Back catalogue: All genres

Review: A newfound interest around Italian duo Fabrizio and Marco D'Arcangelo has resulted in releases on Spain's Analogical Force, The Kelly Twins' Happy Skull and a new one for Solvent and Lowfish's Suction based out of Toronto - who consider II as 'an imaginary sequel to the duo's classic 1996 debut EP on Aphex Twin's legendary, now-defunct Rephlex Records. That release was also reissued on the label last year. From the industrial edged electronica of "Callying Sybil" which calls to mind early Autechre, the jagged and angular "Qabbalahwhich" honed in on the emerging sounds of drum 'n' bass at the time, to the three installments of "Diagram" that hone into aesthetics of an even earlier period, namely the '80s.

Review: Al Wootton and Valentina Magaletti's Holy Tongue project is back for a second offering on Amidah. Once again they explore the outer edges of electronic dub and psychedelic post punk with four fascinating new tunes that have been crafted with the additional input of saxophonist Ben Vince. He adds to the swirling and expansive sound of these tracks, which are built on heavy drums, clacking percussion and detail with plenty of FX. Dark but alluring, there is a deeply spiritual and primeval feel to these most tranced out of tracks.

Review: Kevin Griffiths (aka Jura Soundsystem) is the man behind the Isle of Jura label and now it turns to Ambient Warrior once more for II, which comes a couple of years after the hugely successful reissue of their Dub's Journey album form 1995. This is a previously unreleased record made between 1995 and 1999 and it comes from the same pool of sound as that LP. It's a seamless blend of instrumental dub, reggae, bossa nova and tango music that is hugely immersive and distinctive. None of the tunes you will have heard before and that are more great windows into the minds of Ronnie Lion and Andrea Terrano.

Review: Armed with a Yamaha Reface, Korg MS20, 90s Casio and 70s Gem organ, Roland Space Echo, Melos delay and spring reverb, Liverpool producer Ancient Plastix took a deep dive with this stunning ambient album, capturing the whole thing on the wonderfully textured Japanese Sansui machine. A six-track tape he picked up from an old raver-turned-father who was finally ready to part with his gear. "Musically, this album is more patient in its approach to the predecessor," says Plastix. "Recorded towards the end of lockdown in my high street basement below a used record shop, the arrangements reflect the personal era. No responsibility, no reasons to adhere to the previous patterns in my music making. As a result the album is a patient trawl through new discoveries and possibilities presented by improvising with old technology."

Review: Hardcore/crossover thrash absurdists, Dead Cross, appear set to make their demented return on the aptly titled, 'II', the much anticipated follow up to their 2017 self-titled debut. The misfit supergroup that includes legendary Faith No More/Mr. Bungle (and a million other projects) vocalist extraordinaire, Mike Patton, along with Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo, Mike Crain of Retox as well as bassist from The Locust, Head Wound City and all round Three One G Records and west coast outsider punk mastermind Justin Pearson, defies easy categorisation. Toeing a line between sardonic, cynical hilarity and genuine chaotic vitriol, the half-decade respite between projects has allowed time for reflection and gestation. With Patton's recent mental health struggles and subsequent diagnosis of agoraphobia, as well as the tragic passing of original vocalist and Pearson's long-time creative partner, Gabe Serbian, expect an emotionally raw, earnest, darkly humorous and unhinged return. Don't believe us, then simply check out the blistering lead single, 'Reign Of Error.'

Review: Hardcore/crossover thrash absurdists, Dead Cross, appear set to make their demented return on the aptly titled, 'II', the much anticipated follow up to their 2017 self-titled debut. The misfit supergroup that includes legendary Faith No More/Mr. Bungle (and a million other projects) vocalist extraordinare, Mike Patton, along with Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo, Mike Crain of Retox as well as bassist from The Locust, Head Wound City and all round Three One G Records and west coast outsider punk mastermind Justin Pearson, defies easy categorisation. Toeing a line between sardonic, cynical hilarity and genuine chaotic vitriol, the half-decade respite between projects has allowed time for reflection and gestation. With Patton's recent mental health struggles and subsequent diagnosis of agoraphobia, as well as the tragic passing of original vocalist and Pearson's longtime creative partner, Gabe Serbian, expect an emotionally raw, earnest, darkly humorous and unhinged return. Don't believe us, then simply check out the blistering lead single, 'Reign Of Error.'

