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Review: One of the most important albums of the 20th century, Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' gets a 50th anniversary specially packaged edition. Pressed exquisitely on clear 2x12 180-gram vinyl. 2x12 you ask? Well, each first side features the music while each second side has special accompanying UV enhanced artwork. This makes for a beautiful and unique special edition that sets itself aside from many reissues. This comes complete with full cover slipcase for the gatefold to reside in plus a poster as well! This album deserves a groundbreaking packaging and Warner Brothers sure gave it the proper tribute. Act quickly!

Review: The influence of Type O Negative continues to be felt long after Peter Steele's death signalled the end of the band. The goth metal band have a generous number of high points in their career, and 2003 album Life Is Killing Me is surely one of them. Drawing on his personal struggles at the time, Steele created a powerful statement draped in the grandiose style of rock he had cultivated since the band's debut. As well as the single 'I Don't Wanna Be Me', there was a cover of the song 'Angry Inch' and the opening track 'Thir13teen', a piece of music from classic TV show The Munsters. Two decades on from its original release, this is the first time the album has been released on vinyl, presented as a triple black and green pressing in a trifold sleeve.

Review: The debut solo album by David Crosby of Crosby, Stills & Nash fame, If I Could Only Remember My Name is an ironic title for an artist first striking out on their commercial own. But despite its faux-amnesiac title, this freak-folk opus is actually a striking claim to, not a loss of, personal musical identity. Following the success of 1970's Deja Vu with Stills & Nash, Crosby sought to expound on that album's methodology - hard psychedelic drugs, brushes with insanity, copious studio time - to produce a crisp, profound and multifaceted vision on the intersection of blues, folk and collective music-making, with every legend from Neil Young to Joni Mitchell to Graham Nash in tow. The highlight has to be, above all, 'Tamalpais High (At About 3)'.

Review: London Records has announced a deluxe reissue of Orbital's iconic debut album, affectionately known as the Green Album. Originally released in 1991, it straddled the line between rave and ambient techno, featuring timeless tracks like 'Chime', 'Belfast,' and the Butthole Surfers-sampling 'Satan.' Now, those tracks are considered cornerstones of the early UK techno movement. This 4 disc CD set offers the most comprehensive experience, with the original album on disc one and a treasure trove of Green Album-era B-sides, remixes, and alternative versions on discs two and three. Disc four treats fans to two live sets from 1991/92, sourced from the band's soundboard recordings. Wrapped in a 12" box, the deluxe edition includes reprinted flyers from the era and a lavish 60-page hardback book chronicling the Green Album's story, complete with new notes and a track-by-track analysis by Phil and Paul Hartnoll. This reissue is a must-have for Orbital fans and electronic music aficionados alike, offering a comprehensive exploration of a seminal album's legacy.

Review: The Mars Volta's debut album remains one of the band's creative high-points. After the post-hardcore rush of At The Drive-In burst into flames, few could have dreamed something as ambitious and progressive as De Loused In The Comatorium could have emerged. The clue's in the word progressive, as Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Jeremy Ward pooled their resources (with some bass assistance from Flea) to create long, spiralling narratives around the concept of Cerpin Taxt, the comatose hero of this nebulous story. Still sounding visionary 20 years later, it was the start of an exciting new chapter for a band truly unlike any other.

Notes: The Magnetic Mount is a versatile magnetic mounting system for attaching microphones, lights and other accessories to any MagSafer iPhoner or other smartphone with a magnetic case. It features an ultra-strong magnet for complete security, even with vigorous use, and comes with three removeable attachments for maximum flexibility. This includes both short and long cold shoe arms for shooting in landscape or portrait mode, plus a long arm for mounting your smartphone onto a tripod, handle or desktop arm for use in a wide range of video or content creation applications.

