New releases last two weeks: All genres

Review: Sizzling-hot hip-hop duo Blue Lab Beats are on everybody's lips now, thanks at least in part to the announcement of their latest full-length album, Blue Eclipse. Heralding an exciting new era for the duo, these 12 songs reveal the depth and breadth of producer NK-OK, and multi-instrumentalist Mr DM's musical ambition. Throwing back to their debut EP 'Blue Skies', which even pre-dates their involvement with record labels, Blue Eclipse signals a circling back to their origins while also embracing the new; the pair's usual jazztronica remit is lent the utmost contemporary spin, with notes of drill, neoclassical, trap and Jersey bounce - all still prevalent styles - peeking through in these latest productions.

Notes: High-end amps and effects from vintage to modern with advanced flexibility

With the new GT-100 Version 2.0 update, BOSS' high-end multi-effects processor is now even more powerful than before, adding a host of great new features to its already formidable arsenal. Two new amp types are included, along with cutting-edge MDP effects, an acoustic guitar simulator, and an improved rotary effect. A convenient Guitar-to-MIDI function is on board as well, letting you connect to a computer to play soft synths and input MIDI note using your normal guitar. The GT-100's USB audio capabilities have been expanded too, providing greater flexibility for re-amping applications. And with the BOSS TONE STUDIO software, you can now edit GT-100 patches from a friendly graphical interface on your computer.

Advanced COSM Amps: Beyond Vintage

With its next-generation COSM processor, the GT-100 ushers in a new era of expression and sonic capabilities. Recreating the meticulous details of vintage amps and how they behave, the GT-100 excels in not only cloning classic amps, but in creating a new world of unimagined tones as well. The Amp Customize function lets you mutate classic amps beyond reality to construct completely new, unimagined sounds!

Simple and Intuitive User Interface

The GT-100's unique dual-LCD and eight-knob user interface provides fast access and intuitive control. There are no menus to navigate; every function is instantly available. The tone-customizing functionality has been improved as well-all patches, amps, and overdrives/distortions can be created from scratch and/or customized with the friendly graphical Tone Grid.

New Tonal Possibilities with the Accel Pedal

A new dimension of expression is available with the Accel pedal, which enables control of multiple parameters simultaneously, as well as time-variant effects such as Feedbacker, S-Bend, Twist, and more. Experiment with creative combinations of parameters and bring dynamic new sounds to your performances by interacting in real time with this cool pedal.

A/B Channel Divider Function

Another notable feature in the GT-100 is the versatile A/B Channel Divider. This lets you assign different amps and effects to each channel, either for blending together or switching between them with a footswitch. Going even further, you also have the ability to switch channels by playing strength or frequency range. With each channel capable of driving its own effects and amps settings, the range of tones gets wider and wilder! You can assign smooth, mild lead tones to the mid-to-high pitches, for example, and heavy, cutting tones to the lower notes-the tonal possibilities are endless.

Edit and Organize Sounds with BOSS TONE STUDIO

Available as a free download for Mac or Windows, BOSS TONE STUDIO gives you an intuitive graphical interface for creating and editing GT-100* effects patches from your computer via USB. The software also makes it easy to organize and archive patches, and to load them as needed for different gigs and recording sessions. If your computer has Internet access, BOSS TONE STUDIO provides an integrated connection to the BOSS TONE CENTRAL website, where you can preview and download free gig-ready patches created by top guitar pros directly into the GT-100.

*GT-100 Version 2.0 software is required for compatibility with BOSS TONE STUDIO.

BOSS TONE CENTRAL: Your Web Home for Free Patches, Instructional Vids, Artist Tips, and More

BOSS TONE CENTRAL is the ultimate destination for all players that use BOSS products. Evolving to include a growing selection of BOSS gear, this site gives you access to lots of premium content, including demo videos and free patches created by famous guitarists, touring pros, and session players.

