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Review: February 2024 saw two levee-breaking live moments by The 1975: here the indie band would return to Manchester for two massive AO Arena dates on 17 and 18 February, riding the rips of their biggest world tour yet. While technically from Wilmslow, the band cut their teeth in Greater Manchester's storied live scene and have always claimed the city as their unofficial hometown. Despite turning the leaf on a string of controversies centred on frontman Matty Healy, that didn't stop them from operating Still At Their Very Best, promising the kind of raucous, genre-blending performance fans expect a decade into their career. Support comes from labelmates The Japanese House, and Healy would later duet with Amber Bain on cult single 'Sunshine Baby.' This LP recording of the live spate distils a thirty-track stack of pristine live redeliveries, and with a monomaniacal arena's roar throughout, we hear a larger-than-life return home for the band.

Review: 20/20 Soundsystem were a four piece live band fronted by 20/20 Vision boss Ralph Lawson, leaving their stamp on events Sonar Barcelona, Glastonbury, Space Ibiza, EXIT, Love International, Creamfields Argentina, fabric London and Manchester WHP. They released two studio albums, the latter, 2008's Falling, lending its title track to a clutch of new mixes here courtesy of Random Factor and Fernando. The new versions bring a modern touch and fresh dancefloor-ready energy while never forgoing the spirit of the original. Random Factor's offering is a gritty and dubby electro version and Fernando offers a cosmic chugger with plenty of sci-fi sounds and wispy acid details. Sound.

Review: For Record Store Day 2025, Bloom Japan presents a lovely 7" from the 45TRIO, who reimagine Minnie Riperton's classic 'Inside My Love.' This reinterpretation delivers a lush, jazz-infused instrumental take that honours the original's unique sensuality while introducing a fresh, soulful groove for modern 'floors. 45TRIO's tasteful blend of live instrumentation and vintage tones helps breathe new life into this timeless gem while the B-side offers a stripped-down version perfect for late-night spins or sample hunters. This is one to pick up and drop during those loved-up moments.

Review: Originally formed in 1980 in Reno, Nevada, 7 Seconds are often credited as one of the most vital and criminally overlooked pioneering hardcore punk acts. Following on from their much-adored 1985 EP-cum-LP Walk Together, Rock Together, their 1986 follow up New Wind featured slower tempos and a notable imbuing of melody, with the project going on to be credited as an integral blueprint for the hardcore scene's eventual embracing and transition into pop-punk and indie rock. This long overdue reissue from Trust Records arrives complete with the complimentary Change In My Head, which is a totally new take on the classic album featuring tracks remixed in their entirety by Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi) alongside Inner Ear Studios' Don Zientara. Restoring and reimagining unreleased cuts from the original LP such as 'Change In My Head' and 'Compro', these bonus tracks offer a fresh snapshot of 7 Seconds in transition, but still very much firmly rooted in their hardcore ethos (before literal U2 comparisons would arise with later output). This limited double LP also comes with a 24-page oral history featuring unseen photographs, flyers, and memorabilia.

Review: Acid For The Grandma's fourth release is another boundless trip into warped rhythms and surreal soundscapes with acid liquid textures that make for a psychedelic experience that sparks the imagination while pulling you into otherworldly dimensions. 'Login Beat' casts you adrift amongst circling snares over jacking beats and 'Biancone Interno' then cuts loose with freewheeling arms and sci-fi motifs that leave long neon trails. 'Strobe Transforms Thinking' taps into more taught dub tech with sinewy leads and last of all, 'Light And Illusion' places you in a colourful world of refracted rhythm and slivery tech house drums sent back from a distant planet.

