New releases last eight weeks: Indie/Alternative

Review: Following on from their widely acclaimed album Afraid To Leave, Berlin's beautiful maudlin post-punk outfit Bleib Modern presents a compilation of remixes and reworks by esteemed artists from across darkwave, post-punk, and EBM. From IV Horsemen's club-worthy rendition of 'Bitter Smile' to M!R!M's dreamy synthpop take on 'Into The Night' via Dune Messiah's crooning 'Loony Voices, 2 Afraid 2 Leave: Remixed Reimaged Reloaded Part 2 offers truly diverse interpretations. With contributions from luminaries like The KVB and Blind Delon, it provides a fresh perspective on Bleib Modern's sound and serves as an exciting interlude that showcases the band's versatility and paves the way for future creations

Review: 'Fast Car' was a groundbreaking song when it came out. Making Tracy Chapman a household name. The song became an international hit and entered the top ten in many countries including being number one in Canada, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands and Portugal. The single went triple platinum in UK alone. The song was lauded for being a moving account of escaping life's difficulties and achieving some material success only to fail again. Tracy's performance was riveting and the song propelled her to win three Grammy's that year including Best New Artist, Contemporary Folk Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The song was also nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song continues to be an enduring classic having entered the charts multiple times and been covered my many artists. The song is also featured in Rolling Stones 500 greatest songs of all time.

Review: The debut album from Amsterdam-based muso Donald 'Donny' Madjid (a member of The Mauskovic Dance Band) came after an unusual break in his often hectic touring cycle, largely thanks to the pandemic. Keeping himself sane with a plethora of vintage synths as well as a 60s era drum-machine, the resulting experiments gave way to 2021's retro-fitted disco meets new wave opus Pure Donzin. Now that tour-life has resumed and his schedule chock-a-block yet again, it's taken three years for another dose of pure Donny with the release of his follow up Zonder Pardon EP. Authentic swathes of machine-percussion, thick synth-lines and Madjid's own disarming croon (sung almost exclusively in his native tongue) channel the sonic iconography of Talking Heads or Roxy Music, yet transported by way of an Italo-Disco rave to the funkiest spots of inner-city Holland.

Review: Impossibly powerful and soul fuelled sounds from Gabriels,who have headlined a fine list of all the major musi events, not least Glastonbury with a stirring performance that took them to all new levels. 'Love & Hate In a Different Time' is their most hard hitting tune but still comes with plenty of sweetness and sits at the centre of this 12" of the same name with an alternate version also included next to dusty and lo-fi soul gut wrenchers like 'The Blind' and the intimate vocals, swooning strings and finger clicks of 'In Loving Memory.'

Review: Un Peu D'histoire marks a much anticipated Juniore debut album and it offers an enchanting voyage through time and space. Their fusion of 60s French pop, surf rock, and psychedelic influences creates a unique musical tapestry from the dreamy 'Christine' to the haunting 'La Route,' each track takes you through lush harmonies and infectious rhythms. Elsewhere, Juniore's versatility shines as they seamlessly transition from upbeat tunes like 'La Verite Nue' to introspective melodies like 'En Solitaire.' With vintage-inspired production and modern flair, this album appeals to both nostalgia seekers and contemporary music lovers, making it the perfect soundtrack for any adventure.

Review: Metronomy mark their signing to Ninja Tune with a new single that comes not long after their Posse EP Volume 1, a collection of tunes all made in collaboration with up-and-coming artists like Biig Piig, Spill Tab, Sorry, Brian Nasty and Folly Group. This one is another collaboration, this time with Pam Amsterdam. 'Nice Town' deals with the lead singer's own battles such as "internal versus the external or, intangible versus the tangible." It is a delightfully snappy dance-pop ditty with great and tight synth sequences, old-school rap vocals and nice broken early electro beats. Metronomy and Alain Ogue add their own remixes to a great label debut.

Review: Ozean's self-titled EP, originally recorded in 1993 but now receiving its first full physical vinyl release, is a testament to the band's splendid blend of shimmering, ethereal shoegaze. From the moment 'Scenic' envelops listeners with its swirling distortion and awesome melodies, it's clear that Ozean's music is something special. The dreamy soundscapes of 'Fall' and 'Porcelain' further immerse the listener, transporting them to a world of otherworldly beauty and introspection. Inspired by influences like Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, and Lush, Ozean's music captures the essence of the British shoegaze scene while adding their own unique twist. Lisa Baer's otherworldly vocals, influenced by Astrud Gilberto and The Jesus And Mary Chain, perfectly complement the band's atmospheric sound. Despite their brief existence and only two live shows, Ozean's impact is felt profoundly in this remastered EP. Recorded on a Fostex Model 80 1/4" 8-Track reel-to-reel tape recorder, the original cassette recordings have been meticulously remastered for this vinyl release, thanks to Tim Green of Louder Studios. Each track is a timeless snapshot of late adolescent wonder and experimentation, preserving Ozean's legacy for generations to come.

Review: The super French crew Hard Fist have got a brilliantly twisted new Balearic record on their hands here thanks to the work of Shkema in both original and remix mode. He goes first with the deep, dubby and post-punk moodiness of 'Tas Malonumas' then 'Room Of Men Eaters' is a chugging deep disco cut with a fine vocoder vocal that brings some trippiness. 'Sarka Syrkaza' on the flip is another dark one with twisted metal guitar lines and rooted drum drums, then he remixes Afrodelic's 'Je N'Aime Pas Les Fetes' into a loose-limbed and percussive dub disco delight with filtered and freaky vocals.

Review: Something in the Eastern European house and dance music proclivity has always struck us as enduringly authentic, perhaps due to its interest in folk music fusions; the label Sad Fun have surely played a key part in doling out this impression. Now they offer their latest addition to the fantasy with a label-described "true Estonian lowkey gem" in the form of duo Ajukaja & Edith Karlson, aka. Vana, whose combined efforts frankly, dustily and ironically toy with the pop music cliches native to their homeland. A-and-B-siders 'Vimme Ratsu' and 'Kuu Maa' are said to rework an '80s Estonian coastal folk-pop favourite and perform a "pseudo-reggae" pastiche respectively. Both have that effortless murmured charm on the vocals, recalling a nostalgic time of European make-do, A10-mic-from-the-junk-store, bottle episodic, rickety recorded goodness.