Spectrums Data Forces - "Darkness In My Head" (6:04)
EC13 - "Profundo" (Interludio) (0:49)
Wicked Wes - "X1000" (feat Space Frogs From Saturn) (5:48)
Review: Granada's Cosmic Tribe know the definition of "electro" in its broadest sense; their new Xtrictly Electro comp keeps the dystopian sound endemic to the genre's most present incarnation, but refuses to restrict itself to one tempo: the standard 130-ish that has sadly infected the otherwise genius genre as a necessity. An international splinter cell of spec-ops and mercenaries are recalled from retirement here, as we hear Calagad 13, Nachtwald, EC13 and many more mechanoid ilk lay down all manner of slick utilities, making up a morbid multi-tool. 5zyl brings further lasery Lithuanian steeze on 'Vilnius Bass', whilst Spectrums Data Forces betrays the existence of a sinister corporate entity, whose business model works towards the object of instilling 'Darkness In My Head' through giant, killer mozzy basses.
Review: House Hippo drops a fat one to get its life underway, and who finer than house authority Terry Farley to be behind it alongside Wade Teo. This limited 12" distills a wide range of house sub genres from garage to New York to soulful. 'Come On Now' is a nice breezy opener with swirling, filtered synth loops bringing a nice French touch vibe to rolling beats, then 'Harry Hippy' gets more cut up and raw. 'Dexter' goes deeper with shakers and muted piano chords colouring the drums and last of all is the deepest of them all - a late night and smoky sound for heady escape.
Review: Dookuzot is the entrancing debut from Floid & W92 aka Woody92, and it's released on their own Omen Wapta imprint. Across eight tracks, they craft a labyrinthine soundscape full of shadowy textures, tribal rhythms and eerie, dissonant tones that feels both ancient and futuristic-an ambient-techno blend that channels family history into sonic myth-making. Standout 'Maushe' hints at dancefloor tension, while 'Veriyou' is seriously deep and heady as part of what is a haunting, high-definition journey through imagined realms and moody post-human worlds.
Review: Ralph White's early ventures into disco are finally gathered in one place with the first official anthology of his 1978 recordings at Sydney's Albert Studios. Better known at the time as a session player and producer in the city's studio scene, White was tapped by M7 to craft four disco pieces aimed at an emerging dance market. Over just two days in the studio and a small group of local players - including a young Tommy Emmanuel - he recorded four standout cuts, together which remain some of the most refined Oceanian disco ever put to tape. Though the original 12"s saw limited success domestically, M7's distribution push into markets like Canada, India and Argentina helped cultivate a quiet cult following. Now remastered and housed in a deluxe spot-UV sleeve with inserts featuring new liner notes and White's biography, this reissue shines overdue light on a forgotten chapter in Australian dance music.
Review: Bristol-based Will You (AKA Oleeva label founder Will Spence) is finally ready to make his vinyl bow, with fast-rising Berlin imprint Stolar the lucky label handling the imprint. He begins in predictably confident mood with 'Sante', a deeply swirling, psychedelic and immersive slab of hypno-house wrapped in waves of TB-303 acid insanity, before treating us to the unsettling off-kilter tech-house wonkiness of 'Is It 2 Late?' Over on the reverse side, both cuts are given the remix treatment. Lb Honne re-frames 'Is It 2 Late?' as a smoother and more intergalactic-sounding chunk of deep tech-house, while Orion turns 'Sante' into a field recordings and effects-laden ambient techno shuffler.
The Wonderland Band - "Thrill Me" (Joe T Vannelli Classic mix) (5:51)
The Wonderland Band - "Thrill Me (With Your Super Love)" (8:05)
Pure Energy - "Party On" (Vannelli Bros Classic mix) (7:31)
Pure Energy - "Party On" (8:24)
Review: Use Vinyl looks back to two iconic tracks from the 70s and 80s here for source material for a new remix EP by the Vannelli family. Joe T remixes 'Thrill Me' by The Wonderland Band into the sort of direct and funky house sound that brims with early dance music charm while the Vannelli Bros offer their rework of 'Party On' by Pure Energy which comes with plenty of energy for club contexts. Both tracks are presented as Classic Mix versions and bring plenty of new life to the original hits without forgoing the timeless, catchy and meaningful melodies that define the originals. House music like this is as authentic as it gets.
