DOWNTOWN CASTLES CAN NEVER BLOCK THE SUN (IA11 EDITION) (DELUXE) | VINYL RECORD (LP)
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DOWNTOWN CASTLES CAN NEVER BLOCK THE SUN (IA11 EDITION) (DELUXE) | VINYL RECORD (LP)
Product DESCRIPTION
Release Date: 03/28/2025
Ben Lamar Gay, "There is no one universe for Ben Lamar Gay, he just sonic booms from one sound to another." - NPR Music Ben Lamar Gay's de facto debut album, Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun, was our attempt to introduce the legendary Chicago composer / improvisor / renaissance man to the rest of the world with a compilation of tracks from "7 albums he made over 7 years but never made the effort to actually release." The material showcases Gay's penchant for genre-hopping-from Reich-ian soundscape voyages to Don Cherry-esque polyrhythm treks to Jorge Ben-style vocal-and-string earworms-while keeping his singular musical voice in focus. In the years since it's release, this long OOP collection has become a touchstone, foreshadowing the breadth and scope of Ben Lamar Gay's output since. The songs-between-the-songs warped Soul Americana madness and beauty of Open Arms To Open Us, the unhinged long form freedom of Certain Reveries-each fresh mode would defy expectation if without the context established by Downtown Castles. To quote the OG press release, "to call it 'eclectic' would only scratch the surface. This music is everything." LP comes packaged in the deluxe International Anthem style - heavyweight jacket, IARC OBI strip, poly-lined inner-sleeve, insert booklet (new for 2025), and re-cut lacquers, on classic black vinyl. 1 Vitis Labrusca 2 Muhal 3 Music for 18 Hairdressers: Braids & Fractals 4 Jubilee 5 A Seasoning Called Primavera 6 Miss Nealie Burns 7 Me, Jayve & The Big Bee 8 Uvas - side split - 9 Galveston 10 Swim Swim 11 Kunni 12 Melhor Que Tem 13 Gator Teeth 14 7th Stanza 15 Oh no... not again!
Shipping Policy
In Stock Items
Items marked as In Stock typically ship within 2–5 business days.
Once your order ships, you’ll receive tracking information by email.
Backordered Items
Some items may be available on Backorder if inventory is temporarily unavailable.
When purchasing a backordered item:
- Payment is collected at checkout
- Your order secures a place in the fulfillment queue
- Items are fulfilled in the order they are purchased
Most backorders are fulfilled within approximately 3–6 months, though timelines may occasionally be longer depending on supplier manufacturing, distributor allocations, repress schedules, or inventory availability.
Backordered items may ship separately from other items in your order.
You can monitor, manage, or cancel eligible unfulfilled backordered items anytime through your customer account portal.
Preorder Items
Preorder items are upcoming releases scheduled to ship on or around the official release date provided by the label or distributor.
Release dates may occasionally change due to manufacturing or supplier delays.
Preorder items follow the same fulfillment and account management process as backordered items.
Additional Fulfillment Information
Orders containing multiple inventory types may ship separately as items become available.
Estimated fulfillment timelines are provided as general estimates only and are not guaranteed.
When will I receive a tracking number?
We provide tracking for every order. Tracking will be available once your product is shipped. All of our products are shipped out of our warehouse in Westlake Village, CA. You can track your order through your account on our website, via any of the shipping confirmation emails we've sent you, or through the Shop App.
Can I cancel my order?
Customers may cancel eligible unfulfilled items at any time before they enter the shipping process directly through their customer account portal. Once an item has entered shipment processing or has shipped, it becomes subject to our standard Returns & Refund Policy.
