Review: The Avidya label arrives with a bold new concept that sees it push itself to "step out of comfort zones to release a series of EPs of broad, challenging and deep music." The first affair is a fine one from four artists, the first of which is Lyon based procure A Strange Wedding from the Worst label. His slow trance locks you in and then Gothenburg trio Datasal come through with a prog rock and post funk and dance fusion. 84PC's contribution is peak time gold and Barcelona's Iro Aka arrive with another debut to round out this fine offering.
The Exaltics & Paris The Black Fu - "Wea Poni Zedin Form" (4:02)
Alex Jann - "Android Memory" (5:31)
Lost Souls Of Saturn - "Rave Is Back" (6:31)
Kim Cosmik - "Moonrise" (6:58)
Review: Ralph Lawson's Leeds based 20/20 Vision label has made a distinctive shift into electro territory over the last couple years. It is a sound the boss has said has long been in his heart despite him being best known as a house head and longtime resident at Back to Basics, and the quality of the tunes he unearths to put out more than backs that up. The Exaltics & Paris The Black Fu kick off with a shiny, bright, visceral metallic electro workout then three further cuts take in dark wave drum machine rhythms and acid-laced bangers.
Review: Fresh from releasing his "Sagittarii" album on Bear Funk, the ever-prolific Ilija Rudman is back on his own label Imogen with two stellar remixes from the mighty Ron Trent. First up is the vocal mix of the track, keeping Andre Espeut's passionate voice front and centre around a classy cascade of pattering rhythm and swirling deeper than deep keys. On the flip you get treated to the Imogen Soundsystem edit of Trent's instrumental, which finds the track charting a course for the stars in the most delicate and elegant of ways. Truly life affirming, soul-soaked stuff.
Review: We've been swimming in Luke Abbott's debut album since it landed on our desks this week. As one would expect from a member of the vaulted Border Community family, it's a record steeped in melody, gentle yet strong, perfect for at-home headphone escapism. Abbott is a master of kosmische, and on Holkham Drones he creates a lush soundscape that is psychedelic and richly textured, with similarities to be found in the work of modern contemporaries James Holden, Allez Allez and Four Tet. "Whitebox" is an intense swirling track that showcases the Norfolk producer's love of analogue equipment, while "Trans Forest Alignment" starts like a moodier version of LCD Soundsystem's "Losing My Edge" before submerging itself beneath a sea of melodic keys and atmospheric synth washes. Everything here is assembled using the most delicate of sounds, from the moody vibe of "Sirens For The Colour" through to "Brazil", which shines like a beacon of hope, while the ambient fuzz of "Dumb" offers one of the album's most moving moments. One of the finest releases of 2010 without a doubt.
Review: Already the winner of a Brit Award (Adele was voted the 'Critics Choice' - the most exciting new British artist expected to 'make it big' in 2008),
'19' is Adele's debut album. Citing influences as diverse as Etta James, Jill Scott, Bjork, Dusty Springfield, Billy Bragg, Billie Holiday, Jeff Buckley,
The Cure and Peggy Lee, Adele also recently completed her first solo UK tour, having toured previously with the likes of Jack Penate, Jamie T,
Raul Midon, Amos Lee and Devendra Banhart. '19' contains both her debut track 'Hometown Glory' and her smash single 'Chasing Pavements'.
Blues tinged and melancholic, Adele describes 'Chasing Pavements' as 'It's me being hopeful for a relationship that's very much over. The sort
of relationship you hate when you're in it, but miss when you're not'. A hymn to lost love and regret, 'Chasing Pavements' follows Adele's first
limited edition single 'Hometown Glory', which introduced her to the world to much critical acclaim, with NME calling it 'totally, absolutely beautiful',
Q Magazine calling her 'The voice of next year' and The Sunday Times saying 'A Star Is Born'
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