Latest new releases on vinyl record, CD and cassette tape

Keeley Forsyth's 'Debris' was one of the suprise breakouts from 2019. Originally an actor who has appeared in programs such as 'Happy Valley', 'Luther' and 'The Casual Vacancy', her debut album was an honest and brooding work, quietly magisterial, with comparisons made to Scott Walker, Joni Mitchell, and Arthur Russell. 'Photograph' is the follow-up release to 'Debris', a 4-track EP that "takes two steps on from 'Debris'’ electronic closer ‘Start Again’". Out on The Leaf Label. 

Forging the noisy experimental tendencies of bands like Deerhoof with the irrepressible soul and vibrancy of classic pop artists, Austin-based lo-fi indie outfit Mamalarky deliver their self-titled debut album. Rambunctious and colourful, ‘Mamalarky’ is the result of two years of hard work, showcasing a deep knowledge and passion for their influences.

Featuring guest spots from the likes of Timbaland and Young Thug (and unfortunately also Chris Brown), ‘ADHD’ is the debut album from Massachusetts-born rapper Joyner Lucas, one that's been over a year and a half in the making. Boasting strong production and inventive flows, the record saw Lucas finally take the spotlight for himself after years of featuring on other people’s tracks.

Originating from a casual noodling of the theme to ‘You Only Live Twice’ during a soundcheck in 2013, indie-rock legends The Wedding Present now rope in a huge number of close allies and former members in order to cover twenty Bond theme songs for ‘Not From Where I’m Standing’. All proceeds go to the ‘Campaign Against Living Miserably’ (CALM) charity.

After the results of a one-day session in Lahore between 22a boss and jazz instrumentalist Tenderlonious and Pakistani quartet Jaubi were released on a limited edition three-track 10" vinyl called 'Tender In Lahore', a full-length disc of material from the sessions is now presented on CD and vinyl. Entitled 'Ragas from Lahore - Improvisations with Jaubi', this is a fusion of spiritual jazz modes and Pakistani classical music.

Having originally broken up a decade ago, Secret Machines have reunited as a two-piece outfit of singer/bassist Brandon Curtis and drummer Josh Garza for their fourth studio album. ‘Awake In The Brain Chamber’ picks up where the band left off all those years ago - this is an album of dark, contemplative prog and space-rock.

Baltimore’s Pink Siifu and Mutant Academy co-founder Fly Anakin, two of the U.S.A.'s most acclaimed underground rappers, join forces for a collaborative album coalesced around the concept of an imaginary record store that they own together (but they actually don't, cos it's imaginary). ‘FlySiifu's’ combines Siifu’s playfulness and diversity of range, both soulful and punky, with Anakin’s gritty flows to make for an absurd yet profound album.

BADBADNOTGOOD keyboardist Matthew Tavares and saxophonist Leland Whitty performed together in Toronto in early January 2020, joined by bassist Julian Anderson-Bowes and drummer Matt Chalmers for the occasion. The lightning of that night was bottled in this terrific live album, ‘January 12th’. This sounds like the tour-hardened results of a band who’ve known each other all their lives rather than the instinctive, improvised jazz set that it is.

East London-based artist Harry Jay-Steele announces his debut studio album ‘Boundaries’. Recorded with drummer Jim Macrae, this is an appealing blend of indie, plastic soul and elements of sub-Saharan African music that ought to appeal to fans of Jordan Rakei and Tom Misch. 

You know when you set out to make an album with your band, in this case The Black Queen, and what you make is just not right for the band? Well that’s how Greg Puciato’s debut solo LP, 'Child Soldier: Creator of God', came about - though it does still sound quite like The Black Queen, and also his old outfit Dillinger Escape Plan. Puciato played all the instruments (with the exception of drums, which were played by original DEP drummer Chris Pennie), and he describes the songs as a bunch of ‘misfits’ which he decided made a great album.

Throughout his time with The Blasters and his solo career, Dave Alvin has dabbled in various strands of roots and rock music - blues, folk, rockabilly, Americana and alt-country have all featured on his LPs. ‘From An Old Guitar: Rare and Unreleased Recordings’ features tracks that didn’t make it onto Alvin's previous work, covers recorded for tribute albums and songs he just enjoys playing. Includes covers of songs by Bob Dylan, Marty Robbins, Willie Dixon and more.

They've been friends since four years old these two (see pic). Plenty of time to get a thing going together with their music, something exemplified by this single on which they make a right old grunge racket but don't forget to add melody and emotion to the mix. "Abrasive honesty" is what cleopatrick call it. 'hometown' has amassed sixty-million streams - that's a lot of hurting ears. 

