Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Mansun's The Dead Flowers Reject, originally conceived as an insurance policy against label rejection of their experimental album Six, emerges as a hidden gem in the band's discography. Recorded concurrently with Six, this album offers a slightly less eccentric selection of songs, showcasing a more conventional sequencing approach. Frontman Paul Draper describes it as possibly his favorite Mansun album, capturing the band's live essence. Fans will relish the opportunity to experience this essential piece of Mansun's legacy in its full glory. Mansun's influence on the late 90s British music scene is undeniable, and The Dead Flowers Reject adds another layer to their iconic status. With its newfound availability on vinyl, this album solidifies its place as a crucial component of Mansun's innovative journey.

Review: The Melvins, known for their unapologetically experimental and abrasive sound, continue their legacy of sonic exploration with Tarantula Heart, set for release via Ipecac Recordings. The album, featuring a five-track lineup, including the sprawling 19-minute opener 'Pain Equals Funny, which displays the band's penchant for pushing the boundaries of conventional music. One of the album's defining features is the incorporation of dual drum parts, with longtime Melvins drummer Dale Crover teaming up with Roy for an impressive display of rhythmic complexity. This collaboration adds a new dimension to the Melvins' sound, further solidifying their reputation as pioneers of unconventional music. Recorded, mixed, and co-produced by Toshi Kasai, a longtime collaborator of the band, Tarantula Heart adds to the album's eclectic sonic palette. While The Melvins may never achieve mainstream success due to their avant-garde approach, this album stands by their unwavering commitment to artistic integrity and innovation, making it a must-listen for fans of boundary-pushing music everywhere.

Review: Meril Wubslin's fourth album, Faire ca, is a daring musical odyssey that ventures into uncharted territories with fearless creativity. Recorded in Kwake Bass' South London studio, this nine-track masterpiece defies genre boundaries, seamlessly blending blues, folk, post-rock, and dub to create a unique sonic landscape. Collaborating with Kwake Bass, known for his groundbreaking work with Sampha and Kae Tempest, Meril Wubslin fearlessly explores unfamiliar soundscapes. From the intimate blues and folk-inspired 'Grands Espaces' to the experimental fusion of 'La Main' and the electro-blues percussion of 'Famille Phare,' each track showcases the band's innovative spirit and exceptional musicianship. With its bold experimentation and captivating melodies, 'Faire ca' promises enduring musical rewards for listeners and solidifies Meril Wubslin's position as pioneers in the realm of avant-garde music. This album is a must-listen for anyone seeking a fresh and exhilarating musical experience.

Review: Canadian noise-rock trio Metz deliver their fifth full-length LP for their home label Sub Pop. Expressing an exponential graph of maturity, that has grown over their decade or so of recording and releasing, Metz' sound on Up On Gravity Hill veers more towards an almost black-metallic atmosphere, to counterpoise their originally stark, rageful sound. Conceptually, the album's change in sound matches its thematic content, with the band having found more peace in contrast, and the life-promising realisation that one can only experience its most joyful moments on the sole condition that one has also suffered its worst vagaries - there is no paradise without the fall. On the likes of '99' and 'Entwined', we're met with a driving, repetitious howl set against a sludgy axe-y backdrop, as vocalist Alex Edkins performatively laments and celebrates the ways of the world at the same time.

Review: The Minneapolis Uranium Club Band's Infants Under The Bulb album is an engaging journey through unbridled punk creativity and raw guitar energy. Released amidst their hometown's vibrant underground scene, the album defies categorisation in the way it blends elements of punk, post-punk and experimental rock. With relentless rhythms, angular guitar riffs and cryptic lyrics, each track unfolds in heavy and arresting fashion and the band's unconventional approach and uncompromising attitude challenge listeners to embrace the unconventional throughout this most visceral of albums.