Symphonie Nr 1 C-Moll Op 68: Un Poco Sostenuto - Allegro (11:31)
Symphonie Nr 1 C-Moll Op 68: Andanate Sostenuto (14:25)
Symphonie Nr 1 C-Moll Op 68: Un Poco Allegreto E Grazioso (9:08)
Symphonie Nr 1 C-Moll Op 68: Ada Gio - Alle Gro Non Troppp Ma Con Brio (12:07)
Review: Claudio Abbado and the Vienna Philharmonic's inaugural joint recording of Brahms's Symphony No. 1 in 1972 holds a significant place in both their discographies for its exceptional interpretation and sound quality. To commemorate Deutsche Grammophon's 125th anniversary, they launched The Original Source vinyl series, presenting legendary 1970s recordings in unprecedented sonic clarity. Remastered at the renowned Emil Berliner Studios from original four-track tapes using cutting-edge analogue technologies, these limited and numbered 180g vinyl editions boast enhanced clarity, subtleties, and frequency response. Each deluxe gatefold edition includes original covers, lyrics, additional photos, recording logs and technical insights.
Review: This 45th-anniversary edition of John Cage's Cheap Imitation does as a completely faithful replica of the original 1977 Cramps Records release. It arrives in a lovely gatefold sleeve on a nice 180g slab of purple wax. It is yet another vital piece of modern classical quality from the legendary Cage spread across just three tunes, one of which takes up the entirety of the second side. 'Band 1' is a minimal piece based around simple, spacious piano keys, and so is piece two, but with a more melancholic edge. 'Solid Band' gets a little more joyous in the way the keys are played.
Review: From the moment you hit play on 'A New Threat Is Born', the first few minutes on this soundtrack to the acclaimed video game, Resident Evil 3, you could easily close your eyes and feel like you're back sat in front of a TV playing the story through. If you're unfamiliar with the franchise, let's just say it (re)wrote the book on survival horror, and a big part of this was in the scores used to accompany the on-screen tension. Less focused on specific theme tunes and tracks, over time the emphasis has increasingly fallen on building atmosphere and setting up jump scares for unassuming players. On a record, that sounds like a combination of fast moving and quickly developing instrumental movements and intimidating sound effects. Perhaps not the dinner party soundtrack you were looking for, nevertheless it makes a big impact.
B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
A New Threat Is Born (1:41)
Escape (4:34)
The City Of Chaos (1:52)
Coming To Kill You (0:38)
The City Of Ruin (2:33)
Nemesis' Theme (2:41)
Desperate Ascent (3:25)
Free From Fear (2:02)
Fighting In The Flames (3:42)
No Other Way (0:36)
The City Without Hope (1:54)
Invincible Nemesis (4:12)
Battle Against The Beast (6:20)
Save Room (3:28)
Surrounded By Terror (4:00)
Determined To Find Carlos (3:53)
Laboratory (3:58)
Chase (2:19)
Metamorphosis (5:37)
Take Back The Vaccine (2:04)
Every Mistake Has A Cost (2:33)
The End Of Racoon City (1:34)
Sadness & Regret (2:07)
Staff & Credits (3:39)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
From the moment you hit play on 'A New Threat Is Born', the first few minutes on this soundtrack to the acclaimed video game, Resident Evil 3, you could easily close your eyes and feel like you're back sat in front of a TV playing the story through. If you're unfamiliar with the franchise, let's just say it (re)wrote the book on survival horror, and a big part of this was in the scores used to accompany the on-screen tension. Less focused on specific theme tunes and tracks, over time the emphasis has increasingly fallen on building atmosphere and setting up jump scares for unassuming players. On a record, that sounds like a combination of fast moving and quickly developing instrumental movements and intimidating sound effects. Perhaps not the dinner party soundtrack you were looking for, nevertheless it makes a big impact.
Early WB Scores: The Depression Era (1936-1941) (6:01)
The Good Egg (1939) - A Vintage Merrie Melodie (4:37)
Various Cues From Bugs Bunny Films (1943-1956) (4:54)
There They Go Go Go (1956) - A Complete Road Runner (1:31)
Stalling Self Parody: Music From Porky's Preview - Preceded By The Introduction From You Ought To Be In Pictures (3:00)
Anxiety Montage (1952-1955) (0:45)
Stalling: The War Years (1942-1946) (15:41)
Medley - Dinner Music For A Pack Of Hungry Cannibals (1941-1950) (5:01)
Carl Stalling With Milt Franklyn In Session (1956) (5:32)
Speedy Gonzalez (1955) Meets Two Crows From Tacos (1956) (7:13)
Powerhouse And Other Cuts From The Early 50's (5:59)
Porky In Wackyland (1938) / Dough For The Do Do (1949) (5:38)
To Itch His Own (1958) - Stalling's Last Score (6:14)
Review: This is a delightful celebration of classic cartoon scores that arrives for a special Black Friday 2024 release. The collection showcases the genius of composers like Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn, whose music defined the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies era. Orchestral brilliance and playful synchronisation bring timeless characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck to life. With all new remastered tracks, the album highlights intricate arrangements and whimsical motifs that revolutionised animation scoring. Perfect for collectors and nostalgia enthusiasts alike, this one honours the artistry behind some of the most iconic and enduring cartoon soundtracks in entertainment history.