Review: Aesop Rock has long thrived on twisting the ordinary into the uncanny, and his latest full-length after 2023's irony-packed Integrated Tech Solutions hears him deepen that fascination. Examining the unseen mechanisms that guide daily life - dream logic, half-formed memories, fleeting emotions - he now blurs the lines between perception and reality with densely packed verses and meticulous self-produced beats. A brooding, cinephilic album recalling the atmospheric street wiles of filmmakers like Wong Kar Wai, the playful 'Send Help', contemplative 'Movie Night' and dusky 'Black Plums' chart strange emotional terrain, brought to life through warped sonic forensic architectures and sharp lyrical precision. Joined by Lupe Fiasco, Armand Hammer, Hanni El Khatib, Open Mike Eagle and Homeboy Sandman, the album pivots constantly, driven by intuition but grounded in detail Speaking on the record's emphasis on public bareness, Rock remarks on 'Checkers', a song "about the neighborhood outside your home being the great leveller. You can't show up feeling one way because the world will show you otherwise."

Review: Long Island's Aesop Rock takes listeners deep into the everyday moments that blur the line between the real and the surreal on this, his 11th LP. Self-produced, the album's intricate beats and complex structures provide a perfect canvas for his expansive lyricism. Tracks like 'Movie Night' and 'Send Help' explore this liminal space, mixing reflections on the mundane with eccentric, dreamlike imagery. The production pushes boundaries, channeling a sense of both experimentation and coherence, while tracks such as 'Black Plums' evoke a quiet, wistful nostalgia. Aesop balances cerebral exploration with emotional depth, pulling the listener through his introspective world with both precision and spontaneity. Hailing from New York, his work continues to reflect that city's blend of chaos and contemplation, navigating between complexity and raw instinct. The album's guest featuresiLupe Fiasco, Armand Hammer, Open Mike Eagle, Homeboy Sandman, and Hanni El Khatibiadd distinct layers to the project, each bringing their own energy to the sonic landscape. '1010WINS (feat. Armand Hammer)' and 'Charlie Horse (feat. Lupe Fiasco & Homeboy Sandman)' are highlights where the collaborations are seamless, blending each artist's style with Aesop's own. Throughout, the work showcases his most technically accomplished efforts to date, weaving together complex ideas with an instinctive flow that makes for an album as ambitious as it is enthralling.

Review: Fusion five-piece Aldorande are no fustians when it comes to full-length LPs. These self-styled groove adventurers remain radically open to the sound, thanks to their stylistic touchstone, 70s funk, and its diachronic conduction of future styles. Recorded on tape in a top Parisian studio, their third record Trois brims with trifect textures, bold phrasing, and soaring choral waves. Mathieu Edouard's precise drumming is glued to the spot by Erwan Loeffel's plaited percussion, all the while Laurent Guillet's fingertips and Florian Pellissier's splayed hands make the best uses of Fender Rhodes, axe and Minimoog.

Review: Ross Alexander debuts on Yore and brings with him a more tech-leaning sound that you might expect of this traditionally techno-centric outlet. It still calls on plenty of Motor City signifiers, however, such as warm synth soul, machine grooves and a dusty depth. 'Soul Roots' has all that and a cosmic melodic air, 'Cycles' gets more twisted with a pressurised baseline and drums full of rebound while 'All I Need' sets off on freewheeling, psychedelic pads and serene grooves that carry you away in a reverie before 'Reflections' shuts down with twinning cosmic pads and gurgling low ends. A classy and escapist EP of futuristic bliss.

Review: Lempuyang is a label you will know and respect for its high quality stream of immersive dub techno and now the man behind it, Alastair Kelly, debuts a new label with none other than revered UK techno mainstay Ibrahim Alfa Jnr. He opens up with 'Component A' which is a moody melange of slow, broken dub beats and fizzing synths. There is further experimentation on 'Untitled B2 1' which pairs a churning dub rhythm with naive and innocent melodies and lots of li-fi static. 'Entangled' ups the ante with the suggestion of a fast paced rhythm through a skeletal groove and the flip brings broken beat dub weight, meaning and percussive bass with a 2-step swagger then deep introspection on the closer. A classy EP that suggests this label is one well worth watching.

