Review: Newly signed to Ninja Tune, Ebbb debuts with a five-track EP that shows great intent. Emerging from the same London avant-garde live scene that birthed black midi and Black Country New Road, the band has quickly developed a unique sound in just a year. Their music blends pulsing rhythms, immersive electronic production, sparkling melodies, layered vocal harmonies, and beats that range from ambient to industrial. Described by the band themself as "Brian Wilson meets Death Grips," the EP is experimental and unpredictable yet deeply considered and precise with an idiosyncratic hybrid of sounds that showcases Ebbb's innovative and tightly crafted music.
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: Kihon Ido is a brand new Japan-based label whose name translates as 'Fundamental Movements' and we're told it is here to focus on timeless dance music by exploring foundational sounds across styles and eras. Its debut release from Extra delves into deep, hypnotic and textured techno from the off. 'Visigoth' is a sophisticated blend of atmospheric layers and smudged dub chords - it's music that transcends the dance floor trends while remaining immersive and evocative. The other cuts explore more smooth and loopy DJ Nobu style cuts with 'Full Circle' offering a more playful and light melodic sound.
ELpH - "If It Wasn't Wolves, Then What Was It?" (2:56)
ELpH - "Static Electrician (Symphonic)" (4:52)
ELpH - "Track 9" (3:09)
ELpH - "Track 10" (1:26)
ELpH - "Track 11" (2:45)
ELpH - "Track 12" (10:46)
ELpH - "Track 13" (7:43)
ELpH - "Track 14" (2:57)
ELpH - "Track 15" (8:22)
ELpH - "Track 16" (9:11)
ELpH - "Gnomic Verses" (5:06)
ELpH - "Track 18" (11:21)
ELpH - "Track 19" (8:18)
Coil - "Glisten#2" (1:04)
ELpH - "Zwolf" (20:02)
Review: This 30th-anniversary reissue of a key experimental release is a journey into the darker realms of electronic music, showcasing the duo's exploration of ambient, industrial and glitch-inspired soundscapes. The release features a stark contrast between the rhythmic, almost club-ready track, infused with danceable energy and the more experimental, glitch-heavy compositions that delve into an unsettling, ritualistic atmosphere. The latter, considered one of the duo's most daring works, uses manipulated sounds, haunting textures and a pervasive sense of sonic unease to create a deep listening piece. The reissue compiles rare material, including previously unreleased tracks, alongside the duo's final appearance under this project. Fans of avant-garde electronic music will appreciate the unique blend of rhythmic elements and abstract textures. While some may prefer later works from the duo, this collection remains a fascinating piece for those drawn to experimental, atmospheric music that pushes the boundaries of sound and composition.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Coil - "Protection" (6:53)
ELpH - "Glimpse" (3:30)
ELpH - "Crawling Spirit" (1:53)
ELpH - "PHILM #1 (Vox)" (9:14)
ELpH - "Static Electrician" (3:11)
ELpH - "Red Scratch" (3:19)
ELpH - "If It Wasn't Wolves, Then What Was It?" (2:56)
ELpH - "Static Electrician (Symphonic)" (4:52)
ELpH - "Track 9" (3:09)
ELpH - "Track 10" (1:26)
ELpH - "Track 11" (2:45)
ELpH - "Track 12" (10:46)
ELpH - "Track 13" (7:43)
ELpH - "Track 14" (2:57)
ELpH - "Track 15" (8:22)
ELpH - "Track 16" (9:11)
ELpH - "Gnomic Verses" (5:06)
ELpH - "Track 18" (11:21)
ELpH - "Track 19" (8:18)
Coil - "Glisten#2" (1:04)
ELpH - "Zwolf" (20:02)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
This 30th-anniversary reissue of a key experimental release is a journey into the darker realms of electronic music, showcasing the duo's exploration of ambient, industrial and glitch-inspired soundscapes. The release features a stark contrast between the rhythmic, almost club-ready track, infused with danceable energy and the more experimental, glitch-heavy compositions that delve into an unsettling, ritualistic atmosphere. The latter, considered one of the duo's most daring works, uses manipulated sounds, haunting textures and a pervasive sense of sonic unease to create a deep listening piece. The reissue compiles rare material, including previously unreleased tracks, alongside the duo's final appearance under this project. Fans of avant-garde electronic music will appreciate the unique blend of rhythmic elements and abstract textures. While some may prefer later works from the duo, this collection remains a fascinating piece for those drawn to experimental, atmospheric music that pushes the boundaries of sound and composition.
B-STOCK: CD case damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Review: ***B-STOCK: CD case damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Seven arresting, original new exercises from E-Saggila aka Canadian producer Rita Mikhael. She wears her love of dub on her sleeve - see the slow motion skank of 'Amnesiac' aming others - but not in the usual reassuring, bubbling echoes of dub techno, aiming for something much more angular and alarming. "Breaks remain staccato hammers," says the blurb, with maximum accuracy, "and kicks are cast to negate cardiac systems," while the rhythms veer from off kilter to nailed down and the sonics vary from the lush to the caustic. This territory to the left(field) of electronica is over saturated with identikit productions, but Mikhael does it like you've never quite heard before.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
You should never assume too much when it comes to Eartheater. Powders on Mad Decent and finds the maverick modernist at her most vulnerable and exposed. Where she's so often warped and manipulated her voice as part of her hyper pop experimentation, here she comes through in strikingly direct terms whether soaring over elegant threads of synthesis (on gorgeous opener 'Sugarcane Switch') or covering System of a Down's 'Chop Suey' in fragile, acoustic fashion. Even after so many albums, it feels like we're still in the process of understanding the many dimensions of the Eartheater creative universe, and here is but one new galaxy to explore.
