Back for album number nine, Clinic remain as fiercely idiosyncratic and uncompromisingly odd as they did on their debut album, over twenty years ago. Fantasy Island, according to the press release, sees the band explore the themes of time, music and entertainment and going “...funky disco, broadening their sonic palette with the addition of several … Continue reading Clinic – Fantasy Island (2021) – Album Review
Tirzah – Colourgrade (2021) – Album Review
Immersing yourself in Colourgrade for the entirety of its forty-minute duration is an experience akin to being cocooned in a soft, warm duvet, in a state somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, as reality melts into daydreams and your limbs melt into the bed. The second album from Essex-based experimental pop artist, Tirzah, is an intensely … Continue reading Tirzah – Colourgrade (2021) – Album Review
DARKSIDE – Spiral (2021) – Album Review
Over the last decade and more, the Chilean born and New York based producer Nicolas Jaar has been subtly rewriting the rulebook on what constitutes electronic music and its many myriad forms. Under his own name and a clutch of aliases and side projects - Darkside being the occasional duo of Jaar and guitarist Dave … Continue reading DARKSIDE – Spiral (2021) – Album Review
Snapped Ankles – Forest of Your Problems (2021) – Album Review
It’s impossible to mention Snapped Ankles to anyone who’s familiar with them without being told how excellent they are live. For any band that builds their initial reputation as a formidable live act, transferring that energy and intensity to a recorded album is always going to be a challenge. A challenge which can result in … Continue reading Snapped Ankles – Forest of Your Problems (2021) – Album Review
Daniel Avery – Together in Static (2021) – Album Review
Daniel Avery is one of a handful of noteworthy electronic producers who, over the years, has transition from a relatively slick and shiny sound to something much rougher around the edges. Andy Stott being another one, who a decade ago transformed his clean-lined techno into a lumbering reverb and distortion-caked take on dance music. Over … Continue reading Daniel Avery – Together in Static (2021) – Album Review
Loraine James – Reflection (2021) – Album Review
Rather than club music or urban music, Loraine James says that first and foremost, she produces ‘experimental music’. And though Reflection kicks off in relatively straightforward fashion with the bouncy lo-fi garage of ‘Built to Last’, which sounds archetypal of James’ North London roots, things soon meander off in varied unexpected directions. Reflection is the … Continue reading Loraine James – Reflection (2021) – Album Review
µ-Ziq – Scurlage (2021) – Album Review
Much of Scurlage was written while Mike Paradinas spent a family holiday on the Gower Peninsula in Wales, during lockdown in 2020. Rather than an idyllic get-away in one of the most scenic parts of the country, from the opening bars of first track, Blakers Loop, you might think Mike had a somewhat nightmarish time … Continue reading µ-Ziq – Scurlage (2021) – Album Review
Skee Mask – Pool (2021) – Album Review
With the release of his third full-length album, Bryan Müller a.k.a. Skee Mask has surely established himself as one of the leading figures at the vanguard of electronic music. His 2018 album, Compro, rightfully found itself near the top of several year-end lists, and now with a bumper selection of brand new tracks drawn from … Continue reading Skee Mask – Pool (2021) – Album Review
John Beltran – The Season Series (2020)
Despite hailing from Lansing Michigan, rather than techno’s heartland in nearby Detroit, John Beltran could nevertheless be considered a member of US techno royalty. His CV boasts early releases on legendary imprints such as Derrick May’s Transmat label, Peacefrog Records and R&S, both under his own name as well as various aliases and collaborations. His … Continue reading John Beltran – The Season Series (2020)
Sofia Kourtesis – Fresia Magdalena (2021) – Review
Sofia Kourtesis’ new EP, Fresia Magdalena, is a timely and much needed ray of sunshine - as the warmer months approach and with them, the promise of evenings outdoors, picnics in the park and open-air music festivals. The anticipation of spring is always something to be savoured, but is heightened tenfold this year, given how … Continue reading Sofia Kourtesis – Fresia Magdalena (2021) – Review