Mechanical specifications- Magnetic Mount

Weight (grams): 75
Dimensions (millimetres):
Length: 57
Width: 12
Height: 57

Mechanical specifications- long cold shoe arm

Weight (grams): 15
Dimensions (millimetres): Length: 22
Height: 97

Mechanical specifications- short cold shoe arm

Weight (grams): 9
Dimensions (millimetres): Length: 22
Height: 52

Mechanical specifications - 14 inch tripod mount

Weight (grams): 31
Dimensions (millimetres): Length: 28
Height: 113

What's in the box

1 x Magnetic Mount
1 x Long Cold Shoe Arm
1 x Short Cold Shoe Arm
1 x 1/4-inch Tripod Mount

Review: Was anyone ready for one of the most talked-about albums of the year to be Andre 3000 going ham on the flute? Probably not, but in a post-reality world New Blue Sun just slots right in. Of course the legions of Outkast fans are going to be split when an artist of such prominence takes a wild swerve into experimental musical pastures, but for those with an open mind or a pre-existing appreciation of ambient and leftfield music, this album is an easy sell. Teasing the tension between acoustic and electronic, ancient and hypermodern, grounded and ethereal, Andre has been bold and honest in presenting this album to the world and his gamble has paid off.

Review: Now celebrating its landmark 50th anniversary, Pink Floyd's seminal The Dark Side Of The Moon remains a timeless masterpiece and is a groundbreaking fusion of progressive rock and psychedelic soundscapes. This iconic album, known for its conceptual brilliance and sonic innovation, continues to captivate with its introspective lyrics and haunting melodies half a century on and this 50th Anniversary Edition pays homage to the monumental work on some very special vinyl pressings and packaging. With its celestial tapestry of sound and thought-provoking themes, his record is often cited as one you need to hear before you die, and you really do.

Review: The prolific and influential John Coltrane comitted many a seminal recording to vinyl across his career. His 1961 work My Favourite Things is one such album and it now gets a special new pressing as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of Atlantic Records. The landmark album came from the same sessions as Coltrane Plays The Blues (1962) and Coltrane's Sound (1964), but marked something of a shift in his career. His playing is exploratory and innovative, unforced and naturally stylistic across gems like 'Everytime We Say Goodbye' and more.

Review: Released in 1960, Giant Steps was a watershed album for John Coltrane, solidifying the saxophone legend's reputation as one of the most influential and innovative musicians in jazz history, as well as delivering jazz to an increasingly mainstream audience, while garnering significant critical acclaim. Although this was John Coltrane's debut for Atlantic, he was concurrently performing and recording with Miles Davis. Within the space of less than three weeks, Coltrane would complete his work with Davis and company on another genre-defining disc, Kind Of Blue, before commencing his efforts on this one. Coltrane (tenor sax) is flanked here by essentially two different trios. Recording commenced in early May of 1959 with a pair of sessions that featured Tommy Flanagan (piano) and Art Taylor (drums), as well as Paul Chambers - who was the only bandmember other than Coltrane to have performed on every date. When recording resumed in December of that year, Wynton Kelly (piano) and Jimmy Cobb (drums) were instated, replicating the alternate non-Bill Evans lineup featured on 'Freddie The Freeloader' on Kind of Blue, sans Miles Davis of course. At the heart of these recordings, however, is the laser-beam focus of Coltrane's tenor solos.

Review: The legendary experimental German band Einsturzende Neubauten is back with their first album since 2020, Rampen (apm: alien pop music). Since their formation in 1980, the band his sought out to blaze their own trail in making what others would assume is noise into their own brand music. Their own music language was created and brought with them legions of followers that have added a bit of Einsturzende Neubauten's influence to their own sounds. The band has once again pushed their sound even further - alien pop music. This edition comes on yellow vinyl.

Review: Clutch's cult and debut recording back in 1993 has never before been available on vinyl, but it is now thanks to Weathermaker Music who have pressed it up to a limited 180 gram sea glass blue vinyl and included a numbered and autographed insert. Transnational Speedway League is a great work from the band's Tim Sul and it comes with great artwork which has been redesigned by Dan Winters and Sult. The limited pressing is a must-own for fans that reminds of the band's very earliest sonic roots, raw riffs and guttural vocals that all make for an intense and arresting album still now all these years later.

