Feral Child Vinyl & CDs

Review: Barbican Estate's latest release blends psychedelic rock with atmospheric folk influences. 'Reconquista' sets the tone with swirling melodies, while 'Abandon' offers a haunting, introspective vibe. 'Angel' brings a dreamlike quality, and 'The Innocent One' closes with intricate composition, showcasing the band's sonic exploration. This 2xLP captures their unique style and provides a captivating listen for fans of experimental rock.

Review: Opening on the grinding powerhouse of 'I', Kosmik Sun present three tracks of epic, cinematic heavy rock-metal which gives a nod to the likes of Mogwai and Explosions In the Sky. Albeit here things seem to have taken more of an influence from darker places, with each part of the triptych casting an eerie spell over the listener, transporting them to psychedelic, doom-laden otherworldly places. The side project of German aficionado Eugen Kohl, best known for the Crypt Witch project, Kosmik Sun also features members of Coven Spell and Devil Leaf, which, if nothing else, should let any newbies know exactly what they're in for. Steeped in deep stoner atmosphere, not to mention exceptional, gritty musicality, this is intensity for thinking people and it never lets up.

Review: Brooklyn-based trio Lake Ruth return with a luminous, concept-driven suite that interweaves 60s baroque pop, celestial science fiction and the aching aftermath of cult tragedy. Anchored by Allison Brice's delicate yet penetrating vocals, this release draws narrative inspiration from the Heaven's Gate cultiparticularly survivors and bereaved relativesiwhile also channelling Adrian Tchaikovsky's Children of Time and Walter Benjamin's interpretation of Paul Klee's Angelus Novus. Tracks like 'Potalaka Listening Station', 'Take Me With You', 'From Erika' and 'To Erika' articulate a deeply personal lyrical tapestry, reframing grief as a spectral presence across space and memory. The sound design is equally deliberate: bright organs, skittering drums, ripple-toned guitar, and a nostalgic production palette that feels both 1967 and timeless. Despite the thematic weight, there's lightness hereidelicate rhythms evoke tropicalia, and Brice's voice threads it all together like constellations across the dusk. This is Lake Ruth's most affecting and ambitious work yet: rich in imagery, bold in its emotional scope and glistening with intelligence.

Review: Plankton Wat was the home studio project of Portland musician Dewey Mahood and it began in the early 2000s. Inspired by Popol Vuh and combining the names of Krautrock producer Conny Plank and bassist Mike Watt, the project initially produced low-key albums for obscure labels and featured Mahood's solo guitar gigs on the West Coast. After gaining recognition through his band Eternal Tapestry, Mahood signed with Thrill Jockey in 2011 which lead to the release of Spirits in 2012. This collaboration with fellow Portlander Dustin Dybvig (aka Brass Clouds) expanded to include projects like Edibles, Spectrum Control, and Ripley Johnson's Rose City Band. Influenced by early 80s post-punk, their new album Corridors reflects on climate change through concise musical statements.

Review: Nearly a decade since the Swedish trio's last full-length Casino (2014), brothers Andreas and Johan Berthling, along with Tomas Hallonsten, ease back into the fold with Preludes, a five-track collection that reaffirms their mastery of delicate, genre-blurring soundscapes. Following the promising 'Refrains' 10" in 2023, this new release is a comforting reminder that Tape's signature blend of acoustic instrumentation and electronic processing remains as singular and stirring as ever, as they continue to weave hypnotic textures that feel both ethereal and earthy. 'Opener Lights Out' is a tender folk threnody where repeating guitar patterns create a meditative haze. 'Naukluft Plateau' drifts with ruminative piano over cascading tones, while the brief 'Golden Gain' mixes huffing harmonium and subtle electronic scrums. 'Tangential Thoughts' is quintessential Tape, a dreamy two-chord motif, rustling organ and delicate percussion all evoking wistful reveries. The closing track, 'On The Accordion Bus', sways with glitch-like textures and gentle rhythms, blurring the line between transit and reflection. There's a unique warmth to their balance of melody and abstraction here, reminiscent of Aphex Twin's ambient pop or Susumu Yokota's textural elegance. Praise indeed, but sometimes the quietest returns make the deepest impact.

Review: "This LP is a compilation of songs from five different digital-only demo collections I released on Bandcamp between 2021 and 2023. I relied on the ears and judgment of my old friend Dom at Feral Child to curate this comp, allowing him to choose his favorites from over 60 songs," James Toth says of Demon Stations. "While I might have chosen an entirely different batch of tunes, I was happy to defer to Dom, as I've never had much perspective when it comes to assessing my own material." With every track recorded at home, many on the same day they were written, and mostly first takes used, there's an audible quality to this collection of archive material that's every bit as honest as the artist's own explanation as to how the final package came about. An atmosphere entirely befitting the open-hearted folk and Americana dominating the release.