Review: Oren Ambarchi and Eric Thielemans' latest collaboration emerges from a recorded performance in Poitiers, France, in November 2023, showcasing their extraordinary duo chemistry. The single continuous performance, spanning over 45 minutes, encapsulates their shared language and willingness to push boundaries, blending meditative calm with unexpected melodic and rhythmic moments. 'Kind Regards' (Beginning) opens with Thielemans' entrancing tom patterns, which provide a steady undercurrent for Ambarchi's guitar, transformed into swirling tones by a Leslie speaker. As the music unfolds, it moves between introspective calm and more forceful bursts of energy, with Ambarchi's guitar eventually taking on an electric organ-like quality, echoing the soulful depth of Alice Coltrane. Later, 'Kind Regards' (Conclusion) takes on a more jazz-oriented direction, as Thielemans' delicate rhythmic shifts showcase his mastery of accents and cymbal work. Ambarchi counters this with jittery delayed tones, and a more active use of his fretboard, weaving through dissonant harmonics before concluding with a massive, yet detailed, climax of distorted guitar and crashing cymbals. The performance, free from any flashy tricks or filler, draws power from the deep intuition between the two musicians, and their shared commitment to exploring the limits of their instruments.
Hollow Dream (feat Annie Barker & Joseph Shabason) (3:26)
Around The Fire (feat Nightlands) (2:51)
Corner Of The World (feat Nat Birchall & Thore Pfeiffer) (4:02)
Amazing (feat Nubo) (2:23)
Ancient Love (feat Jamael Dean, Nat Birchall & Sharananda) (3:50)
The Will Of The One (feat Jonas Knutsson, Laraaji & Oceananda) (4:27)
North Star (feat Green-House & Nubo) (3:08)
Understanding (feat Miguel Atwood-Ferguson) (4:07)
Review: The absorbing Crescendo album is the fruit of a collaboration between Swedish producers Emil Holmstrom and Peter Wikstrom of Ecovillage. They are joined by a talented ensemble of musicians who all share a passion for improvisation and experimentation. Recorded between 2019 and 2022 in Los Angeles and Umea in Sweden, the album explores a fusion of jazz and ambient and as it goes it aims to break new ground and challenge conventional ambient music. Featuring ten tracks, each of which offers a unique mood and style, Crescendo ranges from uplifting and energetic compositions to mellow and dreamy soundscapes. With vocals spanning soft whispers to powerful chants, the artists' creative vision and spirit is well reflected.
Review: Stockholm-based composer Isak Edberg's second release on XKatedral - arguably the finest contemporary classical label in the Swedish capital. This time round we're given two extended pieces, running towards 30-minutes each, both of which are instrumentals and focused largely on minimalist piano notes, meaning the use of space and emptiness is also prominent. The title track, which opens the package, sets the tone and pace well, with each key allowed to breathe, refrains hanging on by a thin echo fading into the deep expanse of nothingness that seems to sit behind the instrument itself. 'Vestiges' complements this perfectly, again ensuring there's plenty of what's not happening in between the staccato off-keys. Fully committing to a more experimental side of the new classical spectrum, it's one you'll want to keep revisiting again and again.
Review: The album offers a tender reflection on childhood summers, weaving piano, symphonic melodies and orchestral strings into a heartfelt tapestry of nostalgia. Recorded in an intimate home studio and the iconic Abbey Road, it blends simplicity with grandeur, capturing the essence of freedom, adventure and living fully in the moment. Some of our favourite tracks include the evocative 'Jay', with its eastern-inspired motifs, and 'Punta Bianca', a swelling composition that feels expansive and deeply personal. 'Pathos' uplifts with its soaring melodies, while 'Rose Bay' takes on a meditative quality, inspired by family history and a story of resilience. Here, strings delicately accompany a piano chord progression that mimics sunlight shimmering on water, creating a serene yet emotionally charged atmosphere. Painting vivid scenes of childhood wonder and the bittersweet beauty of memory, it's a poignant celebration of life's fleeting joys.
Review: Lo-fi, droning ambience from Turkish producer Ekin Uzeltuzenci aka. Ekin Fil here. 'Rosewood Untitled' is themed after the resistance of nature, drawing a hard line between concepts of the manmade and natural - by sonically presenting the latter as pure, slowly restless, and laden in a deep, almost unrecoverable texture. For Ekin, the inspiration behind the album came after witnessing huge forest fires in Turkey, which occurred at the same time as the COVID pandemic. What follows is a mournful reminiscence on fatal natural processes, through looping sonic envelopes and distant melodies.