Review: Weldon Irvine was a pioneering musician whose innovative style and emotionally powerful melodies earned him admiration across generations and genres, from 1970s jazz and soul to 1990s club and rare groove scenes. Known for his versatility, Irvine left behind a legacy of timeless tracks and this best-of album, curated from his extensive catalogue, features eight standout songs that showcase his genius. The always-sensitive P-VINE presents this special collection in style and offers a comprehensive glimpse into the depth and breadth of Irvine's musical contributions, all of which highlight his lasting impact on the music world.
Review: The second album from Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith on ECM is a meditation on resilience, sorrow and the human condition. Across four expansive tracks on Defiant Life, Iyer's piano and Fender Rhodes intertwine with Smith's haunting trumpet to create a soundscape that's both urgent and serene. From the solemn depth of 'Sumud' to the shimmering melancholy of 'Floating River Requiem' and the radiant close of 'Procession: Defiant Life' notions of suffering, resistance and hope are explored. The record was recorded in Lugano and produced by Manfred Eicher. It's a deeply reflective work of emotional and spiritual resonance.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Hang On St Christopher (2:44)
Straight To The Top (Rhumba) (2:25)
Blow Wind Blow (3:32)
Temptation (3:33)
Innocent When You Dream (Barroom) (4:12)
I'll Be Gone (3:03)
Yesterday Is Here (2:27)
Please Wake Me Up (3:06)
Frank's Theme (2:46)
More Than Rain (3:51)
Way Down In The Hole (2:48)
Straight To The Top (Vegas) (0:43)
I'll Take New York (7:21)
Telephone Call From Istanbul (3:11)
Cold Cold Ground (4:05)
Train Song (3:19)
Innocent When You Dream (78) (3:11)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
The tenth studio album from Tom Waits, released in 1987 via Island Records, was yet another landmark in a career which, by this point, had already given us a raft of stone cold classics. The last two of those LPs, Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs, certainly swerved expectations, marking a new period in the life and times of an acclaimed jazz and blues man. Taking its name from a track on Swordfish, Frank's Wild Years is actually "Un Operachi Romantico in Two Acts" according to the subtitle, with several songs here taken from a play of the same name which premiered in Chicago a year prior. In many ways, the theatrical side story was an inevitability, with the previous records all pointing in the direction of a gravelly blues-jazz-rock core with a vaudeville, spoken word, and narrative disposition.
B-STOCK: Sleeve slightly damaged, slight surface marks on record
Underground (2:01)
Shore Leave (4:05)
Dave The Butcher (2:28)
Johnsburg, Illinois (1:23)
16 Shells From A 30.6 (4:24)
Town With No Cheer (4:12)
In The Neighbourhood (3:16)
Just Another Sucker On The Vine (1:43)
Frank's Wild Years (1:49)
Swordfishtrombone (3:03)
Down, Down, Down (2:13)
Solder's Things (3:13)
Gin Soaked Boy (2:24)
Trouble's Braids (1:17)
Rainbirds (3:03)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve slightly damaged, slight surface marks on record***
To say that Tom Waits' eighth studio album marked a stylistic shift would be like saying winter is markedly different to summer. Having established himself as one of the finest piano-based songwriters of his generation - or any other for that matter - Swordfishtrombones was the first LP from the artist to lay out what was to come. Something very, very unusual, as visionary as it is bizarre, a celebration of the beauty of surrealism and the joy of having fun with music. Whether it's the opening number, 'Underground', and its strange, almost cartoonish chain gang jazz-blues stomp, the quiet keys and solitary vocals of 'Johnsburg, Illinois', or the distorted, compressed electronic jangling and organ riffs of 'Dave The Butcher', within the first few tracks alone you're presented with a vast and varied universe of ideas.
Fire In The Twilight (Live At The El Mocambo) (4:58)
Don't Let Go (4:15)
To Live And Die In LA (4:49)
Wait (4:24)
Hypnotize Me (4:31)
Space Junk (3:51)
Review: Wang Chung, the London-based band known for their blend of pop, funk and rock, reflects on their four-decade career with a collection that unveils the intricacies behind their chart-topping hits. Tracks like 'Dance Hall Days' exemplify their skill in fusing African rhythms with electronic pop, while 'Everybody Have Fun Tonight' brings together Motown influences and modern dancefloor sensibilities. The release highlights the band's ability to move between vibrant energy and experimental depths, capturing the essence of their diverse musical explorations. It's a celebration of Wang Chung's pioneering spirit, offering both the familiarity of their anthems and the allure of their more adventurous sounds.