The lead singer of Texan psychedelic-rock outfit The Black Angels for over fifteen years, Alex Maas announces his debut solo album. More bucolic and folky than his parent band, in the vein of artists such as Vashti Bunyan, ‘Luca’ benefits from the production of film score composer Brett Orrison. 

Aphelion's Traveling Circus is the second album by Namir Blade. It follows his 2019 album Scatterbrain which showed the Nashville artist’s abilities as a producer. He incorporates various genres into his hip-hop template from house to soul. Blade has also worked with The Anxious Youth, Natural Selection and Wizards Only. On Mello Music Group.

Talented but troubled trumpeter Chet Baker had something of a career renaissance in the late '70s and early '80s culminating in his now classic 1984 album Mr B. It featured tracks written by the likes of Herbie Hancock and Dave Brubeck performed by an ageing Baker and his stellar band resulting in a deeply touching album that would end up being one of his last. This reissue includes two bonus tracks. 

Renegade Connection is a creative meeting of Gary Asquith of Renegade Soundwave and Rema Rema and Lee Curtis of Lee Curtis Connection. Their first release in five years, Politicians, Protestors & Thieves is a whirlwind of dub, reggae and Asquith’s atmospheric vocals, with originals on the first side and versions on the flip. 

‘Tapes 2’ takes us on a dive into the soundtrack archive of Dutch experimental filmmaker Frans Zwartjes. His work dates back to 1968 and is made using a range of synths and keyboards. The sounds he creates are discordant, frightening, dreamy, and rather odd and have been mixed together on this LP as two side-long pieces.  

Sky Burial is the second album by highly-rated Richmond, Virginia black metal band Inter Arma. It was originally released in 2013 to great critical acclaim. It saw them blend the classic hard rock of Led Zeppelin, the stoner riffs of Sleep and chaotic onslaught of Lightning Bolt to create an almighty doom, grind, sludgey, psychedelic experience. On Relapse.

Sami El-Enany & Dampé drifted apart after recording together during their college days. Then lockdown happened and the pair hooked up again to make 'Opix'. It’s an album that blends opaque dance beats, electronica, found sounds and modern classical music through neat composition and sharp production. One for the Kelly Lee Owens fans. 'Opix' features a guest vocal from Orlando Weeks (The Maccabees).

Bonding over a mutual love of Italian soundtracks and library music of the Seventies, DJ and producer Lorenzo Moressi and 22a label boss Tenderlonius collaborate on ‘Cosmica Italiana’, a 7” single of disco-funk inspired by the work of Piero Umiliani, Alessandro Alessandroni and Ennio Morricone.

You know who FINNEAS is? Well, if I said he was the brother of massive pop star Billie Eilish, and that he has been part of the team behind her enormous success, then I think you are going to sit up and take notes. This is a vinyl 7" pressing of the haunting piano ballad 'What They'll Say About Us', plus an instrumental version of the same track if you want to holler along yourself.  

‘Black Blood Red Kiss’ by Gunship is the second single to be lifted from their 2018 album ‘Dark All Day’. The London synthwave band have utilised the vocal talents of tattoo artist Kat Von D on this track, adding a sultry edge to their retro synth-based sound. On the flip the song gets the remix treatment from Choir Noir. 

Culled from his most fertile creative period working with producer Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee, 'Mr Smart In Dub' collects many now incredibly hard-to-find dub versions of songs by Jamaican singer Leroy Smart. Spanning twelve-tracks, 'Mr Smart In Dub' is a collection that will hopefully raise Smart’s reputation internationally, where he’s never quite had the recognition he deserves. 

Soul Syndicate were the band of choice for Jamaican music producer Niney The Observer (a.k.a. Winston Holness) back in the day. Their playing backed classic reggae artists such as Dennis Brown, Max Romeo, I Roy, The Ethiopians and Gregory Isaacs to name a few. 'Soul Syndicate Dub Classics' pulls together some of the best dubplate specials that the group made with Niney, and the record aptly shows off the chemistry between producer and band.

‘The Drone Racing League’ by synthwave band Gunship is taken from their 2018 album ‘Dark All Day’. The London three-piece use a ton of retro electronics gear to create their authentically pastiched 1980s sound, one full of sweeping synths and energetic bass flourishes. This 7” features ‘Dark All Day’ remixed by Australian synthwave duo Power Glove on it’s flip.