Notes: A digital DJ looking for a professional, durable case solution for your Ableton Push 3? Then look no further, UDG developed a super light EVA Hardcase designed for life on the road. Constructed from durable lightweight compression moulded EVA material with a laminated nylon exterior this case provides protection against drops, scratches & liquids. Skilfully designed & moulded to fit the Ableton Push 3, this case is perfect for the travelling DJ that needs to protect their equipment.

Specifications

Colour: Black
Weight: 0,90 kg / 1.98 lbs
Outer Dimensions (W x H x D): 42.4 x 40.7 x 6.1 cm | 16.7 x 16.0 x 2.4 inch
Inner Dimensions (W x H x D): 38.4 x 32.2 x 4.5 cm | 15.1 x 12.7 x 1.8 inch
Material: Durashock moulded EVA foam

Protection:

Covers main material 600D polyester with 5 mm EVA durashock moulded body
Water repellent laminated nylon exterior
Black soft fleece interior
Protective egg-crate foam prevent damage from vibrations & shocks

Extras

Extra space for cables
Heavy duty handle
Easy grip zipper pulls

Fits

Ableton Push 3 + extra cables

Review: Soul vocalist and covers extraordinaire Vanessa Fernandez - in other worlds known as Vandetta - throws a curveball with Remember Me, seguing through a fabulous mix of R&B classics, including 'That's the Way of the World' (Earth Wind & Fire), 'Lovely Day' (Bill Withers), 'You're the One I Love' (Barry White), 'Kiss' (Prince), not to mention a smattering of contemporary pop and soul numbers numbers such as Lenny Kravitz's 'I Belong To You', Tom Misch's 'It Runs Through Me', and Portishead's 'Roads'. Proving a wide-ranging knowledge of soul music that is difficult to match (the genre is often subject to staid interpretations, remaining too fixed to certain traditions or places), Fernandez takes on an all-embracing approach to her chosen sound and in doing so enlists a diverse cast of instrumentalists to help her along the way: Tim Pierce (guitars), Alex Al (bass), Victor Indrizzo (drums), Jeff Babko (keyboards), Felipe Menolio (acoustic guitars), and Luis Conte (percussion).

Review: It was big news this year when hip-hop legends De La Soul finally made all of their music available to stream on digital platforms. That move was backed up by them also dropping a load of reissues of their finest albums and now we have, for Record Store Day/Back Friday, this special coloured vinyl boxset featuring their most iconic LP, 3 Feet High and Rising, on seven individual 7"s, making them perfect for DJ deployment. The box set also includes a funky slipmat making this a perfect Christmas gift for the hip-hop head in your life.

Review: Originally released in 1998, Garage Inc. would follow the split double albums of Load and Re:Load as a form of creative cleanse for thrash metal titans Metallica. Clocking it at over two hours, this epic compilation of covers taken from the Garage Days Sessions, B-sides, as well as new selections, paint a sprawling sonic picture of the vast array of influences each member holds dear. Running the gamut from punk and hardcore (Discharge, Misfits), to early proto-metal (King Diamond, Motorhead), all the way to their classic rock and more outsider inspirations such as Bob Seger, Blue Oyster Cult and Lynyrd Skynyrd (with their rendition of 'Tuesday's Gone' as an exceptional highlight); this bloated, overstuffed collection may appear overwhelming at first glance, but offers a curious through line and insight into the varying machinations that have maintained Metallica's status as the biggest thrash metal act of all time. It all had to start somewhere, and what better place than the garage?

