Juno Recommends Leftfield: May 2024

Review: Current 93, led by David Tibet, has often featured a rotating lineup of musicians (with Bjork and Nick Cave among the contributors), with Michael Cashmore and Steven Stapleton as more permanent members and appearing on several releases. Formed in 1982, the group released their ritualistic debut single, LAShTAL, in 1984 and were initially known for their noisy soundscapes but transitioned to an "apocalyptic folk" sound in 1986. This month they have pressed up 500 copies of a series of new albums that layer up acoustic guitars and atonal vocals into alluring and ghostly soundtracks of highly evocative drone, ambient and experimental sounds.

Review: To celebrate Current 93's London and Hastings Channellings, a number of the experimental artist's albums are being repressed having long since become hard-to-find, expensive yet sought-after classics. The Astral Crimes Of Stephen Hawk is actually a new one that comes in the form of two side-long pieces that tap into his signature noisy soundscapes and apocalyptic folk with acoustic guitars and atonal vocals always evolving and making for unsettling listening. This one comes on glow-in-the-dark vinyl with a Risographed insert featuring special artwork by Tibet himself.

Review: David Tibet is the man behind Current 93. He started the project back in the 80s and four decades on it still keeps on turning out some brilliantly haunting drone, ambient, synth and experimental fusions that are full of ghostly sounds and unsettling moods. Much of his material is hard to find and/or out of print but a couple of them have been reissued in limited numbers to celebrate the London and Hastings Channellings. This is one of them and it comes with his own artwork on the front and a Risographed insert.

Review: In May 2024, 500 copies of each of David Tibet's long-running experimental music outfit Current 93's albums were released to celebrate the London and Hastings Channellings. Each title includes a Risographed insert featuring artwork by Tibet on the front and the title and catalogue number in his handwriting on the reverse side. He started this project four decades ago back in the 80s and it is still going strong today. For fans of outlier music and experimental atmospheres, there are few finer acts out there.

Review: Live at the Teatro Iberico by English experimental - or apocalyptic folk, as they are sometimes wonderfully dubbed - group Current 93 capture a transcendent performance that resonates deeply with themes of death, loss, and hope. David Tibet's emotive delivery, alongside his talented ensemble, crafts an experience that transcends dimensions. The first five tracks, predominantly from Soft Black Stars, are hauntingly beautiful, with 'Whilst the Night Rejoices Profound and Still' featuring Antony on vocals, standing out as a pinnacle moment alongside breathtaking closing moments marked by feedback-laden guitars and sublime piano.

Review: The excellent Minimal Wave serves up a long-awaited LP here that features unreleased treasures from the influential UK duo, Vicious Pink, who first met at The Warehouse night-club in Leeds in the late 1970s and went on to reshape synth-pop. They notoriously lent their backing vocals to friends Soft Cell but went on to have success as a duo with avant-garde singles that defied norms and climbed the UK dance charts between 1982 and 1986. Now, Unexpected offers glimpses into their creative process and is packed with pop experiments recorded on the fly, some of which are with Dave Ball of Soft Vell/Grid fame. Limited to 999 copies on Coke bottle clear vinyl, this release is a true collector's gem that includes an exclusive postcard.

Review: Darren Cunningham's latest full-length LP, Statik, is yet another bullseye for the experimental musician. Seeming to nail that impossible balance on the fulcrum between 'static' or 'still' digital noise and 'watery' melodies alluded to in the many titles on offer here ('Dolphin Spray', 'Doves Over Atlantis', 'Cafe del Mars'), this one is ultimately a worthy proof of concept: that even the most arid, bare-bones music can possibly originate from a flow state; that water itself is not wet. Get ready for an ice-cold plunge into a sonic liquid you've likely never immersed yourself in before.

Review: Four Flies presents a gem for vinyl collectors with the 7" release of Riz Ortolani's soundtrack highlights from Confessione di un commissario di polizia al procuratore della Repubblica. Side-1's 'Serena e Lomunno' showcases an exceptional quartet's jazzy spell, weaving bass, electric guitar, drums, and piano into a standout groove. On Side-2, Il ricordo di Serena continues the magic with a trio, maintaining the rhythmic essence while sacrificing none of the brilliance. The interplay of bass and drums is the backbone, adorned by electric guitar and piano's refined phrasings. The result? Irresistible jazz-funk breaks, ripe for sampling. A must-have addition to Four Flies' series of 45s celebrating Italy's golden age soundtracks and library productions, this release is essential for any serious Italian sound enthusiast's collection.