Driven in equal parts by the love for his fans and strong Belgian beer, Bruce Soord of earnest progressive rock band The Pineapple Thief decided to livestream some acoustic performances. Appropriately named ‘The Soord Sessions Volume 4’, this is the fourth and final recording of those sessions. The record sees a couple of tunes from the band's 2020 album ‘Versions of the Truth’ mingling with The Pineapple Thief classics from their twenty-plus-year career.

WRWTFWW gathers together two of Japanese composer Somei Satoh’s most significant works on one slab of vinyl. 1978’s ‘Emerald Tablet’ is paired with 1981’s ‘Echoes’, both sourced from the original master tapes, and they’re accompanied by new liner notes from Japanese music critic and collector Masaaki Hara. Ranges from quiet, eerie drones ala Eliane Radigue to Merzbow-esque noise walls.

While their name is synonymous with Sub Pop, Seattle’s alternative rock pioneers Mudhoney moved to the majors for a large part of the Nineties, signing with Reprise Records for three studio albums. ‘Real Low Vibe - The Reprise Recordings 1992-1998’ is a complete document of those years, gathering up three entire studio albums - 1992’s ‘Piece Of Cake’, 1995’s ‘My Brother The Cow’ and 1998’s ‘Tomorrow Hit Today’ - plus B-sides, live recordings and the promo-only live album ‘On Tour Now’ over four CDs.

Trappist Afterland are an Australian acid-folk outfit led by Adam Geoffrey Cole. 'Seaside Ghosts' is the band’s final album from their ten-year career. The LP centres on grief brought on by the death of Cole’s father, and also growing up in an Australian seaside town. These songs are delivered with a droning, anxious unease in a similar vein to previous albums ‘Afterlander’ (2015) and ‘Se(VII)en’ (2018). RIYL Comus, The Incredible String Band and Espers.

A new four-track EP from London-based rapper Jehst, a stalwart of the British hip-hop scene and regularly held up as one of the British Isles’ finest MCs ever. ‘Heathens’ is a reliably solid display of wordsmithery throughout, spearheaded by the broken-down funk of the title track.

Blackfield, the long-standing on/off collaboration between Porcupine Tree founder Steven Wilson and Israeli vocalist Aviv Geffen, returns for its sixth studio album. ‘For The Music’ sees the duo fit their psychedelic art-rock style to a bold, accessible template, making for arguably their most ambitious record so far.

Originally premiered back in 2002 at London’s Barbican Centre, ‘Odin’s Raven Magic’ - a musical adaptation of a fifteenth-century Icelandic poem, written by Sigur Rós, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, Steindór Andersen and Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir - finally sees the light of day as a recording. The cinematic soundscapes honour the ambience and drama of the poem, but contain flourishes of modernism.

Kelly Jones is known for being the frontman of successful Welsh rock band Stereophonics. ‘Don’t Let The Devil Take Another Day’ sees him reworking some of his band’s classics and lesser-known songs along with a pair of tracks from his 2007 solo album ‘Only The Names Have Been Changed’. To top off this twenty-one-track comp Jones has recorded a version of the Kris Kristofferson classic ‘Help Me Make It Through The Night’.

Clint Mansell seems like a nice guy with a great name and rather talented too. This is his haunting score to Darren Aronofsky's 2000 film Requiem For A Dream, performed by Kronos Quartet. Performed by Kronos Quartet, have those words ever led to bad music? I sincerely doubt it.  

Originally released in 1992 as their final album via Nettwerk, ‘Last Rights’ was the seventh studio record from Canadian electro-industrial band Skinny Puppy. Including the single ‘Inquisition’, 'Last Rights' became the group's first LP to penetrate the US Billboard 200 chart. The record was later named by Alternative Press as one of the 100 best albums of the Nineties.

It’s the turn of Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim to curate an edition of popular late-night listening series 'Back To Mine'. He picks twenty classic tracks by acts such as Dave & Ansel Collins, The Go! Team and Eunice Collins along with Camille Yarbrough’s 'Take Yo Praise', which he sampled for his mega-hit 'Praise You', and Johnny Dynell & New York 88’s 'Jam Hot (Rhumba Rock)' which was sampled for 'Dub Be Good To Me', his 1990 No.1 hit with Beats International.

You may well go mad listening to this compilation of forty one-point-eight-second-long locked grooves, but some of the biggest names in electronica and DJ culture are involved, including Four Tet, Arca, Blood Orange and Floating Points. Plus the proceeds go to ACLU and Liberty UK - two organisations fighting inequality.

