Generals & Such - Quizote cassette (Digitalis Industries) 1

A trio of Californians, Christian Kiefer, Timothy Rowan, & Erik Werner, who perform to a painted score. This one is a 15 foot painting by Werner based on the first 8 chapters of Don Quixote. It is a 73 minute improvised piece which oscillates between tense quiet spells with scattered drums, acoustic guitar scribbles and warm sustained electric guitar tones penetrating the silence, and infrequent flurries of free form sprawl.

Ghostrider - Light Pulse cassette (Digitalis) 5

The darker side of ambient synth from Jens Pauly from Cologne. Slowly unfolding and mysterious electronic grandeur.

Giant Kind - Early Harvest, Late Harvest cdr (Reverb Worship) 5.25

Scrapey violin and dulcimer pluckings from Jack Hannert who also plays on the recent RW release by All in the Merry Month of May, who returns the favour on dulcimer and bells on one track here. This is a sparse recording, sounding like a back porch practice, this impression being all the more emphatic with the atmospheric use of field recordings made in north Michigan.

Gitche-Anahmi-Bezheu - Cloud Sanctum Aa'ku Breeze cdr (Rural Faune) 3

The guy behind Dream Safari floats far out with this oceanic burble and drone. The result is somewhere between queasy and intensely calm.

Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra - Poetic cd (Creative Sources) 6.75

In June 2007, Lisbon's Ernesto and Guilherme Rodrigues played in Glasgow with Neil Davidson and Aileen Campbell. Ernesto's work across about 3 decades includes collaborating with a diverse range of people - and I mean truly diverse - including Eugene Chadbourne and Karlheinz Stockhausen. He plays viola and Guilherme plays 'cello on these recordings, which were captured at a full-scale GIO session the following day. Even with string players as strong as these guesting, the balance of the Orchestra doesn't tilt in one direction: from bass clarinet to flute, guitar to trumpet, everyone gets their chance to shine in four vivid pieces. (JC)

The Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra with Evan Parker - Munich and Glasgow cd (FMR) 8

The Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra has become noted for collaborations with visiting artists and they began these was with legendary free improv saxophonist Evan Parker in 2002. This album was recorded in Glasgow and Munich the following year, when the floating lineup of GIO was 21 strong and included Alex Neilson, Daniel Padden, Peter Nicholson (One Ensemble) Tom Crossley (International Airport) and Raymond MacDonald. I was at the Glasgow concert and my salient memory is of guitarist George Burt playing the chair he was sitting on in addition to his instrument! Having said that, the six pieces here are quite structured, at times recalling the deeply melodic dirge of the Gil Evans Orchestra and, at others, the funkiness of Charles Mingus. A welcome document of a great live experience. (JC)

Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra with Maggie Nichols - Which Way Did He Go? cd (FMR) 8

Maggie Nicols had a series of workshops with GIO which encouraged all the players involved to use (and in some cases this meant discover) their voices. In this way, she established a wonderful rapport and, quite literally, harmony with the Orchestra and that shines through in the five pieces on this album. Maggie is of Scottish/North African parentage (she's the daughter of a Berber princess!) and these elements have helped make her one the most distinctive voices in improv circles since the 1970's. Even though GIO members don't sing on this record, Maggie's subtle direction made for quite a different sound from the Orchestra and the whole process was a pleasure for the players and the audience. (JC)

Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra & London Improvisers Orchestra - Separately & Together 2cd (Emanem) 15

GIO have been proving for several years now that large scale group improvisation can work successfully and their live sound has translated onto record very well too. As the title suggests, this double disc set features music by the Glasgow orchestra, their "opposite numbers" in London and three substantial pieces where forces are joined. There are devised structures, free works and, for the joint ventures, conductions. All in all, a huge tapestry of sound, from low rumbles of bass clarinet and strings to full-on assault of the impressive forces captured at London's Freedom of the City festival in May 2007. I can't help but mention that the lineup of the London orchestra reads a bit like a who's who of my formative listening experiences in this area: Lol Coxhill, John Rangecroft, Evan Parker, Marcio Mattos, Sylvia Hallett, Veryan Weston, Harry Becket.... impressive - and not just for the names! (JC)

Glory Fckn Sun 

• Vision Scorched cd (Pseudoarcana) 4

Reissue of this wonderful cd without the book. Features Antony Milton (Nether Dawn, Mrtyu! etc), Ben Spiers & percussionist Simon O'Rorke engaged in ecstatic sun worship. The opening track is a long piece of cosmic improv - the expansive crash of gongs, the deep rumble of guitar, drawn-out drones. Track 2 is an infernal white noise onslaught. The closing track is a ragged electric raga, almost buried beneath layers of intense drone and percussive splash.

