Today Only: All genres sale vinyl

Review: A new double cassette box from Past Inside The Present, which sees its co-founder zake in relatively rare solo mode mixing soothing ambient sensibilities with orchestral, classical influences. 'Dernier Souffle (Pt 1)' is a great example of how the two can meld very easily and comfortably, a sense of slowly retreating heartache creeping over its open, slabs of floating sounds, whereas the three parts of 'La Paix Eternelle (Pt 1), on the other hand, evoke heavenly choirs of angels. An album with its head in the clouds, for sure, but once you join it there you won't want to come down.

Review: British label Fire return with more retro antics. Virginias Wings perform a cover version of Suzanne Menzel's lost pop classic "It Starts Again" with Jane Weaver on vocals. Noveller Aka Brooklyn based Sarah Lipstate performs a rendition of John Carpenter's "The Thing" and Malmo based dream pop trio Death and Vanilla re-imagine Bert Janschs "Moonshine" on this first edition of the new Lost Library series: conceived by the label boss James Nicholls and designer Luke Drozd. Featuring new tracks from their acclaimed female fronted roster.

Review: The debut full-length from Los Angeles glam metal superstars, Warrant, is the perfect time capsule of late eighties sunset strip era rock of a bygone leather-chapped age. 'Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich', boasted the hit singles, 'Heaven', 'Down Boys', and, 'Sometimes She Cries'; all still heralded as some of the group's most essential cuts to date. Noted for its pushed back release due to vocalist Jani Lane suffering a nervous breakdown upon catching his best friend and girlfriend "entangled", an encounter detailed in lyrical form on the band's single, 'I Saw Red', which would feature on the following year's sophomore effort, 'Cherry Pie'; there's still no ignoring or denying the infectious cheese, stadium-sized riffs and endlessly catchy hooks that still prop up this debut as a (not so) timeless classic of its stature.

Review: By 1996 Greek synth composer extraordinaire Vangelis - real name Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou - had become such an icon of electronic music not one but two retrospective anthologies arrived around the same time. Not bad considering this was only around halfway through his recording career, and in many ways his work was still in an evolutionary process. Gift was one of those compilations, and focuses attention on the first four records made by this Hellenic legend. Starting out with work from 1975's Heaven & Hell, from which an excerpt of the original (rather longwinded) 'Heaven & Hell Part II' has been lifted, we also get 'So Long Ago, So Clear', the artist's first collaboration with Jon Anderson (the musician-singer-songwriter whose name is credited on several other tracks here), and outstanding outings such as 'Pulstar' and 'Alpha'. A joy from start to finish.

Notes: Simple, powerful and high-quality voice recording solution, ideal for interviews, videography and podcasting. Clip on the lavalier microphone and record directly into the tiny battery-powered unit in high-quality 32-bit float resolution.

Supplier's Notes:
Small Appearance, Big Impact.

Videographers love the Tascam DR-10L Pro portable recorder with clip-on microphone as an easy and unobtrusive solution for capturing audio for video. Combining the clip-on convenience of a lavalier microphone with an ultra-compact portable recorder, this form factor solves many of the problems content creators often face. It's a superior solution for busy events such as weddings and on-location film shoots.

While traditional wireless microphone systems can pose workflow concerns, the rock-solid performance of a Tascam wired lavalier recorder is proven and assured. Simple plug-and-go operation also makes the DR-10L Pro an easy backup system for your typical voice recording setup.

The DR-10L Pro's 32-bit float recording technology lets you capture a whisper, a scream and everything in between with impeccable fidelity, ultra-low noise and no need to fine-tune gain levels. Support for wireless timecode sync with Atomos products, the ability to wirelessly control up to five recorders from the app*, plus long battery life and generous storage capacity make the DR-10L Pro ideal for professional applications.

*optional AK-BT1 required for app control and wireless timecode sync

Ultra-compact and lightweight, the DR-10L Pro is the perfect solution when stealth is a priority. Fitting in the palm of your hand and weighing just 65 grams, this recorder is easy to hide at film shoots, weddings, stage performances, and other projects where invisibility is crucial.

The included belt clip attaches easily and securely to clothing, allowing you to capture great audio without compromising your talent.

