14 days

Review: The belated release of New York industrial ambient crew Black Rain's early '90s soundtrack work in 2011 sparked something in founder Stuart Argabright. It inspired a belated return to the studio and this surprise album, Black Rain's first for 18 years. Given how long they've been away, Dark Pool is a pleasingly accomplished set. Like their previous material, it wades in dark waters, joining the dots between droning electronic textures, skittish, IDM-inspired rhythms, horror chic, industrial noise and bleak electronica. It's hugely atmospheric, of course, but also strangely claustrophobic. It's a brilliant set, all told, but one that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Review: More abrasive and pitch black electronics from France's Nocturnal Frequencies camp. Their new various artists EP sees them debut on vinyl after a series of great digital and cassette releases - and in rather frightful fashion indeed! From the aufnahme + wiedergabe affilated Codex Empire who presents the brooding "Ourang Medan", the guttural analog intensity of American veteran Paul Birken's "Slipper Dimple" comprising the A side- the latter one's a respectful tribute to the old school techno sound. On the flip, a more direct and dancefloor oriented techno represents here- yet be assured that it's as bleak and metal-edged as expected on "NF1" by Spanish duo NX1. One half of Talker Jonathan Krohn aka Stave completes the carnival of lost souls here - reaching right for the jugular on his fierce IDM epic "Shove" reminiscent of the British Murder Boys' sound.

Review: Primitive Brumbeat is the order of the day from Minimal Wave on this weighty seven inch presentation of early Karl O'Connor material. Recorded under the Sandra Plays Electronics banner, Her Needs presents two versions of the same track from different periods of O'Connor's musical development and provide further enticing historical evidence of one of techno's most illuminating figureheads. Those who indulged in the brilliant White Savage Dance 12" from Downwards from late 2011 will be all over the DIY odes to O'Connor's childhood heroes such as DAF and Liaisons Dangereuses here. The 1999 version in particular which originates from the same recording sessions that ended in the seminal Diversion Group release A Man Has Responsibilities.