Review: Thin Lizzy's double album 'Life,' recorded during their farewell tour in 1983, offers a boisterous yet intriguing glimpse into the band's final days. It boasts guest appearances by guitar legends Gary Moore, Eric Bell and Brian Robertson and boasts a tracklist that spans their discography, featuring selections from their last four albums. Highlights include fiery renditions of tracks like 'The Sun Goes Down,' 'Renegade,' and 'The Boys Are Back in Town.' Notable moments include a mind-blowing guitar solo by John Sykes on 'Got to Give It Up' and a chaotic jam session on 'The Rocker' featuring all five guitarists. While Life captures Thin Lizzy's energy and spirit os fully captured it remains a solid representation of the band's live performance abilities and serves as a fitting farewell to their legendary career. This reissue comes in limited gatefold translucent on blue vinyl which makes it extra special.

Review: The Beatles: The Red Album: 1962-1966 encapsulates the iconic band's early years with a dynamic selection of tracks that have now all been remastered at half speed so they sound extra good. This compilation showcases the evolution of their sound from the exuberant energy of 'Love Me Do' to the groundbreaking creativity of 'A Hard Day's Night' and beyond. There are also timeless hits like 'Twist and Shout' and 'Yesterday,' which means this collection serves as a definitive journey through the first part of the The Beatles' legendary catalogue. Each song is a direct portal back to the 60s and to the vibrant era of Beatlemania at the peak of its powers.

Review: By 1997 Photek had already marked himself out as a wild card in the rapidly evolving d&b scene. He'd had three years to carve out some frankly dizzying displays of break editing wizardry and such was the innovation on display there just had to be an album coming. Modus Operandi smartly stepped to one side of the dancefloor, offering a smoky reflection on where jungle and d&b had got to, highlighting the compatibility between half-speed downtempo and breakneck drums and bringing inherent jazziness to the forefront of the beats, which avoided all the usual cliches. It's a masterpiece which hasn't dulled with time and here it's getting a heavyweight reissue across three slabs to ensure the loudest cut. All the better to blow your mind with, all over again.

Review: As part of Atlantic Records' 75th Anniversary celebration, the label has launched an extensive year-long vinyl series featuring 90 releases spanning the entire history of the company, from its earliest days until the present. Of these emerges this latest reissue of Crosby, Stills & Nash's self-titled debut album, first released on the label all the way back in 1969. The album features some of CSN's most well known and iconic songs; 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,' 'Marrakesh Express,' 'Guinnevere,' 'Wooden Ships,' 'Helplessly Hoping' and 'Long Time Gone.' This album saw a shift in sound to what was popular at the time - blues based rock - opting for a more folk rock, and sometimes jazz-based sound. It would lay the foundations for the California Sound that would be popularised out of Laurel Canyon in the '70s. Artists such as The Eagles, Jackson Browne and Fleetwood Mac would take inspiration from the sound of this record.

Review: Steven Stapleton is Nurse With Wound. Originally a band, sometimes abbreviated to NWW, since 1978 the English act has explored a range of dark and brooding styles, including industrial, dark ambient, drone, and noise. Well known for sound collages - usually pretty intense in nature - influences come from the dada and surrealist art schools, cabaret music, John Cage, The Beach Boys, Krautrock, and Musique Concrete. She & Me Fall Together In Free Death is, in this instance at least, the highly anticipated reissue of the landmark album which proved just how good NWW is at all forms of song craft. Work here edges into the eerier end of Liars collaborating with Tom Waits' at his most experimental and that's really clutching for reference points. Quite unlike anything else you'll buy today, we promise.

Review: First released in digital and CD formats via Sacred Rhythm, 'Progessive Roots Evolution: A Song For Healing' hears Joaqin 'Joe' Claussell's indelible style of long-form spiritual house music re-flaunted to especial somatic ends. Intentionally crafted as a piece that bridges the needs of both the music and dance communities to whom Claussell is mutually close, this is a suite divided into multiple sections that feed on one another; they appose elements of samba, jazz and house, with ambient interstices and even ruminative piano meltdowns ('Healer', 'Heloise'). This ultra limited yellow LP edition is the audiophile's preference, its dynamism best flaunted on the floaty but driving 'Cosmic Arts' mix.

