Young レコード& CD

Review: The latest single from Jamie Smith's 2015 album In Colour, featuring The xx bandmate Romy Madley Croft, gets the remix treatment from a pretty stellar cast. Starting off, Hivern Discs boss John Talabot gets on board with his "Loud Synths Reconstruction" which definitely lives up to its name on this driving proggy take on the track. Ed Russell aka West Country bass techno auteur Tessela steps up and delivers a typically thumping and funked up rendition which is a real highlight on here. On the flip, Cologne's Barnt delivers yet another dark journey through the cosmic hole and the legendary Matthew Herbert offers us his take; sublime deep house and yet again; sampling everything but the kitchen sink!

Review: Indica Dubs and Kai Dub link up here for their second collaboration, which is the first release of the year for the label. It features the full flavour and futuristic stepper that is 'Elevation Dub', complete with wooden hits and Digital pads, warrior chords and a nice sleek aesthetic. 'Higher Dub' then flip sit into a more heady affair with plenty of mad studio effects and endless reverb, floating toms and sizzled pads. These triumphant tunes are primed and ready for big plays on huge sound systems.

Review: Sampha is now well established as a solo artist in his own right having first risen up via work with SBTRKT, Kanye West, Drake, Jesse Ware and Frank Ocean, amongst others. The British singer, songwriter and producer has since released a couple of well received albums but before then came his Dual EP back in 2013. It found the South Londoner really establish his own voice on a mix of tunes that were recorded in his own bedroom and showcased his style and intent early on. Snap up this bit of history on exclusive orange vinyl.

Review: Catharsis runs through the debut solo album from Oliver Sim, best known to most of us as the bassist-singer from The XX. A record that's about pulling back the curtain to reveal who he really is - surprising, considering The XX's output always felt heart-on-sleeve - even the vocal delivery feels more honest, less whispered, no longer hidden beneath effects and subtle textures.

Hideous Bastard is in many ways also less produced, more human. And by that we mean theatric, dramatic, packed with artistic ideas, and the feeling of someone coming of age to finally feel comfortable in their own skin letting us in. Inventive to the last, it's forward thinking alternative electronic-pop-rock-indie fare but, more significantly, it's an act of sharing - from his own HIV diagnosis at 17 (the first time he has publicly discussed the illness) to thoughts about the industry and society itself.

Review: Here it is: the long awaited second album from Mercury award winning, waif-like London trio The xx. The band have enjoyed a huge amount of success since their eponymous debut album dropped in 2009, and Coexist sees them subtly tweak their sound rather than wholly reinvent it, with their booming drums traded in for something less grandiose. There are some stunning moments on the LP (opener "Angels", "Reunion" and "Swept Away" all linger long in the memory) that will ensure it swats any "difficult second album" talk to one side; this is the sound of a band comfortable in their own skin. Caps doffed to Young Turks who present the LP on sumptuous heavyweight vinyl with included CD and booklet.