Tracklist Preview
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Product DESCRIPTION
Release Date: 03/28/2025
Ben Lamar Gay, "There is no one universe for Ben Lamar Gay, he just sonic booms from one sound to another." - NPR Music Ben Lamar Gay's de facto debut album, Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun, was our attempt to introduce the legendary Chicago composer / improvisor / renaissance man to the rest of the world with a compilation of tracks from "7 albums he made over 7 years but never made the effort to actually release." The material showcases Gay's penchant for genre-hopping-from Reich-ian soundscape voyages to Don Cherry-esque polyrhythm treks to Jorge Ben-style vocal-and-string earworms-while keeping his singular musical voice in focus. In the years since it's release, this long OOP collection has become a touchstone, foreshadowing the breadth and scope of Ben Lamar Gay's output since. The songs-between-the-songs warped Soul Americana madness and beauty of Open Arms To Open Us, the unhinged long form freedom of Certain Reveries-each fresh mode would defy expectation if without the context established by Downtown Castles. To quote the OG press release, "to call it 'eclectic' would only scratch the surface. This music is everything." LP comes packaged in the deluxe International Anthem style - heavyweight jacket, IARC OBI strip, poly-lined inner-sleeve, insert booklet (new for 2025), and re-cut lacquers, on classic black vinyl. 1 Vitis Labrusca 2 Muhal 3 Music for 18 Hairdressers: Braids & Fractals 4 Jubilee 5 A Seasoning Called Primavera 6 Miss Nealie Burns 7 Me, Jayve & The Big Bee 8 Uvas - side split - 9 Galveston 10 Swim Swim 11 Kunni 12 Melhor Que Tem 13 Gator Teeth 14 7th Stanza 15 Oh no... not again!
Tracklist Preview
- N/A
Become A Member
Welcome to the Vinyl Vista Rewards Club — the ultimate experience for vinyl lovers!
Earn points, unlock exclusive perks, and get rewarded every time you shop. Whether you're here to grow your collection or enjoy the VIP treatment, our membership and loyalty programs make every spin more rewarding.
Collect points. Get discounts. Enjoy free shipping.
Join The ClubBonus Rewards Points:
Earn extra points on every purchase and redeem them for discounts, store credit, or exclusive vinyl releases.
Free Shipping & VIP Perks:
Members enjoy complimentary shipping, priority handling, and exclusive access to limited-edition drops, presales, and member-only discounts.
Monthly Vinyl Delivery (Optional):
Receive a hand-picked record each month curated by our experts — delivered straight to your doorstep.
Flexibility:
No long-term commitments. You can change plans, pause, or cancel anytime — and keep your earned points.
Shipping Policy
In Stock Items
Items marked as In Stock typically ship within 2–5 business days.
Once your order ships, you’ll receive tracking information by email.
Backordered Items
Some items may be available on Backorder if inventory is temporarily unavailable.
When purchasing a backordered item:
- Payment is collected at checkout
- Your order secures a place in the fulfillment queue
- Items are fulfilled in the order they are purchased
Most backorders are fulfilled within approximately 3–6 months, though timelines may occasionally be longer depending on supplier manufacturing, distributor allocations, repress schedules, or inventory availability.
Backordered items may ship separately from other items in your order.
You can monitor, manage, or cancel eligible unfulfilled backordered items anytime through your customer account portal.
Preorder Items
Preorder items are upcoming releases scheduled to ship on or around the official release date provided by the label or distributor.
Release dates may occasionally change due to manufacturing or supplier delays.
Preorder items follow the same fulfillment and account management process as backordered items.
Additional Fulfillment Information
Orders containing multiple inventory types may ship separately as items become available.
Estimated fulfillment timelines are provided as general estimates only and are not guaranteed.
When will I receive a tracking number?
We provide tracking for every order. Tracking will be available once your product is shipped. All of our products are shipped out of our warehouse in Westlake Village, CA. You can track your order through your account on our website, via any of the shipping confirmation emails we've sent you, or through the Shop App.
Can I cancel my order?
Customers may cancel eligible unfulfilled items at any time before they enter the shipping process directly through their customer account portal. Once an item has entered shipment processing or has shipped, it becomes subject to our standard Returns & Refund Policy.