Review: Six years have passed since Lisbon dubsters Gala Drop presented their debut album. A handful of EPs and many shows later, they now present II. Naturally it's worth the wait. A unique synthesis of cosmic funk, psychedelic rock and deep dub, the entire album is every bit as immersive as you'd want it to be. From the trembling guitar plucks and frenzied momentum of "Monad" to the far-away cries and synth-slaying textures of "Slow House" via the planet-leaping drum energy and synth soars of "Samba Da Maconha", Gala Drop's distinctive delivery and creativity is showcased with accomplished skill. You won't hear another record like this in a hurry.

Review: Erlend Viken's first outing as Giant Sky - 2021's self-titled debut - was part epic prog rock overture and part major statement about the state of the music business. Only available in physical album format, for some time just a single track was doing the rounds on streaming services, which wasn't really a track at all, but instead a message about the evils of major streaming platforms and their role in ruining the artistic economy. Second time around, and the music itself is no less powerful. Moving from 'Origin Of The Species' and its floating-through-the-cosmos atmosphere, to the rousing call-to-unity of 'The Pensieve' and the industrial-noise-cum-delicate pop on 'Imposter', the vision and scope are incredible, new ideas seemingly presenting themselves at every twist and turn on this 13-strong track list.

Review: KXP are a Finnish outfit comprised of five ultra-talented musicians, all of them standing by the successful Scandinavian tradition of "weirder is better"; their second LP comes courtesy of Manchester's Melodic and boy is it one hell of a ride. Every track is great with a shared form of musical irony. Among the standout moments are "RBJTEV", a droned-out, screeching excursion into guitar noise, "EKMVIV", which is something reminiscent of Mika Vainio at his most bizarre an minimalistic, "Reel Ghosts", which sounds like a church meeting gone horribly noise-y, and "Dark Satellite", a quasi-techno beat engulfed by ominous background noise and subdued bass lines. Voyages to the ether!

Review: Given the hype that surrounded the release of the first Moderat set back in 2009, we can surely expect more of the same for this second outing from Apparat and Modeselektor. Those familiar with the first album's woozy blend of IDM, Thom Yorke indebted vocal dreaminess, porchlight techno and post-dubstep rhythms will immediately feel right at home. Online reviews have focused largely on II's atmospheric warmth, and the way in which the Berlin-based trio seems to have refined their sound. Both are valid critiques; certainly, there's a maturity and musical complexity to the album that betters much of their previous works. It's not much of a dancefloor set, but that's entirely the point; this is locked-in headphone listening for the wide-eyed generation.

Review: Moon B takes it back to the old school that is PPU! Atlanta-based analogue funkateer Wes Gray made his debut proper as Moon B back in 2012 on People's Potential Unlimited, and has since found further acclaim with a killer EP for London label Going Good and releases as Vaib-R and Sean Sanders for Nous and Hot Mix. Andrew Morgan's PPU has always been something of a home base for Moon B material however, with several other cross format releases in recent times. The suitably titled II is the second Moon B long player and pulls eight tracks from the home studio recordings of Wes Gray made over the past few years with that signature "slank rhythms and cutting basslines you've grown accustomed to" present and correct!

Review: Motor City Drum Ensemble and Marcus Worgull's Vermont project returns to Kompakt with another elegant beatless adventure. Once again reminding us how ambient music can still carry a real tune and narrative, highlights include the clipped cascade of chimes of "Dschuna", the sudden flurries of light on "Demut", momentous overlapping guitar arpeggio of "Ufer" and warped layers and washes on "Hallo Von Der Anderen Seite". Rich in warmth and loaded with hidden twists on every listen, it's the ultimate foil to their better-known clubbier motifs. Beautiful.