Downwards レコード& CD

Review: Downwards' latest release shines a light on Melbourne's famed experimental music scene by bringing together tracks from two of the city's most interesting artists. On side A there's a chance to savour all four tracks from Bonnie Mercer's previously cassette-only release Old Moon, New Moon, with the experienced artist combining elements of desert rock (fractured, discombobulated, fuzz-toned guitar textures) with droning tones, reverb-laden samples and gentle washes of ambient colour. Over on the flip YLP - the duo of Joshua Wells and Harry Schwind- take over, delivering a suite of suitably cosmic tracks heavily influenced by Spacemen 3, Suicide and Sun City Girls.

Review: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Regis's soot black slab of deadly techno aka his Penetration LP, the whole thing has been remastered by Simon Shreeve and cut at The Exchange. This new limited edition repress comes with all new artwork, too. The album is pretty definitive of the loopy, hard edged techno of the time and it was another 20 years until Regis offered a follow up after plenty of time as part of British Murder Boys and Sandwell District. Each of these tracks still kicks with serious force, from the bulky sound of 'Get On Your Knees' to the backlit glow of 'Penetration.'