Esp Institute Vinilo y CD

Review: It's time to turn on, tune in and drop all over the shop as Low End Activist unleashes the deliciously titled 'Gossip Is The Devil's Radio' on ESP. A little deeper and more explorative than recent club-heavy dispatches he's been firing out lately, this EP takes us much deeper into his dubby, eerie psyche where cold, dystopian flavours and aesthetics rule the roost. Highlights include being pushed head first into abyssal frequencies on the likes of 'Good Question' and the industrial swagger of 'G.E.L'. Time to get activated.

Review: From a cover image wonderfully displaying the proportional difference between humans and the world we call home, to the expansive pedal steel guitar chords that weep their way through the musical destinations here, Raymond Richards encapsulates the vast openness of the US in sound, offering aural interpretations of the beauty and desolation, hope and devastation this wildly rich but painfully unequal country is home to. Track titles are inspired by real pins on the map, although it's unlikely you'll recognise many - we're talking 'Paradise, California' (a swooning, sun-kissed closing overture), 'Astoria, Oregon' (a lilting, vast but quiet slice of ambient) and 'Roslyn, Washington' (which sounds like psychedelic country) rather than more obvious places like Los Angeles, where Richards stomped about with the likes of DJ Lovefingers and Slowdive affiliates Mojave 3 in the late-1990s.

Review: Raymond Richards emerges once again as a musical maestro in Sand Paintings, displaying his unparalleled mastery of the pedal steel. Teaming up with Calexico's John Convertino and an array of eclectic instrumentalists, Richards delves deeper into his contemplative sonic world. From the courageous chords of 'Badwater Basin' to the dramatic landscapes of 'Monument Valley' and 'Saguaro,' each track resonates with emotional depth and cultural richness. While the album expands into grand cinematic gestures, there's a stoic singularity pervading throughout - a lonesome cowboy facing the elements with unwavering resolve. Despite the visceral intensity, a cloaked vulnerability emerges, revealing a profound connection to the world. Sand Paintings is not merely an album; it's a journey through landscapes of sound and emotion, guided by Richards' transcendent vision and honesty.