• Spectra LP (Tipped Bowler) 8

Follow-up to that incredible debut on Pseudoarcana by  Antony Milton (Nether Dawn, Mrtyu! etc), Ben Spiers & percussionist Simon O'Rorke. Expansive black holes of noxious gases and an impending sense of ill-ease, which leads onto the second side, bleak Haino-esque squalls of over-layered distortion. Excellent again. Red vinyl.

"Brand new split LP from fellow Manchester weirdos A Middle  Sex and  Gnod. Gnod follow on from some killer releases over the last couple of  years, a split 7" with Bong, a tape on Not Not Fun, and most recently a collaborative LP with White Hills. The oddly titled 15 minute 'Why  Don't You Smile Like The Other Children?' opens with hazy  strings and cosmically far out voices, this slow groove packs a multi-coloured burst of rhythmic psychedelic vibes. On the flip side, A Middle Sex take up duties of doing some equally psychedelic, but in a completely different style. There side is titled 'Polytheism', and is essentially made up of two tracks, the opener is a short wild spaced out cosmic synth piece, which is swiftly followed by there main 10 minute piece of layered drums and percussion, swirling electronics, distorted chanted vocals. There side is all about the rhythm, and they really got that rhythm down. Edition of 400. Pressed on 140 gram virgin vinyl and house in super glossy pro printed covers." (Blackest Rainbow)

Two Canadian bands. The first, Goatfooted, are a duo who create utterly enthralling ballads from muffled guitars and Sarah Good's enchanting vocals. On the other side Hunting Rituals serve up mysterious electronics and haunting whistles, a bit like Bjerga / Iversen lost in a forest.

Repetitive and haunting solo guitar from Paul Andress - the brighter, more melodic pieces ring like a carillon, the more experimental pieces whirl like a haunted carousel.

A double disc adventure into the creative mind of Daniel Westerlund, aka The Goner, which spans enough different textures to keep interest alive all the way. There are looped beats, spooky banjos, distantly miked songs that evoke sunset back porches, the resonant sound of the bodhran, even some funky wah-wah guitar. Well worth further investigation. (JC)

Sweden's Daniel Westerlund sings and plays most of the instruments heard in The Goner's music. There's a strong folk element to the songs, although the opening of the album is propelled by a bassline which is straight out of '60s soul and it's selling this record to me straight away. There are a couple of instros here, but Westerlund's vocals are to the fore most of the time and they have something of a Michael Stipe quality about them. Spooky banjos abound, a bit of synth.... it's a very persuasive mix. This review copy is going in the "buy" pile! (JC)

I've been immensely looking forward to this follow-up to "Stones & Ecstasy" from 2006. Green Blossoms are a duo featuring Aiko Kogo and Boa favourite Anthony Guerra. Like the debut release this is full of space with simple lines on guitar / ukelele / flute woven into hypnotic meditations. Aiko's vocals are gorgeous, reminiscent of the Tenniscoats on the childlike "We Are Green". Highly recommended. All copies come with a 3" cdr with 2 extra tracks and a handmade cover.

More weirdness from Dr Sayed Kamran Ali (Hunter Gracchus). A collage style helter skelter ride through  shredded vocal freak outs to a helium-vocalled Butthole Surfers-style take on power pop.

Heaven 3" (Striate Cortex) 1.50

Heaven is Jacob Price of  White Armed Divinity. Slow-creeping bass rumble and subterranean drones. 

