Review: It's been a while since we heard from London's bass innovator Brassfoot. In fact, this is his first new EP since a great album back in 2022 and it offers up trippy electronics of the highest order. 'Cat Riddles & Ginnels Juice' is a murky world of lo-fi sounds, scratchy drums and wiry sonics that is pure scuzz. 'Double Speak' is another caustic and rusty melange of rhythmic motifs and fuzzy synth decay while 'Kinda Vicarious ' is all twisted church bells and otherworldliness. 'Earthiopia' is hyperdriven experimental minimalism and 'A Nation, No Flag' closes this most avant-garde EP with more eerie urban electronics. A truly out there EP.
Review: Following his acclaimed collaboration with Sw., Dreamlogicc is back on Kimochi, this time having his work remixed by some tasteful producers from across the electric spectrum. K-rAd is first up with a sharp, punchy rework of 'Fleetingly Jazzis' which then also gets reworked by Brendon Moeller & Todd Gys with their Eho Kates project. It's a gritty, stomping house cut and on the flip, Merix (formerly Midnight Circuitry) delivers a deconstructed breaks interpretation, while Shielding crafts a hypnotic re-edit of 'I'll Hausen You'. Shine Grooves wraps up with a slinky dub house remix which is perfect for early evening warm ups or late night wig outs.
Det Blaser En Vind Genom Varlden, Och Det Har Det Alltid Gjort (6:54)
Review: An experimental techno hexagram in LP form from Stockholm artist Evigt Morker. Without so much as a hint of context, the techno dark-shooter here drops his third LP for resident label Northern Electronics as a surprise, and the result is rather stunning. A bleary set of impressions, some tunes on this record clip the top edge of the mix, chinking our emotive armour. The effect is gastric, dehiscent, exuding bile: 'Hemilga Eldar' leaves us dumbstruck by its ambient eventidal winds and strangely sprawled drum shapes, while 'Sokaren Hittade' combines nyctophile cantos with electric twangs. The closer 'Det Blaser En Vind...' is a headland of humility, letting in much longer gusts of tuned air.
Review: The first of two EPs leading up to The Future Sound of London's much anticipated 2025 album only serves to build anticipated cause they're as good as you would hope. Side A is a dark ambient odyssey that drifts through ethereal choirs into ritualistic rhythms before landing in a surreal suburban dreamscape. It's immersive, haunting and unpredictably brilliant. Side B begins with a more introspective tone but gradually shifts into unease with baroque minimalism with modular synths, breakbeats and drum machines coming totters with ambient field recordings and meticulously curated samples. It's as intricate as you would expect of this pair and is a masterclass in an atmosphere full of depth and surprise.
Review: Ghost Dubs aka. Michael Fiedler returns to pile on the Pressure. Following recent acclaim-gatherer Damaged, this extension of the LP further serves to distend the dub, surveying and excavating fossil-rich terrains of soiled bass and coarse texture. Six reconstructed dub reformations, only two tracks, ';Chemical Version' and 'Wired Version', were previously available digitally; both introduce the record as warped yet unassuming undercuts, ripe for the meditating-to. 'Thin Dub' dissolves the mood into an echo-drenched texture; the track is marked by an up-down, contradistinct set of tuned impacts. 'Dub Craft', meanwhile, snatches the crown for most subby tune of the year.
Review: INDEX:Records founder and self-styled 'DJ and sound engineer' Conna Haraway finally makes his vinyl bow following a couple of low-key cassette and digital download releases. According to the Sydney-based imprint handling the release, Theory Therapy, the wonderfully titled Spatial Fix was partially inspired by the Glasgow-based artist's 2024 tour of Japan and South Korea. You can hear that in the subtly far eastern melodies and ambient techno style textures of ten-minute opener 'Freon', whose grooves would undoubtedly have impressed the late Andrew Weatherall, and the hushed, semi-abstract, deeply layered wonder of 'Switchback'. Elsewhere, the stretched-out, immersive and meditative '1702' joins the dots between low-tempo ambient techno and dub techno, while 'Patent' is deep, otherworldly and suitably sub-heavy mutant dancehall.
