Back catalogue: Post Rock/Experimental

Review: Since their 2020 reunion, avant-garde metal absurdists Mr. Bungle, fronted by vocalist extraordinaire Mike Patton (Faith No More, Fantomas, Tomahawk, Peeping Tom, Dead Cross) have committed to a very on-brand resurgence by re-recording their primitive thrash metal indebted Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny Demo, and touring as a thrash revival outfit beefing up their sets with old school covers and even adding Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian to the mix. Almost as a sign of good will to the somewhat bewildered fanbase who had initially hoped upon the band's return for a glorious revisit to their seminal trio of LPs released through the 90s that spanned everything from funk and jazz metal, to carnival music, to experimental Arabic techno-punk, to Burt Bacharach on mescaline psycho-AOR; the collective have now unveiled news of the Quote Unquote box set, featuring 1991's self-titled debut full-length, 1995's Disco Volante and 1999's California. Remixed and remastered by Scott Hull onto black 140g 2xLP vinyl sets, the latter two LPs come complete with unearthed, never before released compositions tracked during each album's respective recording sessions. Housed in a lush metallic foil box, these remasters come from the original tapes, marking the purest version of these separate challenging masterpieces to ever be made available to wax.

Review: Don't get it confused; this isn't just a simple reissue of Neu!'s first album, but rather a tributary collection box of the krautrock pioneers' first four albums. And that's not to mention all the new reworks of the debut LP's tracks from various bands whose members double up as megafans - including Mogwai, The National, and Idles. A stonking, lead double-time EBM remix of 'Hallogallo' comes from Stephen Morris and Gabe Guernsey, and sets an impressive-progressive tone for the album to follow.

Review: The complete studio recordings from Austin, Texas noise rockers Scratch Acid - all remastered from the original tapes. Formed in 1982, they received minimal attention outside their hometown scene and their time as a band was short-lived as they split in 1987. Nevertheless, the band members have punk rock CV's for the ages (frontman David Yow formed The Jesus Lizard with bassist David Sims) and they leave in their wake a treasure-trove of frenzied, darkly-atmospheric tunes. The recordings, which you leave you dumbfounded how they didn't become more popular, are the perfect companion to messy nights in. Instead of looking like a hipster-by-numbers and putting Nick Cave's The Birthday Party on - put a track from this collection on instead; say 'Owner's Lament'. It's way cooler.

Review: Die Kosmischen Kuriere is a vital tenet in the story of Krautrock, responsible for releasing some of the most groundbreaking works to emerge from the alternative rock scene in Germany in the 70s. More recently they've concerned themselves with reissues of albums which have often been woefully unavailable for much too long, and here is a prime example. Fronted by Walter Wegmuller, this is actually more of a supergroup featuring Klaus Schulze, Manuel Gottsching and members of Wallenstein. It's a supremely rare and sought after record, and the label have gone all out on presenting this high-end box set edition of its overdue reissue, complete with a set of tarot cards for your own cosmic exploration.