‘Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai (Original Motion Picture Score)’ was the first film score by RZA. The Wu-Tang Clan man mixes funky beats, well-chosen samples and dark, foreboding hip-hop here. This is the LP’s first release outside of Japan, the country where it was exclusively released in 1999. 'Ghost Dog' features, of course, other members of Wu-Tang Clan.

Atlanta, Georgia punk/garage-rock band The Coathangers originally released their self-titled debut album back in 2007. Their lack of experience with their instruments at the time made for a raw, energetic and charismatic punk-rock record. ‘The Coathangers (Deluxe Edition)’ features bonus tracks from their EPs 'Hard Candy' and 'Never Wanted You'. 

American guitarist Robbie Basho was influenced by Indian and European classical music, emulating the playing style of a sarod on a twelve-string guitar using open tunings and then blending that sound with US folk and blues. He was a contemporary of virtuoso guitarists John Fahey and Leo Kottke. ‘Song of the Avatars: The Lost Master Tapes’ is a five-CD collection of recently=discovered lost works recorded between 1965 and 1985. Basho passed away in 1986.

Established by British electronic musician Mike Paradinas (a.k.a. μ-Ziq) in 1995, Planet Mu marks its twenty-fifth anniversary with a self-defined ‘mid-price CD’. Consisting of fifteen tracks showcasing where the label’s at in 2020, 'PlanetMµ25' includes music from artists such as RP Boo, Ital Tek and Ripatti.

Aphelion Editions showcases this latest solo work from Owen Chambers of the Liquid Library label, under the moniker Carnivorous Plants. Massive distortion is the name of the game on ‘Blackberries’, but amid the maelstrom of clarinet, vox and guitar there’s moments of calm and beauty.

An expression of the creativity and solidarity of underground music networks across Britain and Europe, Aphelion Editions presents the first two instalments of a prospective compilation series. ‘Selected Aphelion Works Vol. I & II’ - a sly nod to Richard D. James, there - sees the Bristol-based cassette and CD-R label assemble nearly two-dozen cuts of electronic music ranging from ambient to abrasive noise via all manner of sticky, broken beats. 

Featuring backing contributions from members of a vast galaxy of other bands - Durand Jones & The Indications, The Dap-Kings, that sort of thing - ‘A Joyful Sound’ is the second LP from Kelly Finnigan. Taking a festive, collaborative approach to funky R&B, it’s intended to be similar to Phil Spector’s Christmas albums. 

‘Tim Melina Theo Bobby’ is the twenty-fourth and final studio album from Tim Kinsella’s long-running experimental rockers Joan Of Arc. Just as you’d expect from a band whose music has always effectively mediated its members’ divergent interests at any given point in time, this record doesn’t sound like anything they’ve done before - but weirdly, it also sounds like everything they’ve done before, all at once.

Released in 2020, ‘The Neon’ became the highest-charting album for Vince Clarke’s Erasure in over a quarter of a century. 'The Neon's new companion EP ‘Fallen Angel’ gathers up six remixes of tracks from the LP, with modern pop queen Georgia and Bright Light Bright Light among those roped in here. Plus, there’s an extended mix of ‘Nerves Of Steel’ from Clarke himself.

Originally self-released in 2019, ‘L'Inventaire Des Disparitions’ is a set of strange, abstracted songs from French musician Alice Dourlen under the name Chicaloyoh. In a career that’s seen her release countless albums and cassettes in the space of only a decade, this represents some of Dourlen’s most personal work yet, creating soundscapes from guitar, percussion and keyboards that provide a space for contemplation. Shades of Keeley Forsyth and Tom Waits to this one.

Simon Green aka Bonobo has become one of the most sought-after DJs and producers in the last decade or so. It all pretty much started with his critically-acclaimed 2010 opus 'Black Sands'. The album's success was down to its blending lush, emotional instrumentation with influences from bass-heavy UK electronic music. For this tenth anniversary reissue Green has taken a new cover shot ... which tries to recapture the original.

'Primitive Plus' was the debut from rapper Edan. At the time of release (2002, if you are asking) this album was viewed as something of a left-field rap masterpiece, one that embraced the sounds and culture of the previous two decades of hip-hop but brought in a nu-school flow and eerie electronic production. People thought it would point forward to a kind of future that I guess never really happened - certainly only two further Edan albums followed, so 'Primitive Plus' is something of a special release. 

John Hiatt's 2003 LP ‘Beneath This Gruff Exterior’ was his first LP for the New West label and the first which credited his backing band The Goners front-and-centre. A consistent and polished collection of well-written rock, it contains all of the key characteristics of Hiatt’s work - bluesy rock I guess?