Notes: ***B-STOCK: Box opened, product in perfect working order***


Broadcast-ready update of ARS's flagship audiophile rotary mixer. Small design changes mean even better sound quality and improved cueing. Still hand built in Japan to the highest standards.

Supplier's Notes:
Model 9100B Music Mixer

4 channel table top mixer

Model 9100B (broadcast mixer) Music Mixer Wood TYPE (Headphone Monitor Trim: Cue-Mix-Pgm special version)

ARS Model 9100B DJ Mixer is a Japanese made, 4ch. rotary mixer with world's first 3band hybrid isoeq Hi-EQ Mid-EQ Low -Iso on each channel.

This 4 channel High Quality Rotary DJ Mixer has a 3 band Isolator on the master. Potentiometer and Switch are All ALPS .

A long time in the development phase this mixer is a beautiful example of Japanese hand made precision workmanship- highly recommended.

It is designed with purist ideals with only essential features.

ARS 9100 has 3 band hybrid iso-EQ hi-EQ mid-EQ low-iso on each channel and 3band Iso on the master.

The Master Isolators can be boost of cut from +18db ~ -8.

The Ch hi-EQ mid-EQ can boost or cut from +12db ~ -12db. LOW-ISO boost of cut from +6db ~ -8.

Each channel has Post Fader Send. also Return and Effect Loop.

* Due to the Model-9100 is designed for a professional use, The body is no power switch to avoid accidentally power off while playing.

* Minimizing the power noise by designing the All circuit board and the power circuit board independently and setting them apart.

Specifications
Frequency Response: +-1dB 20Hz-20Khz
Input: 3 x Phono: 47K Ohm / 5 x Line: 20K Ohm
House Output:RCA Unbalanced Impedance 600 Ohm/ XLR Balanced Impedance 50 Ohm
Booth Output:RCA Unbalanced Impedance 600 Ohm/ XLR Balanced Impedance 50 Ohm
Effect Loop: RCA Unbalanced Impedance 20K Ohm
Effect Loop Output: RCA Unbalanced Impedance 600 Ohm
Send Output: RCA Unbalanced Impedance 600 Ohm
Retrun: RCA Unbalanced Impedance 20K Ohm
Isolator Frequency Response:
3band hybrid isoeq 1-4Ch /Low-ISO /MID-EQ/HI-EQ
Master 3Band Iso: 10 - 300 Hz / 300 - 3000 Hz / 3000 - 20000Hz boost of cut from +18db ~ -8.

Headphone Monitor Trim: Cue-Mix-Pgm
Power Consumption: 25w
Power Requirement: US-115V/EU-230V(Selectable)
Dimensions: (W)306 x (H)250 x (D)100 mm
Front Panel Colour: Black

Review: This beautifully presented box set gathers all five albums from Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoti's V.I.R.U.S series, a collaborative project spanning five albums originally released between 2002 and 2011. Disc one (Vrioon) sets the tone, with Sakamoto's beautiful (and frequently effects-laden) piano motifs rising above glitchy minimalist rhythms and experimental ambient soundscapes. The albums that follow offer subtle shifts in their collaborative sound whilst retaining the same core artistic approach, with the pair frequently alternating between poignant, slow-burn minimalism and emotive, mood-enhancing ambient maximalism. Throughout, the pair beautifully balance hard-wired electronic experimentalism with classical musicality.

Review: Swedish composer Ellen Arkbro's Nightclouds is a deeply introspective and romantic turn that collects five solo organ improvisations recorded across Europe in 2023-24. Departing from installation-based compositions, Nightclouds explores slow, chordal improvisations rich in texture and atmosphere while drawing on sacred music, ECM jazz and minimalism. Along the way, Arkbro creates immersive soundscapes that balance austerity and emotional depth while shifting between meditative stillness and modernist tension with standout recordings like 'Morningclouds' and two variations on the title track. Through meticulous mic placement and tonal clarity, Arkbro draws you in with the intimacy and vastness of her sonic world.

