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Review: After years of silence following the loss of Sonny Knight in 2017, former Lakers members Blair Krivanek and Cy Pierpont return with their new project, Ace Box Shift. The duo have made plenty of standout contributions to the soul revival scene before now and here they debut on Secret Stash Records with another pair of fiery instrumental cuts that work exceptionally well for DJs and dancefloors alike. They find Krivanek's jazz-infused guitar work meeting Pierpont's pounding rhythms with raw, funk-driven results that make for a bold, high-energy comeback that pays tribute to their roots while also moving things onwards.

Review: Amorphic and Tensal hook back in to the machine to dialyse their crafts once more, with 'Highland Frequencies' offering up four, machine-numbered atoning lambs to our mech overlords, following up the equally arrayed 'Distant Landscapes' EP (2024) on Blueprint. Now bringing their distinctive cataloguing system to the discographic vanitas Mord, four more 'AT' tracks make for an irresistibly well-layered, synthetically one-of-a-kind release. Only 'AT4' gets a subtitle, 'The Sleepwalker', where a sandman's slumbrous, lollygaggling beats somehow, at the same time, betray a subconscious, paradoxical restlessness.

Review: By now, you should all know the story of Atoms for Peace, the new all-star leftfield rock outfit founded by Thom Yorke and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. Amok is the five-piece's full-length debut, following a couple of well-received singles on XL and 50 Weapons. While there are obvious similarities with the path Radiohead have taken over recent years - curious beats influenced by dubstep and IDM, haunting soundscapes and intoxicating compositions - there's far greater warmth and vibrancy to the songs than some of Yorke's other projects. Ultimately, it sounds like what it is: a bunch of experimental-minded mates getting together to make music. It comes highly recommended.

Review: The riffing 'Latin Strut' by Joe Bataan, colloquially known as the "King of Latin Soul", was first released in 1974. This was an early joint outing between specialist Latin music pushers Mericana Records and RCA Victor; having already earned his name as a releaser of many a gold-rimmed, inner-labelled 7" record, Bataan was well into his acetates and LPs game by the point of his comeup in Spanish Harlem, New York. Backed as it was in '74 by 'Peace, Friendship & Solidarity', a waltzing song dedicated to the plight of Berliners during the Cold War, the star funk-samba shuffle 'Latin Strut' contrasts as a sizzling solicitation of descending contrapuntal piano and Quena fluting pizzazz.

Review: Vintage synthesiser fetishists Belbury Poly were last on record with author Justin Hopper and folk musician Sharron Kraus back in 2019 for the superb Chanctonbury Rings album. Here we're treated to a reissue of their very first EP Farmer's Angle from 2004, all magical electro-folk and left of centre new sound worlds that combine both new and old.

Review: This dual release from Studio 16 and Town & Country offers up some exceptional roots and lover's rock fusion sounds that swell the heart in every way. It is the brilliant Barry Brown who steps up to deliver the vocal on the sick early 80s 'Boxing' rhythm. His rhythmic delivery chimes with the natty chords and earthy guitar riffs as the heavyweight bass meanders away down low. On the flip, it's Joe Gibbs & The Professionals who get busy with a dubbed-out version they name 'Fight Back'. Pure fire, so do not sleep.

Review: The Swiss producer and mastering engineer, now rooted in Lisbon, Chlar returns with an evocative slab of techno that feels both ancient and forward facing. With over a dozen EPs under their belt, this latest four-tracker solidifies his mastery of atmospheric, rhythm-heavy sound design. Side-A opens with 'Altitude', a primal and hedonistic tribal techno cut that recalls the spirit of Blueprint Records or early James Ruskin. It's a raw, driving rhythm that feels carved out of stone, a cavernous groove echoing through the walls of a rhythm cave. 'Serac' follows with a deep bassline and a futuristic, yet organic pulse that balances modern machine funk with a ceremonial, ritualistic undertone. There's a timeless quality to the way it moves. Side-B begins with 'Lamin', perhaps the EP's most cinematic piece. It's clean and spacious, yet cloaked in tension, like an alien landscape where mystery simmers beneath the surface. 'Phantom Grid' closes the record with a no-nonsense percussive workout, all warehouse minimalism and skeletal intensity, perfect for peak-hour darkness. It's atmospheric, confident and comes with a big dose of sonic storytelling. What more could you want from your techno?!