Notes: Limited-edition white version of Arturia's ever-popular MiniLab controller, now in its third iteration. Features 25 velocity-sensitive keys, eight RGB pads, eight rotary encoders and four faders.

Supplier's Notes:
MiniLab 3 Alpine White

Ice-cold music maker

MiniLab 3 Alpine White is a music-making controller keyboard with a fresh makeover. Control music software, create your own tracks with inspiring sounds & samples, and get playing with comfy keys & pads - all in dazzling white.

A MIDI controller with a minimalist aesthetic

Rediscover the keyboard controller of choice for today's production pros & beginner music makers alike, decorated with a lush modern aesthetic to elevate any setup.

A fresh all-white look

This mini keyboard controller is going for that ultra-clean, contemporary design vibe with a white exterior, white keys, and white controls.

A fresh all-white look

This mini keyboard controller is going for that ultra-clean, contemporary design vibe with a white exterior, white keys, and white controls.

Easy to use

Explore amazing synth & instrument sounds on your computer, make beats & musical ideas in minutes, and sharpen your production skills - great for beginners.

Everything you need

Play keys, punch in a drum loop, connect to MIDI gear, and get creative with premium musical software included as standard.

Be creative anywhere

MiniLab 3 Alpine White is tiny. It fits perfectly in your lap, in small spaces in your home studio, balanced on top of other gear, and even on an airline tray-table. Don't let a lack of space get in your way. Whenever you get the chance to live out your creativity, this little controller will be ready.

Pint-sized control freak

Small but mighty, MiniLab 3 Alpine White has an expressive, velocity sensitive keyboard, 8 RGB backlit pads, 8 rotary encoders, and 4 faders to put you in total control of your virtual instruments, DAW, and effects. 1 knob is even clickable, letting you navigate menus and select presets right on your controller!

Every sound you need included

What software & sounds do you get with MiniLab 3? From recording software to a library of over 4 million samples, you're totally kitted out for whatever music you want to make.

A Hands-on Experience

Explore the layout, features, and hidden talents of MiniLab 3 in detail, from its quality slim keyboard to its easy-to-use creative commands.

Main Features

Premium Keybed quality

25 high quality note velocity-sensitive slim keyboard

Pads & controls
2 banks of 8 velocity & pressure sensitive pads with RGB backlighting
8 rotary encoders
4 sliders
2 capacitive touch sensors for pitch bend and modulation wheel

Display control
Mini display & clickable browsing knob
real-time feedback on tweaks and controls

Smart features

Built-in arpeggiator
Chord mode
Hold function
Octave up and down buttons
Semitone transpose

Software integration

Seamless integration with all Arturia software instruments, including Analog Lab: select sounds, browse presets and smart-assigned controls
1 DAW preset for automatic integration with any major DAWs
DAW Transport Control with MCU protocol for every other DAWs
Up to 5 user presets for a totally customizable experience
Connectivity

USB-C connects to computers and iPad
MIDI 5-pin DIN output for connection to external instruments, gear
Control input for pedal: sustain, expression, or footswitch
USB powered

Size & weight

Instrument size: 14 x 8.7 x 2 inches (355 x 220 x 50mm)
Instrument weight: 3.3 lbs (1.5 Kg)

Platform specifications

Windows

Win 10+ (64bit)
4 GB RAM
4 cores CPU, 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo-boost)
3GB free hard disk space
OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU
ARM processors not supported on Windows

Apple

Mac OS 10.13+
4 GB RAM
4 cores CPU, 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo-boost) or Apple Silicon CPU
3GB free hard disk space
OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU

Required configuration

Works in Standalone, VST, AAX, Audio Unit, NKS (64-bit DAWs only).

Work with ASC

An elegant and simple solution to help you install, activate, and update your Arturia software instruments

Review: Few could have predicted the impact Phil Collins would have when he decided to go solo following his first stint in Genesis, but then few were prepared for the iconic gated drums which would come to define the 80s. Opening with the ubiquitous air-drum anthem 'In The Air Tonight', it was an unintentional landmark like all the best ones are, written as a personal therapy after his first divorce and subsequently turned into one of the biggest sellers of 1981. With a huge sound that deserves only the finest treatment, Face Value now gets remastered and repressed as an audiophile double vinyl courtesy of those exacting folk at Analogue Productions.

