Delusions Of Grandeur Vinyl & CDs

Review: South London's Medlar returns to Delusions of Grandeur at the peak of his production powers, showing up with a distinctly refined sonic palette on the brilliantly expansive LP, Islands. Known for his deep-cut edits, genre-hopping productions and steady underground presence, he's pulled together a cast of collaborators including Dele Sosimi, Rebekah Reid, Arnau Obiols and more. The record builds on years spent engineering and producing for others, drawing on those skills to deliver something more personal than ever. Blending live instruments, 80s-inspired electronics and club-ready low end, it's less sample-based than past work but still rooted in the recognisable Medlar spirit. Highlights come thick and fast, including the blissed-out opener 'Take A Trip', the wigged-out exoticism of 'Yeah', the acid thrust of 'Luv Interlude' and the emotion-rich Balearica of 'Ibiza'. Top marks.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Shockingly, five years have now passed since perennial deep house/disco/Balearic fusionists Session Victim released their fine debut album, The Haunted House of House. To celebrate, the album has been given the reissue treatment on vibrant orange vinyl. It remains a terrific set all told - a contemporary classic that stretches 11 slabs of deep house gorgeousness across three slabs of wax. Throughout, the pair easily sidestep the genre's many pitfalls, flitting between comfy, melodic goodness ('Push Comes To Shove', 'Zoinks'), jazz-funk/deep house fusion ('AlpineGlow'), slick disco-house ('The Haunted House'), groovy slo-mo electronica ('Blison'), dewy-eyed Balearica ('The Light Scent of Decay') and Clyde-esque broken hip-hop ('Fine').