12th Isle Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Fresh from showcasing some of the buried treasure within Vasilu Stepanov and Vlad Dobrovolski's work as SAD, Glasgow 12th Isle crew has decided to deliver something undeniably fresh: a debut EP from Toronto scene stalwarts Cosmic JD and Jersua Leao as Bruxula. The EP is pitched as being sited 'somewhere between the dancefloor and the living room', showcasing an attractive fusion of electronic and acoustic instrumentation as well as Leao's Brazilian vocals. On side A the pair smother a warming, laidback mid-tempo groove with echoing jazz guitar and evocative vocals ('Pala Mo'), before delivering some woozy ambient stargazing in the form of the inspired 'A X'. Over on the flip, they bounce between Dubtribe-goes-ambient techno, slow-motion deepness ('The Bird on the Hell'), spacey ambient jazz ('Dark Farfisa') and meandering, melancholic ambient ('JD's Outerlude').

Review: 12th Isle's latest must-check chunk of entertaining experimentalism comes from Lo Kindre, whose dub-wise 2017 debut on Optimo Music was arguably one of that year's most overlooked EPs. "Chlorophytum", the producer's first solo missive since then, is another lo-fi electronic dub treat. Of course, it's not all gentle bass-heavy rhythms, endless delay trails and cute electronic melodies - closing cut "For Sleep" is a buzzing electronic raga, for example - but it's on these bass-heavy excursions that Lo Kindre most frequently hits the spot. Highlights include the extraordinarily sub-heavy shuffle of "Sounder", the ambient dub wooziness of "Aibell" and the creepy alien-dub oddness of "No Hiding".

Review: 12th Isle's latest beautifully packaged, limited-edition release is a compilation of sorts. While only five-tracks deep, it packs a hell of a punch and contains some genuine unearthly electronic gems from a quintet of admired underground artists. First up to the plate is Nikolaienko, whose spaced-out "April Echo" offers a mind-mangling mix of minimalist electronics, odd noises and distant jazz cymbals. That loose link with jazz is explored further on Grim Lusk's epic, intoxicating beat-scape "The Man Is Out", while Cru Servers' "Henge Salt Phrasal" smothers Autechre-esque drums in drowsy ambient chords and weird, echoing samples. Robert Bergman's flipside opener is a wonderfully trippy chunk of deep space hypnotism, while Luar Domatrix's "Koppa D" sounds like UK funky played on pots and pans by hallucinating astronauts.

Review: Expertly crafted both technically and musically (in the label's own words) 12th Isle are more than excited to present their fifth instalment by Aarhus based duo Palta & Ti aka Natal & Milan Zaks. They collaborate for the second time since their first EP together on Gravity Graffiti last year. The Palta Og Ti Pa Den Tolvte O EP is a nice trip if we do say so ourselves. From the deep tribal atmospherica of "Pa Hovedet I Seng" (calling to mind Porn Sword Tobacco & SVN's Recording sessions) or the beatless cosmic experience of "Forarets Skorhed" which is perfect for those moments of travelling without moving. More great stuff from this terrific label after standout releases by Ramzi, Cru Server and X.Y.R. in recent times.

Review: Despite suffering some significant losses in terms of infrastructure, specifically venues, the electronic music output of Glasgow hasn't faltered since rave first hit, and the city's current crop aren't letting the side down. Not that newcomers should really see 12th Isle as fresh faced; the ambient-downtempo-deep tech hypnosis crew have been doing all that and more for time already, with this 12" a fitting return to the release schedule. In the most part it's a tripped out, spatial and exotic EP. For proof, just check the solitary low ends of 'Mais Qu'est Ce Que', shuffling and breathy percussive roll on 'Spade Birthday', and the lush tropical vibes of 'La Plage Sous Les Arbres'. But there's also evidence of the more direct side this imprint and associated events are known for when you hear the progressive house heaven of 'Deep In Blue', a track that belies genre stereotypes by sounding fresh enough to drop into anything.