Review: Robin Carolan's latest score for Robert Eggers' Nosferatu is a darkly atmospheric work that fuses gothic elements with a broad range of instruments and sounds. Following their successful collaboration on The Northman, Carolan once again teams up with Eggers to craft a haunting, meticulously composed score that complements the eerie 19th-century setting. British musician Daniel Pioro leads the orchestration, which features 60 string players, a full choir, horns, woodwinds, a harpist and two percussionists. Despite this grandeur, one of the trickiest pieces to perfect was the opening music box which really shows Carolan and Eggers' meticulous attention to detail. Carolan sought to avoid modern influences in the score while embracing contemporary instruments, a balance enhanced by Letty Stott's use of ancient horns and pipes. Carolan's inspirations were diverse, from Bartok and Coil to films like The Innocents and Eyes Wide Shut. He also drew from the Ukrainian film The Eve of Ivan Kupalo to shape the otherworldly tone of the score. Rather than focusing on horror cliches, Carolan emphasised the melancholic and tragic aspects of the story, adding a layer of warped romanticism. The result is an evocative soundtrack that, while perfectly aligned with the film, also stands as a powerful work of art on its own.
Review: 'Feral Vapours of the Silver Ether' is the second album by Chris & Cosey as Carter Tutti, following 2004's 'Cabal'. A haunting, gothic 11-tracker that revels more in cinematic beauty than abrasive sonic gristle, its standout pieces such as 'Woven Clouds' recalling the heartfelt studio masterpieces of This Mortal Coil or the mysterious blackgaze dissociations of Black Tape For A Blue Girl. Cosey's voice appears in crystal clarity, against utmostly gut-wrenching string movements and synthetic choirs of angels.
Hanging Herself On The Lonely Fifth Column (13:22)
Openings Of Love (Fireworks) (17:01)
Extended Sways Of Silence (18:11)
Review: Will Thomas Long's and Danielle Baquet-Long's magnificent album Celer is an alluring fusion of classic ambient and minimalism that comes steeped in a very real sense of romance. It comes with underlying themes of longing, melancholy, and nostalgia and begins with the sound of a train evoking a sense of travel. Throughout the piece, grandiose string loops alternate with various field recordings, creating contrasts between the concrete and abstract, the mundane and the exalted. Despite the epic feel of the string loops, the title, 'Engaged Touches', hints at intimacy. This powerful romanticism characterises much of Celer's work, making this another noteworthy addition to their growing repertoire.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
A Once & Meaningful Life
Remaining Stretches (0:45)
Separations & Reactions (3:05)
Doubts Of Words (4:46)
Unless They Were Beautiful (7:22)
In The Bright The Days (3:42)
If Disabuse Is So Hard, Then (1:18)
What Our Mouths Make Them (2:30)
Hanging Herself On The Lonely Fifth Column (13:22)
Openings Of Love (Fireworks) (17:01)
Extended Sways Of Silence (18:11)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Will Thomas Long's and Danielle Baquet-Long's magnificent album Celer is an alluring fusion of classic ambient and minimalism that comes steeped in a very real sense of romance. It comes with underlying themes of longing, melancholy, and nostalgia and begins with the sound of a train evoking a sense of travel. Throughout the piece, grandiose string loops alternate with various field recordings, creating contrasts between the concrete and abstract, the mundane and the exalted. Despite the epic feel of the string loops, the title, 'Engaged Touches', hints at intimacy. This powerful romanticism characterises much of Celer's work, making this another noteworthy addition to their growing repertoire.
Review: An intriguing project here from perennial Euro disco legend Cerrone, who joins forces with the Symphony Orchestra of Cannes to reimagine 21 of his best-loved and highly influential dance classics. It would be difficult to overstate the Frenchman's contribution to contemporary dance music, having released and produced scores of timeless records in the halcyon days of continental disco. Tracks like 'Supernature', 'Love in C Minor' and 'Give Me Love' are beyond iconic and still appear regularly in the sets and mixes of today's dance heavyweights. They're all here, presented live in all their magnificent glory by the orchestra of 50-plus musicians, directed by the legendary Randy Kerber. As expected, all of the music sounds glorious, with lavish strings, pristine horn sections, and limber percussion bringing every piece to life magnificently.
Review: Euro disco pioneer Cerrone embarks on a fascinating new project, collaborating with the Symphony Orchestra of Cannes to reinvent 21 of his most celebrated and influential tracks. Cerrone's role in shaping modern dance music is monumental, with countless timeless releases from disco's golden era and beyond. Classics like Supernature, Love in C Minor, and Give Me Love continue to resonate, frequently appearing in the sets of today's top DJs. Here, they're transformed by a 50-plus piece orchestra led by the legendary Randy Kerber, delivering rich strings, sharp brass and dynamic percussion that elevate these iconic tracks to new heights.