Review: In 2015, Texas & London-based trio Khruangbin's debut album 'The Universe Smiles Upon You' garnered wide critical acclaim and captured attention for its seamless genre-blending and internationally shaped sound - one that evidently has deep roots in Thai-funk cassette culture. Similarly to their debut, sophomore record 'Con Todo El Mundo' is a cocktail of largely instrumental surf-rock, afro-funk, middle-eastern and far-eastern influences, mixed with warmth and soul. As if their pallette wasn't diverse enough, the additions of the pared back boogie on 'Evan Finds The Third Room', the widescreen dream-pop of 'A Hymn' and deeply intricate writing of closer 'Friday Morning', are illustrative of a band who have worked hard to broaden their horizons while keeping their roots in mind and, despite transatlantic bases, clearly remain a stunningly cohesive and well-matched outfit.

Review: The Joe Gibbs label is busy reissuing some classic and often fairly sought-after roots tunes from back in the day and next up is this one which comes on a limited run of 45rpms. It kicks off with Junior Murvin who is of course best known for his iconic 'Police & Thieves' tune used in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Her hit is his tough vocal cut 'Cool Out Son' from the late 70s gets served up and is sure to get put through its paces on plenty of big systems this summer. On the flip is a fine dub from The Mighty Two.

Review: Ninja Records looks to build on the success of its first outing with a new outing from Miroloja who are brothers and key players in the Parisian underground with great credits already to their name on Berg Audio, Tzinah Records and OLO RECORDS. Their stripped-back but tight sound is laid bare on opener 'Linkblow' with its warm house kicks and wet clicks soon to make you move. 'Morgan' is speedier with some space-tech vibes and a snappier low-end. Closer 'Krazyteora' then explores a creepy late-night urban landscape with some cyclical drums and synths moving things onwards.

Review: The long-time preservers of house heritage at Chiwax welcome Nacho Marco for more timeless sounds that arrive perfectly for sunny days. Opener 'Cherry On Top' has a nice gentle Balearic feel with vocals off in the distance and supple piano chords in the foreground next to more widescreen synth smears. 'Tequila Sunrise' brings organ lines to the fore with a 90s New York feel while more Balearic energy comes from the lead sax. 'Black Velvet' is more strident and textured for the nighttime club sessions and 'Twinkle' closes with a joyous sense of celebration, old school bass and unbridled piano happiness.

Review: First released in 1999, Swayzak's 'Floyd/Doobie' shook the British duo's catalogue. Though it wasn't 'Bueno' or 'Fukumachi', this deep house cut was the next best choice for followers of the then burgeoning tech house circuit. Swayzak were already favourites on this and the deep house scene, and had clawed in acclaim for their involvement in both as early as 1993. One particularly prolix bio deems them the incipients of "1st wave 2000-era progressive deep minimal", which is too analytic even for us manic categorisers. No, we prefer to take these two big-hitters as they are: brimming with enthusiasm for a gadget-packed future, 'Floyd' fizzes and twitches with the pulsing blurts of a saw synth, as if to suggest constant magnetic stimulation from above. 'Doobie', meanwhile, hears our protagonist disrobe the techno utility belt, returning to a wireless home, so to gaze out over a subtly detuned chord landscape set to munching percs.

Review: Greek producer Stelios Vassiloudid has been making techno moves since the turn of the millennium under a range of different aliases. Here he appears as himself with four supercharged dub techno cuts for Dubwax. 'Lie In Wait' is a really tight, taught affair with pinging kicks and icy hi-hat ringlets. 'MIA' is more warm and vibes with a soulful core and underlapping bass waves. There is a more minimal and abstract sound to the curious dub bumps of 'Reverse Engineer' that encourage you to be at your most fluid. 'Grains' shuts down with grainy lo-fi pads, vinyl crackle and sparse kick that soundtrack an underwater jaunt. There is plenty of subtle variation to these rhythms which makes it a dead handy dub EP.

Review: Donna Washington is a US soul singer from LA who had a number of big hit including her duet with The Dramatics' LJ Reynolds, 'I'm Into You' 'You Can't Hide From The Boogie' is a disco gem that featured on the Boogie Times Presents The Great Collectors Vol. 8 compilation back in 2008 but now get its own pressing on a standalone 7". It's leggy, glossy and a real lung buster with funky drums and big horns. Linda Clifford's 'Build A Fire' is another track from the 1980s boogie and disco era that still bangs but has a more deep, stripped-back and seductive sound.

Review: Germany's gold standard soul, funk and sick label Tramp has dug deep again for this one. It's a reissue of Joe Washington & Wash's 1975 EP Blueberry Hill. It's a slice of wax that is hard to find and pricey on the second hand market and it's not hard to see why. The A-side title track is a funky number with big wind stabs and loose-limbed drums, hand claps and organic percussion. Pure vibes. 'Look Me In The Eyes' gets more raw and vulnerable with a slow motion, string-laced soul sound that will melt the heart.