The Motorcycle Boy were an indie pop band who formed in Edinburgh in 1987. The band was made up from former members of The Shop Assistants and Meat Whiplash. Their only album, 'Scarlet', was shelved by their label, Chrysalis, and the band split. Fortunately Forgotten Astronaut have got it down from the shelf and released it, some 32 years after it was recorded. Includes their indie chart hit, 'Big Rock Candy Mountain'.

Big Crown Vaults Vol. 1 by Lee Fields & The Expressions features tracks that were recorded during the sessions for 2017’s Special Night and 2019’s It Rains Love but ultimately weren’t included. You’ll find out from listening to this album that it must have been a very difficult decision to leave any of these songs off the two records.

Jad Fair's long-running outsider-indie band Half Japanese return with their nineteenth studio LP 'Crazy Hearts'. In the past the band has included Don Flemming and Mo Tucker, but this time out Fair is backed this time by John Sluggett, Giles Vincent Rieder, Mick Hobbs and Jason Willett as he traverses through the world of celebrity, perils and savage beasts. Nice and grungy - Dinosaur Jr., Guided By Voices, that sort of vibe.

'A Private Road' is the fifth EP by Laura Groves, a singer-songwriter from Shipley, West Yorkshire who made her only album to date under the name Blue Roses. The EP is a soundtrack to Groves’ journeying in her adopted home of London, inspired by her life's experiences and shot through with 80s-style production reminiscent of Suzanne Vega.

Classically-trained percussionist S. Carey is now relatively well-known as a solo artist, but before he released his debut solo album 'All We Grow' in 2010 he was recognisable as the percussionist and backing vocalist in the Bon Iver live band. 'All We Grow' exists in a similar world to much of Justin Vernon’s work due to its fragile, beautiful melodies and lush harmonies, but there are nods to Mark Hollis and percussive elements that call to mind Steve Reich. 

Domino marks the tenth anniversary of These New Puritans’ stunning second album ‘Hidden’ with an expanded reissue. ‘Hidden [MMXX]’ features a second disc of unreleased tracks and live recordings from the time, plus a live film. A decade on, the album is an enduring testament to Jack and George Barnett’s singular vision, a visceral collection of futurist chamber-pop that’s both menacing and beautiful. Influenced everything from Night Slugs to David Bowie, did this.

A second album in 2020 alone for Sun River’s Martin Rude and Causa Sui drummer Jakob Skøtt. Following the release of ‘The Discipline of Assent’ an album which was stitched together from first-takes and improvs, ‘The Dichotomy of Control’, recorded in July at Skøtt’s bandmate Jonas Munk’s studio, is perhaps more planned but is a no less funky take on spiritualised soul-jazz.

2020's plethora of exciting live albums continues with 'Thirty Year Itch', a recording of punk poppets The Wildhearts from their 2019 tour, one in which leader Ginger was reunited with bass player Danny McCormack. It captures the power of the band in a live setting and importantly doesn't forget to include the noise emanating from the crowd. It's the first proper Wildhearts live album (though there have been bootlegs) and one to perhaps listen to on a Friday night when contemplating another Zoom quiz.  

Leipzig seven-piece Flying Moon In Space (the moon doesn't fly though? Also, technically everything is in space ... whatever) play music driven by a motorik Krautrock pulse and imbued with techno/psych-pop influences. Their self-titled debut LP takes its cues from the likes of Can, Neu! and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, although the band's experimental nature means that they create an enveloping, pulsating world of swirling sound here.

During the first Coronavirus lockdown the British experimental guitarist Jon Attwood - a.k.a. yellow6 - kept a kind of aural diary of new sonic sketches. Here, he releases a handful of the things he recorded back then under the title ‘merry6mas 2020’. While not specifically related to the festive season, these ambient, economical and soulful pieces seem apt for the end of a year like no other.

An outgrowth of Raed Yassin and Paed Conca’s Praed project exploring Egyptian Shaabi music, Praed Orchestra! commenced in late 2018. Praed Orchestra interpolated the group’s existing material with new music in an improvised manner and with an expanded cast of musicians. ‘Live In Sharjah’ is a triple-LP box set commemorating these performances. 

Hunee has had a reputation for being one of Europe’s most impeccable selectors for a while now. With 'Hunchin’ All Night', he’s letting you in on a few of his secret weapons and most beloved jams. It covers plenty of four-to-the-floor dancefloor styles - Afro-disco, hi-life, techno and deep house - and features tracks by the likes of Larry Heard, Villa Abo, Don Laka etc. Also contains a cheeky Hunee edit of Trance Fusion’s ‘Mappa Mundi’.

