Search results: Black Box

Review: Ariel Kalma is a musical outsider, a visionary who combined a diverse world of sound into his own unique signature. Jazz, weird ethnic instrumentals, warm electronics, folk, spoken word and avant soul all feature in his compelling oeuvre and the visionary French musician sure had a large one. French Archives Vol III: 1964-1989 is another superb collection of material from it that comes in a lovely four LP box set with booklet and download code. It gets from astral wonderment on 'Space Pillars' to layers of harmonic bells, tropical flutes, harmoniums and drones of light on 'Muse Mirroir' with plenty in between.

Review: Mute began reissuing some classic albums from Recoil last year and already they have vanished so this is another pressing of one of their best - from former Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder. 2000's Liquid is thought to be one of his best works as he delves into dark and involving electronic worlds with its hypnotic and deeply charged charm. Its moods - desire, fury, and violence - are paired with self-reflection that encourages you to go deep inside yourself while listening. There are haunting and ghoulish moments of intensity like 'Strange Hours' next to more soothing trip-hop cuts like 'Breath Control'.