Lex Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Pink Siifu and Ahwlee are the rap, neo-soul and r&b duo B. Cool-AID and this is their new album on Lex. Leather Blvd is a woozy and lo-fi late-night trip through a range of narcotic atmospheres. The raps range from slurred and drenched in reverb to more crisp and well-defined as tracks range from short and sweet to epic and sprawling. There is a real intimacy to this record as well as a borrowing from jazz as these tracks unfurl and slowly make their way into your affections. It is another great coming together of this contemporary pair.

Review: Can a duo be a supergroup? You could certainly argue that Belief ticks that box, given that it's a collaboration between two titans of the experimental electronic music scene: LEX Records stalwart Bryan Hollon (Boom Bip, Neon Neon) and Warpaint drummer (and frequent sticks-woman for hire) Stella Mozgawa. Interestingly, they've chosen not to explore the challenging end of their output, but rather deliver a set of "improvisational techno" that draws inspiration from the early '90s work of 808 State, LFO and the like. That means wiggly TB-303 acid lines aplenty, alternately dreamy, dubbed-out and futuristic melodic motifs, sci-fi sounds aplenty, and beats that veer from throbbing four-to-the-floor energy to sweaty breakbeats and off-kilter post-electro grooves. The results are uniformly imaginative, impressive and entertaining.

Review: The reissued Ghetto Pop Life remains a special release to DM + Jemini's fans that showed their ability to bridge the gap between hip-hop's mainstream and underground scenes. The duo's collaboration defies conventional hip-hop politics, focusing instead on delivering a leftfield album that blends playful beats with clever wordplay. Danger Mouse's production acts as a counterweight, crafting soundscapes that draw from hip-hop's history while avoiding regression into old-school tropes. The album's standout tracks, such as 'Born-a-MC' and 'The Only One,' feature infectious hooks and cinematic tones that capture the essence of a guilt-free block party vibe. 20 years later, this album still holds up very well.

Review: Fly Anakin caused quite the stir with his debut album Frank, It was critically acclaimed and lapped up by fans, who will now be delighted to tune into his follow up Skinemaxx. Produciton is taken care of by his fellow Richmond rap collective Mutant Academy member Foisey and there are some top features from Big Kahuna OG, Pink Siifu, ANKHLEJOHN and vocalist Demae. It makes for another high voltage rap record with production that harks back to the hip-hop golden era all toped with the effortlessly smooth flowing bars of Fly Anakin up top.

Review: Kid Acne's 'Hauntology Codes' has been highly anticipated by fans of hip-hop and experimental sounds. Renowned for his unique sound, Kid Acne weaves intricate lyrical narratives with his superb British twang over inventive beats to create a rich sonic landscape. The title suggests a dive into the mysterious and the unexplored and so it proves as he pushes creative boundaries with some guest spots from the likes of King Kashmere, Sonnyjim and Cappo. This one comes on nice sherbert lemon vinyl and is a superb UK-centric hip-hop workout.