Review: Active now for some 40 years, Hiull's Andrew Chalk explores the quiet, intimate spaces between melody and texture, highlighting fleeting moments with a painter's touch heer across 15 tracks. While his previous release, Songs of the Sea, unfolded in long, in depth waves, Dioramas embraces succinct pieces in each composition showing a look into a world rich with hushed tones and slow-moving beauty. There's a gentle warmth that permeates much of the album, as if the music is unfolding in soft light. 'The Carrach' introduces a folksy lilt, its melody turning over itself like a jewel slowly spinning on a dial. 'The Changes' evokes a meditative solemnity with its rich, organ-led hymn, while 'Lonely House' closes the album with stretched, whispering strings that shimmer like reflections on water. These small but striking details never disrupt the album's stillness but instead highlight Chalk's ability to subtly shift focus, revealing new layers of depth in each listen. A master of texture and restraint, Chalk continues to refine his singular approach to ambient and drone, weaving together fragile yet deep soundscapes. On Dioramas, the British Andrew Chalk returns to the art of miniaturism, crafting delicate, self-contained sonic vignettes that feel like carefully composed dioramas in sound.
Lost You Somewhere (Evolution Symphonic Rehearsal)
From Blue To Green (Symphonic Rehearsal mix)
Sunstroke (DC Symphonic Rehearsal mix)
Leaving Town (Symphonic Rehearsal mix)
Red Skies (Symphonic Rehearsal mix)
Sunstroke (Symphonic Rehearsal mix)
Offshore (DC Symphonic Rehearsal mix)
The Drive Home (Symphonic Rehearsal mix)
Review: Complementing the main LP release of this career-bookending Chicane release comes the CD edition of the new symphonic edition of Far From The Maddening Crowds. The original trance uplifter LP blew us all away at its initial '90s moment, proving producer Nicholas Bracegirdle's fine talents to the world. Now, however, comes the full orchestral version, sating our tireless retroactive desire for symphonies after trance; every track on the original album hears a full-blown symphonic orchestral rerub, utilising the collective talents of members of the The Halle and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and combining them with glistening SFX and studio embellishments to lend an epic neoclassical vibe to an all-out classic.
Review: Immersive but not ambient, the sleeve notes claim. It's not hard to see where the copywriter was coming from, either. SloMo A/V is testament to the months and years DJ and procure Chloe Thevenin has spent building soundscapes in her studio, honing the kind of skills necessary to create this level of lush and depth of, err, depth. Teaming up with Dune Lunel, a Paris-based art director who has been working within and around culture for two decades, and Adrien Godin, of ECV Digital, what's here is actually just one part of a greater whole. If you've been lucky enough to catch a SloMo A/V performance, you'll already know where this is going. Listening to the audio alone is captivating, sounds grow and develop from the faintest quiet to something that's, well, not loud, but certainly powerful and hypnotic enough to bore directly into the mind's eye. The experience forces you to slow down, reflect, consider, and ponder, sounds that inspire the imagination and speak to our third eye. Now, just imagine if this was accompanied by the visuals Chloe's project is based on when experienced live.
A Tempestuous Noise Of Thunder & Lightning Heard (3:05)
Om Mani Padme Hum (part 1) (4:14)
Yane No Mori (5:18)
Tialocan (5:27)
Om Mani Padme Hum (part 2) (3:37)
I Should Build The Man A Statue (5:02)
Forgot The Cry Of Gulls (3:12)
Om Mani Padme Hum (part 3) (2:48)
(The Song Of Life) (2:48)
It Can't Rain All The Time (5:19)
Review: The soundtrack for Risk of Rain 2's Seekers of the Storm, is here making its vinyl debut, and it's an edition fans won't want to miss. Composed by Chris Christodoulou, with a special contribution from Stavros Markonis, this release brings some atmospheric and powerful music to life on a stunning looking record. The vinyl itself is a visual treat, featuring a striking blue, white, dark green, sky blue, and black marbled design. This soundtrack is housed in a beautifully crafted gatefold sleeve with artwork by Daniele Giardini. Christodoulou's compositions delve into new, unexplored territories with a blend of intense and emotive pieces. The use of a seven-string guitar adds a new layer of depth to the music, delivering some of the most elaborate and heavy tracks ever written for the series. Markonis' contribution introduces a fresh sound, seamlessly integrating into the Risk of Rain universe while also bringing something unique to the table. The recent uptick in soundtracks released on vinyl have really shown that fans love connecting with the music of many movies and TV shows. Even if you may not know the series, this is one the best in recent weeks for you to enjoy.
Review: The third LP in the Chypho series from Jahbulon Records, Episodes in Oceanography, features striking cover art that helps make it another collector's gem. Chypho hails from Huntsville, Alabama and the music here does what it says not he tine - profiles an underwater world in painterly and immersive ambient tones. There are plenty of microscopic details that drift by, shimmering sun rays that piece the surface and implied rhythms that sway to and fro like the shifting sands of the ocean floor. It's a real soother for the soul but a great bit of nourishment for the mind.
Review: Chypho is on a roll with this super trio of albums on Jahbulon Records. The second album in the Episodes in Oceanography series, is another must-cop for ambient lovers and it is enhanced by striking cover art and great mastering. Hailing from Huntsville, Alabama, Chypho's music vividly explores an underwater world through immersive ambient tones and this edition captures subtle, microscopic details in deft melodies, with bright keys breaking the surface and supple rhythms swaying like ocean currents. It's a soothing journey for the soul, offering both relaxation and nourishment for the mind, and is a tranquil, yet thought-provoking place to get lost. Very nice indeed.