Specs

AD Conversion: 24 bits + AF method

*AF method (Adaptive Focus method) is a proprietary method from Roland & BOSS that vastly improves the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the A/D and D/A converters.
DA Conversion: 24 bits
Sampling Rate: 44.1 kHz
Program Memories: 400: 200 (User) + 200 (Preset)

Effect Type:

COMP, PREAMP(*1), OD/DS(*2), EQ, FX1/FX2(*3), DELAY, CHORUS, REVERB, PEDAL FX, NS1/NS2, ACCEL FX

*1 PREAMP
NATURAL CLEAN, FULL RANGE, COMBO CRUNCH, STACK CRUNCH, HiGAIN STACK, POWER DRIVE, EXTREME LEAD, CORE METAL, JC-120, CLEAN TWIN, PRO CRUNCH, TWEED, DELUXE CRUNCH, VO DRIVE, VO LEAD, MATCH DRIVE, BG LEAD, BG DRIVE, MS1959 I, MS1959 I+II, R-FIER VINTAGE, R-FIER MODERN, T-AMP LEAD, SLDN, 5150 DRIVE, BGNR UB METAL*, ORNG ROCK REVERB*, CUSTOM

*2 OD/DS

MID BOOST, CLEAN BOOST, TREBLE BOOST, CRUNCH, NATURAL OD, WARM OD, FAT DS, LEAD DS, METAL DS, OCT FUZZ, A-DIST*, BLUES OD, OD-1, T-SCREAM, TURBO OD, DIST, RAT, GUV DS, DST+, METAL ZONE, '60S FUZZ, MUFF FACE, CUSTOM

*3 FX1/FX2

T.WAH, AUTO WAH, SUB WAH, ADV. COMP, LIMITER, SUB OD/DS, GRAPHIC EQ, PARA EQ, TONE MODIFY, GUITAR SIM., AC.GUITAR SIM*, SLOW GEAR, DEFRETTER, WAVE SYNTH, SITAR SIM., OCTAVE, PITCH SHIFTER, HARMONIST, OVERTONE*, SOUND HOLD, AC. PROCESSOR, PHASER, FLANGER, TREMOLO, ROTARY1, ROTARY2*, UNI-V, PAN, SLICER, VIBRATO, RING MOD., HUMANIZER, 2X2 CHORUS, SUB DELAY, TERA ECHO*

*Newly Added Features (Version 2.0)
A-DIST is available in OD/DS and in SUB OD/DS of FX2.
OVERTONE and TERA ECHO are only available in FX2.

Nominal Input Level
INPUT: -10 dBu
RETURN: -10 dBu
AUX IN: -20 dBu

Input Impedance
INPUT: 1 M ohm
RETURN: 100 k ohms
AUX IN: 47 k ohms

Nominal Output Level
OUTPUT: -10 dBu/+4 dBu
SEND: -10 dBu

Output Impedance
OUTPUT: 2 k ohms
SEND: 2 k ohms

Dynamic Range: 100 dB or greater (IHF-A)
Displays: Graphic LCD (132 x 64 dots, backlit LCD) x 2

Connectors
INPUT jack (1/4-inch phone type)
AUX IN jack (Stereo miniature phone type)
OUTPUT L/MONO, R jacks (1/4-inch phone type)
PHONES jack (Stereo 1/4-inch phone type)
EXT LOOP jacks (SEND, RETURN; 1/4-inch phone type)
AMP CONTROL jack (1/4-inch phone type)
SUB CTL1, 2/SUB EXP jack (1/4-inch TRS phone type)
USB port
MIDI connectors (IN, OUT)
DC IN jack

Power Supply: DC 9 V
Current Draw: 600 mA

Accessories:
AC adaptor(PSB-1U + AC Cord Set)
USB Cap
Owner's Manual

Options (sold separately)

Footswitch: FS-5U
Dual Footswitch: FS-6, FS-7
Expression Pedal: FV-500L/500H, EV-30, Roland EV-5
AC adaptor (PSB-1U)

*When purchasing an AC adaptor, be sure to specify the adaptor (from the list that follows) that is designed for the region in which it will be used, and the voltage supplied there.
(PSB-120/PSB-120TW/PSB-230EU/PSB-230UK/PSB-240A)

Size & weight

Width: 542 mm / 21-3/8 inches
Depth: 271 mm / 10-11/16 inches
Height: 80 mm / 3-3/16 inches
Weight: 4.8 kg / 10 lbs. 10 oz.

