Back catalogue: All genres

Review: The cultured ESHU label has pulled other some more tasteful talents for this four track 'Conrexture' EP. It opens up with Julien Fuentes's 'Jah Justice' (Klaridub Ambient mix) which is a nice atmospheric opener with some conscious dub mutterings and sci-fi pads. Jocelyn & Yasin Engwer then kick on with some watery, sub-aquatic minimal dub tech bliss in the form of 'Sticks & Stones', Voal gets even more dark and dirty with some grubby dub basslines on 'Eight Ball' and Ivano Tetelepta/Christine Benz layer up watery droplets, melodic whistles, static electricity and rubbery rhythms to mind-melting perfection on 'Supreme.'

Review: The always busy Record Store Day 2024 release schedule has turned up another pearler here as Ann Young and Yuki Ohno Trio's 'Speak Low' gets a special reissue on 7" courtesy of Nippon Colombia. 'Speak Low' is a cut that showcases Young's expressive vocal style in all its glory as it implodes and explodes over 100-mile-an-hour double bass and light, airy triages, hi-hats and feathery drums. On the flip is another standout vocal jazz cut 'On Green Dolphin Street' that makes this an essential cop.

Review: Pierre-Alexandre Busson, a producer known for his multifaceted talents in both music and photography, steps further into his Destiino alias with a darkly ambient collection that stretches across downbeat house, industrial electronica and melancholic disco. Having made his name in the world of French electro, Busson's transition to Destiino was marked by an exploration of improvised compositions following his participation in a sound installation at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017. This shift from his previous styles allowed him to dive deeper into moody, atmospheric landscapes. The current project, released under CHLOE's Lumiere Noire imprint, comes as a continuation of this artistic exploration, breaking from the dancefloor-driven energy of his past work to embrace a more introspective and expansive approach. Opening with 'Yokohama,' Busson sets a pensive tone, layering soft synths over a minimalist beat. 'My Crush' follows with a reflective yet upbeat mood, while 'Somlake' (feat. Inigo Vontier) weaves light, meditative textures. 'Transe Has No Speed' dives into dense atmospherics and 'Imagery' introduces a rhythmic, bodily groove. The second side offers 'Musique Electronique Repetitive,' using looping motifs to create a trance effect, while 'La Houle' brings fluidity and 'Morning Routine' soothes with its gentle vibe. 'Pulsar' (feat. Inigo Vontier) pulses with cosmic rhythms, and 'No Pain' closes with a melancholy, reflective note.

Review: A landmark progressive rock album that showcases each band member's unique talents and their synergy as a group. The album opens with 'Roundabout', a dynamic piece featuring Steve Howe's classical guitar, Chris Squire's powerful bass, and Rick Wakeman's masterful keyboard work, drawing listeners into its complex structure and vivid musical landscape. Tracks like 'We Have Heaven' and 'Cans and Brahms' highlight individual members' creativity, while 'South Side of the Sky' and 'Heart of the Sunrise' feature full-band performances with intricate arrangements and memorable melodies. Wakeman, the band's new keyboardist at the time, brought a fresh, vibrant sound that complements Bill Bruford's precise drumming and Jon Anderson's ethereal vocals. Squire's bass is particularly prominent throughout, adding depth and inventiveness to the album's sound. The album marked Yes's rise to international fame and became one of their best-selling albums, cementing their reputation as pioneers of the genre. This new gatefold vinyl properly presents it as the legendary album it is.

Review: Yetsuby is a solo project of South Korean artist Yejin Jang and a prolific one at that with six albums, seven EPs, and numerous singles to her name since 2019. Her recent album My Star, My Planet Earth won "Best Electronic Album of 2023" at the Korean Music Awards and now the NTS host follows up with a debut on Seb Wilblood's All My Thoughts label, which is a heartfelt mini album that explores deep emotions with real sonic alchemy. The six tracks range from the mesmerising opener 'Who Swallowed the Chimes at the Random Place' to the soothing 'The Sublime Embrace - Losing Our Way Is Not Wrong'. Both blend intricate rhythms with lush vocals and elegant brass to create celestial, immersive sound worlds.

Review: Reissued on Important Records comes Agartha, which forms part of a long wave of easy listening and new age music made popular in the 1980s and 90s. Meredith Young-Sowers joins a class of musicians, from Eliane Radigue to Steven Halpern, who made music as utilities for meditation. Young-Sowers' work, however, may share an aesthetic with these knowns, but otherwise nurtures an eerier vibe. Agartha was originally released in 1986 on cassette, and is made up largely of unnaturally sustained sine tone unfurlings laid in harmonic or minor keys, as if to decouple the unsettling atmosphere of the music from their meditative capacity. Though it sounds like it, the record is not aleatory, rather it is composed expressly to sound like it has been transmitted from an extimate point outside of human consciousness. No wonder it is named after a mythical land said to lie deep below the Earth's crust!

Review: Louisville post-hardcore/noise rock trio Young Widows release their first album in 11 years. This follow-up to 2014's Easy Pain has them land on such mesmerising pummeling form that all is forgiven and forgotten for the long wait for a new album. This dark, heavy, and powerful affair has an industrial, motorik intensity to it on single 'Call Bullshit' and the lyrics don't hold back: "I'm gonna call your bullshit/When it's close to me/I'm gonna call your bullshit/Even when it leaves." Elsewhere, 'The Holy Net' nails it in terms of the bleakest atmosphere you can imagine whilst subtly layering in a haunting vocal hook that stays with you long after you've pressed stop.