10K Vinyl & CDs

Review: The ninth studio album by contemporary hip-hop favourite MIKE, Burning Desire, drops in multiple formats, here on CD with a characteristically GTA-referencing front cover. The CD edition makes for a huge new project spanning over 20 new cuts as well as a swath of B-sides dedicated to his production moniker DJ Blackpower, making for a comprehensive distillation of MIKE's smog-packed sound and universe. The concept behind Burning Desire is titular; a vengeful fantasy delivered in a miasma of sonic hash smoke, alluded to cryptically most notably on the tracks 'Set The Mood' and 'Plz Don't Cut My Wings', featuring Earl Sweatshirt; the overarching mood is one of whimsical largesse, as if MIKE's goal is to pull the wool over the listener's ears, ironically assuring us of a cool kosher breeze, while his flip side nonetheless gets down to the dirtiest of business.

Review: This new release is a sprawling 24-track set from a US-based artist whose sound bends the line between lo-fi rap, experimental soul and deeply personal bedroom pop. With cameos from 454 and duendita, the record shifts constantly i from explosive digital punk on 'Bear Trap' and 'Clown of the Class (Work Harder)' to the shimmering melancholy of 'Then we could be free..' and 'Lost Scribe'. 'What U Bouta Do?/A Star was Born' hits hardest, thanks to a razor-sharp verse from 454, while duendita's feature on 'Miss U' brings a moment of softness and levity in the midst of the chaos. Tracks like 'Diamond Dancing (Broke)' and 'Spun Out' push into more melodic territory, all the while maintaining a loose, cut-and-paste aesthetic that mirrors the emotional restlessness running through the project. There's a stream-of-consciousness energy to both the music and sequencing i short sketches ('Too Hot', 'The Weight (2k20)') collide with bigger set pieces like 'Artist of the Century' and 'Burning House'. It's a raw, ambitious and often deeply intimate listen, shaped as much by personal relationships as by musical references, and packed with detail for those willing to stay in the world it builds.

Review: This record marks Sideshow's fifth full-length album in just four years and it comes at a time when his career is gaining significant momentum. Following notable collaborations with MIKE, The Alchemist and Boldy James as well as the release of two albums in 2023-2MM: Don't Just Stand There and Jam-Sideshow continues to build his reputation here with production from Popstar Benny, Alexander Spit, Sideshow himself and others. There are plenty of contemporary edges to this, as well as a subtle undercurrent of respect for the old school, and it is sure to take Sideshow to a whole other level once more.