New releases last eight weeks: All genres

Review: Anoushka Shankar's Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn is a riveting sonic journey that seamlessly blends eastern and western musical sensibilities. From the rocking piano motifs of 'Pacifica' to the dreamy textures of 'Offering' and the mystical ambiance of 'Below the Surface,' each track unveils layers of evocative dreamscapes. Shankar's sitar weaves enchanting melodies, complemented by the soothing sounds of waves and voices. The album's fusion of instruments and tonalities creates a healing experience, inviting listeners to relax and float downstream. With its profound depth and beauty, Chapter II transcends mere background music, resonating as a genuine artistic expression. Anoushka Shankar offers a compelling soundtrack for introspection and tranquility.

Review: Finally, the debut Bochum Welt album Module 2 has been reissued after an initial run on Rephlex. Bochum Welt (Gianluigi Di Costanzo) has just recently celebrated 30 years of releasing music. His brand of IDM, electro and techno has been often copied but never equaled. His futuristic music seems to always be forward thinking and ultimately, timeless sounding. This edition is on matching green vinyl and includes all the classic material of the first release. Fans of AFX, Squarepusher and Cylob are sure to be aware of Bochum Welt. But for those who aren't....

Review: Bleed Like Me was the hugely successful and critically acclaimed fourth studio album from Garbage. Originally released in 2005, the recording of the album had some ups and downs that included the band disbanding during recording and eventually cutting the subsequent tour short as well. Through all of that, the album reached number four on the top 200 Billboard chart which was higher than any of the previous more commercially successful albums. Although none of the songs were hits, the album sits very well with fans of the band. Nearly 20 years later, we finally get a vinyl version of the album! Spread across two lovely transparent red vinyl we get the Deluxe Version. Listen and enjoy one of the best rock bands of the past 30 years.

Review: Alternative, goth and pop rock band HIM are one of the most creative and strongest bands to come out of Finland. Tears On Tape was their eighth and final album from the band whose career covered nearly 25 years. Originally released in 2013, this is the first reissue and fans of the band are celebrating that this will also be its' very first time on vinyl. Green vinyl that matches the artwork as well is a nice touch. Experience some of the last key tracks from this ground breaking band like 'All Lips Go Blue', 'Into the Night' and the title song 'Tears On Tape. Come experience a celebration of the band's final full length.

Review: Dark Horse Records unveils Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros' legendary Live at Acton Town Hall concert, meticulously remastered by Grammy Award Winner Paul Hicks. Available here on double vinyl, the November 15, 2002, performance, a benefit for striking firefighters, stands as one of Strummer's final shows before his passing. A poignant highlight includes a three-song reunion with Clash bandmate Mick Jones, their first in two decades. The gatefold sleeve showcases unseen concert photos, accompanied by liner notes from Fire Brigade Union Secretary Andy Gilchrist. This release marks the first comprehensive vinyl and CD availability of this historic concert.

Review: The Virgin Prunes were masters of the uncanny, juxtaposing nightmares with lullabies, beauty with cruelty; combining gentle vocals and the spoken word with anguished wailing from purgatory itself. Their first album, A New Form Of Beauty (1981), powerfully laid out this terrain. Its themes ranged from mournful tales of unrequited love, frustrated sexuality, morbid eroticism and wasted youth, to yearnings for distant dreamlands, all of which were juxtaposed with macabre visions of dystopian societies, overpowered by dark forces and where demons run amok. Guggi's art work for A New Form of Beauty, which intimates a heartless transaction within a domestic setting, is in keeping with this sensibility. Now reissued by BMG, this 2024 deluxe edition features all four parts of the album remastered from the original tape, plus a trifold reverse board sleeve and a 16-page, 11-inch artbook with brand new sleevenotes.