Back catalogue: Experimental/Electronic

Review: Mount Kimbie's The Sunset Violent offers a deeply evocative, unsettling exploration of emotional dissonance. Opening with the single 'Dumb Guitar', the album vividly portrays a couple grappling with their fractured relationship amidst the beauty of a fictional Chinese beach resort. Andrea Balency-Bearn's serene vocals juxtapose against lyrics of personal turmoil, while buzzy synths, discordant pianos and overdriven guitars evoke an atmosphere of tension and heartbreak. Mount Kimbie, led by Dom Maker and Kai Campos, have expanded their lineup, adding Balency-Bearn and Marc Pell, crafting a post-punk sound with corroded guitars and skeletal drums. Their sonic evolution from their earlier work culminates here, drawing from influences like Sonic Youth and The Fall, while frequent collaborator King Krule contributes to the melancholic undercurrent. Recorded in California's surreal Yucca Valley and pressed on translucent petrol blue vinyl, this album mirrors the desolation and hope of the landscape. Tracks like 'Yukka Tree' and 'Fishbrain' dive into themes of isolation and disconnection, balancing dark tones with flashes of light. With The Sunset Violent, Mount Kimbie stretch their horizons, blending post-punk, dub, and indie influences into a compelling emotional journey.

Review: Mr G. Where do you start with Mr G? Once known as one half of The Advent, a straight up to the walls techno outfit now made of one, after moving on to pastures new solo he spent a good deal of time putting out tunes that would appeal to the heads, but only those that were looking. Finally receiving the long overdue spotlight he always deserved, skip to today and he's up there with the most universally respected and in demand. For those who have followed this storied career to date, it's great to see. Not least as he seems to have lost not one iota of the passion and fervour, fun and funk, talent and toughness that originally draws every fan in. On The Fifth Chakra, he's showcasing a different side of that genius, offering up warm, enlightened ambient for the musically minded.

Review: The makings of Murcof's new album Twin Colour were first germinated in 2020, shaped by the early days of the pandemic lockdowns. The first volume in a new multidisciplinary project between Fernando Corona (Murcof), his daughter Alina Corona, and his colleague Simon Geilfus, Twin Colour is born of less conception and more studio heuristics, though it draws many of its inspirations from some of the 80s material that Murcof had laid down at the start of his career. As such, an impressive combo of tape-hissed coldwave and modern, progressive ambient is heard here, straying from Murcof's trickier material for something much more roughshod, tawny and dramatic.

Review: A serious showcase for Muslimgauze's mastery of hypnotic, Eastern-inspired soundscapes. Clocking in at over 75 minutes, the five tracks delve into a world of intricate rhythms, droning keyboards, and ethereal atmospheres. 'Sadhu' sets the tone with its hypnotic percussion and swirling melodies, while 'Shaheed' and 'Mosaic Palestine' build upon this foundation, their extended lengths allowing for deep immersion and sonic exploration. 'Ayodhya Skin & Stone', the album's centerpiece, is a sprawling epic that seamlessly blends traditional instrumentation with electronic textures, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of sound. 'Iraqi Opal' provides a contemplative conclusion, its delicate melodies and atmospheric textures leaving a lingering sense of wonder. A testament to Bryn Jones' ability to create immersive and transportive sonic experiences.