Back catalogue: Balearic/Downtempo

Review: Lol Hammond is a former member of Spiral Tribe and early live techno act The Drum Club who now makes music on his own as Wah Wah Planet. Back in 1990 is when he penned this fantastic five track Balearic house EP alongside Russell Crone and with female vocal contributions from Lucy Sian. It very much lay out an early blueprint for UK street soul and the opener on the A-side 'Jewel' explores a romantic theme with hooky pop lyrics. Things get more left of centre on the 'Love FXU' with three trips into a smoother sound world perfect for sun kissed island dancing and with influences ranging from early breakbeat and trip hop to elements of dancehall music.

Review: Stefan Schwander is known for aliases like Harmonious Thelonious, A Rocket In Dub and Antonelli Electr and now strikes once more with his third EP, 'While My Sequencer Gently Bleeps'. Entirely crafted on Elektron's Monomachine, this one delivers deep basslines, ravey bleeps, piano chords and synth melodies that evoke the sounds of Jamaica, UK and Chicago while looking toward the future. The EP opens with the groovy 'Title Track' followed by the minimal, dub-influenced 'Sublime' with shuffling beats and a smooth synth line. On the flipside, 'Definition Of ...' combines deep bass, lively percussion and subtle melodies that are both danceable and storytelling.

Review: 'A Shared Sense Of Purpose' is a fittingly collectively-minded name for a new Gordon Chapman-Fox aka. Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan release. The first glimpse of his latest full-length LP, Your Community Hub, this first sampler hears the artist continue to develop his totally singular vision in eerie modernist electronica, deploying lilty arpeggiations and contradictorily Utopian, yet at the same time, sinister, melodies and ambiences; all with a view to producing an uncanny deja entendu. These are deployed to mourn the slow, increasing privatisation of Chapman-Fox's native Warrington-Runcorn, specifically its singular bespoke town centre - its walkways, its local postal system, its gridded shop lots - which were all designed to make it a five-minute city, long before the concept of fifteen-minute cities had entered town planning discourse. Though, perhaps this lament masks a more sinister sense of enjoyment, as there is indeed a perverse sort of pleasure that arises in the bittersweetly uncanny perfumes that waft from this latest haunted mood piece. Perhaps just like the experience of revisiting Warrington-Runcorn after having known it in childhood, we hear both sadness and euphoria, at the same time, in the face of its ostensible loss.

Review: Ten years on from its original release, Wax Tailor's cult classic returns in a striking marbled double collector's edition, complete with the previously unreleased 'Seize the Day' on a 7" single. This long-awaited repress invites a new generation to rediscover one of trip hop's most defining albums, a record that carved a global following for the French producer. The new vinyl pressing, unavailable for years due to its overwhelming success, brings an immersive experience to the listener. Known for its cinematic approach to sound, the album blends moody samples, orchestral elements, and downtempo beats into a seamless narrative.

Review: Under the open skies of Southern California, with the San Bernardino Mountains in sight, Sam Wilkes, Craig Weinrib, and Dylan Day came together to craft this album in one seamless evening session. Wilkes' bass, Weinrib's drums, and Day's electric guitar unite to form an organic and unhurried collaboration. The trio's sound feels effortless yet focused, driven by the natural chemistry between them rather than stylistic constraints. Each note speaks to a deep mutual understanding, allowing the music to evolve naturally, guided by the landscape and the moment.

Review: Yasmin Williams' upcoming album, Acadia, marks her debut with Nonesuch Records and her most expansive work yet. The album features nine primarily instrumental tracks composed and produced by Williams herself. Known for her innovative approach to guitar, she also plays the banjo, kora, calabash drum, and even tap shoes. Collaborators include Immanuel Wilkins, Dom Flemons, Aoife O'Donovan, and more, bringing a diverse range of musical influences into the fold. The single 'Virga', featuring Darlingside on vocals and Rich Ruth on synth, shows her unique blending of folk traditions with modern textures. Williams describes the song as a reflection on navigating the challenges of being an artist in a world that doesn't always value introspection and art. The album as a whole draws from the idea of Acadia as an idyllic space for creativity and collaboration, crossing genre lines to explore new dimensions of folk music. Williams' unique style and imaginative approach has a vibrant, innovative sound. With Acadia, Williams continues to break boundaries, crafting an album that both honors tradition and carves new paths in contemporary music.