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Review: Intensified, a longstanding UK ska band, returns with their first studio release in 13 years, presenting the delightful single 'SKA Campbell' b/w 'HAMSTERDAM.' True to their signature style, Intensified delivers a sweet and melodic ska anthem paying tribute to saxophone legend Dennis 'Ska' Campbell in 'SKA Campbell,' while 'HAMSTERDAM' offers a funky reggae nod to keyboard player Steffi's favorite TV show, The Wire. This release, featuring an infectious instrumental, sets the stage for their forthcoming 6th studio album later this year. The band's commitment to honoring ska's greats, exemplified by 'SKA CAMPBELL,' is commendable, showcasing their deep-rooted respect for the genre's history. Moreover, the diverse sleeve designs and vinyl colours add a unique touch, ensuring this release stands out in the ska community. Overall, Intensified continues to impress with their timeless sound and unwavering dedication to ska music.

Review: This project, which translates to "The Way of Music" in English, is a collaborative initiative spearheaded by Groh, founder of the esteemed Polish hip-hop label JuNouMi which was established in 2002. It marks a fusion of talents between Polish and Japanese artists and commenced with Twardowski crafting music using samples from Japanese albums followed by the inclusion of MCs KANETSUGU and Prykson Fisk. DJs 1an from Tokyo and DJ Eprom from Warsaw joined the ensemble while the design, handled by Magorzata "Mauko" Korczak, explores Japanese Shod? calligraphy. This 7" release marks the start of a new Polish-Japanese collaborative series with more to come.

Review: The latest offering from serial collaborator and cross-genre tastemaker Stephen O'Malley's Ideologic Organ imprint is a tender filigree bureau of acid folk sketches from Tokyo's Ai Aiso. Across seven tracks, she patiently meanders through broken and phased chord progressions, her simultaneously pure and wavering vocal lines forming elegant arcs over sparse beds of instrumentation and washes of room tone. Some tracks are bookended by applause, and it is this ostensibly 'indoorsy' atmosphere which lends the mini LP a great deal of charm; the delicate atmospherics seem to issue from an intimate and isolated space. Indeed, Bandcamp user Everyvillianislemons317 describes it as "The perfect album for a lonely night in the city." We're more than inclined to agree.

Review: Aniara's output has always been brilliantly designed for club deployment but could never really be considered as mere tools. The artists who appear on the Swedish imprint have a cultured sound and a knack for crafting maximum impact from minimal elements. Enter Mattias El Masouri who does just that with the sublime 'Time Dilation In Ultraviolet'. It's a hypnotic deep house cut with real drive that's down to the deft broken kick drum patterns, pulsing synth and heady pads that swirl above. 'Inre Dimension' is a 13-minute plus sonic daydream with paddy drums, drumming pads and perfectly airy hi-hats that anchor you in the heart and now as your mind wanders.

Review: We're big fans of this label here at Juno HQ as we have said before and how can you not be when it serves up soul as good as this? Mel Day delivers authentic deepness with 'Every Day I Try.' It is a heartfelt lament for lost love that is backed by the accomplished Tito Lopez Combo and some magnificent instrumentation. On the flip side, 'Baby Girl' sees Mel channelling the spirit of Joe Tex with confidence and flair. Produced under license from music maestro Harbans Srih, this vinyl-only release harks back to the golden era of soul music and is sure to prove a timeless modern classic.

Review: It's been seven years since the tragic passing of Chester Bennington and the abrupt end of nu-metal legends Linkin Park, while their legacy remains praised and intact by avid fans. Papercuts offers up a career-spanning greatest hits collection, yet rather than sequencing each bundle of tracks chronologically in terms of specific album release, the cuts are mixed with the design of flowing as naturally as possible, with the anthemic 'Faint' from 2003's Meteora rubbing shoulders with their iconic Jay-Z Collision Course collab 'Numb/Encore'. Elsewhere, 'One Step Closer'; the breakout single from 2000's genre-defining debut LP Hybrid Theory is followed directly by 'New Divide', which served as the lead single from the Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen soundtrack. From their rap-metal beginnings to their signature style of nu/alt-metal to the their calmer accessible later era, this compilation delivers a succinct yet sprawling distillation of Linkin Park's most vital contributions to the several dynamic scenes they helped to elevate.