Review: Andrea Cichecki - a German DJ, music producer and audio engineer based in Dresden - presents her debut LP for Castles In Space, building on an intense reflection on her past. Having been brought up on the precipice of countryside and woodland, Cichecki is a lifelong adherent to what she called the "edge effect", thriving on the boundaries of things both metaphorical and actual, rather than sticking within them. Bringing macro-cosmic scale to Moogish synthesis, each track weaves a personal story of an implicit, instrumental nature, unalloyed by words, and incorporates field recordings from the Ore Mountains and the wild, valleyed landscape of Saxon, Switzerland.
Review: It's certainly true that Ma Fleur represented a pivotal moment for The Cinematics. The outfit came to fruition, or at least hit the common conscience, in the haze of late-1990s post-trip-hop comedowns, a time when we were all still going harder, faster and stronger in clubs but wanted something cosy and velveteen on the after party hifi at 10AM rather than ketamine techno. Far more innocent times to say the least.
This 2007 record broke from the well established mould of the troupe, though, landing five years after its predecessor (Every Day) and opting for a more direct approach to loveliness. A kind of grab you by the throat and make you feel nice type remit that leaves the subtleties of the past behind in favour of more traditional big room, show stopping song craft.
Review: Vince Clarke (Erasure, Yazoo, Depeche Mode, The Assembly) presents his first ever solo album, Songs of Silence. As the album title suggests, it's a lyricless (though not vocal-free) instrumental album, and unlike anything you might've previously heard before from Clarke as an artisan of dynamic electropop. Rather, this LP brings with it a comparatively sober ambient electronic beauty, its unique characteristics lending it a category of its own. But two self-imposed oblique strategies underpinned its creation - first, that the sounds Clarke generated for the album would come solely from Eurorack (a modular synthesizer format introduced in the mid-90s), and second, that each track would be based around one note, maintaining a single key throughout.
Review: Clemo's seventh studio release is an emotionally charged journey through a father's response to his daughter's serious illness. The album blends spiritual minimalism, electronica and jazz fusion to create haunting soundscapes that explore the depths of fear, darkness and disorientation, while also capturing the eventual joy of recovery. The compositions, such as the intense 'Stalker' and 'Maze', give way to the serene 'Rest' and celebratory 'Dawn', offering listeners a visceral experience. Clemo's work is characterised by intricate textures, where drones, brass, woodwind, strings, guitar and piano combine with hypnotic rhythms to evoke deep emotion. Collaborating with musicians like Arve Henriksen (trumpet), Theo Travis (saxophone & flutes), and Emily Burridge (cello), Clemo employs a unique process of 'blind' improvisation and meticulous editing. The result is a rich, multifaceted album that crosses genres, blending experimental rock, Krautrock and jazz fusion. With his visionary approach to sound design, Clemo has cemented his reputation as a pioneering figure in contemporary music. His past work, such as his Dream Maps multimedia project and collaborations exploring music's healing power, continues to disrupt familiar boundaries, offering fresh perspectives on the intersection of sound, emotion, and environment.
Review: Clouds Without Water is a project that came about after the chance meeting of two ambient experimentalists. They were both in attendance to perform at the same electronic music festival but came together over their shared love of Bristol Sound. Working over long distances and through the isolation of the pandemic, they sent tracks to each other "without plans or discussion, only wordless questions buried in the music." What resulted was this album, which evokes celestial dreams, moon-lit otherworldly landscapes and plenty of deep introspection. It is space music for spacing out to.
Review: Oliver Coates' Throb, Shiver, Arrow of Time is an exploration of memory and emotion, blending the tactile with the ephemeral. This third album from the British cellist, producer, and composer, released through RVNG Intl., encapsulates six years of introspection and creative evolution. Following the atmospheric textures of his previous work, skins n slime, Coates delves deeper into the interplay of digital and analogue sound. The album's centerpiece, 'Shopping centre curfew,' reflects a surreal fusion of events from South London during the pandemic, manifesting a unique blend of temporal dissonance and vivid soundscapes. Tracks like 'Please be normal' and '90' showcase Coates' ability to weave misty tones and shifting frequencies into a cohesive auditory experience. Collaborations with Malibu and chrysanthemum bear, along with Faten Kanaan's synth textures, enhance the album's depth. Inspired by artist Sarah Sze's installations, Coates applies a sculptural approach to sound, creating a dynamic interplay between digital manipulation and live performance. The result is a rich experience that resists closure, with the final track 'Make it happen' embodying a defiant push against silence.
Review: Oliver Coates is a composer, cellist and producer who has worked with notable bands lie Radiohead and artists such as Mica Levi. He turns out some of his best work here on the score for Significant Other which is dark and dense, unsettling and absorbing. The movie follows some rather sinister happenings that blight a young couple on a trip backpacking through the forest of the Pacific Northwest. This edition comes on nice blue vinyl and with a download code as well as a double-sided printed inset. It's a real collector's edition for sure.
Review: Ivan Pavlov aka CoH's new experimental electronic opus Radiant Faults makes a point of its creation deriving from the use of a rare new synthesizer, the Silhouette Eins. Developed by the artist Pit Przygodda, the Eins is the centrepiece of this album for good reason: it is a unique bit of gear, in that it uses real-time video signal as its carrier for sound synthesis. This direct interfacing of visual and auditory realms inspired a haunting praxis in Pavlov, who began the album as a means to commune with ELpH, one of the "celestial beings" first communicated with and summoned by the supergroup Coil. Pavlov continues what Coil devilishly started here, fleshing ELpH out evermore into whispery echoes and sinewy traces.