A Phone Call/The Wrong Kiss/Peter's Birthday (2:05)
The Bank/Saving May (4:28)
The Mugging/Peter's Turmoil (3:17)
Doc Ock's Machine (1:44)
He's Back! (1:43)
Train/Appreciation (4:02)
Aunt May Packs (4:44)
Armageddon/A Really Big Web! (3:49)
The Goblin Returns (3:57)
At Long Last, Love (2:56)
Review: The golden age of superhero movies, spearheaded by Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films, was unparalleled, setting the stage for every Marvel movie that followed. These films introduced us to Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, Kirsten Dunst as MJ, and formidable villains like the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), shaping the blockbuster summers of the past two decades. Who else could score such an important film odyssey than the one and only Danny Elfman?! To celebrate the 20th anniversary, the soundtrack to Spider-Man 2 arrives on vinyl. The score's legendary themes continue to inspire. Witnessing Elfman perform these themes live at Coachella was an unforgettable experience, with a live orchestra captivating the audience. Enjoy one of the most important soundtracks in the superhero genre now on beautiful vinyl.
Review: Danny Elfman's score for Batman '89 remains one of the most iconic and influential superhero soundtracks ever created. Released as a collector's edition by Mondo, this reissue features Elfman's monumental work, expertly conducted by Shirley Walker and performed by The Sinfonia of London. Elfman's theme, with its haunting, ascendant four-note motif, perfectly encapsulates the duality of Bruce Wayne and set the benchmark for superhero film scores. This vinyl reissue, pressed on 'Butterfly Effect' vinyl, is accompanied by a graphic novel continuation of the Batman story, making it a great collectable for fans of the 1989 film and Elfman's music. Elfman's ability to blend operatic grandeur with intense action shines throughout the score, notably in tracks like 'Charge of the Batmobile' and 'First Confrontation.' The playful, waltz-inspired theme for Jack Nicholson's Joker adds a layer of dark humor to the soundtrack, contrasting beautifully with the film's darker, more brooding moments. Complementing the release are stunning new artworks by Jiro Fujita and Paolo Rivera. This reissue, produced by Neil S. Bulk and mastered by James Plotkin, honors the legacy of Elfman's career-defining score, which has stood the test of time as the definitive sound of Gotham's Dark Knight.
Donna Summer - "MacArthur Park" (single version) (3:54)
Bee Gees - "Tragedy" (4:53)
Alfie Davis & The Sylvia Young Theatre School Choir - "Day-O" (2:51)
Tess Parks - "Somedays" (2:30)
Scott Weiland - "Where's The Man" (5:06)
Richard Max - "Right Here Waiting" (4:24)
Sigur Ros - "Svefn-g-englar" (9:00)
Richard Harris - "MacArthur Park" (7:24)
Pino Donaggio - "Main Title From Carrie" (2:50)
Danny Elfman - "Main Title Theme" (3:21)
Danny Elfman - "End Titles" (4:35)
Review: Iconic movie classic Beetlejuice is back and we for one have enjoyed its return. Tim Burton's 1988 cult classic has been reimagined for modern audiences in 2014 and came complete with a new soundtrack. The original score, composed by the legendary Danny Elfman, blends whimsical melodies with eerie undertones, perfectly capturing the film's quirky and haunting vibe. Highlights of the original include Elfman's iconic main titles, which have become synonymous with Burton's gothic style. The new soundtrack also features standout tracks like Alfie Davis & The Sylvia Young Theatre School Choir's rendition of 'Day-O' and Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting," adding fresh dimensions to this timeless, offbeat classic.