Review: On their second release, Atelier Kamikazi continues to deliver raw, collaborative lyrics drawn from their experiences as street kids in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Like their debut on Seismographic Records, the group reflects on the harsh realities and surreal beauty of life in the city as they resist corrupt politics, challenge religious hypocrisy embodied by a figure they call "Priest Cat's Heart", and confront the dangers of "Bomb," a potent street drug. With vivid metaphors and unflinching honesty, they warn against its use while affirming their true tools for survival: words, wisdom and Loketo-the liberating hip-swing of Congolese dance.

Review: After a five-year split, Atomic Rooster returned with renewed force on their sixth studio album, Atomic Rooster, pushing into heavier territory sligning au naturel with the emerging new wave of British heavy metal. Released in 1980, the album marked a sharp turn from their earlier, more progressive leanings, favouring a nude, aggressor rock sound. Guitarist and vocalist John Du Cann reworked two tracks, 'She's My Woman' and 'Where's the Show?', from his unreleased 1977 solo work The World's Not Big Enough, breathing into them second life within the Rooster framework. Though the 2005 CD reissue stirred interest with rare demos and extensive sleevenotes, it remains an "unofficial" release due to copyright issues with EMI. 'Do You Know Who's Looking for You?' later found new life via a Finnish-language cover by rock band YUP.

Review: Given his long-held love of fusing elements of different musical cultures from around the world, Auntie Flo (real name Brian D'Souza) is almost the perfect Multi-Culti artist. It's something of a surprise then to find that this is only his second outing on the label. He begins in confident mood with 'Esperanto', a delightfully melodious, bubbly and synth-heavy slab of chugging sonic joy, before wrapping waves of mind-altering electronics and sun-bright synths around a slipped Afro-tech beat on 'Unua Libro'. Over on side two, D'Souza takes us to a deeper and more immersive place on 'El Heine', explores hybrid cosmic/ambient soundscapes on 'Ho Mia Kor', and doffs a cap to the new age ambient pioneers of times gone by on blissful closing cut 'Mia Penso'.

Review: Hailing from Herne Bay in the south east of England, Kevin Ayers emerged as a pioneering figure in the nearby Canterbury scene. His second solo release with the Whole World is a testament to the experimental spirit of early 70s UK music, mixing progressive rock with psychedelia and avant-garde influences, blending whimsical ballads and intricate soundscapes. Tracks like 'May I?' and 'Rheinhardt & Geraldine' show off his knack for fusing carefree melodies with more experimental structures, while 'Underwater' and 'Clarence in Wonderland' explore the era's boundary-pushing approach to sound. Featuring contributions from Mike Oldfield and Robert Wyatt, the record's genre-defying nature helped cement Ayers as a key figure in progressive rock. Though originally released in 1970, this album remains an influential work, still resonating with contemporary artists drawn to its mix of playfulness and musical innovation.

Review: Rising Glasgow-based quartet Azamiah return with another engaging new EP that bridges their acclaimed debut In Phases and what's to come. Blending UK jazz roots with atmospheric electronics, dub-infused basslines and James Blake-esque textures, this one showcases the band's evolving sound and emotional depth as tracks move fluidly between moody introspection and radiant optimism, all played with a raw, fresh intensity. This outfit's promise as one of the UK jazz underground's most exciting crossover prospects is more than realised with this deeply moving new outing.

Review: Mansfield new wave band B Movie unearth their long-lost 1982 album Hidden Treasures, more than forty years after they first recorded it for Phonogram, an imprint of Universal. The band were on the same management and signed to the same label as Soft Cell, but their career turned out to be a damp squib by comparison and they split up in the mid-eighties, without ever releasing this great album of synth pop for goths. Taking influences from the likes of Ultravox and The Human League, they cloak it in a more brooding atmosphere, reminiscent of The Chameleons and Joy Divsion - hitting all the right notes along the way, we think.

