BLACKPLOID Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Blackplod is one of the key artists in the Central Processing Unit set up and he has been for a little while now. Helping to cement his status is his debut album Enter Universe which comes after a trio of top EPs since 2021. Here he levels up his sound across 12 tracks of dizzying leftfield electro that draws on the classics while sketching out the future of the sound. 'Pulsation' sets a great tone from the off with meandering synths and stepping basslines then there's mystery and intrigue on the likes of 'Material Collapse' and squelchy and bleeping alien lifeforms that bring tracks like 'The Mission' alive.

Review: Munich-based producer Martin Matiske rebooted the Blackploid project for a couple of brilliant EPs on Sheffield's Central Processing Unit last year, and now he's back with a new one this week titled Planetary Science. Hear the sound of space invaders getting stoned on opening cut 'Dimension Unknown' and the electro-bleep shuffle of 'Magnetron' on side A, while over on the flip you can take the time machine further into the future with the Drexciyan computer funk of 'Wire' followed by the darkly dystopian beat programme of 'Neurotransmitter'.

Review: Martin Matiske's renaissance continues as he delivers another fresh EP as Blackploid for effervescent Sheffield imprint Central Processing Unit. In keeping with the German producer's other recent material, we can hear echoes of his classic, mid-2000s Blackploid material. Strange Stars also continues his interplanetary theme, delivering a quartet of sci-fi powered cuts full of squelchy acid bass, star-fall electronics, Kraftwerkian melodies and beats so crunchy you could probably eat them for breakfast. Our picks of a very strong bunch are probably pulsating opener 'Star Patrol' and the turn-of-the-80s sci-fi movie feel of 'Unseen', but to be honest all four tracks hit the spot.