Queens Of The Circulating Library (part 1) (25:00)
Queens Of The Circulating Library (part 2) (24:30)
Review: Queens Of The Circulating Library stands as a post-industrial masterpiece alongside Time Machines and Soliloquy For Lilith and is a sensory-warping long-form drone. Created by Thighpaulsandra and John Balance, the 49-minute track flows in cyclical waves which echo the minimalism of La Monte Young. Released in 2000, it marked the beginning of a series of evolving compositions and its theatrical opening features Thighpaulsandra's opera-singer mother delivering a dreamlike, declamatory monologue, setting the stage for the trip that ensues. The music shifts like slow-motion surf and is a fine example of Coil's unique ability to embrace extremes and mutation.
Review: Nothing by Louis Cole, a collaboration with the Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley, blends classical orchestration with dance music, pop, and jazz, showcasing Cole's unique and ultra-flexible production style. The album features 17 tracks, 15 of which are brand new, avoiding orchestral renditions of his hits and instead presenting fresh compositions. The lead single, 'Things Will Fall Apart,' highlights Cole's feather-light vocals over an exciting orchestration of funk percussion, strings, horns and barbershop backup vocals. Recorded during live performances, Nothing captures the energy and emotion of Cole's multi-date sold-out European tour with the Metropole Orkest. The project emphasises Cole's desire to create music with deep emotional impact while remaining straightforward and accessible. Cole meticulously mixed the album himself, ensuring his pure vision was realised.
Vertigogo (LP1: The Missing Ingredient - Opening Theme) (2:18)
Junglero (0:08)
Four Rooms Swing (1:54)
Bewitched (0:01)
Tea & Eva In The Elevator (2:05)
Invocation (0:56)
Breakfast At Denny's (2:14)
Strange Brew (2:06)
Coven Of Witches (2:19)
The Earthly Diana (1:33)
Eva Seduces Ted (2:00)
Hallway Ted (The Wrong Man) (1:36)
Headshake Rhumba (0:42)
Skippen, Pukin, Sigfried (1:49)
Angela (1:04)
Punch Drunk (2:12)
Male Bonding (0:53)
Mariachi (LP2: The Misbehavers) (0:25)
Antes De Medianoche (2:40)
Sentimental Journey (2:15)
Kids Watch TV (0:22)
Champagne & Needles (1:59)
Bullseye (2:05)
Harlem Nocturne (0:59)
The Millionaire's Holiday (4:40)
Ted-O-Vater (The Man From Hollywood) (0:38)
Vertigogo (Closing Credits) (5:28)
D In The Hallway (0:22)
Torchy (0:16)
Review: Four Rooms reflects a very fun time in Hollywood, or at least the annals of American cinema. Co-directed by Allison Anders, Alexandre Rockwell, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, the story of the fictional Los Angeles-set Hotel Mon Signor, and the strange, demanding, off-putting, and straight up intimidating guests that stay there on New Year's Eve - just as Tim Roth starts his first shift on the job as bellhop - is full of energy and a carefree, playful attitude. It's the kind of movie which, if it were made today, would no doubt be rushed straight to the bottom of the New Releases section on whatever streaming service you've given in to because it would feel cheap rather than charismatic. But in 1994, catching a quintet of fresh filmmakers on the rise, at a time when positivity reigned and the silver screen still had an ounce of class, means the whole thing worked well. As for the soundtrack, we veer between Americana and a reworking of the theme from 1960s US TV series Bewitched, weird, meditative vocal drone and lounge music.
Apparition Du Visage De Bela Lugosi Sur Une Tranche De Salami (3:11)
Musique Hypertrophique Des Remontoirs (2:51)
El Mal Ja Esta Fet (3:16)
Final Del Districte V (3:02)
Sea Yu L'ether Arigato (3:17)
Nothing But U (11:30)
Cimetiere De La Photographie (3:37)
L'orgie Parisienne (5:02)
Review: Pascal Comelade's Le Non-Sens Du Rythmefinds the French artists play almost all of the many instruments it features. He has been active since the 1970s, crafting ever evolving and ways moving rhythms from a mix of toy instruments, French chanson, folklore and underground sounds. The sometime painter has worked with the likes of PJ Harvey, Robert Wyatt and The Liminanas ever since goring up as a child of the frenzied rock sounds of there 60s. Here he fuses the Rickenbaker e.bass, Indian harmonium, keyboards and a tin can into something utterly unique and strangely compelling.
Review: Loren Connors and Alan Licht's performance on The Blue Hour is a rare and stunning exploration of sound and emotion. Celebrating thirty years of collaboration, the duo's first-ever set with Connors on piano is captured in this live recordings from May 5-6, 2023. The album surprises with its spacious warmth, showcasing the duo's dedicated expressionism and vast spectrum of emotion. The opening notes shimmer, leading into a stunning exchange of melodies and chords. As Connors transitions to guitar, the music deepens, creating sharp, glassy edges and a dramatic, organ-like feedback. The duo's chemistry is palpable as they lock into refrains, creating a melodic and harmonious sound reminiscent of their early days. Licht's ability to delicately place fractures of a Jackson C Frank song among Connors' blues is remarkable.
