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Review: Los Angeles crusted hardcore bruisers CNTS delivered a venomous statement of intent with their beautifully titled 2019 debut full-length Cunts, but sadly only had a brief opportunity to tour in support of the project before the world closed its doors in early 2020. Unfortunately, any and all future plans would be put on hold following vocalist Matt Cronk being injured in a car crash which resulted in a surgical error leading to a paralyzed vocal cord. Though members turned to other projects whilst awaiting/praying for Cronk's recovery (both drummer Kevin Avery and guitarist Mike Crain are members of Retox with the latter also being part of the Mike Patton-fronted Dead Cross), it wouldn't be until the winter of last year that, against all doctor's predictions, Cronk's voice would return and with it, a bevvy of new gripes and grievances to expel. Sardonically titled Thoughts & Prayers, and receiving distribution through the aforementioned Mike Patton's Ipecac label, prepare for an even more depraved batch of jagged, fuzzed-out, cynical and severely pissed off hardcore headcavers.

Review: The second instalment of the Revenge trilogy is another doozy that once again reaffirms the indomitable spirit of the vengeful Gorilla at the same time as showcasing a relentless pursuit of violent justice. Against the brilliantly evocative backdrop of cinematic beats crafted by expert producer The Dirty Sample, Ol' Gorilla Bones is in top form as he spins vivid yarns of gruesome retribution against inept rappers. While revenge remains the central motif across this 16-track album, the duo's horrorcore narrative delves into unexpected realms that range from hockey references on 'Gerry Cheevers' to literary allusions on 'Honest Proposal'. It's a fine sequel full of macabre beat magic.

Notes: MOOER, one of the world's leading guitar pedal innovators, has never been a stranger to octave pedals. The company has already enjoyed a successful response to its "Pure" and "Purer" Octave pedals, but the company's latest offering, the Tender Octaver X2, aims to take guitar octave capabilities to the next level.

Unlike the Pure and Purer Octave pedals which focus on pitch-shifting by the semitone, the Tender Octaver X2 is designed with a more specialized intention, focussing solely on octave shifts. When using the pedal, users can choose between two different octave shift modes, facilitating the addition of both subjacent and upper frequencies to a guitar signal. Both options have two dedicated rotatable dials, one for determining the volume of the added octave, and one for fine-tuning its tonal colour.

Both of these octave effects can be used independently and can be toggled on or off with their own easy-access footswitches, each paired with its own LED light to indicate its current activation status. Furthermore, both effects can also be used simultaneously, empowering guitarists to experiment with unique tri-octave guitar presets.

However, these subjacent and upper octave effects need not be explicit if the guitarist using the Tender Octaver X2 is looking for a more subtle octave manipulation. Thanks to the octave volume dials and the "Direct" dial for dry signal volume adjustment, anything from an explicit pitch shift to a subtle octave underlay can be achieved within the same pedal.

The pedal also contains 14 preset slots, allowing users to experiment and save their favourite parameter combinations with the "Save" button. In classic MOOER fashion, this has been presented in a minimalistic fashion, with 7 LED lights representing the full range of 14 save slots, lighting up blue or red depending on which half of the slots are being browsed. Each slot can be saved into or browsed through the two "Sub" and "Upper" footswitches, providing a further example of MOOER's dedication to making the most out of a minimalistic interface.

Using the pedal will be as simple as plugging it into the included DC 9V power supply, and plugging in a guitar with a standard 1/4" guitar cable. Overall, the Tender Octave X2 is set to be an exciting new addition to MOOER's octave pedal catalogue, and if paired with the "Pure" or "Purer" Octave products, just about any pitch-shift combination is made possible for guitarists of any style or experience level.

