DICTAPHONE Vinyl & CDs

Review: Belgian-German band Dictaphone are back with a fifth album that follows on from their highly acclaimed last full length ARP70. One again here leader Oliver Doerell is joined by partners Roger Doring on clarinet and saxophone, and Alex Stolze on violins. The band continue to explore their notion of morbid instruments with an old tale machine and shadowy bass clarinet adding to the many layers of intriguing and mystery. The tracks here are ghostly and spooky, with 10 different journeys into sombre musical darkness that are never austere, but always fascinating. Timely, minimal and unusual, this is a quietly compelling masterpiece.