New releases last two weeks: All genres

Notes: The latest in 1010's innovative range of compact devices, the Bento is a fresh take on sampling and sequencing, offering an alternative to conventional options such as Akai's MPC series. Pure standalone creative flow.

Supplier's notes:
Sample Every Flavour

Bento is a portable, all-in-one sampling production lab that brings together flexible sequencing, expressive performance tools, and pro-level connectivity-perfect as the centrepiece of your desktop or mobile rig. Whether you're looping on the go, launching clips live, or sequencing your entire synth setup, Bento gives you the tools to shape your sound from idea to performance.

With pristine 24-bit sound quality, a bright 7" touchscreen, 16 responsive pads, and deep control over samples, MIDI, and effects, Bento offers a fast, fluid workflow in a compact and portable form. Sequence one-shots, build multi-sample instruments, and chop loops using Bento's flexible tracks, scene-based sequencing, and expansive modulation and FX engine.

Designed to replace laptops, simplify cabling, and integrate seamlessly with your gear, Bento features multiple stereo inputs and outputs, USB-C host and device ports, dual TRS MIDI I/O, and a built-in battery for up to 3 hours of mobile creativity.

Recording Capabilities

Capture loops quickly with the option to synchronize the start and stop times to the clock
Trigger recording via audio level threshold
Create perfectly sized loops by setting the recording length
Enable immediate playback after recording for live looping capabilities
Make recordings up to 4 hours in length
Resample the master output without patching
Store recorded samples as WAV files on the micro SD card

What's included

bento - sampling production lab
MicroSD card with over 160 patches and over 200 wav files
USB C power cord
USB C power and data splitter
Type B TRS MIDI To MIDI 5 Pin DIN adapter
QR Code with link to the Quick Start Guide

Technical Specs

8 tracks with multiple patch types-sample banks, multisamples, slicers, granular, loops, and external MIDI
16 pressure- and velocity-sensitive pads
7" diagonal touch screen
8 context-sensitive endless encoders
3 stereo inputs, 3 stereo outputs, 1 stereo headphone out
2 TRS MIDI inputs & 2 TRS MIDI outputs (Type A & B)
USB-C host and device ports
Internal battery with 3 hours in low power mode
Includes 155 Patches and over 5000 sample files
Expandable via microSD card
24-bit ADC/DAC
MIDI sequencing, modulation, and CC control support
Compatible with 100 x 100 VESA mounts
Product dimensions: 8" x 8.5" x 2", 2 lb (20.4 x 21.8 x 5.1 cm, 936 grams)
Package dimensions: 10.25" x 8.5" x 2.75", 2.7 lb. ( 26 x 21.6 x 7 cm, 1.2 kg)

Review: Berlin's 11:68PM sets up to the mighty RAND Muzik with four dub-infused tech house weapons. There is a nice grainy aesthetic to opener 'U Need (dub) ' which makes it perfect for gritty warehouses, where it booming kicks and ghostly voices will make for a perfect underground vibe. 'You Do The Talking' is faster and more freaky thanks to robust synth sequences which flutter about the mix. 'Assorted Goods' has a tighter groove and menacing bassline that really kicks you into action and 'Another Day Another Dollar' shuts down with the sort of trippy vocals and well treated synths that soundtrack the early morning moments when the first light begins to peak through the shutters.

Notes: Pods are a perfect way to get started in Eurorack, or add more modules to your monster system!

Made from 100% anodized aluminum, Pods are light, tough and perfect for on-the-go set ups. The power supply can handle up to 2.0A of +12V, which is plenty of juice for even the most modern digital modules. (Or if you prefer to DIY your power supply, Pods sized at 64hp and below are also available unpowered)

Each Pod104X typically will house up to 13 modules, but more can be accommodated using a multi-power cable accessory.

Mix and match your Pods with desktop synths, effect pedals, drum machines or any musical gear for a flexible modular system. Pods can even daisy-chain with the 4ms Row Power system, making them a convenient outboard skiff. Need to add another module? Just add a Pod! Need to pack light for a live set? Just grab the Pods you need and go!

Review: Abba's self-titled third album marked a creative and commercial turning point for the group; released in 1975, it was their first full-length following the breakthrough historic romance hit 'Waterloo', and the moment they cemented a sound that would dominate pop for years. Packed with high-drama hooks and refulgent production, the album of course also includes 'Mamma Mia' and 'SOS', both early experiments in the theatrical, harmony-rich style that would define the long-form productions of Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. With newly remastered audio cut at half-speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road, we've two new inclusions: kitsch singalong gem 'I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do' and glam-leaning opener 'So Long'.