Review: Darren Cunningham's work as Actress has always been top drawer, though you get the feeling that his relationships with record labels have sometimes been a bit testing. The good news is that he seems to have finally found a supportive home in Norwegian experimental music powerhouse Smalltown Supersound. Put simply, Statik, the tenth Actress album, is one of his most immaculate and immersive sets to date, with Cunningham shuffling between heady, slow-born electronic soundscapes, smacked-out IDM, glitchy aural collages full of minor-key melodies, blissed out dancefloor workouts (see the brilliant 'Ray'), experimental ambient dub and spacey excellence ('Cafe Del Mars').

Review: The late great Muslimgauze is a cult figure when it comes to experimental electronic music. He made several revered records that have been reissued since his death and helped to reassert his status. Maroon is a work that like much of his output brings space, colour, depth, and illusion to sound. It is densely layered and textured and finds Bryn Jones, the Mancunian behind Muslimgauze, assaulting all the senses. From the rusty sounds and smeared voices of 'Thimble Cups Of Urdu' to the dense collage of drones, tin pot hits and obscured mutterings of 'Harem Of Dogs' this is a brilliantly idiosyncratic work.

Review: English Electric masterfully bridges OMD's storied past and a visionary future. This second album since their 2006 reformation features nods to Kraftwerk - acknowledged as their original inspiration, having played in their native Liverpool's Empire venue in 1975 - Philip Glass's Einstein on the Beach and their own classic hits. Tracks like 'Metroland' pay homage to Kraftwerk's 'Europe Endless' while introducing post-industrial beats, reflecting the band's evolution. The album's thematic undertone, inspired by the defunct UK firm English Electric, underscores a nostalgic futurism. 'Kissing the Machine,' a rework with Kraftwerk's Karl Bartos, and 'Helen of Troy,' reminiscent of 'Joan of Arc,' highlight their timeless charm. Songs like 'Our System' blend aggressive EBM influences without merely replicating past sounds. The album's opening, 'Please Remain Seated,' poignantly announces, 'The future that you anticipated has been cancelled,' which has the band poking fun at critics putting their timeless sound in a 80s box. OMD's English Electric stands strong, with tracks like 'Atomic Ranch' and 'The Future Will Be Silent' showing their comfort in their unique retro-futuristic sound. Reissued on vinyl with stunning artwork, this album not only recalls their legacy but also cements their groove in modern times.

Review: CHBB was a project by Beate Bartel and Chris Haas that developed from a collaboration first embarked upon in 1981, while working on the self-titled album Liaisons Dangereuses. After initially releasing their music only on four limited cassettes, this compilation from Soulsheriff flaunts their complete works, including all recordings from the original tapes paired with several new and original tracks by each artist. One can hardly tell the difference between original and new here; from the surreally throat-sung contraltos of 'NBKE' to the jankily strange doubletimes of 'Bali', from the the warbly hypnotisms of 'Shapeshifter' to the womping-kicks-over-German-language-incantations of 'Ima Iki-Mashoo', there's an industrial, experimental treat here for everyone.

Review: Actress fleshes out the heavy melodics on his tenth studio album Statik, a testament to the producer otherwise known as Darren Cunningham's continued preference for making full-length works born of uninterrupted flow states. Debuting for the Norwegian imprint for the first time here, Statik centres on a 'sense of stillness', as ever demonstrating the producer's signature blend of icy, hissy textures with post-club progressions. Albeit this time, he plays up an extra-monochromic found-footage sound, across which all manner of aquatic and cetaceous melodic references are heard.

Review: Dispatches From Solitude is their latest album from Ortrotasce on the mighty Dark Entries. For over a decade, the man behind this project, Nic Hamersly, has been making brooding yet propulsive darkwave anthems that draw on the similarities and differences between industrial and synth-pop, all while connecting past and present sounds. He recorded this album during the Covid and post-Covid era and it captures some of the prevailing moods of those times across eight expertly crafted synth-pop tracks that delve into grief, romance, and the weird and wonderful nature of our modern world.

Review: Pressed on vinyl for the first time, the in-universe radio stations of Cyberpunk 2077 have some pretty high-profile artists on call; Established stars like Grimes and HEALTH play alongside rising talents like RBMA alumni Nina Kraviz and Chelmsford's Rat Boy. The inevitable highlight for many will be 'I Really Want to Stay at Your House' by Rose Walton and Hallie Coggins, an emotional electro-indie blend about a person scorned, lamenting a doomed relationship. The track was a smash success from the accompanying animated series 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' and quickly became the most streamed track from the OST by a gigantic margin. Sporting the logos of various in-game radio stations and housing a bright yellow disc, let's call it cyberpunk yellow, this is perfect for any Cyberpunk 2077 fan's collection.

