Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Granada's Cosmic Tribe know the definition of "electro" in its broadest sense; their new Xtrictly Electro comp keeps the dystopian sound endemic to the genre's most present incarnation, but refuses to restrict itself to one tempo: the standard 130-ish that has sadly infected the otherwise genius genre as a necessity. An international splinter cell of spec-ops and mercenaries are recalled from retirement here, as we hear Calagad 13, Nachtwald, EC13 and many more mechanoid ilk lay down all manner of slick utilities, making up a morbid multi-tool. 5zyl brings further lasery Lithuanian steeze on 'Vilnius Bass', whilst Spectrums Data Forces betrays the existence of a sinister corporate entity, whose business model works towards the object of instilling 'Darkness In My Head' through giant, killer mozzy basses.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record slightly warped***


There's a fair chance you'll already have heard "Cola", experienced production duo Camelphat's collaboration with vocalist Elderbrook. The original version, with its rumbling bass, atmospheric builds, subtle bassline house influence and "she sips the Coca-Cola" refrain, has become something of an anthem since first appearing on digital download earlier in the year. For this first vinyl release, Defected has packaged the now-familiar original mix with a trio of reworks. The most impressive of these comes from German veteran Mousse T. He brilliantly re-casts the track as a bumpin' chunk of celebratory disco-house complete with thrilling piano riffs and an elastic bassline.

Review: Thanks to the year being 2025, te jazz age of the 1920s is being centennially anniversaried the world over. But when recorded music took the world by storm from the 50s onwards, it was only a matter of time before such starlets Lu Elliott would make latent but no less powerful waves in the same early jazz sound, except this time around, the sonic vestiges of the time were preservable. Elliott, a jazz/blues singer and recording artist, was a onetime BB King and Duke Ellington posse member, having found her lungs playing in a band known as The Cubanaires before bronchi-ating out into mid '60s solo stardom with tunes such as 'Speaking Of Happiness'.

Review: This special green slab of wax brings together two Emerson, Lake & Palmer tracks, one of them with a fresh twist from a legendary US record store. The classic ballad 'From the Beginning' is rich in warm acoustic guitar and Greg Lake's evocative vocals so it stands as one of the band's most beloved and accessible moments. On the flip, 'When the Apple Blossoms Bloom...' receives a bold Dope Jams Kaatskill Mountain take, which flips it into a sprawling, psychedelic-drenched remix that infuses the instrumental with hypnotic grooves and experimental textures. With both cuts on one 12", this one is both a nod to prog rock's legacy and a bridge to new sonic frontiers.

Review: Oscar Escapa continues to carve out his space in the techno scene with his latest offering, a pair of tracks that are as compelling as they are inexorable. Hailing from Barcelona, Escapa has made a name for himself with productions that blend hard-hitting rhythms with atmospheric intricacy. On 'Enemy Returns', he delivers an unremitting onslaught of hyperactive techno, driven by a pounding kick drum, a gnarly bass riff and dissonant industrial stabs that dart in and out with menacing precision. The track's chaotic energy is held together by subtle shifts in texture, creating an almost hypnotic effect despite its aggression. Flip-side, Escapa teams up once again with Joanna Dark for 'It's My Life', a track that balances industrial intensity with an odd sense of melody. Dark's robotic vocal, repeating the track's title like a mantra, contrasts sharply with the swirling percussive layers and fuzzy bass arp. The track's unsettling atmosphere is heightened by unexpected guitar notes, which provide a brief respite from the techno madness. Escapa once again proves his mastery of balancing fierce, implacable energy with nuanced, finely-tuned composition, solidifying his role as a rising star in the genre.

Review: Two more battle weapons handpicked from the eponymous UK armoury. Label motto ("You want this party started, right?!") and A-cut refrain ("la-di-da-di, we like to party"), converge in perfect sync here on this latest 7": the obverse samples Doug E Fresh & Slick Rick's 1985 mover, peppering slight but bright brasses over a punctuated beat mix. 'Tambou' on the B-side honours a historic canonical Swizz Beatz crunk bit with a re-edit of 'Tambourine', produced and released in 2006 for blase partystarter Eve.

Review: Grenoble DJ and producer The Hacker, known for his dataphile dark trance excursions, teams up with newcomer Endrik Schroeder for a full-blown creative grand slam, 'Puissance 4', betraying decades' worth learnedness in the knob-twiddling manual arts. The title track here builds from a classic beat into a euphoric hoover-rave crescendo - luring dancers in with hypnotic acid textural decoys - but then finds mercy on said prey, giving the dance what it needs: a rave riff on loan from heaven. 'The Voyagers' contrasts with an 808 soul slapper, its sensuality and understated heavenliness recalling obscure 7th Plain releases.

Review: Ehua treads into new territory with her debut full-length, Panta Rei, arriving via 3024 after an extended period of experimentation and self-reflection. Over 18 months, the London producer and DJ - originally from Italy - fused deep bass mutations with live percussion, acoustic textures, and, for the first time, her own voice. The result is a humanistic record, with glassy sonic abstractions, vocal reversions and rhythmic interruptions serving plenty space for intimacy and contrast. Ahead of a launch party scheduled in South London on April 24th, hosted by 3024 and Planet Wax, the likes of 'White', 'Bumju' and 'Albicocca' are propulsive, driving integrators of brain and body, perfect for imminent deployment in the divey New Cross establishment.

Review: In celebration of Arvo Part's 90th year, his latest release showcases the Estonian composer's continued exploration of minimalist, spiritually charged sound . Part's work has always sought to blend the sacred with the secular, and this collection of new renditions brings forward the timeless resonance of his choral and orchestral compositions. Opening with 'Littlemore Tractus,' based on John Henry Newman's reflections, the piece sets the tone of quiet, introspective change that permeates the entire work. His music, a dialogue between sound and silence, invites profound contemplation, with the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir under Tonu Kaljuste's direction offering nuanced, deeply attentive performances. Compositions like 'Vater unser,' showcase Part's ability to transform liturgical text into transcendent musical experience. There's an undeniable spiritual gravity in pieces such as 'Cantique des degres' and 'Sequentia,' where strings and vocals weave in delicate yet forceful patterns, revealing a steady undercurrent of renewal. The rich textures in these works evoke both a longing for and a reconciliation with the past, capturing Part's life-long exploration of sacred music's dialogue with the world. The album culminates with 'Vater unser,' an evocative reworking that brings together choir, strings, and piano, offering a meditative close to an album that is as much about reflection as it is about the continued forward momentum of Part's artistry. Recorded in Tallinn's Methodist Church, this latest chapter is a continuation of the Part-Eicher partnership that has defined so much of his career, expanding the legacy of albums like Tabula rasa and reinforcing Part's place as one of the most significant voices in contemporary classical music of the 20th and 21st centuries.