Review: We always feel that a one-sided 12" is a real sign that an artist are label are hugely happy with what they are seeing up. And Adam Goldstone has every right to feel that way frankly as his 'Edge of the Night' is a classic deep house sermon that will bring plenty of emotions to the fore when it is dropped, either in the dead of night or just as the sun is coming up one morning, much like a tune such as Ron & Chez's 'Morning Factory'. The smoky vocals are well-treated, the smeared pads bring the soul and the drums and cuddly and warm. Perfect.

Review: In 1994, legendary hip-hop stoners Cypress Hill took the stage at Woodstock '94 and left an indelible mark on the iconic festival. With their groundbreaking fusion of hip-hop and rock, the 'Hill captivated the Woodstock crowd with their electrifying performances and brought all of the raw energy and innovative sounds they are so well loved for. The group's set at Woodstock '94 showcased their ability to command any stage, drawing fans from diverse musical backgrounds as they worked through many of their most well loved hit and in doing so solidified their status as pioneers of the rap-rock genre.

Review: Freddie McKay collaborates with The Jah Apostles for new dancehall-tinged 7" 'Bag Over Shoulder,' a reggae gem capturing the essence of Jamaican sunsets. McKay's soulful vocals ride effortlessly over the Apostles' mesmerising rhythms here, meaning that it is impossible not to be transported listeners to the golden shores of Jamaica at sundown. The infectious groove rolls deep and the and uplifting lyrics bring effortless charm and soul that are a testament to McKay's timeless talent on the mic. As always with reggae, a dubbed out version is on the flip.

Review: This is techno, but not as we know it from the Vigenere. Sparagamos (a fitting name given the word originally means to render, tear apart, or mangle) is behind these freaky beats but we nothing more about the artist. Suffice it to say they sure do have a fine grip of their studio and can manipulate sound in some thrilling ways. The opener is a warp-speed warehouse banger with distorted bass and manic energy, track two explores sludgy acid techno underworlds and track there is a twitchy cosmic workout with serene pads. 'Track 4' is a world of dystopian robotics while the flip side offers tripped-out, double-time dub techno, more acid intensity and experimental mind melters with exceptional sound design.

Notes: Maggot Brain Issue 16: Spring 2024

This is a really packed, special issue of Maggot Brain, with the feature cover story a comprehensive interview by celebrated writer Sasha Frere-Jones with essayist, Lucy Sante (who's written for every issue of MB since the start), on the occasion of her awesome memoir about transitioning, I Heard Her Call My Name.

Phill Niblock: A tribute to the genius musician, filmmaker, label head, and generous promoter of ecstatic sound, by Steve Silverstein.

Tresa Leigh: An in-depth feature on the star of Efficient Space's beloved Ghost Riders compilation! Really a beautiful, untold story.

Dredd Foole: As his legacy is revealed through Corbett vs Dempsey's archival series, Foole talks to Six Organs of Admittance's Ben Chasny about the role of his band the Din in the Boston underground. Plus sidebars from Christina Carter, Kris Price, and Phil Milstein.

Loopsel: Mike McGonigal on some of the most elusive, beautiful contemporary music, straight out of Gothenburg.

Jeff Noon: An illuminating interview with the British speculative writer on his newest work as well as the 30th anniversary of the stunning Vurt.

Sleater-Kinney: 30 vital years of uncompromising music, by none other than Audrey Golden!

Hudson of Feature Inc.: A celebration of the most innovative gallerist of our lifetime on the occasion of the Soberscove Press book about his work and life.

Shabazz Palaces: The creator of vital, spiritual hip-hop beautifully interviewed by Detroit-based musician and writer Zachary Weedon.

Birtha: Nate Carson's in-depth feature on the pioneering, all-women boogie-choogle act.