Hi Asobi - 3 Films dvd (Pseudoarcana) 6.75

"The very first DVD release for PseudoArcana features a selection of films Antony Milton created to accompany 3 tracks by his Christchurch based trio with David Khan and Peter Wright (for previous releases please see Peters 'Distant Bombs' label). Using raw footage sourced from a youtube search for "historical New Zealand super 8 film" Milton has crafted together 51 minutes of super saturated day dreams and psychedelic visual hauntology to match the intense droning grandeur of Hi-Asobi's sonics. Ecstatic pirouetting aeroplanes dance above a landscape wherein can be discovered macarbe festivals and strange deities. Slowly shifting film stock colour fields morph into intense direct film geometric abstractions." (Pseudoarcana)

Hobo Cubes / J Hanson split cassette (Digitalis) 5

Split cassette release featuring one side of magnificent weird synth cinematics from Frank Ouellette of Montreal. Half radiophonics, half early instrumental Human League and totally unsettling. On the reverse more synth magic, this time from modular synth-meister J Hanson.

Horrible cassette (self-released) 0.50

• Ducksnort! Boot III cdr (Nothing Out There) 8.50

Fairly recent recordings made on the homemade "boot" (acoustic and electric). The unadorned sound of the boot is Horton's warped folk-blues at its best. At times the incessant repetition of notes and particularly the frenzied bowed strings remind me of Henry Flynt's hillbilly drones. This comes in a handmade 8 page card sleeve with art by Robert and Constantin Dubois who runs the label.

• Adronal Music cdr (Gold Soundz) 4.75

Hull Hole - s/t cdr (Rayon) 3

"Long awaited collection of mangled, zoned out tracks giving a snapshot of the noise/weirdo demography of Hull, East Riding. Contributions by Yol, Very Rich Lexicon, Automated Noise Ensemble, Elektrodiesel and Counting to Zero" (Rayon)

Anti meets Uton. This is their fourth release and very odd it is too. Helium-voiced hallucinations and wisps of chemical drones. Guitar / piano improvisations.

Husere Grav - untitled cassette (Blackest Rainbow) 4.75

"A desolate and bleak new 30 minutes from Husere Grav, following on from releases on Not Not Fun, Stunned and Small Doses. 8 tracks of stark drifting blackened tones, claustrophobic tension building throughout each untitled track. The opening track opens with a empty repeated riff, shrouded in a thick electric drone and perhaps a drum beat crushed to the very edge of recognition, followed by a piece that engulfs the listener in a plague of blackened sounds working against one another. The sounds continue with static organic zone outs and soundtrack-style compositions. Husere Grav's newest release showcases a host of influences from dark ambient, black metal and power electronics but unlike the latter genres, never sounds harsh, the sound is just dark, brooding doom. The lack of any information and titles enhance the somewhat mysterious artist behind this excellent bleak sound project. Limited to 100, pro-dubbed with black and white covers printed on parchment paper." (BR)

Hush Arbors - Alive 2LP (Blackest Rainbow) 16

"'Alive' is the first vinyl outing from Keith Wood's Hush Arbors since his split 7" with Jerusalem and the Starbaskets on The Great Pop Supplement back in 2008. This double LP set comprises of two live recordings from Hush Arbors, the first being 'Live, Heeley Institute, Sheffield, England' which was infact the first release on Blackest Rainbow back in 2007, it was released in an edition of 101 copies on CDR. Finally this is out on vinyl, as it really is a fantastic set of Keith and his acoustic guitar playing what was one of the best venues that was frequently used here in Sheffield, so many great performances went down there (remember MV & EE's set from there that Singing Knives released?), and Keith's really was a great night. The second LP is 'Live from Kittery, Maine', a set from 12th February 2011. A whole different sound to Hush Arbors with this one. Keith is joined by Jason Ajemian and John Moloney (Sunburned Hand of the Man). Keith's sound has developed from the loner psyche folk of his earlier records and 'Heeley' to a more bourbon soaked country rock out vibe. 'Alive' is a fantastic example of two great, yet very different, performances the ever changing Hush Arbors. Pressed on heavyweight virgin vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket, edition of 350 copies." (BR)

Inez Lightfoot - Pollen on the Brow cassette (Digitalis) 5

"organic spectre with heavenly voices swirling around a wooden abyss" (Digitalis)

Innercity 

• Backworld LP (Release the Bats / Ikuisuus) 15

"Second album from Belgian synthscaper Hans Dens, following up the highly acclaimed Future Life LP from 2010 (Aguirre Records). While being rooted in the Belgian underground alongside acts like Orphan Fairytale and Dolphins Into The Future, Innercity brings a more dystopic and bleak approach to the table with it's monotonous and rhythmic set of sounds. With a strange sense of melancholia and hopelessness, Innercity on Backworld invites the listener to a intriguing maze-like journey. 6 tracks. Recorded August 2010 in Antwerp. Mastered by Viktor Ottosson. Edition of 300 copies. Co-release with Ikuisuus." (RTB)

