Inside Out Vinyl & CDs

Review: Polish prog rockers Riverside have seen some things in their time, and stuff. Now in their third decade, the outfit have borne witness to seismic changes in their homeland. 30 years ago, it was just emerging from half a century of dictatorial Soviet rule. Skip to today, and the country is part of the EU - more than can be said for some - and, until the invasion of Ukraine at the hands of Vladimir Putin, was one of Central-Eastern Europe's stronger economies in the Covid era.

Suffice to say, a lot has changed even since then, and ID Entity can in many ways be taken as a record that bookends different periods. Yes, the outfit have always had one foot in a retro-hued synth-guitar sound, but here that's expanded on, with lyrics worthy of the Plain English Campaign's Crystal Mark. A record made to encourage reflection - both of oneself, and the wider world.

Review: Devin Townsend was always going to have his work cut out with whatever came along next. 2019's Empath was a striking record for many reasons, but none as vivid or inescapable as the sheer scope of the thing. Capable of painting many images with broad-yet-specialised genre brush strokes, to say Lightwork had monumental expectations foist upon it while still at the conception stage is putting it mildly.

Finally, then, the difficult follow up has arrived. And, reassuringly, this is no disappointment. Yes, to an extent it lacks the scale and vision that went into its predecessor. Nevertheless, it's classic Townsend stuff, delivering dynamic metal with elements of industrial by the track-load, rarely pausing for breath among the fury, grit, and impassioned emotions. More evidence to back up the artist's legendary status.

Review: Interestingly, having reinvented themselves in the 80s with the help of Trevor Horn and various other members of the team, accidentally spawning the pioneering legends Art of Noise in the process, when we come to 2023, a trip back to their 70s heyday is more what the doctor ordered. With their guitarist Steve Howe at the production helm they are fancy technology-free, sounding as live as ever, and have restoered everything from the long songs - two of the 13 here top nine minutes - to the old logo and sci-fi artwork. They've even got a new Jon in to replace the old one. and Davidson does a good job of impersonating Anderson, apparently with the help of a female singer double tracking his vocals. You don't need a PhD to work out this is a nostalgic trip, but as attempts to relive former glories go we have heard a lot worse.