Review: LA label Milkcrate Mondays is back with more slick contemporary hip-hop and r&b sounds, this time in the form of a split 7". Abel takes care of the opener with 'Flex'd Up', which has slow, seductive and silky drums and synths making for a sunny sound that is topped with a gorgeously heartfelt r&b vocal that swoons and swoops effortlessly. On the flip, Netwerk's 'Horns Of A Feather' has a duster and more classic boom-bap hip-hop beat that's low in the mix, with muted horns and another aching vocal really finishing it in style. Two different vibes, both are excellent.

Review: Wild breaks from the wild west; Welsh beat sculptor Abstract Drumz gets busy on the mighty Over/Shadow. Four cuts heavy, each one designed to slap your rave silly. 'Just A Ride' opens the EP with atmospheric aplomb. Brisk pads and live jazzy breaks set the scene, hitting hard in all the right places. Elsewhere 'I Like The Rain' galvanizes AD's Celtic status with unhurried charm before 'Ethereal Remix' gets a lot more frenetic. Finally 'Culture '24' closes the EP with some of the heaviest chops of the set. Wallop!

Review: UK ensemble Abstract Orchestra is led by producer Rob Mitchell and has built its name through jazz-infused hip-hop tributes to legends like J Dilla and MADVILLAIN. Their latest cut, 'Big Bad Wolf,' features Detroit MC Guilty Simpson, whose booming baritone drives the track's cinematic narrative. Originally shelved and not put out, Mitchell revived the collaboration by rewriting the entire instrumental. The result is a two-part journey: from eerie, dreamlike strings to hard-hitting live drums, textured synths and reverb-heavy vocals. With lines like 'when a good guy becomes a villain' Simpson's in raw vengeance mode and jay lyrical grit meets with tight musicianship for modern hip-hop orchestration at its boldest.

Review: PAX-AM is the brainchild ofJacksonville singer-songwriter and author Ryan Adams, originally dreamed up during his high school years as a DIY cassette label for home-recorded genre experiments. Though those early tapes never left his inner circle, the name stuck. It's been a sandbox for Adams' prolific output ever since, blurring lines between alt-country, punk, classic rock and tape-hiss pop, all under his naive yet total creative control. Now, in homage to his favourite ever recording artists - many of whom you will likely recognise from the track titles alone here - Adams sings atop the altar, dirging covetously over the best of the Rolling Stones, Daniel Johnston, Bon Jovi, Oasis and Bob Dylan.

Review: Having celebrated his 50th birthday late last year, Ryan Adams has naturally been in an introspective mood. It makes sense, then, that the long-serving rock/country fusionist should offer up an album made up entirely of covers of songs by other artists that have in some way inspired him over the years. Generally gentle, with string-laden, largely acoustic arrangements, Changes features some genuinely brilliant interpretations - as well as some surprise ones. For proof, check his piano-and-strings wander through 'Panic' by the Smiths, a wonderfully heartfelt rendition of 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' by Simple Minds, a country-folk take on the Rolling Stones 'Sympathy For The Devil' and a lilting, poignant Prince cover ('When Doves Cry', which comes complete with extended harmonica solos and some genuinely lilting strings).

Review: New week, new Planet Rhythm, same old tech class. Aero is no stranger to this label and hail from Northside Dublin, where they Baldoyle native has been cooking up his take on techno - it's always driven by punchy rhythms but with plenty of synth craft making it much more than mere DJ tool fodder. 'Buried In Noise' has urgent and anxious melodies lighting up the drums while 'Velvet Kiss' is a deeper, more late-night prowler. 'State Of Burn' then bangs with steel-plated loops and 'Scarred' layers up synths that feel like they're going to fall over themselves with a hypnotic and time-keeping drum thud. 'The 242' closes with astral anxiety and a never-ending sense of rush.

Review: Hotly-tipped South London newcomers Ain't release a limited edition 7" featuring two singles produced by Theo Verney, who is one of Brighton's most celebrated guitar music producers, having worked on records by the likes of Traams, Blood Wizard and Lime Garden. As a group, Ain't cleverly weave shoegaze guitars with emo vocal cadences to create a sound that's likely to do just as well within the burgeoning new wave of American shoegaze scene as it is on the London indie scene, where they are currently among the most talked about new bands.

Review: Ladbroke Grove favourite AJ Tracey's highly anticipated third album arrives after a three-year hiatus and reaffirms his place at the forefront of rap. The record explores themes of ambition, resilience and living life to the fullest, reflecting AJ's journey from humble London beginnings to UK rap's pinnacle. Featuring viral hit 'Joga Bonito' and chart-topping track 'Crush' with Jorja Smith, who contributes two very different, equally stunning parts to that single, this is the sound of an artist who is still growing and joining his craft. His wordplay remains sharp and with and fuelled with fun cultural references and is sure to be heard banging from car radios, Bluetooth speakers and plenty in between all summer long.