Review: Germany's Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band's profile skyrocketed in 2024 when their hypnotic steel pan cover of 50 Cent's 'Pimp' became a surprise emotional core in the Oscar-winner Anatomy Of A Fall. So pivotal was the track that steel pans would here make their first ever Academy Awards orchestra debut. But for longtime heads, 'Pimp' first turned heads in 2008, where it was pressed on Bjorn Wagner's Mocambo label and was often mistaken afterwards for a 50s sample source. The 'Big Crown Vaults' series now swoops in to save and preserve the group's best contributions to the music world, in addition to and in excess of the 'Pimp' version. A true archive-delving if we've ever heard one, the tracks so preserved include Bob James' breakbeat classic 'Nautilus' and a thunderous take on Khruangbin's 'Maria Tambien'. Then there's the B's funked-up flips of the Jackson 5 and Billy Jones, plus one original, 'Kaiso Noir'.

Review: Following the cinematic jazz-funk of 2021's 'Ufo Bar', Banda Maje returns with a new 7" single via Four Flies, which serves as a preview of their upcoming sophomore album Costa Sud. Composer Peppe Maiellano deepens his Mediterranean sound here while honouring his Italian and Neapolitan roots with a heartfelt cover of Peppino di Capri's 'Mo...' on Side A. On Side B, Maiellano explores Brazilian influences with '(Roda De) Samba Maje' featuring Amor Pela Roda and infused with vibrant percussion and cavaquinho. This lovely 45 rpm reflects a rich blend of South-inspired sounds while bridging Italy, Brazil, Africa and modern grooves.

Review: Beckie Bell's 1980 debut has long circulated in fragments i a 12" here, a collector's tip there. This full reissue by Strut gathers it all in one place. Recorded after Bell's move from New York to Paris, it offers a studio-built vision of disco shaped by session musicians and arranged with subtlety. 'Super Queen' sets the tone with its patient build and clipped vocal phrasing. 'So Many Ways' and 'Magic Lady' follow a slower logic, driven more by mood than immediacy. 'Music Madness', the record's most played track, draws attention with its syncopated synths and layered percussion, though its energy remains low-slung. Bell's voice rarely reaches for spectacle. Her lines sit just above the groove, steady and self-assured. On 'Johnnies Home' and 'What You Need I Can Bring', there's no need for dramatic turns i the performances work because nothing is pushed. The reissue comes with a clean remaster by The Carvery and includes contributions from Arthur Young, Patrick Cowley and Jacob Desvarieux. What emerges is not a lost classic but something quieter: a well-assembled record with a clear internal logic, shaped by a moment where disco didn't yet need to shout.

Review: Game-changing samba king Jorge Ben's 1963 debut album Samba Esquema Novo marked the beginning of a legendary career in Brazilian pop. Featuring the iconic tracks like the oft-imitated but never bettered 'Mas Que Nada' and 'Chove Chuva,' the agenda-setting album showcases Ben's early blend of vibrant bossa nova rhythms, rich choruses and his distinctive minor-key guitar style. While not yet embracing the Afro-rock influences of his later work, this release highlights a light yet energetic sound with big-band arrangements adding punch to the infectious melodies. It's a timeless album that remains a joyful and essential listen and captures the roots of a unique musical voice destined to shape Brazilian music for decades.

Review: B2 Recordings is one of those labels that is deeply entrenched in proper house circles. Its latest comes from Begoa who keeps it nice and chill on 'I Won't Love You' (feat Mimi X FY). The drums are low-slung, the chords are breezy and warm. 'Bibi's Funk' then layers in some lively percussion that adds a nice texture to the swaggering, slo-mo grooves. 'Listen' picks up the pace with some electro-charged rhythms and corrugated bass funk and then 'Exiles' leaves you with another classy, spacious sound with persuasive claps and big splashy cymbals.

