True Panther US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Oklou is a French musician and is known to her parents as Marylou Mayniel. She dropped her debut album back in February and on it collaborates with artists such as Bladee and underscores, while some expert studio contributions from producers like the revered A.G. Cook, plus Danny L Harle and Casey MQ. Choke Enough blends Y2K influences with medieval melodies to reflect Oklou's evolution from her 2020 mixtape, Galore. This new long player offers up a deep dive into her meticulous approach to electronic, modern, 'hyper' pop while incorporating classical rigour. Standout tracks like the title track and 'Endless' are great reflections of her unique artistic vision while balancing formal complexity with subdued emotional impact.

Review: Responsible for two of the greatest indie rock albums of the century so far with his band Girls, he unexpectedly quit the band just as they were at their peak and they effectively ended. The band's producer and bassist Chet "JR" White sadly passed away in 2020 leaving a remarkable legacy behind. The label that put those Girls records out, True Panther, are now back with Christopher Owens for the first time since Girls, working with him under his solo moniker, which is an area with which he has had mixed results... until now where he's firing from all cylinders. This is Owens' magnum opus, with otherworldly melodies, heartfelt lyrics forward, and there's a genuine sense of vulnerability that's utterly compelling. This is John Lennon-level excellence in songwriting and the release comes after he hit rock bottom and built himself back up to deliver this marvel.

Review: It's been four long years since the last full-length from American electronica producer Henry "Shlohmo" Laufer, a particularly epic wait given his early productivity (he famously launched his career with three albums in two years). Dark Red is, happily, an impressive set, with 11 doses of IDM inspired goodness stretched across two slabs of heavyweight wax. There's naturally much to admire, from the evocative, lo-fi fuzziness of "Emerge From Smoke" and picturesque D33J hook-up "Apathy" (a kind of ambient jazz exploration with hints of horror), to the skittish, jungle-influenced madness of "Fading". Best of all, though, is closer "Beams", a full-throttle exercise in the power of breakcore percussion.