Point Of Departure Vinyl & CDs

Review: Delivering what will go down as Ed Harcourt's first instrumental album - not taking anything away from his original stylings - Beyond The End provides what Harcourt himself has described as a soundtrack for walking around an unfamiliar city. True; gracious keys of pianos do shimmer and glisten like light splitting through the cracks of hazel and birch trees lining so many CBDs, but moreover, the music is given overture by Gita and Amy Langley on cello and violin. Recorded in Harcourt's Wolf Cabin studio in Oxfordshire for extra autumnal effect it's perfect for that movie in your head.

Review: A poignant and triumphant new chapter for the legendary Brum techno icons, hot on the heels of the reissue of their seminal 2010 album Feed Forward and a year of live shows and archival releases. Its creation is rooted in the tragic passing of Juan Mendez, aka Silent Servant, in early 2024. A founding member and visual artist for the group, Mendez's influence resonates throughout the record, with the title End Beginnings serving as a tribute to his enduring legacy. The eight-track album, crafted by Regis and Function alongside collaborators like Rrose, Rivet, Simon Shreeve and Sarah Wreath, embodies a balance of cinematic depth and dancefloor impact. Tracks like 'Dreaming' weave layered rhythms with atmospheric melodies and elastic vocals, while organic elements peek through Sandwell's signature grit. Rrose's contribution to 'Self-Initiate' amplifies this intensity, with low sirens and urgent percussion creating a bubbling, hypnotic effect. 'Hidden,' is a warehouse anthem, drenched in acid-drenched lines and crisp, menacing percussion. Its dark energy and meticulously fine-tuned production signal the collective's evolved direction while honoring the spirit of innovation and rebellion central to their ethos. End Beginnings is more than an album; it's a moving tribute to Mendez and a new start to Sandwell District's enduring commitment to techno as both an art form and a source of joy.