• Terrestreality LP (Aguirre) 14.75

"Hans Dens second vinyl offering on Aguirre with more synthcrapings and zonked adventures in lo-fi music. Following up his 7 inch on NNA tapes and an LP on Release The Bats Hans continues to search and destroy. Loads of damaged audio and otherworldy synth bubblles spread over 11 tracks. No need to look at your watch, time has become infinitive." (Aguirre)

Isadore Ducasse - s/t LP (Blackest Rainbow) 11.50

"A new collaborative project from Jefre Cantu-Ledesma and William Trevor Montgomery. Both musicians played together in Tarantel and Moholy-Nagy. Cantu-Ledesma also runs the superb Root Strata label, releasing solo material under his own name (including a recent LP on Type), and also plays in The Alps. Montgomery also releases music under Lazarus, The Drift and Believer. This project was originally conceived and composed as a soundtrack to an unreleased western. The 14 tracks on this record are beautifully delicate, textured, sparse pieces ranging from slow acoustic reflective moments, to fully electric strumming, they capture the feel a western perfectly. It's a shame the film never made it out, because judging by the music it would've been a beautiful spectacle. The project was was recorded by Jefre Cantu-Ledesma and William Trevor Montgomery and mixed at studio Lamantia, the record was mastered by Greg Davis. The image on the cover is a still from a Paul Clipson film, whose films have previously featured the music of Jefre, Barn Owl, Tarantel, Gregg Kowalsky and Metal Rouge. Sleeve layout by Jefre. Pressed on 140 gram black virgin vinyl. Limited to 500 copies." (BR)

David A Jaycock - A Magnifying Glass for the Ants cdr (Blackest Rainbow) 4.25

Mysterious drones and dirges by David Jaycock of Big Eyes Family Players. Bowed strings merge and mingle into an all-enveloping haar, music boxes chime ghostly tones and strings and electronics are joined in a One-Enesemble-esque lopsided funereal march on the title track. Highly recommended.

Je Suis Le Petit Chevalier - L'Enfant Sauvage LP (Aguirre) 14.75

"Felicia Atkinson is having a very productive 2011. She has released tapes and cd's under her own name and the moniker Je Suis Le Petit Chevalier. Currently based in Brussels, Félicia is a French musician, artist & writer who is making an increasing impact in experimental music circles as of late. Her music pieces and drawings are often improvised and inspired by her travels and her night visions. Fans of Grouper, Motion Sickness of Time Travel, and other forestdroners should definitely check her out. The sleeve, an aquarel painting made by Felicia, is a rough impression of the savage child and adds to the music’s magic." (Aguirre)

"What we have here is a 50 minute(ish), 6 track, CD-r housed in a digipack covered with what looks like hand-made yellow paper and spattered with red and green ink.  It looks like a section of the floor of Mos Eisley Cantina following a violent argument between two species of clientele. The set comprises several long tracks of drone and noise interspersed with short tracks of hiss and fizz.  The opener is formed of several movements, each of which mutates from the previous.  Some of these mutations are sudden and alarming – new limbs sprout fully formed and immediately lean their elbows on the keyboard – but this isn’t just a bunch of sketches cobbled together.  Patience reveals a satisfying and surprising whole.  The short tracks are little shards of broken mirror, reflecting a cloudless sky.  The final track is the best as it builds to a glorious, cathartic roar, like dragons mourning the death of one of their number with the fire-breathing equivalent of a 21 gun salute." (Rob Hayler, Radio Free Midwich)

"jefre cantu-ledesma & milton cross together, a droning party of doom" (Digitalis)

• 8 Selections & Premonitions from the Tower Vol II 7” (Great Pop Supplement) 3

On this outing Chris Joynes is backed by The Doozer on synths and percussion and Wooden Spoon on electric guitar and piano. Both sides find Joynes playing Eastern-tinged acoustic ragas while The Restless Dead noodle away on a strange electronic pibroch on side 1 and guitar / piano atmosphere on side 2. Both parts don't seem to quite go together but somehow it works. Lovely die-cut sleeve.

