Back catalogue: Coldwave/Synth

Review: The world seems to be rapidly splitting in two again, or perhaps separating into 200 or so pieces, division driven by simple minds. So Vision's Checkpoint Charlie is certainly a release for our times. After just two decades in which planet and people at least pretended to be actively striving to unite, the rhetoric of nationalism, distrust, and imperialistic ambitions has returned to the main stage.

At times like this, what do you need? How about a huge synth pop anthem that sounds like it was created in the latter stages of the Cold War, boasting lyrics like "Don't fight love now", an apocalyptic air to the melodic refrains, and these huge, punchy drum beats? Instantly impactful, if the music industry was as it used to be when Checkpoint Charlie was in operation as one of the few places to legally cross from East to West Berlin, this would likely be the week's highest new Top 40 entry.

Review: In the 70s and 80s, nothing was as revolutionary as the synthesiser. Electronic sounds became essential for forward-thinking adverts, with TV producers and advertisers seeking music akin to 'Tubular Bells,' Tomita, and Jean Michel Jarre. Music libraries like De Wolfe, Bruton, Parry, and Chappell swiftly adapted. Bob Stanley's new album, 'Tomorrow's Fashions,' compiles advertising jingles, TV themes, and space exploration tracks with ambient beats from that era. Despite being 40-50 years old, the music feels fresh, featuring jazz veterans like Brian Bennett and John Cameron embracing synthesizers. This electronica predated new age and ambient music, influenced pop, early Human League, Warp Records, and has been sampled by MF Doom and Kendrick Lamar.

Review: Platform 23 reunites once more with Vox Man Records to dig deep into their archives and shine a new light on. In the past they have done some mega well loved Alternative Funk compilations which got the label off to a fine start and now they dig into an array of cult cassette releases to bring us treasure from Audiologie N-4 - The Independant Psychedelic Trip and Audiologie 5 et 6 - Ethniques Urbaines. This is music from the avant-garde and post punk scenes that draws on wave, spoken word, dark dub and industrial for its eerie yet alluring charms, all with a real edge. Ethnic, idiosyncratic and psyched out, this is another great overview.