Review: Doncaster-based reggae producer (you don't read that often, do you?) Lewis Bennett teams up with veteran vocalist Donovan Kingjay for this new single, which is a heavyweight slice of spiritual roots and steppers. 'Jail House' delivers deep basslines, militant rhythms and conscious lyrics in classic sound system style. Kingjay's commanding vocal presence brings a timeless message of justice and resistance, while Bennett's production strikes a perfect balance between movement and meditative depth. This is a powerful, no-frills release for true roots heads, designed for the dubwise dance and built to shake speaker boxes.

Review: Matt Berninger, voice and wordsmith behind The National, returns with his sophomore solo effort Get Sunk: for his sharp enough to cut adamantium and melodies that linger like motion ghosts, Berninger digs deep into the questions of identity: who we once were, what happiness really means, and the search that never ends. The album doesn't spell out autobiography but channels a narrator exploring selfhood amid possibilities and pitfalls, balancing on the edge of joy and despair. Collaborating with Hand Habits on 'Breaking Into Acting', and from the reefing 'Inland Ocean' to the reflective 'Times of Difficulty,' Get Sunk is a true personal snorkel dive, tracing both bound ties and yet unwondered roads.

Review: This is The National's Matt Berninger's second solo album and treads a sonically similar path to the Cincinnati band, with some forlorn lyrics and gloomy delivery. Berninger is clearly a fan of plumbing the depths of his heart and fortunately has the talent to be considered one of the top merchants of emotion around these days. Of the tracks here, 'Breaking Into Acting' is a beautiful slice of stately Americana and his vocals interlock beautifully with Meg Duffy, aka Hand Habits. For something more energetic try 'Bonnet Of Pins' as it's a pulsating chamber pop cut with thumping rhythms and a tear-jerking yet rabble rousing atmosphere. Live, this one will ultimately go down a treat.

Notes: 80 ohm version of Beyerdynamic's open-backed DT 990s, ideal for most studio applications. Open backs give the benefit of airier, more realistic sound for mixing and mastering as well as production and sound design tasks.

Supplier's Notes:
For decades now, professional users all around the world have placed their trust in our classic range: Dt 770/880/990 PRO. These benchmark-setting studio headphones boast extremely detailed resolution and very transparent sound. The DT 990 PRO headphones is the range's open-back model offering impressive spaciousness.

These open-back studio headphones are a reliable tool for any sound enthusiast. The wide stereo image and three-dimensional sound reproduction make the beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO headphones a loyal companion for producers. Outstanding tonal depth ensures that even small changes in the positioning of the acoustic source can be perceived while mixing.

With it's open design, the circumaural receiver has outstanding spatialityand detailed depth gradation. The 80 ohm version impresses with the proven sound signature of the DT 990 PRO: prominent bass and extroverted highs. Compared to the 250 ohm version, the high frequencies are slightly reduced.

The soft velour ear pads also offer breathability for a high level of comfort and long-lasting durability. The robust spring steel hoop gives the headphones a secure fit. At 375 grams - including the cable - the headphones are surpisingly light and yet sturdy - so nothing stands in the way of long studio sessions.

The DT 990 PRO headphones are and alwaus have been handcrafted in Germany. With their high-quality materials and meticulous workmanship, these studio headphones are a sound, long-term investment.

Review: Nick Bike has been at it again, crafting high-grade club cuts that always make an impact. These two have already been well road-tested with great effect. 'Party People (Night & Day)' is the first and is a brilliant collision of some funky, soulful disco classics into one new and strident sound with irresistible claps and vocal hooks. On the flip is the scorching 'Every Night (Hold Me Tight)' which is just timeless and super smooth disco-funk with a persuasive charm. Two no-brainers here that will bring next-level fun to any set.

