once again to pay tribute to the late great MF DOOM, reimagining two iconic cuts from the deep catalogue of the infamous Metal Fingered Villain. 

Doomsday, the title track from MF DOOM’s seminal debut album Operation: Doomsday, is reimagined as a floaty, coasting synthesizer-topped funk burner. Featuring vocalist ‘Polly The Invincible Pearl’ replicating Pebbles The Invisible Girl’s iconic Sade-inspired hook, The Pro-Teens warp DOOM’s instantly recognisable beat into a tasteful groover in the spirit of 70s soul. 

Curls is taken from MF DOOM’s timeless 2004 collaboration with Madlib, ‘Madvillainy’. Widely heralded as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, The Pro-Teens felt that it was crucial to pay homage to this shining gem in MF DOOM’s storied catalogue. In their version, the original Brazilian sample is reconstructed with marimba, two guitars, angular organ tones and The Pro-Teens trademark boom-bap drum feels. The track fades out on a completely original addition to the piece; The Pro-Teens insert an outro that sounds like it could be an outtake or unused sample from Madlib and DOOM’s original effort. 

Bandleader Hudson Whitlock describes: ​​“As the sessions went on, the Pro-Teens traversed lots of ground with the arrangements and productions. This diversity of tones, moods, feels and arrangements was an intentional act to mirror the diversity within DOOM's own diverse musical vocabulary. We wanted to fluctuate between putting their own spin on DOOM's classic tunes as well as staying true to the original source.” 

Drawing from players within the College Of Knowledge family, The Pro-Teens now have 4 outstanding LPs to their name, including 2020’s triumphant Snooch Dodd & The Pro-Teens – I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly, the breakout release that attracted a worldwide reissue on Mr Bongo and earned BBC 6 Music’s Album Of The Day. 

The Pro-Teens - Doomsday b/w Curls will be available digitally and on 7” vinyl via College Of Knowledge Records on July 29th, distributed by College Of Knowledge (AUS) and Kudos Records (ROW). Get a copy of  The Pro-Teens Doomsday/Curls tribute single via Bandcamp right here. Listen to both tracks and the original DOOM joints below. 

These recordings were created on the sovereign land of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. The Pro-Teens pay their respects to their elders past and present. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. 

Verlaines live at Windsor Castle, 1986 due from Schoolkids Records

The 17-track double live album captures Graeme Downes and crew performing at their peak in Auckland. 

Here's the scoop...

Schoolkids Records is releasing a double album from New Zealand's legendary Verlaines entitled Live at the Windsor Castle, Auckland May 1986 for the first time ever, exclusively for RSD Drops 2021 on June 12th.  

Packaged in a beautiful gatefold jacket, the artwork is a replication of the vintage gig poster. Sky Blue vinyl, complete with download code and liner notes from Graeme Downes: “ The Verlaines. at the time, were Graeme Downes, Jane Dodd and Robbie Yeats. We lived in Dunedin at the near-bottom of the South Island of New Zealand.  These gigs were recorded to try to capture a live version of Slow Sad Love Song for the upcoming Birddog album that we recorded later that year.” Limited to 1200 copies Worldwide.

Watch The Verlaines video for "Doomsday" from 1986 followed by the track listing and the actual 1986 tour poster which served as the model for the album sleeve design. 

 

The Verlaines – Live at the Windsor Castle, Auckland, May 1986

Makes No Difference / Just Mum / You Forget Love / Take Good Care Of It / Lying In State / Fuck It Alf / Only Dream Left / For The Love Of Ash Grey / Icarus Missed / Pyromaniac / Lover Armageddon / Slow Sad Love Song / It Was Raining / Doomsday / You Cheat Yourself / You Say You / The Ballad of Harry Noryb