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LP
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BEWITH 191LP
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$39.50
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 11/14/2025
Hyper-limited ethereal ambient-guitar-soul, originally released on cassette only. First time ever vinyl release, on 140g vinyl. The phenomenally hyped Thought Leadership returns with another X ideas: the deck this time chooses the Ace of Swords. Originally out on cassette only, Be With presents the first ever vinyl issue. The sonic palate has been augmented by the addition of synth and bass; there are more guitar layers, more pedals and more organic drums this time -- a much fuller production. Still DIY, and still recorded straight to multitrack, just ever so slightly grander in scale; think a rough-hewn, long-lost Claremont 56 cut and you'll have some idea of how XI opens this future classic LP. The touchstones so key to the vision of Pentacles (Cocteau Twins, Dif Juz, Durutti Column) are all still present and correct; XII could be a piece from Extractions, XIII is pure Garlands-era Guthrie and, now with the shuffling jazz drums, XV makes TL even more LC -- but more disparate influences are found this time out too. ECM guitar legends John Abercrombie and Pat Metheny in the more considered melodic phrasing and harmonic structure of the ideas and a nod to the cosmic Balearic spirit in the overall vibe, means more is offered to the listener across Swords. Be With is honored to present the first ever vinyl release of Ace Of Swords, carefully remastered by Be With's engineer Simon Francis to ensure it sounds better than ever after its initial tape release. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut at Abbey Road Studios whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry, in Holland. The original tape cover artwork, so crucial to Thought Leadership's striking visual aesthetic, has been rejigged for vinyl issue here at Be With.
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LP
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BEWITH 173LP
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Thought Leadership's III Of Pentacles is an instant classic and glides into the pantheon of timeless guitar-soul totems. Originally out on cassette only, Be With presents the first ever vinyl issue. It's a hideously limited pressing of 300 for the world, so don't sleep on this. Thought Leadership has already garnered big support from such tastemakers as Ruf Dug, Jason Boardman, Nathan Gregory Wilkins, J Walk, Evan Woodward, Justin Robertson and Heavenly's Jeff Barrett. They reside in Stockport and are obsessed with ethereal guitar records. Captured on a multitrack recorder in a terraced house in Stockport, this is as DIY as it gets. Glaringly obvious is a love for classic Factory and early 4AD. Perhaps it is the proximity to the River Mersey where the ideas arrived, and there being but three miles between where this and the Durutti Column's classic LC was recorded, as the two operate across a familiar aural plain. Be it geographic or otherwise, limited by a true economy of means, namely guitar, pedals and drum machine, the fruit borne from these humble tools has been indelibly shaped by the perma-gloom that hangs low over the Manchester and Stockport environs. Think Sensations Fix or Göttsching at his most peeled out. Drones, ambient drifts of broken chords and distorted lead lines all swirl round the mix. Carefully remastered by Be With's engineer Simon Francisco to ensure it sounds better than ever after its initial tape release. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry, in Holland. The original tape cover artwork, so crucial to Thought Leadership's striking visual aesthetic, has been rejigged for vinyl issue here at Be With. Its stark presentation befits the music contained within. RIYL: Durutti Coulmn, Cocteau Twins, Dif Juz, Sensations Fix, Spike.
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