Review: Widely acclaimed mezzo-soprano and two-time Grammy winner Sasha Cooke's debut album Poeme de la L'Amour et de la Mer 4 is a perfect example of what makes her so popular. Fabulous stage presence, fine vocal range and an emotional allure that really draws you in. The record is fabulously epic and over the top which Cooke deals with well. Her voice rides over Chausson's churning Symbolist score in a bewitching fashion. This special 180 gram heavyweight vinyl version is the best way to experience the record, which comes in just three separate pieces, each of which makes for a unique listen.
Review: Erland Cooper's latest album, Carve the Runes Then Be Content With Silence, is a unique and innovative project. The three-movement composition for solo violin and string ensemble commemorates the centenary of Orkney poet George Mackay Brown. Inspired by natural landscapes, the work reflects on themes of time, hope, community, and patience. The recording of the composition was made on 14 inch magnetic tape, with the digital files then permanently deleted. The tape has been planted to be "recomposed" by the earth, to be exhumed and released in three years' time. Cooper's decision to let the composition evolve naturally and be discovered later reflects a deeper appreciation for the passage of time and the process of creation. This project not only celebrates a significant milestone but also challenges the conventional approach to releasing music, making it a truly remarkable and thought-provoking endeavour.
Erland Cooper has always been concerned with the world around him, the Guardian dubbing him "nature's songwriter" as a result of his focus on trying to interpret Mother Earth through sound. Of course, she's not in the best shape right now, and even stopping to appreciate the smallest details of her mastery can often make us fill with dread and regret.
The fact that it's still not too late to change the future we've been ruining for ourselves over the past 200 or so years is also important to note. And it's this juxtaposition, between hope and hopelessness, dystopia and utopia, that seem to define this incredible collaboration between Cooper and the Scottish Ensemble - a live recording from a concert that really shows off the emotional power of classical strings in their most contemporary form.
Review: Of all the seas in the world, the Indian Ocean is up there with those that invoke the greatest sense of mystery. Filling the rather big bit between East Africa, South East Asia, Australia and Oceana, it's a vast expanse of water known for deceptively dangerous paradise islands, political uncertainty, incredible natural beauty and a somewhat wild west (or east?) seafaring culture. It's a place that feels far less familiar to us here in Britain even than the Pacific, and as such a record that looks to interpret cultures and scenes from this watery region is always going to be intriguing. This is the second thematic volume in the Aquapelagos series, split LPs that focus on societies surrounded by waves, and the communities therein. Mike Cooper and Pierre Bastien's interpretation of the Indian Ocean is mesmerising, and often sounds isolated, hypnotic noises ebbing and flowing, distant calls, percussive details, 'atmos' of bird sounds, oscillations, high pitched feedback. A place that is serene and yet disturbed, often by distinctly human elements.
D Hawkins/S J Lewis/E Breadwater - "Suzie Q" (3:39)
C Coppola/F Coppola/M Hart - "Nung River" (1:05)
C Coppola/F Coppola/R Hansen - "Do Lung" (4:22)
Letters From Home (1:31)
C Coppola/F Coppola/M Hart - "Clean's Death" (2:34)
Clean's Funeral (3:43)
Love Theme (4:13)
Chief's Death (2:28)
Voyage (4:00)
Chef's Head (2:36)
Kurtz Chorale (1:42)
Finale (8:05)
Review: The music from Apocalypse Now is a compelling piece of the film's unique atmosphere, composed by Carmine Coppola and his son, Francis Ford Coppola. This remastered gatefold 2xLP presents a score that is anything but conventional. Featuring bold electronic experimentation, the music complements the film's depiction of chaos and inner turmoil. Tracks like 'The Delta' and 'The Dossier' create a meditative, eerie backdrop, while 'Orange Light' and 'Voyage' highlight the hallucinatory journey of its protagonist, with the latter infusing a touch of psychedelic guitar. While it's not a traditional, action-driven score, the pulsating synths of 'Nung River' and dissonance of 'Chef's Head' bring tension to the forefront. Its final moments with 'Finale' bring reflection to a movie that explores the boundaries of duty and sanity. Although challenging at times, the music's blend of synthetic and natural elements provides a fascinating listen, especially for those open to a bold 1970s electronic sound.
Review: Coral Morphologic's brilliant debut album guided us through space but with their sophomore LP, if feels much more like we're arriving at a final destinationia vibrant, water-filled world brimming with life. The rhythms are lithe and heavily atmospheric with distant pads, sci-fi motifs and sense of the unknown ever-present. It's brilliantly evocative and cinematic from front to back. To sweeten the deal even further, the album comes with a foldout poster with the fantastically dreamy and otherworldly album art by Robert Beatty
Review: Miami duo Coral Morphologic has linked up with Nick Leon for a debut collaboration here, Projections of a Coral City, which lands on the cultured Barcelona-based label Balmat. It's a lush listen that very much soothes mind, body and soul with its widescreen ambient synth scopes, suspensory pads and painterly strikes of sound. The mood is carefree and dreamy, occasionally rueful and introspective and always realised in a beautiful fashion. Here's hoping this might be the first of many collabs if this is the sort of work these artists can cook up together.