Using the DR-10L Pro's standard 32-bit float recording mode, two analogue-to-digital converters (ADCs) capture sound over an enormous dynamic range without distortion or excessive noise. This means that videographers can avoid having to discard recordings due to poor levels. With 32-bit float resolution, there's no need to adjust input gain levels, so you can set up faster and be confident that you're recording excellent audio in every situation.

The included TM-10L microphone captures clear, detailed audio while handling high sound pressure levels without distortion, making it the perfect lav mic for 32-bit float recording with the the DR-10L Pro.

Whether you're recording people at a wedding reception, a busy convention or a lengthy ceremony, the DR-10L Pro is ready for service as long as you are. There's no need to worry about changing batteries during recording: the DR-10L Pro personal recorder runs on just two AAA batteries for up to 24.5 hours*.

In addition, files are saved on the microSD card approximately every 20 seconds during recording to minimise the risk of data loss due to unexpected power cuts.

*Lithium batteries

With the optional AK-BT1 Bluetooth dongle, up to five DR-10L Pro recorders can be controlled wirelessly from iOS, iPadOS and Android devices using the free DR-10L Pro CONNECT app. The app allows videographers to check device status*, view the recorded waveforms in real time and create up to five presets. A preset can be applied to a single recorder or to all controlled units at once. You can also use the app to name devices for easy identification, for example "Bride", "Groom", and so on.

With the optional AK-BT1 Bluetooth dongle, the DR-10L Pro is ready to wirelessly synchronise timecode with supported Atomos products. Timecode allows videographers to perfectly align audio with video, even when there is no audio on the camera.

Timecode is critical for videographers when dealing with multi-camera video shoots, saving valuable time in post-production.

*Audio monitoring via app is not supported

Whether you're in a dark environment or outdoors in the sun, the DR-10L Pro's highly visible OLED display lets you confirm settings at a glance.

You can check your battery level, recording status, and input levels directly from the display, and all advanced functions are just a few button presses away.

The DR-10L Pro lavalier recorder has a headphones output for easy monitoring. You can listen to the input before or during recording, and also check the quality of your recordings immediately without having to first transfer them to a computer.

The DR-10L Pro comes bundled with a free version of RX Elements, a groundbreaking audio repair and noise reduction tool from iZotope. RX Elements gives videographers powerful audio restoration capabilities that need to be heard to be believed, from seamlessly removing coughs and background noise to reducing wind roar and ambient noise. Live video shoots for weddings, on-location interviews, and documentaries can present countless post-production challenges, and RX Elements gives videographers the tools they need to overcome them.

Specifications

Storage media and file formats

Recording media: microSD card (64 MB - 2 GB), microSDHC card (4-32 GB), microSDXC card (64-512 GB)

Recording and playback formats:
WAV: mono/poly (BWF format), 44.1/48 kHz, 16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit float
MP3: 44.1/48 kHz, 128/192 kbit/s (recording) 32-320 kbit/s (playback)

Analogue audio inputs and outputs
Microphone input: 3.5-mm mini TRS jack (with screw lock)
Maximum input level: -11 dBu
Gain range: 7.5-38 dB
Input impedance: +/-2 kO
Included microphone: TM-10L
Sensitivity: -42 dBV/Pa
Maximum sound pressure level: 115 dB SPL
Supply voltage: 2.3 V
Analogue output (Headphones jack): 3.5-mm mini stereo jack (dual mono audio output)
Maximum output power: 10 mW + 10 mW (THD =0.1 %, 32 O)

Audio performance
Frequency response (input to recorded data): 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +0/-1 dB
Distortion: 0.01 % (1 kHz, input level -21 dBV)
Dynamic range: +/-105 dB

Power supply and other specifications

Power supply
2 AAA batteries (alkaline, NiMH or lithium rechargeable, sold separately)
USB bus power from a computer

Power consumption (batteries): 0.3 W (maximum)
Current consumption (USB bus power): 0.1 A (maximum)
Dimensions (W × H × D): 53 mm × 51 mm × 21 mm (excluding protrusions)
Weight@ 65 g (with batteries), 43 g (without batteries)
Permissible operating temperature range: 0-40 -C

Battery operation time
Conditions: WAV recording at 48 kHz, 32-bit float, mic connected, headphones not connected, limiter off, mono file, continuous operation, in hours:minutes (JEITA CP-2905)
Alkaline battery (Evolta)
16:30: No Bluetooth connection
16:00: Bluetooth connection

NiMH battery (Eneloop)
11:30: No Bluetooth connection
10:30: Bluetooth connection

Lithium battery (Energizer Ultimate Lithium)

24:30: No Bluetooth connection
23:00: Bluetooth connection

Note: Operation times may vary depending on the recording media being used. Reduced battery life when using headphones.