While Dean Blunt has been more than prolific since the split of Hype Williams in 2012, Inga Copeland has taken things a little slower. The Smoke is her second LP as Lolina, and it finds Copeland at both her most playful and her most obtuse. She amps up the lackadaisical, detached elements of her sound so that they hover on the edge of musicality, but there is something about the way Copeland constructs her music that makes it uniquely gripping.

The Rush Hour label presents two highly sought-after gems from South Africa’s fertile late-Eighties house music scene, both of which come courtesy of Chicco. On the A-side, ‘Shigomase’ is an Afrobeat-inspired track whose controversial lyrics caught the attention of South Africa’s oppressive censorship regime, while the flip-side jam ‘Koshana’ is a slice of neon electro-house with a pop sensibility.

The second album on the Future Times label for Model Home, the joint project of hip-hop artist NAPPYNAPPA and producer Pat Cain. Created in league with Dolo Percussion, 'SE' is emblematic of the sound NAPPYNAPPA and Cain have created together over the last couple of years, one of rap spliced with experimental sonics. 

'Blue Box Sessions' sees Second Circle explore the early works of theatre, film and music producer (and the owner of now-closed Temple Records) Can Oral under his Khan moniker. This four-track 12” EP contains material recorded with analogue equipment to a DAT recorder with not an overdub in sight. Dinky, slightly fourth world Balearic house here - think D. Tiffany and Young Marco.

More sleepy psychedelic jams from Amsterdam-based duo Spill Gold, who release seven-track mini-album titled ‘Highway Hypnosis’ on Knekelhuis. There’s a distinctly autumnal feel to the band’s palette throughout 'Highway Hypnosis', a record equally capable of evoking light as well as darkness. Pop structures underpin kosmische influences. 

Fatima Yamaha is one of several aliases used by Dutch musician and producer Bas Bron. ‘Spontaneous Order’ was recorded over a five year period following his 2015 album ‘Imaginary Lines’. The album's sound is based in the worlds of P-Funk, Detroit techno and Chicago House, but there are a few curveballs along the way too.

Fatima Yamaha, despite being marketed as a young female of Turkish and Japanese heritage, is an alias of Dutch producer Bas Bron. No comment. Anyway, ‘Day We Met’ is taken from his album ‘Spontaneous Order’, a record which sees him twist P-funk and the famed house sounds of Chicago and Detroit. This EP features four remixes by electro heads like Legowelt and DMX Krew - each of them take the song further away from conventional structure.

Belgian producer Roméo Poirier makes his debut for Manchester-based sferic records with Hotel Nota, an album that acutely evokes the sensation of long, relaxed beach-based holidays. As if he’s closed his eyes and translated his memories onto record, Poirier’s textured, collage-based approach works beautifully. 

An exciting new work of minimalist wonder from Kali Malone, with additional contributions from Ellen Arkbro. The Sacrificial Code stretches across nearly two hours, and it's all about the organs. These majestic instruments are played with an austere drone purity, and are recorded in such a way as to give them a very particular texture. Out on iDEAL Recordings.

Released on Aphex Twin’s Rephlex imprint in 1998, the debut album from Leila divided opinion at the time of release - perhaps because it was made by a woman, and the IDM scene in the late-90s was very male-dominated. Painstakingly remastered by Rashad Becker, the immersive and intricate ‘Like Weather’ gets the reappraisal it’s long deserved. Just like the first thousand copies of the OG pressing, this edition of 'Like Weather' includes a bonus 7”.

The debut LP release from Japanese label Nakid, producer Mark Fell and percussionist Will Guthrie collaborate on ‘Infoldings’. This is a record consisting of unstable and fluid compositions of electronic music that explore the rhythmical constructions of Indonesian and Southern Indian musical traditions. It's also moderately jokes how similar the cover of this album is to 'File Under UK Metaplasm', the record that Fell's son Rian Treanor put out just weeks before 'Infoldings'.

‘Hark!’ sees US multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird embracing the Christmas spirit with an album of festive songs. The varied LP brings together seasonal originals and covers including John Cale’s ‘Andalucia’ and ‘Souvenirs’ by John Prine. It also includes his childhood favourite ‘Mille Cherubini in Coro’, a tune famously belted out by Luciano Pavarotti once.

'Szabodelico' is the sixth album by Causa Sui, the Danish psych-rockers led by Jonas Munk. With each release the band look to progress their sound, and this one is no exception. It took form through some loose, high-spirited jams before Munk mixed and added a few - but not too many - overdubs to make the final album. 

