Fat Beats US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Ill Bill, Danny Boy, Slaine, DJ Lethal, and DJ Eclipse return with their second full-length for Fat Beats Records, plotting hardcore hip-hop plans before a raw, no-frills execution. Ill Bill, formerly of Non Phixion, brings his signature dark lyricism; Danny Boy made his name with House of Pain; Slaine cut his teeth in La Coka Nostra and Boston's unctuous underground; DJ Lethal's production chops span from Cypress Hilly boom-bap to Limp Bizkit era chaos; and DJ Eclipse, a key figure in NYC's pirate radio scene, downs anchor on the crew's sound. Production comes from DJ Premier, Statik Selektah and DJ Lethal himself, ensuring a retentive grittiness, while guest spots from Vinnie Paz and the late Sean Price help the crew hammer hone a collective lyrical point.

Review: California-based Balearic disco duo Poolside first made a splash in 2010 with thrilling debut single 'Do You Believe?'. Two years later and they came on just as strong with their debut album - a typically West Coast-influenced fusion of lazy guitars, baggy grooves, subtle disco influences and shimmering dream pop compositions. Now marking its 10th anniversary it gets a special reissue. At times, they sound like Holy Ghost after a sack full of potent marijuana, at others like Windsurf or Hatchback making shuffling E-pop. It's an attractive sound, all told, touching on smacked-out slow jams, lazy disco and MDMA-laden indie-pop.