Aeon Is A Child At Play With Colored Balls (part 1) (16:32)
Aeon Is A Child At Play With Colored Balls (part 2) (19:24)
Review: Situated at the crossroads of ambient, post-natural sound design and "hi-tech sacred music", the debut long-form physical release from Milanese trio Cortex of Light presents two seamless compositions that flow without a defined beginning or end. This meditative work blurs boundaries and places you at the heart of an evolving sonic landscape. The release also marks the inaugural collaboration between A.R.X. and Krisis Publishing and unites their visions to bring this evocative project to life. Cortex of Light's artistry offers a deeply immersive experience here that is a mix of experimental textures with a profound sense of timelessness.
Review: The Cosmic Tones Research Trio's All Is Sound is a profound blend of healing music rooted in gospel, blues, and spiritual jazz. Led by alto saxophonist Roman Norfleet, alongside cellist Harlan Silverman and pianist Kennedy Verrett, the trio creates an immersive soundscape perfect for meditation and mindfulness. Each track unfolds with a peaceful, meditative quality, gently building layers of sound through the interplay of sax, cello, piano, flutes and even didgeridoo. The album's melodies are delicate yet rich, reminiscent of the spiritual jazz of Sun Ra, Alice Coltrane, and Pharoah Sanders. Tracks like 'Creation' and 'Black Rest' invite deep introspection, while 'Peace Prayer' and 'Nada Brahma' echo with a restorative, almost mystical atmosphere. With its slow-building compositions and organic instrumentation, All Is Sound offers a unique, serene listening experience a d a powerful healing force. The trio's commitment to creating purposeful, mindful music shines through, making this a great example of work in the contemporary spiritual jazz genre.
Review: Oxide Manifesto serves as an audio sketchbook, exploring a unique approach to music creation by blending obsolete machines with experimental composition. The album embraces the imperfections of magnetic tape, such as wow, flutter, wonky pitch, and tape hiss and so, explains the artist, makes the recording equipment as central to the process as the music itself. The method involved quickly composing ideas, deconstructing them onto tape loops, and performing with reel-to-reel machines and effects. The whole thing was recorded in a tiny, temperature-fluctuating studio on Hornsey Road and the final album reflects a collection of sound-art experiments that are structured and fragmented and capture the raw creativity of what was a hugely hands-on process.
Review: A series of vivid, nocturnal transmissions blending altered-state refinements and rich storytelling as Canadian composer and producer Coverdale merges synthesis with live instrumentation, creating a multi-dimensional sound that feels both intensely personal and universally resonant. Drawing on a wide range of influences, including 19th-century programmatic music - that's music with spoken narrative, like Provokiev's Peter & The Wolf - and mid-70s jazz, her compositions balance improvisation with deeply emotional content. Each track explores a range of textures, from the ethereal, soaring flights of 'Daze' to the grounded, material energy of 'Freedom.' The use of strings, woodwind, brass and modular synthesis intertwines with Coverdale's voice to create a language that feels alive and constantly evolving. Whether navigating the turbulent gales of 'Coming Around' or finding catharsis in the drummed sequences of 'Offload Flip,' the music speaks to the physicality of sound and the emotional charge it carries. The narrative arcs throughout, painting an intricate portrait of grief, dislocation, and the quest for self-connection, each track embodying a different facet of this deeply personal yet expansive journey.
Review: John Coxon appearing on his own Treader label with a solo album that's very different from his experimental junglist work as one half of Spring Heel Jack, but perhaps closer to his role as Spiritualized guitarist. It's experimental, textured and impressionistic but the guitar is at its heart, whether that's the crackles and buzzes of plugging in a lead to the subtle feedback loops and pure tones. Way out, certainly, on the leftfield, but with a very tactile, human nature never far from its surface.
Review: Following 2022's Orange, Naarm (Melbourne) based pair CS + Kreme return with a brand new third album The Butterfly Drinks The Tears Of The Tortoise. This time out, the pair decide to head into a world of more dramatic sounds and global soundscapes that fuse organic elements like medieval arrangements, seafaring guitar strums and Sundanese tarawangsa strings with their own signature rhythms and industrial-edged drums. The standout track 'Uki' exemplifies this contrast as it evolves from abstract vocal loops and whispers into an avant-garde acid techno workout with claps and sharp melodies. The album therefore ably showcases the CS + Kreme's ability to merge delicate harmonies with unpredictable sonic structures.
Review: It's no real shock that a Tim Burton Netflix modern revitalisation of The Addams Family, and particularly the central character Wednesday, would become a global success seemingly overnight. Jenna Ortega's performance was also key to retaining the character's essential components while imbuing new nuances and eccentricities, but the project wouldn't have felt complete without the almost essential soundtrack from Burton's go-to composer Danny Elfman, who is also currently experiencing quite the career resurgence thanks to his excellent Big Mess album from 2021. Linking up with the younger yet equally impressive Chris Bacon, the Wednesday score is equal parts whimsical, macabre, gloomy and horrific, yet endlessly playful, which almost describes all of the Burton/Elfman scores. Thanks to Bacon, there's a notable increase in glitching synths spells and modern tweaks to elevate the usual whimsy to a reimagined standard of orchestral dramatics.
