Back in stock: Post Rock/Experimental

Review: After Dinner is like one of those molecular gastronomy adventures, where dishes are both playful and highly complex, not necessarily revealing themselves until the very end. Done with talk of food? Let's just say this is a loose art collective led by a composer called Haco, who were concerned with taking musical plurality and splicing disparate elements together to create a kind of friendly Frankenstein's monster of sound.

And friendly it definitely is. Considered a true one-off of Japanese pop-art rock-avant garde, Paradise of Replica is jaunty, it's amusing, it's beguiling and, ultimately, incredibly immersive. There are moments where the clash of pianos plucked straight from a comedy of manners opera and rough electric guitars (to give one example of the juxtapositions) feel rather strange, but it doesn't take too long for you to get sucked right into the centre of this insane sonic universe.

Review: Perhaps in the future, we'll eat sauerkraut pills instead of having to actually pickle cabbage in order to make it. Such are the musings that compilations like The Future Sounds Of Kraut inspire - but also, perhaps by pure happenstance, they also lead us to wonder: what about the evolution of the contemporary German electronic rock genre of the same name? Celebrating the legacy and influence of the genre and movement that emerged in Germany in the late 1960s and early 70s - but not indulging derivations of your usual Clusters and Cans - this full-length compilation from Compost brings together 19 contemporary krautrock masterpieces, with choice, twinkly cuts from bands and solo artists including Musiccargo, Listening Center, Kosmischer Laufer and Pyrolator. Listen no further than here to hear the changing tide of kraut.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Superior Viaduct and W.25TH present Diamond Jubilee by Cindy Lee, now available in a deluxe 3xLP format with a collectible poster. Lauded across the board and shortlisted for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize, Diamond Jubilee showcases Patrick Flegel's unique blend of haunting melodies and raw emotion. Crafted over years in studios from Toronto to Montreal, this album delivers timeless reflections on love and longing, backed by sticky hooks and immersive soundscapes that cement Cindy Lee's reputation as a standout in experimental pop.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Beginning life in the late 70s as a Leeds based art collective, The Mekons have gone on to become one of the longest-running, most prolific and sonically diverse acts to be considered part of the first wave of British punk. Spanning numerous decades, projects and literal continents, the sprawling array of visionary contributors return with the succinctly titled Horror; a work written towards the end of 2022 that showcases their expansive yet solely unique approach, drawing on elements of dub, country, harsh noise, rock & roll, electronica, punk, music hall, polka and even waltz. Myriad vocalists lead differing sonic journeys such as the Jon Langford-led 'Mudcrawlers' telling the story of the Irish famine and subsequent refugees traversing to Wales, whereas Rico Bell leads the charge on the harrowing folk-horror climate change breakdown 'Fallen Leaves', with swelling violins painting an aural tapestry akin to Rolling Thunder era Dylan sitting on a dimly lit rolling green hill accompanied by The Pogues. Ranking somewhere between the collective's 23rd to 25th album (depending on which member of the fanbase or artists themselves you ask), Horror marks their first work for Fire Records.

Review: Krautrock is a long established genre whose name has recently been questioned. Whether or not it is a slur is an ongoing conversation. The music labelled as such has become iconic, with books like Julian Cope's Krautrocksampler and Alan and Stephen Freeman's Crack in the Cosmic Egg diving deep into its nuances. The debates over 'Krautrock' v 'Kosmische Musik' only add to its allure and Krautrock Eruption by Wolfgang Seidel explores some of these distinctions. The compilation presents tracks from twelve albums, focusing partly on Bureau B's catalogue, and entirely essential for fans of this sort of sound.

Review: Yoo Doo Right's third album delivers a great blend of post-rock epics and emotionally charged sonic explorations. Opening with a droning guitar barrage, the album unfolds through mantra-like repetitions, abyssal tones and carefree saturation that all serve to cement their status as Montreal post-rock royalty. Inspired by themes of patience, art commodification, AI and unconditional love, this LP draws influence from Wes Montgomery, Rachmaninoff, Neurosis and Russian Circles and was written during a snowstorm retreat in early 2023 which meant the trio aimed for cinematic, experiential significance.