The title doesn't exactly roll off the tongue and Gerald Tenderfly might not be a name you are familiar with, but this 7" is going to be of interest to anyone who likes the best bits of IDM and dubstep. There is something of the Pye Corner Audio/Boards of Canada dreamlike wooze here, but 'BRKN03' also comes shot through with heavy bass and acid house moves. Four bonus tracks on the download too. 

Both influential figures in the Detroit techno and house scenes, Gerald Mitchell (of Los Hermanos and Underground Resistance) and singer Billy Love join forces as Celebrity BBQ Sauce Band. Their debut album on Moodymann's esteemed Mahogani Music label sees them wrangle jazz fusion/funk sounds and cast them against electronic backdrops.

Russian composer DJ Kassir is obsessed about confusion and weirdness in everyday life - and being a Moscow-dweller he's probably in the best place to monitor this. He uses such inspiration to create collages and sonic tomfoolery to document the post-reality that seems to be the norm for Earth over the last few years. 'Brown White' collects collaborative works that span 2017-2019 for the first time on vinyl.  

Synth experimentation and dub rhythms here from Sabaturin in the form of 'Kenemglev'. Despite having never met and only communicating via the internet, it's a remarkably seamless record that moves easily between Autechre-lite electronica to sparse, glitchy dub. Full marks to Simon Crab who designed the gorgeous, almost fractal-looking cover. Out on Holuzam. 

Pere Ubu-member-turned-aeroplane-pilot-turned-solo-musician Allen Ravenstine releases his third LP under his own name. ‘Electron Music / Shore Leave’ is intended to be heard as two separate EPs (one per side of vinyl) and consists of compounds of digital and analogue synths, acoustics and field recordings. It’s a brilliant insight into one of British alternative music’s most influential yet underrated figures.

Formed in 1980, Spanish industrial group Esplendor Geométrico are celebrating their forthieth anniversary at the time of writing. 'Años Nos Iluminan (Years Enlighten Us)' is a new album that charts their career and shows how they have grown as a band over time, perfecting their mesmerising industrial trance, noise, vocals and sound collages. The CD version of 'Años Nos Iluminan (Years Enlighten Us)' includes eight extra tracks.

'To See The Lights' was the second album by Gene, released in 1996. Although this is a compilation album, it is still regarded as a necessary piece in the band’s catalogue. It features some of their earliest recordings along with B-sides, live tracks and covers of the Bacharach & David song 'I Say A Little Prayer' and The Beatles’ 'Don't Let Me Down'.

'Libertine' was the final album by Britpop collective Gene. The band were most well-known for taking on the sound previously championed by the Smiths, and although they painstakingly removed some elements of originality and passion from the template Gene have arguably aged much better due to boasting a singer who hasn't become a kind of musical Jim Davidson in the intervening years. This is a 2xLP reissue on Demon. 

'Drawn To The Deep End' was the second studio album by Gene. It was originally released in 1997. The record contained the singles 'Fighting Fit', 'Speak To Me Someone' and 'Where Are They Now'. 'Drawn To The Deep End' is a charge of raw Britpop emotion delivered in Martin Rossiter’s Morrissey-esque vocal stylings.

'Revelations' was the third album by Gene, originally released in 1999. Fronted by Martin Rossiter and aided by guitarist Steve Mason, the band were influenced by the likes of The Smiths, The Clash, The Jam and The Faces. It opens with the relatively poppy single 'As Good As It Gets' and also includes the single 'Fill Her Up'. Reissue LP on Demon. 

Pure X are a trio from Austin, Texas who play melodic indie rock with a somewhat stoned delivery. 'Rare Ecstasy 2009 - 2019' compiles an overview of the band’s output, including some rare cuts, from the last ten years.  Following a six-year silence from the band, this compilation arrives in the same year as their self-titled comeback LP.

There he is. A man alone at the piano. Sir Nick Cave. Just like every other musician, Sir Nick couldn't tour during the Covid mess - but unlike every other musician, Cave donned his blackest suit and streamed himself playing without an audience in a big, empty room at Alexandra Palace. The results were, of course, breathtaking - Cave gave a sombre performance which straddled output from his entire career. And now you can own it, under the name of 'Idiot Prayer - Nick Cave Alone At Alexandra Palace', on double-LP or double-CD.