Review: Heart Dance Recordings is a genuinely unique proposition: a new age, ambient and spiritual music label run by, and for, women, offering up decidedly calming music from an ever-growing roster of artists. The Phoenix-based imprint's latest full-length excursion was created by a trio of musicians: flautist Sherry Finzer, percussionist and vocalist Karasvana (real name Ella Hunt) and synthesizer enthusiast-come-guitarist City of Dawn (Damian Duque). There's much to admire about The Journeying Sun, from the daybreak beauty of 'Memory of Awakening' and the immersive, enveloping bliss of 'On Seashores of Endless Worlds', with its haunting chimes and drifting vocal refrains, to wide-eyed aural wonder of 'Resident Wandering' and the simultaneously pastoral and ethereal 'Indefiniteness'.
Derived From The Trout Mask In A Tentative Manner (4:41)
The Dissolution Of Time (8:55)
Abdication (5:02)
The Alphabet Of Steps (6:21)
Les Cycles Extatiques (6:51)
The Geometry Of Rhythmics (5:19)
At The Margin Of Moments (6:36)
Through The Deserts Of Postmodernity (9:32)
Stereometry Of Moving Bodies (6:25)
Suspecting Metaphysical Symbols (7:24)
Review: Another exceptional double album deep dive from Umor Rex mainstays Andreas Gerth and Carl Oesterhelt, respectively one-half of Driftmachine, and the artist who debuted with the landmark 11 Pieces for Synthesizer album. As ever, trying to summon adjectives to correctly describe what's here isn't easy, but let's give it a go anyway. Mysterious, dark, haunting, but also ultimately very beautiful - albeit often in a slightly chilling way - it's highly rhythmic patient stuff. A fitting title, it's hard not to picture tribalism, gatherings, premeditated practices and timeless traditions when becoming absorbed by the hypnotic contents here. It's transportive stuff, both in terms of time and place, era and style, a sense of loops and cycles being the real omnipresent thread here. Earthen ambient, strange factory floor downtempo, cinematic synths and more. The kind of record that's only possible when two people haul themselves up in a remote village with an abundance of instruments and see what happens.
Gigi Masin - "Waterland" (Otto Prospettive Veneziane) (2:44)
Gigi Masin - "Clouds" (5:03)
Gigi Masin - "La Giara Di Gesturi" (3:43)
Gigi Masin - "Three Bridges" (2:44)
Gigi Masin - "The Song Of The Masked Man" (3:10)
Gigi Masin - "Underwords" (1:30)
Gigi Masin - "First Time Ruth Saw The Sea" (3:16)
Gigi Masin - "Goodbye Kisses" (1:40)
Charles Hayward - "Thames Water Authority" (21:27)
Review: This split album features the Italian composer Gigi Masin on side-a with delicate piano movements rippling above undulating electronics. Its second track 'Clouds,' has become an ambient standard with Bjork, Nujabes and cloud-rap duo Main Attrakionz all sampling its rich and euphoric tones.
The B-side belonged to Charles Hayward and the twenty three minute sound portrait 'Thames Water Authority'. A founding member of post-punk and avant groups This Heat and Camberwell Now, Hayward's natural inclination towards percussive instrumentation is highlighted by shape-shifting cymbal recordings that trace the expansive systems that meander beneath Greater London.
P-VINE is thrilled to reissue Les Nouvelles Musiques de Chambre Volume 2 on limited edition vinyl with an iconic Japanese obi strip attached.
Review: Laced Records and Halo Studios partner up to bring the epic soundtracks of the original Halo trilogy to vinyl for the first time, remastering and revamping 83 original scores from Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and Halo 3. the music that defined a franchise is thus ethered in perpetuity. Weaving orchestral elements, prog rock, drum corps marches, and heavy metal, Halo presents a perfect bottling of angst and militancy; owing to its popularity with a certain teen gamer cohort, Halo 2's score especially made history as the first video game OST to chart on the Billboard 200. Now, each soundtrack is presented in its own sleeve with custom artwork, and comes in a collector's box adorned with a debossed Halo logo and silver laminate finish.
Pines Of Rome: Pines Of Villa Borghese/Pines Near Catacomb/Pines Of Janiculum/Pines Of Appian Way (21:00)
Fountains Of Rome: Fountain Of Valle Giulia At Dawn/Triton Fountain At Morn/Fountain Of Trevi At Mid-day/Villa Medici Fountain At Sunset (15:44)
Review: Fans of this album originally from 1960 need this new reissue in their lives: it is part of the RCA Living Stereo classical LP series which those in the know recognise as the best in the game when it comes to top-quality orchestral performance and sound. It has been remastered from original master tapes and comes on hefty 200g vinyl for the ultimate listening experience. It finds Respighi, the Chicago Symphony and Fritz Reiner really setting a standard for classical music with thundering bass drum, crashing cymbals and gongs next to bellowing brass all jumping right out of the speakers.
Review: Certain Path is a serene, piano-driven album by collaborators zake (aka label head Zach Frizzell), From Overseas which is Kevin Sery and City of Dawn aka Damien Duque. This reflective collection of seven pieces invites deep contemplation with tender piano motifs and subtle drones creating a meditative atmosphere. Opening with 'Where Time Slows Down,' the album blends delicate melodies with layered guitar textures. Inspired by Frizzell's wife, the title track offers heartfelt emotion, while 'Avec l'aide de Vincent' honours a close mentor. Throughout, the artists employ nocturnal recording sessions, field recordings and analogue treatments to craft an introspective, evocative listening experience.
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