Review: Talk about keeping things on a knife edge. The first, and title track on this powerhouse EP is pretty much destined to whip any venue into a storm of expectation, not-so-much building but rather opening with this full-sounding, heavily atmospheric, space-y, proggy, could be techno, could be electro, could be trance arrangement. The kind of thing where there might as well be flairs firing into the sky warning you how much stomping a floor can take.

Similar vibes on 'Medusa', only on a deeper, darker, more menacing tip, a tune that sucks ears into another world entirely, one that's a little unsettling, and certainly difficult to find your way back out of. Elsewhere, things embrace a high-NRG ethic, with both 'Plasma' and 'Onda Sotto' taking things up to almost-gabber tempos, but without actually committing to the pounding fours.

Notes: *** This version of UTILITIES comes with PULSAR-23 style turrets designed for connecting alligator clips. ***

UTILITIES contains a set of simple auxiliary modules to expand the functionality of the PULSAR-23 drum machine. UTILITIES modules can also be used with any gear that works with CV signals (Eurorack, semi-modular synthesizers, etc.).

The modules included in UTILITIES can be divided into two groups:
1) Passive elements such as switches, resistors, capacitors.
2) Various types of amplifiers and waveshapers, linear, non-linear, controlled and uncontrolled.
Passive elements are designed to expand the possibilities of switching and controlling the PULSAR.

Linear amplifiers are needed when you need to feed a signal from a device operating in a lower voltage format to the PULSAR inputs. For example, it can be a step sequencer with an output voltage of 5 volts, while the PULSAR needs 10 volts to fully trigger the drum modules. Or it could be the output of a cassette tape recorder, which has an output of 1 volt, while for normal operation the PULSAR needs an input level of an audio signal of 5 volts. Non-linear and controlled amplifiers and waveshapers are designed to control the signal level, while simultaneously changing its spectrum, distorting its shape and adding harmonics. The circuitry of these amplifiers is very simple and based on the early developments of the transistor era, with its inherent beauty and grace.

UTILITIES connectors are made in the PULSAR-23 format on pins designed to connect the alligator clips. There are also adapters for 3.5mm Eurorack mini-jacks.

The top panel and enclosure of UTILITIES are made of PCBs, which significantly reduced the cost of the device.

There are also adapters for 3.5mm Eurorack mini-jacks. The top panel and enclosure of UTILITIES are made of PCBs, which significantly reduced the cost of the device.

The top panel and enclosure of UTILITIES are made of PCBs, which significantly reduced the cost of the device.

Power supply: DC +12 v 5.5 x 2.1 mm center plus
Current consumption: 50 ma max
Dimensions: 288 x 193 x 40 mm
Weight: 0.75 kg

Review: Vocalist and poet Roger Robinson has connected with Jabu producer Amos for this new single which finds them explore new grounds. After their fuzzy lovers rock outing last time out, here they head off into space with more cosmic and zoned out sounds full of intimate and slo mo grooves. 'Summer' goes first and is a blissed out cut with ambient pads and lonely piano keys encouraging you to get lost in deep thought. 'Feel Bad Smile' is even more of a cosy late night cuddle, with spoken word mutterings and lingering notes breaking your heart each and every time.

Review: You'd be forgiven for not knowing much about Plugpoint Music's sole album, Last Chance. It was recorded by German artist Reiner Ossmann in his home studio way back in 1987 and was subsequently released via a private press run of just 200 copies. It is, then, a genuinely little-known and overlooked gem that has been rescued from obscurity via the mighty Minimal Wave label. If you enjoy the more stripped-back and eccentric end of the new wave and cold wave spectrum, we'd definitely recommend it. Ossmann's synthesizer and drum machine arrangements are expertly minimalistic and alien-sounding, with gurgling melodies and spaced-out chords mingling with his own heavily accented vocals over the sparsest of beats. An ultra-rare gem that's well worth your time and money.

