Muscut Schallplatten & CDs

Review: This a compilation that means more than just good music - 100% of label profits from the sales will be donated to Livyj Bereh, a group of volunteers based in Kyiv who are working in regions affected by the war. It is a superb collection of mellow sounds and ambient atmospheres with some surprising leftfield cuts and curious curveballs along the way. First up, curating the A-side, is Ukrainian Muscut who has turned to artists from his homeland only - Kavkazka Sound, Radiant Futur, Mlin Patz, Iury Lech and Ihor Okuniev all contribute while Estonian Mida then takes care of the flip with Portuguese trio Niagara in between Estonians Maarja Nuut, Rotrum, Luurel Varas and Terry Long Hermy.

Review: If only all record labels were as thoughtful and considerate as Muscat. The imprint opened its catalogue with the first instalment in the now-decade spanning Test Pressing series, in a move it says was all about trying to "check whether the world needs one more label". Clearly, given we're now on part four, they found an audience and enough evidence to support turning this pipe dream into a tangible project, and things have been consistently impressive since launch. The tracks here are all wildly different, although belong in a strange avant grade-electronic hinterland where arrangements can be subtle and delicate or deep and immersive. Andrew Pekler's 'Neon Nocturne', for example, almost sounds like the single-toned acoustic patterns of code being transmitted, while Romeo Poirier offers up 'Haut Lieu' which, while still relatively minimal, makes a pretty bold entrance and continues to create the sense of building crescendo, ebb and flow.