Search results: Rolando

Review: Rolando Simmons is back with more of his elegant, subtly skewed electronica, following up albums for Love Love and 030303 to drop this beauty on Utter. Alex Egan's label always favours intriguing oddities, and so you know the brand of electro Simmons offers is not some cookie cutter concern. There's an emotive warble to the synthesis, but more than that it's inherently odd around the edges and fuelled by a sentimental core, closer to braindance than typical electro. Whether it's the wobbly and lilt of 'Org Vibris' or the microtonal slides of 'Duelling Parrots', Simmons keeps things odd and engaging at all times on this wonderful eight-tracker of freaky electronics.

Review: Cleopatra gather together a whole host of freaks and ghouls to pay tribute to the psychobilly brilliance of the timeless rock 'n' roll deviants, The Cramps. The bands have been picked wisely, favouring people who will put their own spin on classics like 'Human Fly' and 'I Was A Teenage Werewolf'. Bat bring a chrome finish to 'Goo Goo Muck' and Blitzkid make 'Garbageman' into a sharply pointed strutter and The Brains pound out a driving version of 'I Can't Hardly Stand It'. Poison Ivy and Lux Interior's influence continues to ring out across the rock spectrum, which this collection proves with ease.

Review: The artwork for this new 12" from the System 108 label is eccentric enough to make you want to check out the music even if you don't know the artists. It's the sort of cover that suggests the music will be left of centre and quirky and that it is. 'Sao Januario' is a deep and lazy groove with sunny chords and jazzy keys that take you to the global south. 'Sunny Villa On A Distant Planet' is a twisted disco cut with house leaning drums and big cowbells under intergalactic synth lines. 'Rolando Nascer Do Sol' then rides a crisp electro breakout to keep you on your toes and 'OWL WCS' slows down for a cuddly back-to-mine style closer.