Mercury KX Vinyl & CDs

Review: ANNA is a Brazilian-born, Lisbon-based DJ and producer whose disposition towards music runs in her blood. The daughter of a Sao Paolo nightclub owner, ANNA seemed destined solely for a life behind the decks; but expectations were much upended after a nascent flair for composition also made itself clear. Despite bloodthirsty demand for her slamming DJ chops, Intentions is her debut album, rebelliously choosing to explore the world of ambient healing electronics instead. Paralleling ANNA's self-realisation journey, which led to a change in the way she makes music, the LP funnels collaborations and remixes from/with fellow therapeutic music aficionados like Jon Hopkins and Laraaji.

Review: olafur Arnalds' Broadchurch: The Final Chapter captures the conclusion of the acclaimed British drama with a deeply atmospheric score. This 15-track collection, released by Mercury KX, showcases Arnalds' signature emotive style, blending haunting melodies with subtle, immersive textures. The soundtrack is integral to the series' final season, enhancing its dramatic and emotional impact. From the introspective 'I Could Hear Water' to the poignant 'Take My Leave Of You' featuring Arnor Dan, the music threads through moments of tension and resolution with grace. Each composition, such as 'Ellie's Theme' and 'Going Under,' builds on Arnalds' previous work, reflecting the show's profound narrative and character arcs. Housed in a single-pocket picture sleeve, this LP offers a seamless continuation of Arnalds' collaboration with the series and an exciting and dramatic ending.

Review: olafur Arnalds' re:member originally released by Mercury KX on August 24, 2018, and now available on special marble vinyl, showcases the Icelandic composer's innovative musical journey. The album employs Stratus Pianos alongside a string quartet, synths, electronics, live drums, and a string orchestra recorded at London's Air Studios. This release envelopes listeners into a world of diverse moods and emotions, with Arnalds exploring new musical landscapes throughout. The Stratus technology allows notes played on the main piano to generate corresponding notes on two supplementary pianos, enhancing harmonic exploration. This sophisticated approach reflects Arnalds' commitment to innovative yet restrained use of technology, creating a measured balance between the new sound potential and formal compositional considerations. Tracks like the title piece and 'Unfold' (featuring Sohn) highlight Arnalds' ability to blend keyboards, strings and rhythms seamlessly, avoiding any sense of being overwrought. 'Brot' and 'They Sink' demonstrate his skill in developing complex layers around simple sequences, creating expansive soundscapes from fragile beginnings. Remember demands attentive listening, especially on tracks like 'Undir,' where the interplay between strings and programmed beats drives the piece with subtle vigor. Ultimately, this album shines through Arnalds' masterful craftsmanship, blending technological innovation with deeply human creativity.

Review: The Dream of Delphi is the sixth album for the Los Angeles singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Bat For Lashes. Critics have likened her music to the work of Joni Mitchell, Nico, Siouxsie Sioux, Bjork, Kate Bush, Cat Power, PJ Harvey, Annie Lennox, Tori Amos, and Fiona Apple and this album reflects on the conception and birth of Khan's daughter Delphi during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. Samples of the album are still guarded closely upon writing this but expect more great songwriting, electronic elements and a strong post punk influence. With a release date of late May, this indie exclusive is pressed on red vinyl.

Review: The new Bat For Lashes album, her sixth, is an ode to motherhood, created during Khan's experience giving birth to her daughter Delphi during the COVID-19 pandemic. The contents of the ten-song album, described as "song poems," are a personal and transformative exploration of both the external chaos of the pandemic and the intimate journey of becoming a mother. Featuring the title track, which is already available, the album promises a diary-like intimacy and a rich collaboration with musicians like Brad Oberhofer, Mary Lattimore and Jack Falby.

Review: Erland Cooper's latest album, Carve the Runes Then Be Content With Silence, is a unique and innovative project. The three-movement composition for solo violin and string ensemble commemorates the centenary of Orkney poet George Mackay Brown. Inspired by natural landscapes, the work reflects on themes of time, hope, community, and patience. The recording of the composition was made on 14 inch magnetic tape, with the digital files then permanently deleted. The tape has been planted to be "recomposed" by the earth, to be exhumed and released in three years' time. Cooper's decision to let the composition evolve naturally and be discovered later reflects a deeper appreciation for the passage of time and the process of creation. This project not only celebrates a significant milestone but also challenges the conventional approach to releasing music, making it a truly remarkable and thought-provoking endeavour.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record slightly warped, creased outer sleeve corners, split inner sleeve***


Erland Cooper has always been concerned with the world around him, the Guardian dubbing him "nature's songwriter" as a result of his focus on trying to interpret Mother Earth through sound. Of course, she's not in the best shape right now, and even stopping to appreciate the smallest details of her mastery can often make us fill with dread and regret.
The fact that it's still not too late to change the future we've been ruining for ourselves over the past 200 or so years is also important to note. And it's this juxtaposition, between hope and hopelessness, dystopia and utopia, that seem to define this incredible collaboration between Cooper and the Scottish Ensemble - a live recording from a concert that really shows off the emotional power of classical strings in their most contemporary form.

Review: It would be pushing it to say many of us were expecting Pablo Larrain's movie about Princess Diana to be the way it was. Or is. In fact, it would be pushing it to say anyone was expecting any film to ever be made about the late-British royal in such a surrealist way. Nevertheless, Spencer is a bonafide work of art and a creative triumph. As such it was always going to come with a great score.

At the risk of repeating ourselves, though, it would also be pushing it to say people predicted just how incredible Jonny Greenwood's soundtrack was, and is as a standalone record. It's the sound of free jazz meeting the baroque tones of a palatial dance. It's the noise of uncertainty, exclusion, difference, and struggle, married to an atmosphere of sophistication and refinement. It's a trip. It's a classic.