Features:
Precise octave-shifting DSP algorithm
Two octave effect options - subjacent and upper
Two effect volume dials, one for each octave
A 'Direct' dial for adjusting the dry signal volume
14 unique user preset slots
A dual-function 'Save' button for presets
7 dual-color preset LEDs, with red representing one half of presets, and blue representing the other half
Two additional LEDs, indicating the activation status of both octave effects
Two footswitches that function both independently and simultaneously for effect toggling and preset browsing
1/4" mono input and output
DC 9V power supply
Minimalistic and compact casing design

Notes: Ever since MOOER launched onto the guitar pedal scene in 2010, it has been producing pedals that have consistently pushed the boundaries of audio effect processing. 2023 has seen many impressive new entries, but the new Harmony X2 is set to sit at the top of Christmas lists this year. This device is a highly specialized and versatile harmonic shifting pedal, complete with every harmonic capability a guitarist could need for live performance and recording.

First and foremost, users of the Harmony X2 can select between the 12 pitches of the chromatic scale to customize their harmonies, with each pitch facilitating both major and minor scales. Once a root note has been chosen, a further 11 harmony modes enable further customization of harmonic intervals, including classics such as thirds, fifths, sevenths, and octaves.

Interestingly, the Harmony X2 is designed to specifically facilitate independent stereo harmonies. This means that guitarists can choose separate harmonic intervals for the left and right output, both of which can also have their volume adjusted independently by their dedicated dials. This allows the pedal to stand out from other harmonic pedals, facilitating harmonically rich tones that make optimum use of the stereo field.

After experimenting with these versatile parameters, guitarists can finely tune the intensity of the effect with the 'Dry' dial, determining the level of unprocessed guitar signal in the overall mix. Once satisfied, users can then save their favourite harmonic combinations with the 'Save' button, enabling them to return to their favourite preset at any time.

Despite the advanced nature of the Harmony X2 pedal, its use has been designed to be very simple. A dual foot-switch setup is provided to seamlessly toggle harmonic effects independently for both left and right pannings, and a simple and sleek combination of dials and LED indicators help the user clearly visualize their harmonic effects.

The Harmony X2 supports standard 1/4" inputs and outputs, with both containing two ports to facilitate both mono and stereo usage. However, these can interestingly be used in 'mixed' or 'individual' mode, enabling outputs that either correlate or merge the stereo inputs. The pedal is powered by the included DC 9V power supply, ensuring that guitarists never are never limited by the frustrating process of swapping out batteries during a performance or recording session.

Features:
High-quality pitch processing module
12 pitch options with 11 harmonic modes
Two dials for isolated left and right harmonic customization
Two dials for left and right harmony volumes
Dedicated dial for adjusting the level of dry signal
Support for both major and minor scales
LED indicator for harmony mode
Two LED indicators for major or minor mode
Multi-purpose 'Save' button
Dual-footswitch setup for independent harmonic bypassing
Two 1/4" inputs, supporting both mono and stereo
Two 1/4" outputs that support stereo mixed or individual output modes
Powered by included 9V DC power supply

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


One of Brazil's most prominent rappers Criolo returns with his first album in almost four years. Showing a natural maturity and development, Convoque Seu Buda (Summon Your Buddha) is a spell-binding experience that digs much deeper than the harder rap he made a name for himself with years ago. Cuts like "Casa De Papelao" are smoky, cosmic soul joints while "Cartao De Visita" is a fun throwbacks to the chronic sounds of the early 90s. Sugar-sweet skanks can be found deep in the sandy groove of "Pe De Breque" while anthemic, lighter-raising vibes can be found on "Piano De Voo" where Criolo's sharp tongue gives Em a run for his money.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Louie Vega's famed Elements of Life project - an ever-changing collective of musicians who create live house, disco, Latin and soul tracks - returns to action, this time with old friend Josh Milan in tow. In its original Louie Vega mix form (track 3),'Let Us Shine' is a deliciously deep soulful house number with tribal-influenced percussion, gospel-influenced vocals and Vega's usual impeccably produced instrumentation. Milan provides two top-notch 'Honeycomb' mixes (vocal and instrumental), which opt for a breezier and more tactile vibe with nods to both early New York garage-house and the earlier 'proto-house' wave spearheaded by Boyd Jarvis, Timmy Regisford and Paul Simpson. Rounding off the EP is live Latin house workout 'Los Tonos Segrados', featuring guest musician Axel Tosca.