With ‘Pop Ambient 2021’, the Kompakt label marks twenty-one years of its 'Pop Ambient' compilation series, curated by the imprint’s founder Wolfgang Voigt in the name of creating perfect soundtracks for the post-clubbing comedown hours. As ever, it contains a list of established favourites and newcomers, including Yui Onodera, Blank Gloss, Thore Pfeiffer and many more. 

Enigmatic Canadian country singer Orville Peck follows his 2019 debut LP ’Pony’ with an EP ‘Show Pony’. There are guest appearances here from none other than Shania Twain, as well as Duncan Hay Jennings of Canadian indie rock band FRIGS. The record also features a cover of Bobby Gentry’s 1969 song ‘Fancy’.

Motorpsycho have been going for pretty much forever, releasing a slew of psych-rock of various different shades. 'Behind the Sun', their 2014 LP, was another concept album that went from heavy Led Zeppelin riffing to gentle ballads that recall the Laurel Canyon folkies of the '60s and '70s. Truly, Motorpsycho are an entire genre to themselves. Re-issue on Rune Grammofon. 

The fourth studio album from Californian alternative rockers The Neighbourhood, ‘Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones’ expands the group’s trademark moody, low-tempo rock to embrace a number of different influences. Notably, there are some synthesisers and other electronics on this thing - lesser-heard tones in the band's discography prior to now. It’s easily Jesse Rutherford and the guys’ most ambitious album to date.

Congolese-Belgian DJ Melika Ngombe Kolongo - a.k.a. Nkisi - presents the first of a new series of releases known as ‘Initiation’. The three-track 'INT001' continues Nkisi’s experiments in fusing pan-African percussion to hard-edged techno and industrial tones. The results are bracing, reminiscent of both L.I.E.S. Records and Serpente.

After the global pandemic prematurely ended Big Thief’s tour the band's singer, songwriter and guitarist Adrianne Lenker decided to make some new music. 'songs and instrumentals' is two separate albums being released as a double-LP and double-CD. The 'songs' bit features - guess what - eleven new songs, whilst 'instrumentals' features - that's right - two instrumental pieces. Both records were written and recorded in April 2020, the early days of lockdown, and both exhibit the incredible balance of strength and fragility that has seen Lenker proclaimed as something of a modern-day Leonard Cohen.

So, you know how you have been pretty excited about that new Autechre album 'SIGN' and are probably still getting your head around its intricacies? Well here's another thing to pile on top of that. Autechre did promise us two albums in 2020, and true to their word 'PLUS' is a further one hour and three minutes of their trademark warped electronics. Features future classic 'DekDre Scap B'. 

Reflecting on a rich, industrious career that stretches back to the mid-Eighties, American singer-songwriter Anton Barbeau presents one of his most personal albums ever in the shape of ‘Manbird’. Beginning with his childhood in Sacramento to his life now in Berlin, lyrical themes of escaping your hometown and the pull of the familiar are set to gently psychedelic folk-pop.

A Romance With Violence is the fourth album by Denver, Colorado black metal band Wayfarer. It sees the band fine-tuning their unique sound to create a deep and thoughtful work - which may sound very un-metal - but don’t worry, the riffs are plentiful and really bloody forceful. On Profound Lore.

‘Face The Facts’ is the result of a collaboration between producer and DJ Nick Moore - better known as Linkwood - and Scottish artist Other Lands. Recorded just before the first Coronavirus lockdown and conducted in an improvised spirit, the record features the intricate guitar work of Other Lands laid over Linkwood’s blends of post-punk, house and electronica.

Gorgeous, classic modern house tune from Floating Points unleashed on vinyl at last. Gotta love those electric synth squiggles and haunting keyboard pads - pure electro-jazz. 'Marilyn' comes backed with 'Farukx', which is seven minutes of summery electronic vibes and stellar strings. It's winter at the time of writing, but there're enough off-kilter summer sounds here to keep us warm.

The third and final instalment of Death Is Not The End’s series of cassette compilations documenting the doo-wop and R&B records coming out of Jamaica in the late Fifties/early Sixties. ‘If I Had A Pair Of Wings: Jamaican Doo Wop, Vol. 3’ provides a snapshot of the island’s burgeoning scene at the time, one where artists transformed U.S. singles into proto-reggae diamonds.

‘Occulto’ represents a dive into the archives of Italian film soundtrack composer Giuliano Sorgini. Drawn from a range of low-budget horror movies made in the 1970s, these atmospheric DIY scores, performed and recorded entirely by Sorgini at his Cat & Fox Studio in Rome, show the invention that often comes from necessity and restraint. Proper wiccan giallo-synth and library-funk, this.