Review: Orli is back with what we think is a first EP in almost a year but it was worth the wait for minimal fans: the three originals on Scandal for the Daro label all hit a perfect sweet spot between abstraction and club clout. 'Where Is Your Identity' layers up bleeping phone tones and spoken word snippets with crisp and snappy tech house drums. 'Scandal' is deep, loopy and long legged though packed with subtle cosmic details and then comes a deft minimal rework from Dan Andrei's Diminished Horror remix. Last of all is 'Hole Black' which rocks back and forth on its heels with jazzy hi hats and twanging bass.

Review: The Midnight's latest Heroes is a stark display of the musical evolution of the New York duo. A band that started as a synth heavy proposition, extensive touring across the globe (including a headline at London's Brixton Academy) and the desire not to repeat themselves in creative terms has led to the bigger vision and wider appeal of what their label calls "fully-realised, arena-worthy songs".
Heroes is the final part in a trilogy of albums that started with 2018's Kids, followed in 2020 by Monsters. "For me, Kids is self-knowledge, Monsters is self-love, and then Heroes is empathy," said singer Tyler Lyle. "I got into depth psychology and this idea of aetiology, the way a human forms. The world doesn't get better but we do. We grow into ourselves. We grow into our voice."
Still, Heroes remains definitely more a case of evolution than revolution - there's still more than a hint of the gorgeous synth sounds in evidence, but with a lyrical maturity and smartness that gives even its most pop moments an unexpected twist.

Review: The Aphrology EP marks a killer induction into the MOS Deep annals of excellence from Ksoul & Muteoscillator, the Italian duo who have impressed intermittently with their dense brand of techno for Uzuri and Kinda Soul Recordings (which is overseen by Ksoul himself). The two part "Criminology" opens proceedings face up, with the restrained acid leanings of the opening gambit slightly overwhelmed by the unrelenting modulated brutality of its subsequent partner. Face down and MOS Deep ringleader Aroy Dee sneaks in with his own edit of "Aphrology" before Ksoul and Muteoscillator can demonstrate the title track's prowess - it's Dee to a tee, taking the well judged house that swells with ever menacing machine squeals and adding his own subtle percussive embellishments.

Review: Alex Israel's new 'Uncertainty Manipulated' release on Somnambulant Drift features generative music he has crafted by "building elements of arbitrary length that work together melodically but do not correspond in time. As the individual components replay, they overlap coincidentally, resulting in music that makes itself." The result is four tracks of sublime and escapist ambient with no beginning and no end but plenty of heart-aching piano chords, harp strums, hazy drones, mindful synth smears and meditative moods that offer comfort but also encourage inward reflections. It's a perfect coming together of man, machine and absorbing minimalism.

Review: Past Inside The Present co-founder Isaac Helsen - a multi-disciplinary artist from Michigan, creating photography and paintings as well as music - in action on this double cassette alone after a string of collaborations with labelmate 36 and fellow label co-founder zake. Helsen's sound works on a grand (electronically) orchestral scale at times, the proverbial cathedrals of sound coming to mind, at others (see 'Duniskwalgunyi') understated and intimate. On first listen, it's the simpler moments like 'Whisper At A Party' that grab you, but the 17 track selection slowly reveals itself to be quite special on repeated rotations.

Notes: The Glorious Vinyl Frame Set lets you display your vinyl cover artfully in any setting. The set consists of three vinyl frames and is suitable for all 7'' record covers. A vinyl cover is often more than just a sleeve for your record - many of them are designed with stunning artworks or were individually signed by artists. To avoid your favourite record covers collecting dust in record boxes, we have developed a suitable frame for them. The sturdy construction with glass cover is designed for 7'' covers and is captivating due to its minimal and stylish design, which is available in three colour finishes. The vinyl frame can either be hung on the wall or placed on even surfaces, thanks to the hinged stand. Display your favourite records in style.