Review: A record that explores deep, hypnotic rhythms with a strong tribal and mystical undercurrent, the latest Siamese Twins records pushes the boundaries of what is possibly in eastern influences underground techno. Side-1 opens with 'The Golden Triangle', an atmospheric introduction that feels cinematic, setting the stage with ambient textures before giving way to movement. 'Lens of Time' follows, locking into a deep, primal groove where rolling percussion and rich low-end create an entrancing effect. On Side-2 'Mekong' leans into tribal mysticism, blending ancient rhythmic patterns with a modern pulse. The production is detailed yet raw, drawing from rich percussive layers. 'Ruak' closes the EP with pulsating bass and deep, rolling rhythms, channeling Eastern influences into a hypnotic techno flow. A powerful release from Siamese Twins Records, driven by Sunju Hargun's distinct vision.
Review: Motor City great Omar S is not just a don when it comes to programming drums and laying down his irresistible synth lines and heart aching melodies. He can also play a wide array of instruments, and in fact does just that here as he plays all instruments played you can hear across all three cuts of this new one on his FXHE label. Things kick off with the wonderful 'Featuring Omar S (instrumental)' and then 'Sayoungaty Nig' is a hazy, lo-fi ambient sound with occasional synth smears and a barely-there rhythm implied by the odd kick drum sound. 'Featuring Omar S' is a signature deep house joint with bristling metal hi-hats, rickety drums and edgy drones that keep you on edge as more soulful chords rise up through the mix.
Review: Hamburg's relatively new Space Drum Mediatation label's sixth release continues its tradition of deep, immersive soundscapes, blending ambient and drone elements with a wide-ranging sonic depth. This latest offering unfolds like a journey through ancient and futuristic landscapes, each track carrying its own distinct energy and atmosphere. Side-A opens with 'Yarra', a hypnotic piece driven by tribal drums and chant-like motifs, evoking a primal, meditative state. 'Water Sirens' follows, weaving hedonistic, jungle-infused textures that feel both untamed and ritualistic, transporting the listener into a lush, mysterious realm. On Side-B, the tempo shifts with 'Yacu', a pulsating, Goa-trance-inspired track that surges with momentum, its fast-paced rhythms pulling towards a euphoric edge. The release closes with 'Sun Bleed', a deeply spiritual, spacey composition laced with acid-tinged echoes and an expansive mysticism. Its reverberations stretch into the unknown, leaving an afterglow of cosmic introspection. Balancing organic and electronic elements, this release stands as another example to the label's dedication to quality and sonic exploration. It's a seamless fusion of tribal resonance, trance propulsion and ambient depthiperfect for deep listeners and adventurous sonic explorers alike.
Review: Arv & Miljo conclude their decade-long journey of "noise-poetics" with a final album full of field recordings that serve as a tribute to underground culture and the experiences they've shared. Their work has been central to Gothenburg's music scene in its mix of ambient, drone and found sounds, all of which have contributed to a unique map of contemporary Swedish experimental. This self-titled long layer features some pieces that are among their most non-musical and focus on diegetic sound snippets to capture "endless summer nights, great people seeking more, and hazy underground encounters." It's a hallucinogenic, emotional form of storytelling that embodies the essence of their creative journey.
Review: Barker's latest release is a masterclass in fluid experimentation, embracing unpredictability with a delicate balance of harmony and controlled chaos. Following his acclaimed previous work, this new collection of tracks finds him refining his craft while allowing for spontaneity to take the lead. Opening with 'Force of Habit', the project immediately sets a tone of shifting momentum, while Reframingithe serotonin-laced lead singleispirals through shimmering arpeggios, evoking echoes of classic trance before drifting into uncharted territory. Tracks like 'Difference' and 'Repetition' and 'The Remembering Self' showcase Barker's intricate layering, weaving together mechanical precision with an organic sense of movement. A deep dive into mechanical instrumentation lies at the heart of this work, with Barker exploring the possibilities of automation not as a replacement for human touch, but as a tool for new forms of expression. The result is a body of work that mirrors the uncertainty of its time, embracing change rather than resisting it. As the final moments of this LP fade out, Barker leaves us with a feeling of transformationimusic that adapts to the moment in which it exists.