Review: The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble's debut album, Heat Ray, is a riveting exploration inspired by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes. Recorded on analogue synthesizers alongside the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the ensemble - led by Goldfrapp co-creator Will Gregory - brings together up to 14 talented players, including Portishead's Adrian Utley and Mute's Daniel Miller. Heat Ray fuses spirals of melody, circular structures, and intricate patterns, drawing inspiration from Archimedes' mathematical principles. The album's genesis during pandemic lockdowns reflects Gregory's deep dive into Archimedes' life, sparked by online lectures. With a lineup boasting instruments like the Minimoog and Prophet 6, the ensemble weaves a stunning superstructure of sounds, guided by Gregory's effervescent spirit of discovery. The result is a splendid blend of ancient history and modern innovation, where musical exploration converges with mathematical curiosity. Heat Ray not only pays homage to Archimedes' legacy but also propels listeners towards an endlessly fascinating future.

Review: Steve Moore's Eye Of Horus album is an electrifying tier into his take on dark wave, cosmic synth-scapes and pulsating electronic rhythms. Known for his adept fusion of retro-futuristic sounds, Moore crafts a narrative that unfolds with cinematic grandeur and emotional depth here. The records' ethereal melodies are underscored by a driving bassline, creating a sense of momentum and intrigue, while more textured and raw pieces bring a sense of edge. Moore's mastery of synthesisers is on full display as he manages to evoke a sense of mystery and ancient mysticism akin to its namesake.

Review: Udacha family band Zdehvedo Gob is a collective of musicians who all hail from various cities around the world. It consists of Udacha label head Alexey Kalik as well as drummer Roman Shestaev and Gamayun associates Anton Dvoenko and Stas Mitrofanov and they all got together in the studio in Moscow in summer 2023 and the results are now presented on this new album. Employing an organic music approach to instrumentation combined with subtle electronics, the group go wild for various combinations of off-kilter percussion, organ, chant and birdsong in full ceremonial swing, they trace a path through the various branches of 20th century minimalism, pan-global folk-ism's and the harmonious collective consciousness that My Life In A Bush Of Ghosts encapsulated. It's a gorgeous mix of world, jazz, spiritual percussive, experimental music that rides on nice loose and vibrant rhythms with a great mix of synthetic and organic sounds all offering plenty for the mind as well as the body to get excited about.

Review: Four Flies thrillingly reissues Piero Umiliani's soundtrack to the 1969?giallo thrille Orgasmo (curiously retitled Paranoia in English speaking countries), the firstof three erotically charged? ilms directed by Umberto Lenzi and starring cult siren (and Oscar nominee) Following the first ever release of this OST in 2020, this follow-up version hears Four Flies top up the release with a fuller restoration, after some serious detective work in the composer's archives revealed a post-hoc salvaging of the original tapes, where they where first thought to be lost or unusable. Bringing Umiliani's score back to life for all to enjoy, Orgasmo perfectly captures the stylish and sleazy vibe of Lenzi's film, its acid-drenched visuals, and its themes of sick psychological mind games (courtesy of the devious characters played by Swedish enfant terrible Lou Castel and?French beauty?Colette Descombes).

Review: Obliques unveils Poeme symphonique here on limited clear vinyl. Composer Jonathan Fitoussi reimagines Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 1 "Titan" in a groundbreaking creation commissioned by Radio France. Recorded live at La Maison de la Radio's grand auditorium on November 18, 2023, in Paris, this concert epitomizes a fusion of classical and electronic music. Fitoussi's interpretation breathes new life into Mahler's masterpiece, enriching it with contemporary sensibilities while preserving its timeless essence. With this release, Obliques invites listeners on a transcendent journey through sound, celebrating the convergence of past and present in the realm of symphonic expression.

Review: "2 Sim" is a phrase referring to mobile phones with two SIM cards, used to describe people of mixed heritage, dual nationality, or multiple residences. After being called a "2 Sim" by a stranger in Freetown - a moment recorded and featured on the album - Duval delved into the contemporary West-African 2 Sim experience. Originally released in 2018, this EP now gets a proper vinyl release. Created from two months of field recordings and interviews with family, friends, and peers in Freetown, Sierra Leone, 2 Sim features site-specific recordings collaged with solo piano pieces and production work done in Sierra Leone and the UK. The EP is accompanied by a short film/music video of the same name, which Duval shot and directed while making the record. The EP blends the rawness of field recordings with the intimacy of solo piano, offering a deeply personal exploration of identity and belonging. This release is a compelling addition to Duval's growing body of work, reflecting on duality and cultural intersections.

