Omena Vinilo y CD

Review: Aleksandir makes a great impression with his debut album, Omena, on the Skin label. It finds him push outside his comfort zone musically and conceptually and results in a truly personal and expressive record of electronic experimentation. It plots a line between uptempo and light tracks, and more doleful and dark material - but is that but just how life's? The always inventive rhythms range from worldly and funky to airy broken beats via immersive ambient. What's more, for the first time on record, Aleksandir uses his own voice on tracks for an extra personal dimension.

Review: Hot on the heels of Seb Wildblood's tropical album Wet Summer, Swedish imprint Omena call upon Finland's Saine for his next album. Taking off where Lifelike left us, it's another patchwork of abstract grooves and experiments where you really have no idea what's around the corner. One moment we're shuffling to the lo-fi shuffles and wobbly soul of "Hijack", the next we're snaking and sneaking around the dancefloor in a massive unbreakable conga to "Drums Please", the next we're lounging around with our trousers down to "Higher". Yeah, it's that type of album. But if you know Saine's previous work, you'll already know this.