Review: Wild Up continue their exploration of Julius Eastman's work with Julius Eastman Vol. 4: The Holy Presence, out June 21, 2024, via New Amsterdam Records. Opening with Our Father, a haunting duet performed by Davone Tines, the album delves deep into his spiritual side, blending choral elements with his signature avant-garde style. This release highlights Eastman's unique, mystically charged compositions, including The Holy Presence of Joan D'Arc, with cellist Seth Parker Woods' multi-tracked performance showcasing Wild Up's profound dedication to Eastman's powerful legacy.
Review: Bristolian Nick Edwards had an excellent run of things during the 2010s, releasing cuts on Planet Mu, Mordant Music, Punch Drunk, Perc Trax and WNCL, among others. He also established himself as a highlight on the European live electronic circuit. Then things quietened off, making the personal choice to avoid getting caught up in the circus of dance music and club culture at arguably the most perilous point in its history - ethically speaking. After five years in the wilderness, Edwards is back as Eoplekz with an eight-track mini-album for Selvamancer. Straddling acid warbles, dub tech, dirty squelching weirds, subtle hints of reggae and a resolute commitment to futurism, we're not sure exactly how to label Dirtbokz, but that's exactly the point. Lo-fi analogue adventures through the wormhole, and back again.
Review: Like so many projects, Electric Taal Band has its roots in the pandemic. Specifically, when a box of Punjabi records was found for sale at the Bollywood Music Centre, on Gerrard Street East, in the Little India neighbourhood of Toronto. This inspired a deep dive into a spectrum and school of music that's largely been overlooked by Western ears, and a mission began to try and develop new variations on the era-spanning formula that ran through those random pieces of wax. Electric Taal Band proves how valid the endeavour was. Ten truly transportive tracks that invoke the heat and exoticism of the sub-continent through incredibly immersive, complex and - at times - experimental arrangements, achieved with the assistance of a vintage Radel telemeter and electric Tanpura. Two instruments originally design for practice purposes, here affording an unarguably unique sound you're unlikely to encounter anywhere else.
Knew Your Name Before You Were Born (feat Rodhad) (3:26)
My Consciousness (3:28)
Broken Pieces (feat Anna Phoebe) (4:49)
What Other People Think (2:52)
Forwards (2:59)
Shadow World (3:49)
Sleep In The Day (4:46)
Double Edge X (feat Robert Ames) (3:44)
What Other People Think (IMPXINS Ensemble version) (2:10)
Bass Chaos (5:56)
Intuition 17 (IMPXINS Ensemble version) (3:20)
Dem Worlds X (4:00)
KonstrukDonswerk (9:15)
Lemptilos (IMPXINS Ensemble version) (3:24)
Lemptilos (4:31)
Review: Emika's Vega:Trilogy is a bold, ambitious sonic journey that blends meditation, sacred geometry and a quest for deeper meaning. Recorded during the isolation of the lockdowns, Emika poured her creativity into crafting a work that transcends genres. Drawing inspiration from the northern star Lyra, Vega combines electronic, classical and avant-garde elements, with Emika's distinctive vocals anchoring the atmospheric soundscapes. Collaborations with luminaries like Horace Andy, Liela Moss and Rodhad add unique layers to the already rich fabric of the album. The three vinyl LPs are presented in a sleek black cover with a silver foil logo, making the physical release as captivating as the music itself. Since her early days in Bristol's bass music scene and her groundbreaking work as a sound designer, Emika has carved out her own niche. Vega is the latest chapter in her journey, offering a dynamic blend of electronics, neo-classical compositions and her signature vocal style. A truly introspective album that captures Emika's evolution as an artist and visionary.
Review: Originally conceived to accompany an installation at the 2022 Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Selkie Reflections is very much a thing of beauty, and a work in two parts. On the A-side, you have Alliyah Enyo re-working the original tape loops used at the show into a strange, enchanting, and immersive series of hypnotic and occasionally haunting vocal calls. Flip to side B, and Florian T M Zeisig, under the alias Angel R, takes all that and turns it inside out, onto its head, and down into the depths of the selkie's world - a mythical creature capable of shapeshifting between seal and human form which features heavily in Scottish folklore. Beguiling and enchanting, prepare to be submerged in a place of beauty, bliss and mystery.
Review: A collection of electroacoustic works exploring the intersection of Moroccan tradition and Western avant-garde, this release features 'Toubkal', 'Sultane', and 'Lectures pour bandes magnetiques', each showcasing the North African composer's unique approach to composition. 'Toubkal', inspired by field recordings of Berber music, pulsates with traditional rhythms and melodies, reimagined through electronic manipulation. 'Sultane', reflecting on themes of land and conflict, alternates between dense rhythmic textures and ethereal vocal passages. 'Lectures pour bandes magnetiques', a setting of poems by Rilke and Mandiargues, highlights the connection between the human voice and musical expression.
Review: Edvard Graham Lewis and Mark Spybey's collaboration fuses electronic rhythms, layered field recordings and ambient soundscapes into an album with striking depth and cohesion. Both artists bring decades of experienceiLewis from Wire, Dome, He Said and Spybey from Zoviet France and Dead Voices on Air. This project, however, ventures into fresh territory, blending experimental sounds with surprising grooves and sly hooks. Crafted remotely, each track unfolds a textured sonic landscape, offering listeners a unique glimpse into the creative synergy between two pioneers of boundary-pushing music.
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