Proper Vinyl & CDs

Review: By 1997 Photek had already marked himself out as a wild card in the rapidly evolving d&b scene. He'd had three years to carve out some frankly dizzying displays of break editing wizardry and such was the innovation on display there just had to be an album coming. Modus Operandi smartly stepped to one side of the dancefloor, offering a smoky reflection on where jungle and d&b had got to, highlighting the compatibility between half-speed downtempo and breakneck drums and bringing inherent jazziness to the forefront of the beats, which avoided all the usual cliches. It's a masterpiece which hasn't dulled with time and here it's getting a heavyweight reissue across three slabs to ensure the loudest cut. All the better to blow your mind with, all over again.

Review: It's almost hard to believe Therapy?'s fourth album, and their second for a major label, is now 30 years old. Talk about a reason to seek help. Often considered the Northern Irish rockers at their all-time peak of success, it's certainly the group's most commercial effort both in terms of the sound and the sales that followed its release. For some, then, the switch to a more direct, punk-oriented style, with plenty of nods to a metal scene that was, back then, still pretty melodic and pre-doom, marked the end of what had been one of the UK's finest noise rock outfits. Certainly the involvement of big business music execs had an impact. However, we'd say Troublegum is really about balancing raw energy and teeth-clenched attitude with a more accessible form, and it works very well indeed.

Review: The Wedding Present's Watusi, often overshadowed by its predecessors, emerges as a hidden gem in their discography. Initially released amidst the frenzy of their Hit Parade singles, it suffered from being ahead of its time"a blend of pop hooks and Seattle underground influences that defied easy categorisation". Yet, as fans who witnessed them revisiting it at their Brighton event recently will atest, 'Watusi' feels remarkably contemporary, its hypnotic melodies and nuanced instrumentation resonating with a neo-drone edge. While it may have been a hard sell in its era, the current lineup breathes new life into its subtle intelligence, unveiling its true brilliance. Overlooked but not forgotten, Watusi finally gets its due recognition as a key release from The Wedding Present, reaffirming its place in their storied career alongside Sea Monsters, George Best and the Hit Parade singles.