Review: Citirax's next outing takes the form of a debut album from Los Angeles-based duo OP-ART. This pair, like so much great music of recent times, is born out of the creative isolation of lockdown and features Andrew Clinco, who you may know for his work with Drab Majesty. The alias they have adopted is an acronym of "Oblique Pleasures Amidst Rough Times" which they say reflected the challenges of their formation. Musically the duo is inspired by the 1960s visual art movement so embraces layered, psychedelic soundscapes with a minimalist approach and takes cues from New Wave artists like John Foxx and early OMD. OP-ART in particular focuses on analogue synthesis and gear like the Arp Odyssey and Moog Rogue while exploring time, romance, and existential themes with real emotional depth.
Faze Action - "Good Lovin'" (Special Disco mix) (6:10)
Hannah Holland - "Ekotypic" (4:17)
Divine - "Shake It Up" (6:07)
XS 5 - "I Need More" (extended dance version) (6:00)
Liquid Liquid - "Optimo" (2:43)
Review: Optimo's JD Twitch and Jonny Wilkes, undoubtedly the UK's most fearless and on-point 'anything goes' DJs, have spent a quarter of a decade building trust with their audience. You can never tell what they might play when you turn up at one of their events, but you know it will be inspired, high-quality, and most likely make you want to dance. With their two-part 25th anniversary compilation (this is part two), they've taken a similar approach, keeping the track-list under wraps until release day while promising a mix of oddball warm-up favourites and floor-focused tracks they love and have played at various points since the start of the century. Given their track record, we can expect forgotten gems, left-of-centre anti-anthems, and unusual party-starting delights.
Review: This album was a self-imposed ambitious project, conceived to spark creativity amid challenging times. Pivoting from our previous guitar and keyboard-centric albums, we embraced a new approach. I demoed everything on a cassette 4-track using drum loops, aiming for a return to simpler times. Tom and I selected synth sounds, creating samples across three octaves, loaded into Roland SPD-SX samplers, and learned the songs with drumsticks, transforming our writing process. Recording felt reminiscent of brass, so we added a saxophone horn section, thanks to Cansfis Foote and Brad Caulkins, enhancing the reedy bell tones. The result is a blend of Dexy's Midnight Runners, Von LMO, The Flesh Eaters, and The Screamers- a punk junk fusion that's poppy, hooky, heavy, and occasionally sci-fi. With boneheaded riffs and heady lyrics, it's a unique soundscape. Recorded at Stu-Stu-Studio on eight-track 1/4" tape, this album is a fresh, innovative pivot.
Review: Osees, led by the visionary John Dwyer, embark on a bold sonic departure with their upcoming album, Sorcs 80. Shedding their guitars and keyboards in favor of synths and drum loops, the band crafts a space rock odyssey that's both infectious and deeply atmospheric. Dwyer's penchant for experimentation shines through as the album brims with a wall of percussion and haunting saxophone melodies courtesy of Cansfis Foote & Brad Caulkins. Recorded on vintage eight-track tape, the album captures a raw intensity rarely seen in modern productions. Tracks like 'Cassius, Brutus & Judas' exemplify Osees' signature punk ethos, blending poppy hooks with heady lyrics that delve into themes of betrayal and human frailty. The result is a mesmerising blend of punk urgency and sci-fi intrigue with an avant-garde punk.
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