Review: According to the blurb we have for Doomed Utility, Alex Wang is a firm believer that if a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around, it still makes a massive noise. "Sound existed before there were human ears to hear it," we're told. Not to mention the fact we have now surrounded ourselves with machines and digital tools that immerse us in tones we don't necessarily derive pleasure from. Industrial, frenetic, electronic, post-club, deconstructed and, in moments, straddling that genius-lunatic border. Doomed Utility makes no apologies for its most intense moments, and panders not to our inherent desire to understand and make sense. These are beats, basslines, distorted walls of tormented chaos and abstract moments don't lend themselves to meaning making. Welcome to the future. It's confusing.
Review: American blues rock's other famous double zed, ZZ Ward doubles down on her blues instincts with her fourth studio album, going to the logical ends of her newfound motherhood and creative independence. Produced with longtime collaborator Ryan Spraker, the record folds four tracks from her recent EP 'Mother' into a broader canvas of originals and carefully chosen covers. In the midst of early parenthood, the songs confront exhaustion, strength, and clarity with grit and grace. "It just took me a long time to get here," she reflects, describing the album as a way of reclaiming her place in the genre, as lead single 'Love Alive' lights the way to a blues-traditional, real-life sound and upcoming tour, Dirty Sun. Messy, honest, and unmistakably hers.
Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend (feat Fiona Apple)
Rock Bottom
I Don't Know How I Made It (feat Taylor Goldsmith)
Frank (Let's F*ck)
Katherine (feat Anana Kaye)
Everybody Loves Dennis Hopper
Golf, They Say
Venice. California (Victoria) / The Passing Of Hopper
Aftermath
Review: Brit folk rock troubadours The Waterboys have put together an evocative exploration of life's complexities with this, their 16th album, all while being inspired by actor Dennis Hopper's defiant spirit. The album blends folk-rock, Americana and poetic lyrics into an introspective look at mortality, legacy and transformation. With Mike Scott's distinctive voice and emotive songwriting, the tracks balance philosophical musings with gritty realism and so embody Hopper's famously raw and rebellious energy, the sort that made him such a star of the silver screen and movies like Easy Rider. The album's atmospheric instrumentation includes sweeping strings and soaring guitars that enhance its reflective nature. Life Death & Dennis Hopper is an ambitious record but one that resonates with depth.
Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend (feat Fiona Apple) (2:05)
Rock Bottom (1:15)
Don't Know How I Made It (feat Taylor Goldsmith) (2:31)
Frank (Let's F**k) (2:02)
Katherine (feat Anana Kaye) (1:28)
Everybody Loves Dennis Hopper (3:09)
Golf, They Say (3:21)
Venice California (Victoria)/The Passing Of Hopper (4:00)
Aftermath (2:42)
Review: Scottish rock veterans return with an ambitious concept album that chronicles a life marked by rebellion, excess and reinvention. Crafted with cinematic scope, the album pieces together the journey of an individual navigating shifting cultural landscapes, embracing chaos, and emerging on the other side transformed. Spanning 25 tracks, the music unfolds like a series of vignettes, moving from youthful idealism to reckless abandon and eventual redemption. There's a raw energy pulsing through the arrangements, from raucous, blues-drenched rockers to more introspective, soul-baring ballads. 'Hopper's On Top' barrels forward with driving rhythms and swaggering vocals, channeling a period of artistic ambition and Hollywood turmoil. Elsewhere, moments of reflection soften the edges, drawing the listener deeper into the story. Produced by Scott alongside James Hallawell and Brother Paul Brown, the record's sonic palette is rich, blending folk-rock roots with cinematic flourishes. Guest appearances from Bruce Springsteen and Fiona Apple add weight to the narrative, their contributions enhancing the album's dynamic range. Packaged on "burnt" vinyl 2xLP, this release is both a tribute and an exploration of resilience, art and survival. It's a bold addition to their storied career.
