Phantasy Sound Vinyl & CDs

Review: By his own admission, Daniel Avery's previous albums have been inspired by escapism and a desire to avoid focusing on the growing darkness of the world outside his studio. On Ultra Truth, he's flipped the switch, "directly looking into the darkness, not running away". That doesn't mean that he's left the dancefloor; far from it, in fact. While some of the aural textures, chords and melodies tend towards the melancholic, moody and overwhelming, they still feature club-ready rhythms or beats that tend towards the bold. Basically, it's heavy and dense, but sonically attractive enough to work outside of nightclub environments, with the contributions of various friends and contemporaries (HAAi, Kelly Lee Owens and Sherelle included) only enhancing the album. For proof, check out ultra-deep D&B roller 'Higher', the sparse and spooky electro shuffle of 'Chaos Energy', and the intergalactic breakbeat hustle of 'Wall of Energy'.

Review: Daniel Avery's heartfelt tribute to the late, great Andrew Weatherall, the melancholic masterpiece that is 'Lone Swordsmen', was one of the standout tracks on his most recent album, the critically acclaimed Ultra Truth. Here the track returns in remixed form, with Throbbing Gristle's Chris Carter putting his spin on Avery's bittersweet, late-90s style IDM gem. Carter's version is a touch warmer and more percussively up-beat, with Avery's lilting lead lines, poignant melodies and glistening electronic motifs rising above a slipped breakbeat and moody bass. It's an excellent remix all told, and a fine example of how to rework on already excellent track to enhance its key features.