Review: A split release featuring two distinct yet complementary compositions by Francois J. Bonnet and Sarah Davachi. French composer Bonnet's 'Banshee' is a journey to the edges of the old world, where the boundaries between nature and human presence blur. Drawing on field recordings made in the Inner Hebrides, he weaves an aural tableau where the calls of seabirds intertwine with the mournful wail of the wind and the gentle lapping of water against the shore merges with the distant drone of a boat engine. The piece unfolds in seven interwoven movements, each capturing a different facet of the landscape's character. Meanwhile, Canadian artist Davachi's 'Basse Brevis' is a minimalist exploration of timbre, space and duration. Through subtle shifts in texture and harmony, Davachi creates a work that is both precise and evocative, its slowly evolving soundscapes inviting deep listening and contemplation. The piece's restrained yet poignant character creates a gentle tension, blurring the lines between instrumental and concrete approaches to sound. A compelling example of the power of sound to evoke place and emotion, offering two distinct yet complementary perspectives on the relationship between humans and the natural world.
Review: You know we're all in trouble if Daniel Brandt starts making albums about the Doomsday Clock - now closer than ever to midnight, and Armageddon - and whether or not the Earth will survive us. More than just a record, not only does this reflect the darkest of the Brandt Brauer Frick legend's oeuvre, thematically and in moments aurally, it also represents the latest in his long list of defining work and groundbreaking projects from the artist. The LP is one aspect, an apocalyptic live rave show another, where fans and masochists alike can indulge in a multimedia presentation of end times. Sticking to the sounds, though, Brandt again shows himself to be a true electronic maestro here, from the earthy wooded percussive loops of 'Resistance', to the droning string funnels on 'Addicted', 'Steady''s rolling post-club depth, and the opening alarm call future tech-step of 'Paradise OD'. So, if it does all come down to this, at least we're bowing out on a sonic high.
Die Magellanische Pyramide Mit Violettem Auge (1:44)
Die Geschandete Venus (6:32)
Das Wilde Flammchen (1:38)
Das Glatte Nackte Wickelkind (2:37)
Der Kleinere Mit Gefleckten Linien Umgebene Papillonsflugel (4:38)
Die Grune Scharfe Seehundshaut (2:30)
Das Lange Blassgrune Und Feingestreifte Elephantenzahnchen (5:18)
Der Schlangenbund (4:17)
Die See-Orgel (0:46)
Review: An experimental dark folk group from Wurzburg, Germany, Brannten Schnure's 2017 release gets a well-deserved reissue, retaining its distinctive experimental dark folk essence. The duo, Christian Schoppik and Katie Rich, crafts immersive soundscapes where traditional instruments, eerie vocals, and looped, crackling recordings converge. Tracks like 'Das Jungfrauliche Ohr' and 'Die Milchlinse' set the tone, blending atonal elements with haunting, dreamlike atmospheres. 'Die Geschandete Venus' takes a darker, more melancholic turn, with its slow, creeping build. On the B-side, tracks such as 'Der Kleinere Mit Gefleckten Linien Umgebene Papillonsflugel' offer intricate compositions that evoke a surreal, almost cinematic quality. With influences from Nico and Novy Svet, their music pours out and creates a world that's both unsettling and strangely beautiful.
Review: Newly ordained keyboardist Volodja Brodsky, from Estonia, has described his music as an exploration of the transformative power of minimalism, the art form and compositional approach in which he is trained. Brodsky's second LP lacks the contextual elucidations that accompanied the first record that 2024, but we sense that this may be because the career ball is already rolling, and no further explanations may be needed for now. Raindrops is a precipitous record, as Brodsky wrenches piano and vibraphone motifs from romantic scale meanderings we didn't know possible; widescreen voicings and compound intervals help earmark these standout moments. Elsewhere, the mood is downcast, as on 'Fogbound Streets Of Maardu' or 'Raindrops'; the left hand basso is almost always moody in feel, while the right hand always produces tearful and romantic sound.
Review: Jefre Cantu-Ledesma's latest album Gift Songs has an omnipresent sound: a homunculus with both instrumentalist's and naturalist's ears, it works field recordings against phonic mudra, consummating Cantu-Ledesma's spiritual and musical practices, which have grown together in recent years. Recorded against the backdrop of the Hudson Valley, the record comes source-trickled by the now-streamable 'The Milky Sea', an oceanic, lactose ambient number which honours the luminous optic phenomenon known as the milky seas effect. Refractive, fading piano flurries underscore a 20-minute jazz-ambient sound-surf, as seafoam collects around our sand-caked earlobes.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
A Once & Meaningful Life
Remaining Stretches (0:45)
Separations & Reactions (3:05)
Doubts Of Words (4:46)
Unless They Were Beautiful (7:22)
In The Bright The Days (3:42)
If Disabuse Is So Hard, Then (1:18)
What Our Mouths Make Them (2:30)
Hanging Herself On The Lonely Fifth Column (13:22)
Openings Of Love (Fireworks) (17:01)
Extended Sways Of Silence (18:11)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Will Thomas Long's and Danielle Baquet-Long's magnificent album Celer is an alluring fusion of classic ambient and minimalism that comes steeped in a very real sense of romance. It comes with underlying themes of longing, melancholy, and nostalgia and begins with the sound of a train evoking a sense of travel. Throughout the piece, grandiose string loops alternate with various field recordings, creating contrasts between the concrete and abstract, the mundane and the exalted. Despite the epic feel of the string loops, the title, 'Engaged Touches', hints at intimacy. This powerful romanticism characterises much of Celer's work, making this another noteworthy addition to their growing repertoire.
