ESP Institute Vinyl & CDs

Review: Contemporary classical seems to be having a bit of a moment in the sun right now as it breaks out of its traditional confines and makes a mark on the wider world. Bartellow, who is one-third of the Tambien project and also goes by the name Beni Brachtel in the classical scene, is back on ESP Institute with a second full-length. Noosphere brings together parts of some of his theatrical scores for WUT, Odipus and Antigone and Der Zauberberg amongst others. It takes in cues from Baroque and Impressionism with plenty of sweeping drama and moments of intense emotionality across four sides of sound.

Review: Patrick Conway is back on ESP Institute for a third time and the returns are as brilliant as the first two outings with plenty of emotional depth on display. Opener 'Loss' sets a melancholic tone with a repeating high piano note guiding a poignant chord progression, angelic voices and a modulating synth all sinking you in. That contrasts with a gritty rhythm section made from corroded dancehall elements all bathed in saturation for added authenticity. On the B-side, 'Silencio' explores negative space and rhythmic dialogue using anthemic synth stabs to unify the more meandering melodies. When chaos and order synchronise with force like this, there is fun to be had.

Review: Returning after a four year hiatus from production, Glaswegian producer Jasper James presents the next release for Lovefingers' ESP Institute. As stated on the cover, James 'fights for what he wants to be cuz function is the key. These two songs will ping your pong and pong your ping'. On the A side you have the playful and swing-fuelled stomper '0141' that's certainly geared for the peak of the evening ,followed over on the flip with the heady minimal funk of 'E-Maniac'.

Review: New York-based minimal electronica artist Brendon Moeller takes cues from drum & bass and lowercase on his latest record for ESP Institute. Like a sonic Hockney painting, just six generous tracks span a curtly two sides on 12", as classy deluges marry with designer percs, conspiring to make a large but radially controlled splash. Every experiential stylistic base Moeller has passed so far, such as IDM or ambient dub, is revisited and checked off, and combined to form a wet emulsion here. 'Vibrations', the highlight of ours, pays special attention to fricative, stimulant audio-exploits in the sound design, with its synthetic mid-claves and potent rubber basses sounding like the reflex responses it predicts and expects from us. No wonder ESP liken the entire record to one big tingling sensation.

Review: From a cover image wonderfully displaying the proportional difference between humans and the world we call home, to the expansive pedal steel guitar chords that weep their way through the musical destinations here, Raymond Richards encapsulates the vast openness of the US in sound, offering aural interpretations of the beauty and desolation, hope and devastation this wildly rich but painfully unequal country is home to. Track titles are inspired by real pins on the map, although it's unlikely you'll recognise many - we're talking 'Paradise, California' (a swooning, sun-kissed closing overture), 'Astoria, Oregon' (a lilting, vast but quiet slice of ambient) and 'Roslyn, Washington' (which sounds like psychedelic country) rather than more obvious places like Los Angeles, where Richards stomped about with the likes of DJ Lovefingers and Slowdive affiliates Mojave 3 in the late-1990s.

Review: Raymond Richards emerges once again as a musical maestro in Sand Paintings, displaying his unparalleled mastery of the pedal steel. Teaming up with Calexico's John Convertino and an array of eclectic instrumentalists, Richards delves deeper into his contemplative sonic world. From the courageous chords of 'Badwater Basin' to the dramatic landscapes of 'Monument Valley' and 'Saguaro,' each track resonates with emotional depth and cultural richness. While the album expands into grand cinematic gestures, there's a stoic singularity pervading throughout - a lonesome cowboy facing the elements with unwavering resolve. Despite the visceral intensity, a cloaked vulnerability emerges, revealing a profound connection to the world. Sand Paintings is not merely an album; it's a journey through landscapes of sound and emotion, guided by Richards' transcendent vision and honesty.