Shonto Begay: One of Maggot Brai's favourite contemporary writers, JD O'Brien, in deep discussion with the great Native American painter-with particular emphasis on how his works engage with and are influenced by music. This piece alone is so well-written and illustrated it's worth buying the issue for.

Some columns: The debut of archivist Andy Zax's fabulous 'Extinctophonics' column! Cassette reviews, plus copious book and record reviews as well! Ana Gavrilovska on Detroit-based jazz duo Balance! Nate Carson on the Earth documentary, in the debut of the music documentary column! The latest Icons column finds Michelle Dove exploring the work of Chicago's beloved Douglas McCombs! 13 Questions for contemporary folk great Lael Neale by Mike McGonigal! And more Lucy Sante!

Review: There's been rather a lot of noise about Jaguar II, Victoria Monet's much-delayed full-length follow up to 2021's Jaguar mini-album. The hype is, in many ways, understandable - it did recently scoop the 'Best R&B Album' award at the GRAMMYs. More importantly, it's also very good, with the decorated songwriter-turned-pop star confidently serving up retro-futurist gems who's punchy 21st century r&b beats come cloaked in musical motifs that frequently offer nods to black American music of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. The plentiful highlights include Lucky Daye hook-up 'Smoke', the dancehall-fired excellence of 'Party Girls' (featuring Buju Banton), the Fugees-esque beauty of 'How Does It Make You Feel', and the glossy disco-soul dreaminess of 'Hollywood', where her young daughter Hazel and Earth, Wind and Fire both play starring roles.

Review: Having previously successfully turned her hand to house and disco - many of our top pop performers have always been shapeshifting musical magpies (hello Madonna) - Beyonce Knowles Carter has now delved into the world of country music. No doubt you'll be bored of the endless discourse around Cowboy Carter, but that doesn't stop it from being a genuinely good album - a brilliant fusion of neo-soul, r&b and, yes, country music instrumentation that wisely leaves Beyonce's incredible voice front and centre. There are some genuinely notable covers - see her takes on the Beatles 'Blackbird' and Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' (featuring an introduction from her Dollyness) stand out - but the most striking songs are by and large her own work. For proof, see 'American Requiem', 'Most Wanted' (with Miley Cyrus), 'Sweet Honey Buckin' (with Shaboozy) and 'Tyrant'.

Review: Amsterdam-based techno purist Keith Carnal has established his own SEC ND- imprint with plenty of fine and no-frills outings before now. Here he returns to the label and drops his Verbal Response EP which is packed with energetic cuts. 'Cynicism' is a tunnelling groove with train-like drum loops and pulsing synths that bring the edge up top. There is a lo-fi greyscale atmosphere to the techno tension of 'Exorcism' with its smeared chords and 'Altruism' then gets more upright and bouncy with hammering hits and brushed metal drums all making you march. 'Heroism' is last up and brings the most intense sound of the lot thanks to a manic lead.

Review: Shewey Trax welcomes California-based Delicate Instruments aka Delinstr for a pair of cosmic new cuts that he serves up as two different mixes each. Opener '2 Another Planet' (Superspace Breakdown mix) has sugary video game melodies raining down like old school Mario or Tetris over thudding deep house kicks. The Delisntr Speed Down mix brings some twitchy acid details while 'Solamente' (Problems mix) is another beguiling mix of 8-bit melodies and supple drums that tap out hypnotic patterns while floating through space. The final Synth mix of the same cut is a more widescreen and far-sighted take to close out a perfectly astral EP.

Review: This Hawaii-based label consistently delivers soulful gems like this which is why we love it so much. Mel Day brings genuine depth with 'Every Day I Try,' a poignant reflection on lost love, complemented by the talented Tito Lopez Combo and superb instrumentation. On the other side, 'Baby Girl' showcases Mel's confident and stylish channelling of the spirit of Joe Tex. This vinyl-exclusive release, produced under license from the esteemed music maestro Harbans Srih, pays homage to the golden age of soul music and is destined to become a timeless modern classic.