Review: Chypho is on a roll with this super trio of albums on Jahbulon Records. The second album in the Episodes in Oceanography series, is another must-cop for ambient lovers and it is enhanced by striking cover art and great mastering. Hailing from Huntsville, Alabama, Chypho's music vividly explores an underwater world through immersive ambient tones and this edition captures subtle, microscopic details in deft melodies, with bright keys breaking the surface and supple rhythms swaying like ocean currents. It's a soothing journey for the soul, offering both relaxation and nourishment for the mind, and is a tranquil, yet thought-provoking place to get lost. Very nice indeed.
Review: The third LP in the Chypho series from Jahbulon Records, Episodes in Oceanography, features striking cover art that helps make it another collector's gem. Chypho hails from Huntsville, Alabama and the music here does what it says not he tine - profiles an underwater world in painterly and immersive ambient tones. There are plenty of microscopic details that drift by, shimmering sun rays that piece the surface and implied rhythms that sway to and fro like the shifting sands of the ocean floor. It's a real soother for the soul but a great bit of nourishment for the mind.
Review: Andrea Cichecki - a German DJ, music producer and audio engineer based in Dresden - presents her debut LP for Castles In Space, building on an intense reflection on her past. Having been brought up on the precipice of countryside and woodland, Cichecki is a lifelong adherent to what she called the "edge effect", thriving on the boundaries of things both metaphorical and actual, rather than sticking within them. Bringing macro-cosmic scale to Moogish synthesis, each track weaves a personal story of an implicit, instrumental nature, unalloyed by words, and incorporates field recordings from the Ore Mountains and the wild, valleyed landscape of Saxon, Switzerland.
Review: Trying to figure out exactly when you'll stick on the soundtrack to Game of Thrones Season 7 isn't easy. But that's not to say Rabin Djawadi's epic score isn't something to behold. From the word go, this is adventurous stuff, rooted in classical but clearly inspired by visions of fantastical beasts, mythical lands and legendary quests. You almost feel like Cersei Lannister or Jon Snow or Daenerys Targaryen are about to knock on for their dinner. Like pretty much everything the Iranian-German film and TV composer touches - Clash of the Titans, Warcraft, Iron Man - there's little here you'd describe as subtle or understated. Even the more sweeping overtures sound like they were born for grand concert halls. So, providing you have the space at home, go for it.
Review: After an initial collaborative album released in 2019, French instrumentalist-producers JB Dunckel and Jonathan Fitoussi have reunited for a twin rumination on memory, and its necessary dialogue with the present moment. Namechecking such musical memories as the motorik beats and kosmische builds of the 70s, all the way through to Detroit house's signature 4x4 march, the pair offer a starkly minimal, Parisian, post-punky dance record here, mixed in with layered, industrial atmospherics. Active recalls of marimba minimal ('Marimbaloum') and Moogish doom liturgy ('Atlantica') also lay among the memory traces here, just waiting to be rediscovered by both listener and interpreter.
Review: Lawrence Englsh's new album was born out of a commission by curator Jonathan Wilson to create a sound environment for the Naala Badu building at the Art Gallery of NSW. It is a deeply atmospheric album that explores the relationship between sound and architecture and reflects the building's design, with its name meaning "seeing water" in the Gadigal language. The piece was crafted with a collaborative spirit by incorporating contributions from a diverse group of artists including Amby Downs, Claire Rousay and Jim O'Rourke. The resulting composition blends ambient textures and long-form sound prompts that capture the essence of place as an evolving, subjective experience. It's a work that highlights the porous nature of sound, and as a standalone work also succeeds in sinking you in deep.
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