Knew Your Name Before You Were Born (feat Rodhad) (3:26)
My Consciousness (3:28)
Broken Pieces (feat Anna Phoebe) (4:49)
What Other People Think (2:52)
Forwards (2:59)
Shadow World (3:49)
Sleep In The Day (4:46)
Double Edge X (feat Robert Ames) (3:44)
What Other People Think (IMPXINS Ensemble version) (2:10)
Bass Chaos (5:56)
Intuition 17 (IMPXINS Ensemble version) (3:20)
Dem Worlds X (4:00)
KonstrukDonswerk (9:15)
Lemptilos (IMPXINS Ensemble version) (3:24)
Lemptilos (4:31)
Review: Emika's Vega:Trilogy is a bold, ambitious sonic journey that blends meditation, sacred geometry and a quest for deeper meaning. Recorded during the isolation of the lockdowns, Emika poured her creativity into crafting a work that transcends genres. Drawing inspiration from the northern star Lyra, Vega combines electronic, classical and avant-garde elements, with Emika's distinctive vocals anchoring the atmospheric soundscapes. Collaborations with luminaries like Horace Andy, Liela Moss and Rodhad add unique layers to the already rich fabric of the album. The three vinyl LPs are presented in a sleek black cover with a silver foil logo, making the physical release as captivating as the music itself. Since her early days in Bristol's bass music scene and her groundbreaking work as a sound designer, Emika has carved out her own niche. Vega is the latest chapter in her journey, offering a dynamic blend of electronics, neo-classical compositions and her signature vocal style. A truly introspective album that captures Emika's evolution as an artist and visionary.
Review: Lawrence Englsh's new album was born out of a commission by curator Jonathan Wilson to create a sound environment for the Naala Badu building at the Art Gallery of NSW. It is a deeply atmospheric album that explores the relationship between sound and architecture and reflects the building's design, with its name meaning "seeing water" in the Gadigal language. The piece was crafted with a collaborative spirit by incorporating contributions from a diverse group of artists including Amby Downs, Claire Rousay and Jim O'Rourke. The resulting composition blends ambient textures and long-form sound prompts that capture the essence of place as an evolving, subjective experience. It's a work that highlights the porous nature of sound, and as a standalone work also succeeds in sinking you in deep.
The Secret Place (with Daniel Lanois & Roger Eno) (3:21)
Brian Eno & Fred Again - "Cmon" (5:09)
Ho Renomo (4:56)
Sky Saw (3:20)
Brian Neo & John Cale - "Spinning Away" (5:25)
Brian Eno & Tom Rogerson - "Motion In The Field" (3:43)
There Were Bells (4:48)
Third Uncle (4:44)
Brian Eno & David Byrne - "Everything That Happens" (3:44)
Stiff (3:22)
Emerald & Lime (with Leo Abrahams & Jon Hopkins) (2:58)
Hardly Me (3:41)
Brian Eno & David Byrne - "Regiment" (feat Dunya Younes) (4:09)
Fractal Zoom (6:21)
Lighthouse #429 (5:41)
Brian Eno & Roger Eno - "By This River" (live At The Acropolis) (3:37)
Review: A true enigma, an artist that represents all that was fascinating and romantic and alluring and intriguing about 20th Century sounds, Brian Eno was always going to need a feature length documentary, when the time was right. Premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Eno, Gary Hustwit's ode to the man, myth and legend, wowed critics and blew audiences away. Not least because it uses a computer programme which selects footage and edits the movie so a different version is shown at every screening. Innovation befitting Eno, removing the visuals and focusing on the sounds readjusts our vision to bring Eno into greater focus. The breadth of what's on this soundtrack is remarkable, from upfront indie on 'Stiff' and the weird folk-pop of 'Spinning Away', a John Cale collaboration, the ghostly post-rave of 'Cmon' with Fred Again, spectacular pianos of 'Motion In The Field', ethereal ambient vocals on 'There Were Bells', the angular punk dominating 'Third Uncle' - we could go on, and on, and on.
The Secret Place (with Daniel Lanois & Roger Eno) (3:21)
Brian Eno & Fred Again - "Cmon" (5:09)
Brian Eno & Cluster - "Ho Renomo" (4:56)
Sky Saw (3:20)
Brian Eno & John Cale - "Spinning Away" (5:25)
Brian Eno & Tom Rogerson - "Motion In Field" (3:43)
There Were Bells (4:48)
Third Uncle (4:44)
Brian Eno & David Byrne - "Everything That Happens" (3:44)
Stiff (3:22)
Emerald & Lime (with Leo Abrahams & Jon Hopkins) (2:58)
Hardly Me (3:41)
Brian Eno & David Byrne - "Regiment" (4:09)
Fractal Zoom (6:21)
Lighthouse #429 (5:41)
Brian Eno & Roger Eno - "By This River" (live At The Acropolis) (3:37)
Review: Eno is a new and groundbreaking documentary that explores the multifaceted career of musician, producer, artist, and activist Brian Eno. Compiled from extensive footage, music, and interviews, each screening of the film is different as it delves into Eno's music, art, and ideas. Accompanying this cinematic journey is a soundtrack spanning Eno's illustrious career, from early solo works to recent collaborations. Released on CD, the album features tracks from 14 different albums, including three previously unreleased recordings. 'Lighthouse #429, the first track from Eno's Sonos radio station, offers a glimpse into his extensive archive and overall this album celebrates Eno's influential legacy.
