Search dance music

Review: Tokyo-based duo Group A have been operating as outliers for many years now, self-releasing music and earning a reputation for their incendiary live shows. After catching the ear of Alessandro Adriani's mighty Mannequin label, they released a self-titled EP on the Italian imprint back in 2017, and now they're finally back to follow it up with a full-length. Being on Mannequin you should know to expect beyond the grave sonics with heavy notes of industrial and minimal wave, but Group A intersperse this with their own particular strain of sonic personality, from dismembered voices to American TV rips (on the excellent "Channel Surfing". It's an imposing listen, not to mention a captivating one.

Review: For the latest release in their ongoing "Esplande Series" focusing on the work of Japanese ambient minimalists, Swiss reissue specialists WRWTFWW have decided to deliver a new edition of Motohiko Hamase's rather good - but very hard to find - 1988 release "Notes of Forestry". It remains a remarkable work, sitting somewhere between the fluid and heavenly electronics of new age ambient, the cyclical minimalist movements of Steve Reich, free-jazz and the kind of free-wheeling, loose-limbed works most often associated with experimental percussionists. Hamase is a bass player by trade, and its' his fast-fingered fretless bass playing that catches the ear throughout (though it by no means dominates the sound space).

Review: "Pyramid Pieces" is a long overdue retrospective of the golden years of Australia's modern jazz scene in the 1960s and '70s. It could hardly be called a well-known scene - it was barely celebrated in Australia, yet alone elsewhere - but over the course of two decades produced a string of fine releases showcasing fresh interpretations of then contemporary jazz from the USA and Europe, as well as a homegrown style known as 'Eco-Jazz'. Highlights are plentiful, from the magnificent modal movements of Jazz Co/Op's "A La Coltrane" and the effortlessly evocative spirituality of "Exploration of the Sun" by the John Sangster Quartet, to the heady eco-jazz beauty of the Brian Brown Quintet's "Wildflowers" and Peter Gaudion Blues Express's winding instrumental cover of jazz staple "People Make The World Go round".

Review: Conceptually derived from the work of Japanese minimalist composer Satoshi Ashikawa, Dublin-based composer Gareth Quinn Redmond has created an album of environmental music which he hopes will engage, enrich and reflect the listener's surroundings. This is a companion album to Ashikawa's 1982 LP Still Way, which was originally released as part of the wave notation series which also included Hiroshi Yoshimura's seminal Music For Nine Postcards. The album takes Ashikawa's meditative sound designs to more dramatic and lyrical landscapes, gracefully instilling his personal touch into the master's melodic patterns to present six pieces which blend and reflect the modern listener's ever changing environment.

Notes: Engineered in the UK specifically for the Native Instruments Kontrol M32 Controller. Custom moulded to fit the contours of the unit whilst leaving USB connections in place, the Native Instruments Kontrol M32 can sit ready for operation. Super durable polycarbonate shell protects delicate keys during transportation and slides straight into a flight case or bag for maximum protection. Don't go losing your keys.

Light Edition: still made from super durable polycarbonate but reaching you at a more affordable price.

Notes: The tools we use to compose and produce music are dear to our hearts. Dust, liquid and accidental impact have taken many a good synth down over the years - this is where Decksaver steps in. Precision trimmed for a perfect fit whilst accommodating cables, the Deluge can sit ready for operation. Our Deluge cover features Soft-Fit technology, providing extra protection to vulnerable wooden cheek panels that often adorn synthesizers. Slides straight into a travel bag for maximum protection during transportation. Shields delicate controls and internal components from damage at home, on the road and on stage.

Notes: Elevate your vocal processing game with the Roland Aira VT-4 and keep it protected with the Decksaver cover. The VT-4 is a versatile vocal effects processor that allows you to create unique vocal sounds and performances. With the Decksaver cover, you can ensure the longevity of your VT-4 while safeguarding it from dust, spills, and accidental impacts.

Precision engineered in the UK, the Decksaver cover is custom molded to fit the Roland Aira VT-4 perfectly. Its super durable polycarbonate construction provides a tough and transparent shield, preserving the pristine condition of your VT-4. The cover acts as a reliable barrier, shielding the sensitive controls, knobs, and connectors from potential damage.