Review: German mainstay Johannes Albert returns after a six-year hiatus with his third club album, Private Dancer, and it's worth the wait. As expected, it is a deep dive into refined house music full of maturing production, warm textures, subtle grooves and emotive undertones. The standout title track features longtime collaborator Iron Curtis, and together they craft a hypnotic blend of classic deep house with modern minimalism. Highlights include the gentle grooves and percussion of 'L'Chaim', the steamy nocturnal soul of 'The Night (Moves On' and 'Follow The Strings', which is a more punchy heater. It's the sound of a seasoned producer delivering understated dancefloor gold.

Review: Alektra is a new project featuring the combined talents of long-serving European nu-disco and house hero Daniel Monaco and rising star John Noseda. As debut singles go, 'Shake Your Body' is a genuine treat - a throbbing, high-octane trip into mid 1980s Hi-NRG hedonism rich in sequenced, arpeggio-style bass, heavy machine drums, razor-sharp synth riffs, glassy-eyed female vocal samples and oodles of sweat-soaked male muscularity. It's basically a peak-time dancefloor anthem in the making. As well as the original mix (side A), we're also treated to a handy instrumental take shorn of the distinctive female vocal samples, and an effects-laden acapella for DJs who like to get imaginative in the mix

Review: Alien D is the NYC-based producer Daniel Creahan, and he's back with a debut on Theory Therapy that taps into widescreen worlds of techno immersion. Departing from the ambient abstraction of his previous work, this album as a subtle kinetic pulse with tracks like 'Soil Dub' and 'Sleepy's Gambit' propel listeners forward with dubwise rhythms crafted for deep dancefloors. The album builds on an infectious, steady groove with repeating phrases and subtle shifts that keep the music in constant motion. Conceived in the first days after the COVID lockdown, these sounds exude a hopeful quality and capture the transcendent moments of early-morning parties when the moment is full of unbridled hope for what might come.

Review: Dorothy Tennov's tenuous concept of "limerence" has fuelled many an artistic outing and project, most notably in recent times an Yves Tumor star cut from the ineluctable PAN compilation, Mono No Aware. But it's UK rising indie star Jacob Alon's new and debut album, In Limerence - wuthering on the bloodied tips of his last 10" 'To Selene' and forerunning 7" 'Liquid Gold 25'- that perhaps really does the most thoroughgoing justice to the erotomanic, smitten concept of impossible, obsessive love. Bold electric modern folk reimaginings and wambling blears are brought out lovingly by speedy hothouser producer Dan Carey, ensuring Alon's ethereal vocals effuse over evocative storytelling on 'Fairy In A Bottle' and 'Confession'.

Notes: Excellent value as always from Alto, the TX412B is a battery-powered PA speaker offering fully wireless performance, including Bluetooth streaming from devices. Easy to use and reliable, with excellent sound quality and power.

Supplier's Notes:
The Alto TX412B is a dream come true for any busker or performer tasked with bringing audio to any space where power is limited. This battery-powered 600-watt speaker is a cable-free solution to high-quality sound without an outlet in sight. Thanks to an impressive battery life, the TX412B can handle playlists and sets up to 10 hours long. For those looking to use the speaker to project two different sources of audio such as a DJ who might need to make announcements during their set or a Wedding MC introducing the bride and groom over music, look no further-the TX412B can run two different inputs simultaneously with grace and clarity.

Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, the Alto TX Series ensures users can get their PA system up and running completely cable-free. This feature is perfect for any application that requires two simultaneous sources of audio-a Wedding MC announcing the bride and groom's first dance over music, a fitness instructor leading a spin class while energetic tunes pump in the background, a busker playing along to a backing track, etc. In addition, the Alto TX Series' powerful Bluetooth True Wireless connectivity allows users to run multiple units in conjunction with one another without having to purchase any extraneous equipment or cables.

Thanks to an entirely metal grille and sturdy enclosure, you can be sure that these speakers and subwoofers can handle whatever unexpected twists and turns that may lie ahead. As if that weren't enough, users can expect all of this durability with the added bonus of tremendous portability. Not only are these units equipped with ergonomic handles, but they are conveniently lightweight, making setup and transport easier than ever.

The TX412B provides solid and reliable performance in just about any situation. Whether it is mounted on a pole or used as a floor wedge, this powerhouse of a PA Speaker is optimized to deliver rich and crisp sound in any configuration. In addition, the back panel of the TX412B is outfitted with easy-to-use and pared-down parameters that give users control over EQ without weighing them down with a confusing array of knobs and sliders.

Review: Turin-born and raised artist Andrea has explored plenty of different genres across his wonderfully experimental sounds, but mostly they are couched in techno with hints of 90s breakbeat and IDM. "Living Room is his third album and finds him tapping into an introspective sound with reflective melodies and a cosmic sense of travel. Right from the off, you're cast adrift in a world of shimmering melody and plucked strings, cascading arps and widescreen synthscapes and it is there you stay for the whole absorbing duration, though sometimes lithe rhythms bring more propulsion. A magnificently accomplished and detailed work.