This was the golden age of Adam & The Ants - for one or two of the more serious-minded post-punk fans from the early 80s at the very least. A BBC Sessions album that is a tribute to the great DJ himself, John Peel who, had it not been for him, many may never had been introduced to the band. Featuring many different versions of tracks that were included on the debut Dirk Wears White Sox (released later in 1979), these tracks seem even more adrenalin-fuelled that the versions we eventually heard on the fantastic debut that for many has never been matched by anyone since. The opening two tracks, however, come from the early 1978 session that were not part of the debut and opening track 'Lou' doesn't even feature Adam Ant on lead vocals. This track was performed by the band's then manager and punk icon Jordan and sits well with the rest of this impressive collection of recordings that could be classed as Adam & The Ants part one (of three different versions). These sessions link the first two versions of the band very well and are a world apart from the commercial and more successful songs that the band eventually wrote and released a few years later that eventually made them a household - and playground - name for the next decade.

The Jazz Crusaders' Freedom Sound blends hard bop and soul-jazz in a way that feels both fresh and timeless. The band delivers a tight, energetic performance, with each member adding their distinct touch to the album's punchy grooves. The horns are sharp and emotive, while the rhythm section locks in with precision, creating a perfect backdrop for the solos. Tracks like 'The Thrust' showcase their ability to seamlessly merge complexity with accessibility, making this a standout album that defines their early sound. It's a work that thrives on its energy and bold experimentation.

Sunfear is a project from Turkish multidisciplinary artist Eylul Deniz who now returns to Dark Entries with her sophomore album. Deniz has been making waves in sound since 2017 when she debuted her blend of ambient and experimental music using piano, guitar, voice and synths as tools for storytelling and self-expression. Inspired by Dante's Love That Moves the Sun and Other Stars, Pessoa's poems and Turkish poet Lale Muldur, this darker follow-up to Octopus channels some of her own personal loss and grief. Tracks like 'Above' pair sparse guitar riffs with swirling electronics, 'Bright and Wild' contrasts lush drones with jagged feedback and there are also hints of hope in the likes of 'Form Changed.' A great return.

First released on streaming platforms last summer, Wilco's 'Hot Sun Cool Shroud' EP was uniformly praised by critics. Much more than a stop gap between albums (it arrived roughly 12 months after the outfit's lauded 13th studio full-length, Cousin), the six-track set bristles with inventiveness while flitting between styles and tempos. So, opener 'Hot Sun', a sticky slab of Americana-tinged jangly indie brilliance, is followed by the reverb and solo-laden alt-rock squall of 'Livid' and the gentle, string-laden swoon of 'Ice Cream'. And so it continues, with the fuzzy positivity and weary vocals of 'Annihilation' being joined by the pleasant, impossible-to-pigeonhole experimentalism of 'Inside The Bell Bones' and the twinkling, heartfelt melancholia of 'Say You Love Me'.