Review: Danielle Boutet's Pieces is a mysterious artifact of Quebecois marginalia, self-released in 1985. Seeming to land squarely in the French no wave niche, yet nonetheless defying it through sinister inversions of the form, the reissued album comes as a reminder of Boutet's impressive command over atmosphere and narrative. Arabesque monologues in her native French soar over warblingly warm arpeggios, which sound ready-primed for traversals of Transylvania, while the more languid cuts make use of impressively synthetic emulations of what could otherwise sound like affectedly acoustic instruments, such as the "harmonica" on 'En attendant l'aube'. This is a welcome unearthing of an otherwise unconscious album, made in the space between REM sleep and authentic, out-of-the-limelight living.

Review: Country and folk fans alike take heed - Muireann Bradley is a startling new talent in country and bluegrass from County Donegal in Ireland. I Kept These Old Blues absolutely calls back to a golden age of Americana, but Bradley's Irish lilt comes through and entwines with her faithful Southern twang to make for an endlessly charming end result. Her playing is pitch-perfect, stripped to the bone finger-picking all the better to savour the songs and the way they're sung. Don't sleep on this limited coloured vinyl edition of this rough diamond of an album.

Review: Brainstory's sophomore album, Sounds Good, marks a significant evolution for the LA-based trio. From signing with Big Crown Records to navigating the challenges of COVID, they've honed their craft and tightened their sound. Produced by Leon Michels, the album showcases Brainstory's expanded brotherhood and their ability to blend genres seamlessly. Tracks like 'Nobody But You' and 'Peach Optimo' reveal new facets of their musical range, while 'Gift Of Life' delves into existential themes with haunting beauty. With contributions from Claire Cottrill on 'Hanging On,' and introspective tracks like 'Too Yung,' Brainstory delivers a deeply personal and musically rich experience. Sounds Good is not just an album title, but a testament to Brainstory's growth and the genuine bonds that fuel their artistry.

Review: American jazz drummer Roy Brooks lit a fire under his career when he joined the Horace Silver Combo in the early 1960s; such was the foot in the door that it allowed him to join a multitude of later bands and projects of esteem, including those led by Stanley Turrentine, Yusef Lateef and Charles Mingus. Perhaps it was this early exposure to multiplicity that saw to his incredible collective magnum opus (by then having formed his own band, the Artistic Truth), Black Survival, a live album recorded in 1974 that outwardly heard Brooks' then newfangled sense of spirituality at the time, not to mention his anti-war thematic focus, overflows of emotion, and glorious monologues in favour of peace and unity. One for the spiritual jazz heads, we'd say you can hardly call yourself one if you haven't checked this one out.

Review: On his return to China in 2019 after a period away, Brock van Wey noticed a "strange, sound emitting item" on the table. It was a handmade 'steel tongue drum', a unique percussion instrument associated with spirituality and meditation in Asian culture. A few days later, van Wey recorded an extended jam of himself playing it, and later overdubbed electronic sounds, melodies, chords and textures. The result is The Depth of Rain, the long-serving ambient and drone artist's second Bvdub album of 2024. Where some of van Wey's ambient sets can tend towards the intense and claustrophobic, The Depth of Rain is a genuinely melodious, evocative and spring-like affair that ebbs and flows wonderfully throughout, providing entertainment and sonic bliss in equal measure.

Review: BBE has delivered something of a future classic here, as decorated Eastern European harpist Alinha Bzhezhinska and British tenor saxophonist Tony Kofi join forces on a picturesque full-length excursion dedicated to the memory of spiritual jazz maestro Pharoah Saunders. It's a genuinely unique and hugely evocative affair, with Kofi's meandering, mesmeric melodies and inspired improvisations snaking in and out of Bzhezhinska's dreamy harp motifs and melodic percussion instruments (think bells, marimbas, vibraphone, xylophone and so on). It's not a familiar musical palette, but it's one that consistently delivers - and then some. Our picks of a very strong bunch include lucid opener 'Tabula Rasu - Blank Slate', the exotic and psychedelic 'Audite Me - Hear Me', and the picturesque, meditative closing cut, 'Altera Vita - Another Life'.