Review: Roger and brother Brian Eno have already assured their legacy as pioneers of experimental ambient music. Mixing Colours was their first album on Deutsche Grammophon and this reissue reminds us why the par are so well known for revolutionising music-Brian through innovative pop treatments and Roger with ambient synth/piano works. This collaboration reflects their shared genius and guides you through rich soundscapes blending mood and place into immersive auditory experiences. Crafted over several years, this poetic collection highlights the brothers' mastery and is a deep dive into ambient sound.
Review: Originally conceived to accompany an installation at the 2022 Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Selkie Reflections is very much a thing of beauty, and a work in two parts. On the A-side, you have Alliyah Enyo re-working the original tape loops used at the show into a strange, enchanting, and immersive series of hypnotic and occasionally haunting vocal calls. Flip to side B, and Florian T M Zeisig, under the alias Angel R, takes all that and turns it inside out, onto its head, and down into the depths of the selkie's world - a mythical creature capable of shapeshifting between seal and human form which features heavily in Scottish folklore. Beguiling and enchanting, prepare to be submerged in a place of beauty, bliss and mystery.
Review: A collection of electroacoustic works exploring the intersection of Moroccan tradition and Western avant-garde, this release features 'Toubkal', 'Sultane', and 'Lectures pour bandes magnetiques', each showcasing the North African composer's unique approach to composition. 'Toubkal', inspired by field recordings of Berber music, pulsates with traditional rhythms and melodies, reimagined through electronic manipulation. 'Sultane', reflecting on themes of land and conflict, alternates between dense rhythmic textures and ethereal vocal passages. 'Lectures pour bandes magnetiques', a setting of poems by Rilke and Mandiargues, highlights the connection between the human voice and musical expression.
Review: Edvard Graham Lewis and Mark Spybey's collaboration fuses electronic rhythms, layered field recordings and ambient soundscapes into an album with striking depth and cohesion. Both artists bring decades of experienceiLewis from Wire, Dome, He Said and Spybey from Zoviet France and Dead Voices on Air. This project, however, ventures into fresh territory, blending experimental sounds with surprising grooves and sly hooks. Crafted remotely, each track unfolds a textured sonic landscape, offering listeners a unique glimpse into the creative synergy between two pioneers of boundary-pushing music.
Review: In celebration of Arvo Part's 90th year, his latest release showcases the Estonian composer's continued exploration of minimalist, spiritually charged sound . Part's work has always sought to blend the sacred with the secular, and this collection of new renditions brings forward the timeless resonance of his choral and orchestral compositions. Opening with 'Littlemore Tractus,' based on John Henry Newman's reflections, the piece sets the tone of quiet, introspective change that permeates the entire work. His music, a dialogue between sound and silence, invites profound contemplation, with the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir under Tonu Kaljuste's direction offering nuanced, deeply attentive performances. Compositions like 'Vater unser,' showcase Part's ability to transform liturgical text into transcendent musical experience. There's an undeniable spiritual gravity in pieces such as 'Cantique des degres' and 'Sequentia,' where strings and vocals weave in delicate yet forceful patterns, revealing a steady undercurrent of renewal. The rich textures in these works evoke both a longing for and a reconciliation with the past, capturing Part's life-long exploration of sacred music's dialogue with the world. The album culminates with 'Vater unser,' an evocative reworking that brings together choir, strings, and piano, offering a meditative close to an album that is as much about reflection as it is about the continued forward momentum of Part's artistry. Recorded in Tallinn's Methodist Church, this latest chapter is a continuation of the Part-Eicher partnership that has defined so much of his career, expanding the legacy of albums like Tabula rasa and reinforcing Part's place as one of the most significant voices in contemporary classical music of the 20th and 21st centuries.
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