Review: Louie Vega remains a towering presence in house music 30+ years after making his early mark. As a solo artist, he deals in soulful, Latin-tinged and musical house sounds that are lavish in arrangement and often made with real instrumentals. The Vega boss now serves up a bumper collection of previously unreleased tunes across no fewer than ten sides of vinyl. There are collaborations, remixes, demos, dubs and reworks along the way and the range in impressive - from deep and triable joints to shuffling samba sounds and back again, this is a vital collection from a real house master.

Notes: Poti II expander notable features:

- per-channel input and output attenuation for the SINE and ASSGN outputs
- per-channel shape modulation with switchable destination (wave folding, shape switching, PWM)
- stores settings during a power cycle
- LED indication of the discrepancy between the stored setting and current pot position
- 4HP
- +10/-0mA from Batumi II

Review: 30th Anniversary Expanded Edition; 36 tracks in total. Mariah Carey's latest compendium features the original album Music Box in its entirety with the noteworthy addition of 'Everything Fades Away' (previously available only as an international bonus track). It premieres a variety of previously unreleased tracks including 'Workin' Hard', "All I Live For (Extended Version)', 'My Prayer', 'Hero (2009 Version)', 'Anytime You Need A Friend (Extended Mix)', 'Music Box (A Capella)' and two live performances from Top of the Pops: 'Dreamlover' and 'Without You.' It also includes Mariah Carey's duet with Luther Vandross on 'Endless Love', as well as two brand new remixes from DJ Terry Hunter: 'I've Been Thinking About You' and 'Workin' Hard.'

Review: A selection of fifteen pieces from the soundtrack of the cult anime Dragon Ball Z, on a limited 2xLP edition, fully licensed, including the main opening track 'CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA'. This soundtrack accompanies the anime's key moment in which Dragon Ball Z resumes five years after Son Goku's wedding. Radditz, a mysterious warrior, arrives on Earth to find Goku, who learns that he comes from a planet of warriors from a planet of warriors, of which only four remain. The plot is based on a succession of increasingly strong opponents to be fought, but there's often a quest or travel motif that adds interest beyond the duels. All this, and more, is bolstered by this electrifying soundtrack edition.

Notes: Plastic dust cover for Soma Laboratory Terra.

*** The Terra is not included, it is shown in the pictures for demonstration purposes only. ***

Review: A neat complement to their ever-steady white label production - they're often found plugging up the perennially insatiable hole that is the popular demand for new jungle - Okbron Records flaunt their expressive side here, welcoming producer Bungle for a terse eight-track album revolving around drum & bass' latter-day sonic post-structures. The new album Long Distance indulges the esser-cited leitmotifs of the drum & bass arch-genre, such as halftime; Bungle flaunts the ability to tease out familiar emotions in the listener, without, however, succumbing to its same formalistic constraints (no, the snare does not always have to be on the second and fourth beats). Clean, plummy, hypnotic and verging on bursting, the likes of 'Unfold', 'Long Distance' and 'Caught Leaving' impress with their verging between light-footedness and controlled bassweight, as if to suggest this producer is constantly striving towards a perfection of the sound.

Review: While Fritz Lang's Metropolis has enjoyed reams of revisionist soundtracks in the near-century since it was released, Robert Weine's The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari has remained a more cult concern of Weimar-era cinema. Karl Bartos, one of the early members of Kraftwerk, has indulged his passion for the art of this unique period between world wars, when technology and art was changing as rapidly as the world around them. Employing his considerable experience and well-appointed studio to the task of re-soundtracking, Bartos has created this vibrant new score for Weine's film, pressed up here on double vinyl with an accompanying 16-page booklet.

