All India Radio
Fall
(Minty Fresh)
On "Permanent Evolutions", All India Radio caught my attention. When "Echo Other" came out there was no question that something special was brewing. Now that "Fall" has landed there is no question: All India Radio have reached a boiling point. ... read more

Various (Bagpak Records)
Bagpak Selects Vol. 1: Future Underground Mix Tape
(Bagpak Records)
A track is yet to be recorded that is both scary and ear-catching in equal proportions like "Liquid Swords" by the Genius, aka GZA, arguably the most prolific MC in the Wu-Tang Clan. Even if their 36 chambers managed to come to the foreground, the music of the clan always kept a considerable and undeniable underground appeal. That difficult balance between art and commerce is loosely addressed in the first installment of "Bagpak Selects", a compilation put out by New York-based Bagpak Records. ... read more

Snippet
I'm Peckish EP
(Steal My Oil)
Snippet has four tracks on this EP. "I'm Peckish" recalls the lighter side of sixties psychedelica, with a Syd Barrett/Sgt. Pepper sound. "Grow A Moustache" uses updated electronic effects, but its nonsense, sing/song lyrics ("I'm going to grow a moustache to look like your girlfriend") is also less than serious. ... read more

Earth Leakage Trip
Development
(NexGen Music)
Earth Leakage Trip has an eclectic CD here with "Development", a companion album to "Research". The duo of Neil Anthony and Tony LoBue use a lot of elements to develop these ten tracks, including trumpet samples, funk guitar, jazzy electric bass, bongos, and a bit of Latin. ... read more

Various (ObliqSound/Backdrop)
Nuspirit Helsinki: Our Favorite Things
(ObliqSound)
With less than a dozen singles, numerous remixes and a solitary full-length album to their credit, released in 2002, there is no arguing that Nuspirit Helsinki have created a strong and lasting impression. "Our Favorite Things" is a concept compilation series launched by ObliqSound via Backdrop in order to present music "freely and thoughtfully selected by notable genre-bending artists, in the spirit of legendary collections like Back To Mine and Late Night Tales." Nuspirit Helsinki took the helm on this series' maiden voyage. ... read more

Dusty
Keep It Raw EP
(Jazz&Milk Recordings)
The German label Jazz&Milk has released some corking tunes this year, but now it is the turn of their boss Dusty to show the rest of them how it is done. "Keep It Raw" might be only four tracks long, but packs one hell of a punch and also has the best use of a Meters sample this year. Other DJs should take note, if you're going to sample the greatest groove band of all time, at least have the decency to do what Dusty does and use them in a new and innovative way. ... read more

Nightmares On Wax
Thought So...
(Warp Records)
Like a diehard vegetarian sneaking a piece of sticky bacon, I cautiously pressed the play button to hear "Thought So...", the new Nightmares on Wax album, which comes after two mildly-received records, even amongst the sun-deprived nerds of the post-rave hordes. It's indeed been almost a decade since the Yorkshire-based project of George Evelyn and Robin Taylor-Firth dropped a decent set of microelectronic beats. ... read more

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