Double Six 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Mercy is John Cale's first new music in a decade, which is already a treat for the ears of his fans. And they are numerous given his former role as a founding member of the cult Velvet Underground band. The Welshman has remained a tirelessly inventive artist throughout his long career whether making gnarly rock, bewitching chamber music or raw electronic sounds. This record finds him crafting dead-of-night electronic sounds with their own sense of soul. Helping him make this beguiling mix of tender love songs and dark visions of the future are top talents like Actress, Laurel Halo and Animal Collective amongst many more.

Review: When you create a musical legacy like The Beta Band did it can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you'll forever be remembered with a full chapter in the pantheons of popular British music. The opposite of a passing footnote, despite the fact you still rank as a comparatively niche and 'underground' (for want of a better word) group in the grand scheme of things. On the other, there's going to be heaps of expectation on anything you do subsequently, both from yourself and the great, rather unforgiving public. Thankfully, for Steve Mason, he's more than lived up to those expectations across a slew of amazing solo album, both under his name and various guises, and is back to do the same again on Brothers & Sisters. Moreover, his first full length since 2019 might be his best to date, spanning grand maximalist compositions to intimate, slow burn piano simplicity.

Review: Steve Mason is back with a fifth solo studio album and it is another one that finds him tap into new emotional reserves. He manages to subtly fuse themes that are both personal yet political with honest songwriting and vibrant musicianship. This always emotive record uplifts no end with its deeply engaging lyrical motifs. It also features some top guests in the form of Pakistani singer Javed Bashir, British gospel singers Jayando Cole, Keshia Smith, Connie McCall and Adrian Blake and santoor playing from Kaviraj Singh. This version comes on gatefold vinyl with an insert and a download code.