Review: Front 242's decision to re-release No Comment in partnership with Alfa Matrix is a testament to their influential status in electronic music. Originally released in 1984, the album marked a significant moment for the band as they solidified their lineup and began to attract a devoted following. The remastered version by Daniel B. allows listeners to experience the album's innovative and unmatched sound in the best audio quality possible. No Comment was a early example of Front 242's high-tech, hard-edged electronic punk dance music, establishing them as leaders of the emerging electronic body music movement. Front 242's commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and technology is evident throughout the album. Their cold, synthetic brand of electronic dance music became their signature sound, influencing electronic music for decades to come.

Review: "To follow this rainbow of silky sounds is to reach a point of no return," the release info for the latest from French electronic musician Offline reads. "[A place] where the last person on Earth you'll be able to communicate with will be a 1970s synthesiser." If that's not a statement of intent, we don't know what is. Arriving on the Delodio France label - an imprint you should get to know if you don't already - Timeless Echoes lives up to its name. Glistening and shimmering like a satellite reflecting the sun's rays back out to the eternal darkness of space, tracks veer between the authenticity of 'Idle Dreams' and 'Sunset Reset', two slow burning retro sci-fi steppers, to the closing breaks-y-tech-y hued '24/7', 'Ignite's electro stylings, and 'All Gone' with its beat-free electronic overture.

Review: In addition to the comprehensive first-time vinyl release of the game's original soundtrack by PT Adamczyk and Jacek Paciorkowski, the brains behind the Cyberpunk 2077 franchise are also releasing the music heard on their in-game Radio Stations, listenable to either while the player's mechsuited digital avatar enters a vehicle or nears a radio. This LP release follows a hotly-awaited in-game update, which allows the player to listen to the radio whenever they choose. Not homing in on any particular station but rather compiling the best bits of several of them, we're bowled over by choice, exclusive cuts by the likes of Run The Jewels, Konrad OldMone, The Armed, Converge and Deafkids here.

Review: The 2023 film Wonka has delighted audiences with its fantastic original soundtrack featuring performances by lead actor Timothee Chalamet and an exceptional ensemble cast including Hugh Grant, Calah Lane, and Keegan-Michael Key. Composed by Joby Talbot and penned by songwriter Neil Hannon, the score captures the essence of the golden age of Hollywood musicals while paying homage to the beloved classics of the past. Director Paul King's vision of a prequel to the iconic 1971 film comes to life with enchanting melodies and vibrant arrangements, inviting listeners on a whimsical journey through the fantastical world of Willy Wonka.

Review: Geinoh Yamashirogumi is the performer who brought to life the original soundtrack to the anime classic Akira. The original score was composed by Shoji Yamashiro. The movie is set in in 2019 Neo-Tokyo when the world is still recovering from World War III and teen delinquent Kaneda's biker gang roams the city when his friend Tetsuo is injured and taken to an army hospital. As Tetsuo's uncontrollable powers emerge, a fierce battle ensues between Kaneda, Kei, the army, and Tetsuo. The soundtrack captures the futurist drama with plenty of moving emotions.

Review: 'A Shared Sense Of Purpose' is a fittingly collectively-minded name for a new Gordon Chapman-Fox aka. Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan release. The first glimpse of his latest full-length LP, Your Community Hub, this first sampler hears the artist continue to develop his totally singular vision in eerie modernist electronica, deploying lilty arpeggiations and contradictorily Utopian, yet at the same time, sinister, melodies and ambiences; all with a view to producing an uncanny deja entendu. These are deployed to mourn the slow, increasing privatisation of Chapman-Fox's native Warrington-Runcorn, specifically its singular bespoke town centre - its walkways, its local postal system, its gridded shop lots - which were all designed to make it a five-minute city, long before the concept of fifteen-minute cities had entered town planning discourse. Though, perhaps this lament masks a more sinister sense of enjoyment, as there is indeed a perverse sort of pleasure that arises in the bittersweetly uncanny perfumes that waft from this latest haunted mood piece. Perhaps just like the experience of revisiting Warrington-Runcorn after having known it in childhood, we hear both sadness and euphoria, at the same time, in the face of its ostensible loss.

Review: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - or OMD - made a magnificent comeback with History of Modern back in 2010, an album released at the peak of a synthpop revival, and this reissue is timely in that it arrives on the crest of another wave of synth-heavy sounds in current music. Known for their lush, romantic 80s electronic music, the Liverpool outfit were at the forefront of the genre, gaining fame with hits in both the UK and the US, and this album is definitely reminiscent of other 80s releases like Junk Culture. Tracks such as 'New Babies; New Toys' and 'The Future, the Past, and Forever After' innovate and are dominated by big beats and catchy choruses. The album shines at OMD's strengths. The second part of the title track, in particular, recaptures their signature slow-dance grandeur. Overall, fans of the band at any point in their career should find something to enjoy here.