Review: Armin van Buuren's A State Of Trance Year Mix 2023 is yet another meticulously crafted journey through the best trance music of the year from the Dutch genre king. Spanning over two hours, this mix showcases the genre's continued diversity and evolution and features tracks from both established artists and rising talents. With seamless transitions and expertly curated selections, van Buuren captures the essence of the trance scene in 2023 with all the usual hallmarks - from uplifting melodies to driving beats, euphoric atmospheres to epic synth lines. As such this it a must-listen and more proof no one quite knows the genre like Armin.

Review: Deep house pioneer and Balance label head Chez Damier has recently got back into the scene having had his creativity reinvigorated. He has started a new label House of Chez as a way of sharing it with the world and now comes a bumper collection of all the early releases. He has made his with Ben Vedren as H2H and it's fair to say they are some of the standouts here. Elsewhere, Mosis impresses with the delightfully deep 'Pick It Up' and Damian Rausch remixes Sista Sista's 'Baby Don't' into a super low slung and dusty late night beatdown. The legendary Giorgio Morderer even appears with the diffuse synth magic of late night cruiser 'Engery.'

Review: Revered jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery originally released Full House in 1962, and it became one of his most popular albums. Recorded live at Tsubo coffee house in Berkeley, California, the classic LP showcased particular selections from his performance which became hugely influential thanks to Montgomery's distinctive, expressive tone. Now Craft have gathered together all the original analogue tapes to present a definitive edition of the album spread across three discs, including some alternate takes recorded during the hybrid recording session and concert. After his untimely passing in 1968, Montgomery's playing became a source of fascination for successive generations of jazz guitarists, and here, laid out in comprehensive fashion, is the reason why.

Review: Some 14 years in the making, Les Jardins Mystiques Vol.1 comprises 52 tracks of music composed, arranged and produced by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson; with contributions from 50+ friends including Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Carlos NiNo, Austin Peralta, Bennie Maupin, Gabe Noel, Jamael Dean, and more. If that wasn't monumental enough, just know that this lengthy classical-experimental-jazz album is certainly Miguel's intended magnum opus, having been written and recorded entirely as a result of his own uncompromised, self-funded efforts. Such an extensive time period reflects an album of longstanding personal growth for the artist; an attitude of continual evolution and innocence, of constantly coming of age and reinventing oneself.

Review: Marc Leclair may have become best known for his Akufen work in the 00s, but his Horror Inc work is surely some of his finest. Taking the slinky micro house he pioneered and turning it to more cinematic purposes, his last album under the name was 2013's incredible Briefly Eternal on Perlon. Now he revives the project with this expansive suite for Ohm Hourani's Anoma label, which is appropriately tipped towards jazzy subtleties within machine music. With each release, Horror Inc becomes a deeper, subtler concern, and so it goes on this record where the springy, swung patterns are offset by half-hidden melodic murmurs and a generous dose of mystery as Leclair takes his conceptual project further into the realms of playfully spooky micro jazz.

Review: The Nuggets series first landed in the 70s as an early example of the kind of 'diggers delight' compilations that looked deep into hidden corners to find rare, unfathomable sonic treats. The focus of these albums was the 60s psychedelic explosion, when every town was teeming with kids in garages experimenting with music (and, er, possibly the odd refreshment or two). Volume two of the series is just as seminal as volume one, as we get treated to some seriously heady gear from helices of The Lovin' Spoonful and The Sonics amongst many other lesser-spotted gems.

Review: Juan Mendez took his Silent Servant project to another level when he released Negative Fascination on Hospital Productions in 2012. His EBM-informed, brooding slant on techno had already made its mark on Sandwell District and other such influential labels, but his debut album afforded the space to really shape out his seductive sonic dystopia. More than ten years on, it stands tall as a masterpiece in the space it occupies, seething with hard-boiled urban malaise but equally adept at using subtlety alongside intensity. This expanded edition incorporates the Extended Mixes 12" as well as additional demo versions for those who like the tracks a little rawer.