Review: Tokyo's Inokasira Rangers have been crafting lo-fi reggae since the 1990s, yet remained a rather hidden gem outside Japan. Their release 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' finally changed that when it dropped initially back in 2023 and sold out in quick time so now gets reissued. The A-side reimagines Frankie Valli's classic with a laid-back reggae twist while the B-side takes on Crystal Waters' '90s dance anthem with surprising charm. Infused with a subtle Shibuya-kei flair, both covers feel fresh yet timeless. The Waters rendition, in particular, sounds like a forgotten folk tune-so natural it's hard to believe it wasn't always this way. A breezy, nostalgic delight from a band overdue for global recognition.
Review: The debut album from Ukrainian collective Noneside unites musicians and visual artists under the inspiring words of poet Taras Shevchenko, who said 'Make love, o dark-browed ones.' Framed by a painting from contemporary artist Iryna Maksymova, the music explores the trance and tech house that is destined to bring souls together on the dancefloor this summer and beyond. Shjva opens with fresh and mashed bass and sleek trance pads that are subtle but effective. Lostlojic layer sup deep, bubbly techno drums and bass with an angelic vocal tone and Saturated Color's 'Trancia' is a speedy, scuffed-up tech groove for late-night cruising. Peshka and Yevhenii Loi offer two more future-facing trance-techno fusions packed with feels.
Review: Since dialling down on his re-editing activities in favour of showcasing his composition and production skills, Paris-based Young Pulse has released a swathe of sensational singles - most of which doff a cap to his long-known love of disco, boogie and 80s electrofunk. He leans giddily into the latter on this superb three tracker, kicking things off - with a little help from vocalist Wayata - with the revivalist P-funk colour, squelch and shuffle of Parliament/Funkadelic side A-side 'Reachin' Out'. The fun continues on the flip, where the organ and sparkling synths-enhanced headiness of 'Lose Control' (a kind of Prince tribute by the sounds of it) is followed by Fleur De Mur collaboration 'Love Addict', a Skipworth & Turner-esque slab of mid-80s dancefloor joy.
Review: The 2019, full-length, 11-track album by Years Of Denial is said to have been written and produced in a country house once surrounded only by vast, empty landscapes and an endless sky. Despite the isolation feeding its making, the debut album Suicide Disco is still an inescapable somatic provocation; it's not where you are, but who you are inside. The duo of Jerome Tcherneyan and Barkosina Hanusova now hear their debut album for Veyl reissued here, not long after a second noose in the form of Suicide Disco Vol. 2 was heard strung up a in 2023. Suicide Disco was a comparatively greyscale exercise in delay and decay, the likes of 'The Pain I Meditate' and 'Contradiction' making for manic dust-clouds of post-industrial fallout; sonic , Industrial Revolutory sequelae, topped off by an expressionist vocal narrative from Hanusova.
Review: The fifth album by Young Gun Silver Fox - Andy Platts and Shawn Lee - further explores their love for the smooth, sun-soaked 70s West Coast pop-rock and soul. Musing on Steely Dan, Earth, Wind & Fire, and the Doobie Brothers, the pair came together in Norfolk to write and record in person, with over half the record's tracks emerging from these in-studio sessions. Known for a rapidly growing following in the UK and Europe, Young Gun Silver Fox have also made waves in the U.S., wrapping up their biggest tour yet, including sold-out shows and support dates with Black Pumas. As Andy reflects, "I just smell the ocean and the air... and I can just kick back and enjoy it."
Review: A rare live album from Neil Young, this companion to the Daryl Hannah-directed tour documentary captures the American singer-songwriter's 2023 Coastal solo tour. Through 11 handpicked songs from his 60-year career, including 'I Am a Child' and 'Vampire Blues', the album shows off Young's instrumental virtuosity on guitar, piano, and harmonica, and marked a transformative moment as the world emerged from the COVID pandemic. Coastal stands as one of the most intimate live albums Young has ever released, its recordings mutating between various cities, reconnecting chameleonically with his own timeless songs. The weight of history, the rebirth of an artist.
Review: Neil Young's return to this 1977-recorded "lost" collection of songs feels like a snapshot of an artist in transition, navigating between the raw edges of his 70s output and the more polished direction he would take in the years to come. Recorded between Florida's Triad Studios and Malibu's Indigo, the tracks resonate with a kind of unforced authenticity that's increasingly rare in modern music. You'll know some of these tunes - the majority did turn up in other LP tracklistings eventually - but re-pieced together it's clear there's a quiet confidence here, as if Young, unburdened by the pressures of commercial expectation, was simply allowing the music to flow out. Opening with the delicate 'Sail Away,' Young sets a tone that's both intimate and expansive, a rare combination that permeates the entire set. 'Lost In Space' follows, its understated melancholy giving way to moments of real tenderness, as though Young was channeling something deeply personal without ever letting it feel too heavy. The rolling 'Captain Kennedy' showcases his gift for storytelling, while 'Goin' Back' and 'Human Highway' bring with them echoes of past greatness, weaving themes of reflection and longing with his signature mix of folk and country. By the time 'Pocahontas' rolls around, it's clear that the collection, though rough around the edges, forms a cohesive whole, a snapshot of Young's restless creativity and unflinching approach to songwriting.
Review: Adrian Younge's latest in the Something About April series is a stunning analogue opus that blends a 30-piece orchestra with breakbeats, synth work and Brazilian psychedelia. It has reportedly been years in the making and is the culmination of Younge's sonic vision as well as being his most expansive and experimental work to date. Brazilian vocalists, fuzzed-out drums and lush orchestration evoke MPB greats like Verocai and Os Mutantes and hip-hop kings Wu-Tang in equal measure. Tracks like 'Nunca Estranhos' and 'Nossas Sombras' are richly cinematic and deeply soulful standouts. More than a closing chapter, this record cements Younge's legacy as a visionary composer.
Feels Like Thunder (feat Dame Evelyn Glennie) (2:36)
The New Sunhouse Protest Song (1:35)
When I Miss My Nai Nai (1:44)
Skip Skip Hooray (feat Chali 2na) (1:46)
The Sunflower & The Bee (1:44)
The Sunrise & The Sunset Song (1:26)
Little Crickets (1:40)
Step & Sway Dance (0:49)
The Geese Fly Past (0:55)
Review: And they say nobody makes amazing kids TV anymore. Or maybe that's just people who remember iconic series like The Trap Door, Button Moon, Pingu, Danger Mouse and Fraggle Rock? Either way, anyone who actually has children now will attest to the fact there are some great programmes doing the rounds. We fell pretty quickly for Octonauts, which focuses on a pack of underwater animal rescuers. Meanwhile Yukee, which presents the potentially terrifying prospect of a ukulele-wielding six year old, also won our hearts. Thankfully for us all, Yukee can play her instrument very well. So well in fact that this collection of songs from her first series is actually very enjoyable no matter your generation. OK, so maybe once you get onto the 25th play-through in a single afternoon there might be cause to switch things up, but overall these catchy folk-pop tunes are going to bring smiles to faces of all ages.
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