Review: A surprise addition to the series of Belinda Carlisle reissues mainly slated for 2023 comes this 2024 top-up edition of Real, complementing the already-out Demon Records versions of Heaven On Earth and Runaway Horses. Real is Carlisle's fifth studio album, for which a decided wardrobe reshuffle captures the mood; famously, the singer swapped her prior glamorous look for a jeans and tee shirt drip, coinciding with the ironic theme of authenticity which recurs throughout the album. Famed for its badboy biker-loving ballad 'Big Scary Animal', on which Carlisle confronts the id through coming face-to-face with 'feelings hid', and 'Lay Down Your Arms', on which a wild-western theme is subverted to provoke the sense of a lawless relationship triangle up for grabs.

Review: Released in 1993 and now reissued via its original label Demon, Belinda Carlisle's fifth solo album was notable for its standout singles 'Big Scary Animal' and 'Lay Down Your Arms', both of which showed off her raunchy, large, all-American style. At this stage in her career, we witnessed Carlisle deliberate on her femininity; re-form her agency under patriarchy; and subvert classic Westernized images of opulence, romance and wealth; all while keeping things instrumental energized and hey-ho. Now, once more, you can reexperience Carlisle's return to authentic source, with Real.

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: New Jersey house don Kerri Chandler is rightfully lauded as a hero of the scene. He continues to pour his heart and soul into every record and imbue his music with real-world emotions that elevate his tunes. He is of course a master of a deep but driving sound that borrows from soul, funk and jazz in ignitible ways. The third volume of his Lost & Found EP series on his own label Kaoz Theory is packed with more gold, from the slinky depths of 'Let It (Give Me Back My Love)' to the soul staring vocal work of 'Another Dawn' via more paired back sounds on 'The Bassline' (Kerri Dark mix) and the percussive energy of 'The Breeze.' Yet another essential Kerri 12" for your collection.

Review: Your Day Will Come is the debut album from Chanel Beads (Shane Lavers), a fresh face and breakout force in the realm of contemporary, dreamy avant-garde music. The New York musician's first LP here follows up 2022 singles 'Ef' and 'True Altruism', and hears him fleshing out his distinctly catatonic and silken sound, achieved by his patented method of layering acoustic and synthetic instruments. A veritable traversal of the fantasy in sound, the album was born of Lavers' experience of lockdown in 2020, during which time the musician found himself reexamining his relationship to music and artistry, in a bid to find his authenticity. A recollection of an early childhood experience of loss followed, an experience which informs on the album's psychic-stylistic meanderings, which span every facet of electronic to punk to dream pop to pysch-funk to neoclassical folk.

Review: Rapidfire techno-trance from Berlin's Changer, in the form of four rogue planetary collisions which, we must admit, we weren't ready for. In fact, it's pretty much statistically impossible for a human body to survive exoplanetary impact; all Changer promises with this EP is to help guide us through the emotional tumult that might ensue, and to perhaps convert said worry to excitement. While opener 'The Carrier' impresses somewhat with its furtive fast-trackings of bass and low-slung yet lightfooted kicks, it's the ensuing 'Undiscovered Expeditions' and jackhammering 'Type 2' that really capture our imaginations, with their relentless cosmic swirls and flustered synths caressing the top edges of things.

Review: French outfit Chateau Flight have spent two years in the studio making music, playing around and experimenting and now the fruits of that work are presented on this new album La Folie Studio. It is full of the sound of analogue machines conversing and the artists themselves speaking through their darkened basslines or eerie pads. Occult worlds are crafted, ambient soundscapes are cooked up and leftfield cosmic explorations occur throughout a journeying album full of a wide range of emotions. This lovely record features guests on the odd track such as Johnny Nash on guitar, Cosmic Neman mumbling on 'Mange', John Cravache playing 'his special organ" and Bony Bikaye singing on 'Esika Molimo Ezali'. It's an occult world of left of centre sound that will keep you coming back for more.

Review: It is five up for the French label Chivalry here and the eponymous production outfit is behind the sounds which are distinctly futuristic and techno-minded. The opener rides on gurgling low ends and distant synth tension that is always on the rise as whistles vie for your attention up front. 'Track 2' is another wonky and industrial tech house sound with snappy drums that will jerk the floor into action and 'Track 3' then gets a little more smooth with its warped tones and alien sound effects. Last of all is 'Track 4', a jacked-up tune that spins you out on loopy synth madness.