The Roland Aira VT-4 is designed to push the boundaries of vocal processing, allowing you to explore a wide range of effects and creative possibilities. With the Decksaver cover, you can focus on experimenting with your vocal performance without worrying about the safety of your VT-4. The cover's hard-wearing qualities and rigorous testing ensure that it offers robust protection, making it an essential investment to safeguard your valuable vocal effects processor.

The Decksaver cover is not only designed for protection but also for convenience. It is precision trimmed to fit the VT-4 perfectly, allowing for easy installation and removal. The cover accommodates cable connections, so you can keep your setup intact even when the cover is in place. This feature saves you time and effort during setup, ensuring a smooth workflow and allowing you to dive into your vocal processing creativity effortlessly.

Transporting your Roland Aira VT-4 is made hassle-free with the Decksaver cover. Its slim and compact design allows it to slide easily into a backpack, gig bag, or equipment case, providing maximum protection during transit. Whether you're taking your VT-4 to a live performance, a studio session, or a vocal workshop, the Decksaver cover ensures that your device arrives unscathed, ready to deliver its exceptional vocal effects.

The Decksaver cover is trusted by professionals worldwide for its reliable protection and impeccable quality. Its transparent design allows you to showcase the sleek aesthetics of the Roland Aira VT-4, while providing peace of mind that your device is shielded from potential harm.

Invest in the Decksaver cover for your Roland Aira VT-4 and enjoy the confidence of knowing that your vocal effects processor is well-protected. With its precision fit, durable construction, and unwavering defense, the Decksaver cover ensures that your VT-4 remains a reliable tool in your vocal processing arsenal. Embrace the creative possibilities of the Roland Aira VT-4 and push the boundaries of vocal manipulation, knowing that your device is in safe hands with the Decksaver cover.

Key features:

Patented smoked/clear transparency, unique to Decksaver.
Protects against dust, liquid and impacts.
Shields vulnerable faders, switches and knobs during transportation.
Low profile design enables compatibility with most flight cases and travel bags.

Dimensions:

Weight 0.5 kg
Length 18 cm
Width 13.4 cm
Height 3.1 cm

Review: Three years after delivering a stunning debut album that cemented their position as this century's finest fusionists of Middle Eastern music and analogue electronic music, Acid Arab return with a sophomore set that's every bit as impressive. The basic ingredients remain the same - think Arabic vocals, instrumentation and percussion mixed with heavy drum machine rhythms, raw electronics and mind-altering TB-303 motifs - though the resultant tracks arguably draw on a wider range of electronic music influences. So as well as nods towards acid house and techno, the album also contains throbbing, dancefloor-centric workouts informed by EBM, Italo-disco, new wave, synth-pop and industrial. It's a subtle switch-up, but one wholly in keeping with the French quartet's distinctive vision.

Review: Talk to anyone about Stranger Things and it will only be a matter of minutes before the sensational soundtrack is mentioned. The future retro synths of Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein have a huge impact on deepening the occult feelings you experience when watching the show and that continued through Series 3. Now you can grab the accompanying tracks on neon pink vinyl, which features the vulnerable "You're A Fighter", celebratory 80s synth pop stomps of "Starcourt" and meditative charms of "The Ceiling Is Beautiful" amongst other nuggets of gold. The producers themselves have said this is less a score and more a series of cues, and it certainly got us thinking.

Review: Trailed as a direct sequel to his previous solo album, 2017's "Avanti", "Volume Massimo" sees Nine Inch Nails member Alessandro Cortini offer up another immersive trip through droning guitar textures, repetitive synthesizer motifs, exotic sitar parts and fuzzy electronics. It's effectively a series of "maximal" instrumental soundscapes with sounds so large and layered they rise above the "meditative" tag pushed by Mute's PR team. This is no criticism, though, just a reflection that while contemplative at times, one of the most joyous things about the album is Cortini's ability to build thrilling walls of sound.

Review: As the vibrant and colourful cover artwork makes clear, Moon Boots latest album for Anjunadeep - his second following well-received 2017 debut "First Landing" - is a wonderfully kaleidoscopic and positive affair full of cheery, dancefloor-friendly songs and picturesque instrumentals (see the twinkling "Trance & Dental"). The American producer is a master at blurring the boundaries between radio-friendly house, deep synth-pop and nu-disco, and much of "Bimini Road" is based around this accessible and summery musical intersection. There are a few pleasing curveballs dotted across the LP, though, including the title track's piano-heavy Balearic chug and the sunny two-step garage-pop of Gary Saxby hook-up "Gary's House".