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Hi Everyone,
Just a heads up that The Routes "Instrumentals" album from 2013 has been reissued by Otitis Media Records. It's available on red/white (150 copies) or blue/white vinyl (150 copies), and comes with brand new "Blues Theme" inspired artwork and an obi strip.
Available here while stocks last:
Hotwired:
Link
You Nearly Got Me:
Link
Thanks
CJ
The new album by The Routes "The Twang Machine" will be released on LP by Topsy Turvy Records on June 3rd.
The Double Crown Records / Otitis Media Records CD release will follow shortly after. It will also be available on most digital platforms.
Formed in 2006, although far away from the Tokyo garage scene, The Routes are undoubtedly one of the most prolific underground garage bands in Japan of the last decade. 2021 saw The Routes release three studio albums (two of which were instrumental), taking their album tally up to 10 studio albums. It’s 2022, and not showing any signs of slowing down The Routes bring you “The Twang Machine”.
Imagine a bizarre alternate universe in which the Moog synthesizer was invented before the guitar, and visiting thrift stores you’d find records such as The Ventures “Guitar Indigo” and Dick Dale “Twanged On Bach!?! Well, here is a record that could well be from that universe! The Routes – Twang Machine. Yes! Ten slices of Kraftwerk arranged into mid-sixties instrumental rock ’n’ roll/surf guitar bangers. An aural testament to The Routes’ love and respect of the music of Kraftwerk. Hear Showroom Dummies reimagined as a Spaghetti Western film opening theme, Radioactivity drenched in reverb ala The Astronauts… Trans Europe Express at shinkansen speed racing to burst the sound barrier, and many more of Kraftwerk’s classic songs as you could never imagine them.
Whether you see it as musical blasphemy or musical alchemy, this album is set to become a cult classic, destined to irk or jerk future generations for years to come.
New album by The Routes "Shake Five" out July/August 2021.
New video - Mongolian Chop (taken from "Shake Five"):
Link
"Shake Five" available on:
LP (Topsy-Turvy Records)
The limited yellow vinyl version is limited to 100 copies only:
https://www.soundflat.de/garage-mod-surf/garage-mod-surf-lp/routes-shake-five-yellow-vinyl-lp
CD (Double Crown Records)
Featuring artwork by the amazing Joseph Harmon.
https://www.doublecrownrecords.com/
Tape (Otitis Media Recordings)
With reversible cover, featuring both the LP and CD covers.
https://otitismediarecords.com/
The album is already available to stream or download on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon, and all the regular places...
Thank you
Stay safe
Chris
My band The Routes will release a new instrumental album "Instrumentals II" on Groovie Records at the end of this month.
The album is a follow-up to our 2012 "Instrumentals" album, and features another 10 original instrumental cuts.
The album ranges from spaghetti western to surf, and makes stops in garage and stompin' rock & roll territory along the way; taking influence from Link Wray, Dick Dale, Trashmen, Ventures, Terauchi Takeshi, and the Strummin' Mental compilations. Recorded in mono, this album is raw and LOUD (surf music with garage production).
"Instrumentals II" will be available on LP (color vinyl limited to 100 copies, black vinyl 400 copies), and digital.
You can check out the album and preorder vinyl on the Groovie Records Bandcamp page.
https://groovierecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-routes-instrumentals-ii-limited-color-lp