Planet Mu レコード& CD

Review: After the massive impact of Vex'd in the breakthrough years of dubstep, it was big news when Jamie Teasdale chose to swerve in his own direction and emerge as Kuedo. Released in 2011, Severant was a bold statement of intent which didn't wholly shirk what had come before, but placed emphasis on the kind of romantic synthesis you'd readily associate with Vangelis and saw trap and other influences sneaking into the mix. In hindsight, Severant is typical of the times we live in, drawing on a glut of influences and presenting its own idiosyncratic vision, but above all that the emotion and intent of Teasdale's ideas make it an enduring, captivating listen.

Review: Mike Paradinas amassed a fine body of work under the stage name u-Ziq through the 1990s. The Planet Mu label head is currently reissuing some of it with Lunatic Harness, his fourth album form 1997, the latest to get the treatment. It came out of the so-called drill&bass movement but was more pretty than most from that niche sub-genre. While Aphex Twin and Squarepusher always went for abrasive textures, he delves into more celestial and suspensory sounds rich in shimmering melody. It remains one of the best IDM albums of any era.

Review: Given it's a reunification of latter-day UK electronic visionary Rian Treanor and decade-spanning next level imprint Planet Mu, many ears will already know what to expect from this one - a collection of tracks that are jarring, alien and wildly unorthodox, while still somehow immediately engaging rhythmically. Suffice to say, your presumptions are correct in this case.

In many ways the four tracks here are among Treanor's most accessible, although that's perhaps not saying too much. The broken, dub-techno-on-speed opener, 'Obstacle 2', manages to be frantic and deep at the same time. The glittering synth lines of 'Obstacle 3' help create a sense of rave-y invitation, despite the track itself being a staccato curveball. While the remaining two efforts are equally impressive examples of how to push sonic limits without asking too much in terms of audience endurance.