M-Age - Under A Cubic Sky (Rising High)

Full of polish and with some rounded sounds, this album also has some vocals in places which is a refreshing change for current ambient music. Other influences include slightly oriental and indie samples which later transcend into more funky and percussive sections, while always retaining direction. It's a bit of a menagerie this one, which keeps you listing as there's always something new round the corner.


This review also published in: On magazine

Mindscape - Mindscape (Prime)

Recently trailed in Trance Europe Express (as was Sensurreal), this is an agitating infestation of synthesised beats and textures. An analogue steambath. Comprising largely of quite high BPMs made with soft textures there are also parts reminiscent of fellow Scandinavian Biosphere in it's more thoughtful sections and of fsol's Lifeforms in it's more uplifting parts. Tracks include 'Computer Flesh' and 'Fields Of Joy', which are also out on 12".


This review also published in: On magazine

Sensurreal - Never To Tell A Soul (Beam Me Up!)

Looking like a gothic album but sounding more like the middle-aged European electronic new age music of the mid 1980s, but with a post-house twist. Sensurreal offer free-floating atmospherics that are more headphone-listening than head-trip. The album keeps going despite some false starts, tracks like 'Scyra Officinalis' sound good but then quickly fizzle out. If the CD sounds a bit ambient, then the LP won't. It's got almost a completely different track listing as the band wanted Never To Tell A Soul to be both accessible to the dance floor and the chill-out room. And it works, the vinyl has a much harder sound than the CD with some different rhythms and textures. A concept!


This review also published in: On magazine

Defence - Travelling EP and Baruka - The Lost Funk EP (Night Vision)

There's a little area of Detroit in Scandinavia known as the Night Vision label. In the first of two new releases, Juan Atkins-collaborator Defence offers a tripped-out sci-fi garage track in 'Travelling At The Speed Of Music' which calms down only slightly for the 'Pulse' and 'Flow' extensions. Definitely some Moby influence in this one. Baruka's follow up to 'Play It Loud' includes 'Raver Of The Lost Funk' which builds up over 8 minutes into trickling tickly nouveau acide. Tracks 'Anti Political Behaviour' and 'Circles' have more of a point with their supreme peri-glacial ambience.


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Baby Doc - Eurotic (Ascension)

A Euro-erotic throbbing and pulsating slab of disco, that is more '70s than '90s in feel. Some nice shimmering interludes, but overall a full-on hi-NRG assault that leaves little to the imagination.


This review also published in: On magazine