Review: A striking departure from the classic piano-bass-drums format, this 1962 session brings together a rare quintet configuration, weaving trumpet and guitar into the fabric of post-bop elegance all based around New Jersey-born pianist Evans. The interplay is both literal and musical between the musicians. With trumpet lines that alternate between burnished lyricism and bursts of fire and guitar passages that glide with subtle precision, the ensemble creates a sound that is both spacious and tightly knit. The repertoire leans into standards, yet each tune is rendered with a fresh rhythmic spark and harmonic sophistication. 'I'll Never Smile Again' shimmers with wistful melancholy, while 'When You Wish Upon a Star' is recast with a gentle yet cerebral charm. Fans of more intimate trio settings might initially find the added instrumentation unfamiliar, but there's an undeniable allure in the expanded sonic palette. The drummer drives the group with crisp energy while the bassist anchors with subtle authority and the collective chemistry elevates the session beyond typical quintet fare. This is a bold, beautiful detour in the legacy of modern jazz and one that rewards the listener. A reissue worth revisiting, or discovering anew.

Notes: Black Lion's professional quality patchbay offers extreme versatility as well as top-notch, reliable sound. 48 point TRS design with clear LED display, customisable using PatchCAD files on a USB drive.

Supplier's Notes:
Eliminate confusion and non-aesthetic labeling when routing your racks of precious gear with the PBR TRS3 LIT patchbay from Black Lion Audio. Built to proven Black Lion standards of build quality and signal conductivity, the PBR TRS3 LIT patchbay features customisable, brightly-lit LED displays for every input and output. Simply connect a USB keyboard directly to your LIT to customise the displays, or use the included PatchCAD software to create custom text to export directly to your patchbay using a USB drive.

To customise the displays, you have two options: simply connect a USB keyboard to the front of the unit and start typing... or you can use the included PatchCAD software to create your custom digital labels on your computer, and export them to a USB drive to load directly into the unit.

PatchCAD (Mac/Win) lets you customize your digital labels using a quick, familiar spreadsheet-like interface. Simply type out how you want your labels to appear, export the file to a USB drive, and connect the USB drive to your LIT patchbay and press the Update button.

Your studio needs more than accessible patching - audio quality throughout the entire signal chain is essential. Black Lion Audio has been trusted for years to modify the best gear to perform beyond its original spec, and they leveraged every bit of that know-how when designing their patchbays.

Every PBR product uses audiophile-grade connectors. Every contact point is gold-plated; a major factor that's missing from most patchbays that you might have encountered. Black Lion's team of engineers have worked tirelessly to ensure that the PBR series delivers proper quality through-and-through.

The PBR patchbay series is built Black Lion-tough, with black-anodised aluminium faceplates that make for a matched and sophisticated look.

Review: New York's Joe Claussell offers three blistering takes on 'So In Love' by Black Rascals, the early 90s project from Blaze. This red-label 7" is a pricey one, but the contents justify it: deep house from the source, reworked by one of its most spiritual selectors. 'Rough Mix 1' leans into swirling vocal loops and expansive FX, full of Claussell's signature dynamics, while 'Rough Mix 2' dials back the drama slightly for something more floor-focused. Flip it for 'Drums', a stripped-down tool that reimagines the track as raw percussive hypnosis. Essential NY house lineage, revived in style and pressed loud-just don't expect it to hang around.

Review: The Blackbyrds, Washington Direct-Current pioneers of jazz-funk from the early 70s, overloaded the jazz circuit with City Life, a hair-frying album renowned for its flowing, fulminous rhythms. Core tracks 'Happy Music' and 'Rock Creek Park' set the stage for a long sampling legacy: the latter was famously sampled by both De La Soul and Nas, on 'Bitties In The BK Lounge' and 'Fried Chicken' respectively. This reissue, cut from the original tapes (AAA) by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI, reupholsters the Blackbyrds' debut worm-catching funk pecks for the world's ears to witness once more.