Review: This deluxe vinyl reissue presents the original Bride of Frankenstein soundtrack featuring remastered audio, new artwork, and estate-approved likenesses of Elsa Lanchester. Directed by James Whale and starring Boris Karloff and Lanchester, the 1935 horror classic is widely regarded as one of cinema's greatest sequels and was rightly celebrated as Whale's masterpiece. The movie was added to the U.S. National Film Registry in 1998 for its cultural significance and this historic release has been sourced from master acetates at Syracuse University and Universal's archives and marks the first time the film's original score is available on vinyl.
Review: Norwegian pianist and composer Bugge Wesseltoft, a jazz innovator known for the diversity of his sound, is back with 'Am Are,' which is an expressive exploration of many sonic textures and dynamic contrasts. This album showcases Wesseltoft's inspiring collaborations with a constellation of superb musicians who bridge generations and styles. From sparse arrangements to complex layers of dubs and loops, Am Are highlights the power of human connection through improvisational interplay. Wesseltoft's curated selection demonstrates his passion for projects that spark creativity and celebrate the beauty of musical communication and make another fine addition to his catalogue.
Carnival (feat Rich The Kid & Playboi Carti) (4:20)
Talking (feat North West) (3:08)
Vultures (feat Bump J & Lil Durk) (4:40)
Vultures (Havoc remix) (4:24)
Stars (CD) (1:57)
Keys To My Life (2:54)
Paid (3:17)
Talking (3:07)
Back To Me (4:55)
Hoodrat (3:42)
Do It (3:48)
Paperwork (2:29)
Burn (1:54)
Fuk Summ (3:30)
Vultures (4:40)
Carnival (4:24)
Beg Forgiveness (6:12)
Problematic (3:16)
King (2:41)
Review: Kanye West may be widely criticised and sidelined these days, but he will forever be known as a vital hip-hop pioneer whose influence is undeniable. Back in 2024, he teamed up with Ty Dolla $ign to release Vultures 1 - an album that is bold and genre-defying and reflects the duo's musical prowess and polarising personas. Production is layered and lush, with contributions from heavyweights like Timbaland and James Blake, and standout features from equally big names like Playboi Carti and Travis Scott. Tracks here all shine with lively rhythms and high-energy flows, even if the lyrics don't always hit the mark. Nonetheless, the project topped the Billboard 200 all the same.
Carnival (feat Rich The Kid & Playboi Carti) (4:25)
Talking (feat North West) (3:08)
Vultures (feat Bump J & Lil Durk) (4:41)
Vultures (Havoc remix) (4:33)
Stars (CD) (1:57)
Keys To My Life (2:54)
Paid (3:17)
Talking (3:07)
Back To Me (4:55)
Hoodrat (3:42)
Do It (3:48)
Paperwork (2:29)
Burn (1:54)
Fuk Summ (3:30)
Vultures (4:40)
Carnival (4:24)
Beg Forgiveness (6:12)
Problematic (3:16)
King (2:41)
Review: He might pretty much be cancelled these days but there is no denying the impact Kanye West has had on hip-hop. As recently as last year with Ty Dolla $ign he cooked up 'Vultures 1' which now comes as a special Carnival Edition and is a provocative, genre-blending affair that showcases both artists' strengths and controversies. The production is sonically rich with contributions from top-tier talents like Timbaland and James Blake, and guest appearances from venerated verse men such as Playboi Carti and Travis Scott. Tracks like 'Carnival' stand out with their infectious drum patterns and energetic deliveries even if the lyrical content is not up there with their usual best work. Despite the controversies surrounding West, this album achieved commercial success and topped the US Billboard 200 chart.
Kanye West's new collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign, VULTURES 1, feels unexpectedly cohesive and fully realizedia surprising change of pace for West's recent output. Known for raw and often incomplete releases, this time he brings clear production and a crisp, polished mix. Ty's smooth delivery contrasts with Kanye's own verses, blending effortlessly on tracks like the Donna Summer-sampling 'Good (Don't Die)'. Rhythmic, industrial beats provide a dynamic backdrop, especially on tracks like 'Paid' and 'Carnival,' giving this album a depth that stands out in West's complex, ever-evolving catalogue.
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