"Keep Breathing" cdr (Rhizome) 2

I'm not sure who this is but it was originally available on Winter records of Adelaide and contains 3 tracks of harshly recorded harmonica / melodica drone

Kemialliset Ystavat

• Alkuharka cd (Fonal) 9

Lost-in-the-woods folk-psych that has a wonderful childlike naivety to it - plenty of exotic sounding pickings and pluckings and  primitive percussion with a move into frazzled electronics.

• Ullakkopalo cd (Fonal) 11.25

A wonderful hotchpotch of sounds and textures from Jan Anderzén and co-conspirators including members of Avarus, Pekko Kappi, Neil Campbell (Astral Social Club) and C Spencer Yeh. A gorgeous, vibrant psychedelic weave of acid folk, bubbling space electronics and tape slicing / manipulation that lies in a magical zone somewhere between Moondog and Faust. This comes with a 12 page booklet of art, photography and writing.

Ki - Stops Dropping cdr (Unverified Records) 5.50

Trio featuring Mico (No Neck Blues Band), Tamio Shiraishi (Fushitsusha) and Fritz Welch, recorded live in Glasgow at Instal in 2009. Earth-quaking piano rumbles, lunatic gibberish, clattering percussion, ear-piercing sax.

Kim Doo Soo - Evening River 2LP (Blackest Rainbow) 19.25

• Distant Voices, Distant Songs cdr (self-released) 5

Alan Davidson has been making music under the Kitchen Cynics name for a long time, but the last couple of years have seen him releasing it more profusely than across the previous decade and a half. Rather than a lowering of quality, the increase of quantity is actually delivering a tide of fine material and this latest album is highly recommended. It's a set of "Love songs to the people of Aberdeen " and these are interspersed with recordings of Alan's parents reflecting on days back in the long ago. The sound of these unaffected voices telling stories of old cinemas, ladies of the street and more makes this a folk document along the lines of the Waterson's classic "A Yorkshire Christmas" and the tales blend to Alan's songs in an ideal flow. Davidson's mix of moving ballads with tongue-in-cheek wordsmithery burns on a high flame throughout. In addition to the folkier elements, we're also treated to the caustic fuzz guitar (a la Barrett's No Man's land) of Demerara Cerebrum, worthy of special mention for the line "See how my heart has shrunk to the size of the holes in my string vest" alone! While we're singling out tracks, Damo supports the Dons casts the famous Mr. Suzuki as a supporter of the (often luckless) local football team. Beat that!  (JC)  

• A Tune-a-Day the Kitchen Cynics Way 2 cdr (self-released) 5

In 2007 Alan Davidson ran a subscriber series of cdrs featuring as you might guess one tune for every day of the year. This second volume compiles some more of them. Bewitching and lyrical bedroom psych-folk.

• Hoodie Craw cdr (self-released) 5

intimate folk-psych, mostly unadulterated guitar, a bit of keyboard and Alan's gentle lilt. This features covers of 'Vegetable Man' (Syd Barrett), 'Josephine, for Better or for Worse' (the Strawbs) and 'Gently Johnny' from the Wicker Man

• Parallel Dog Days cdr (self-released) 5

Intimate bedroom psych-pop, in a similar vein to Robin Hitchcock but a slightly folksier feel. Previously released on Secret Eye.

• Dumbfoundlings cdr (self-released) 5

another new cdr from Aberdeen's prolific Alan Davidson of purely instrumental tracks, every bit as lyrical and bewitching as his songs. Cascades of harp-like strings like summer rain, Alan's lilting guitar playing, a bit of music hall, some lovely instrumentation (zither, chanter, phono-fiddle, psaltery, clarinet) and the usual great titles ("Double Line for the Gentleman's Comfort" being a favourite).

• Parallel Dog Days cdr (self-released) 5

Intimate bedroom psych-pop, in a similar vein to Robin Hitchcock but a slightly folksier feel. Previously released on Secret Eye.

• Pictures at my Exhibition cassette (self-released) 5

  23 songs that inspired paintings at Alan Davidson's recent exhibition in Aberdeen. Some familiar songs in new guises and some new ones too. Radio sessions include Irene Trudel's WFMU show and John Cavanagh's Soundwave on Radio 6 International. Gorgeous folk-psych songwriting, shimmery guitar sound; every song is a gem.

  Ampometer cdr (self-released) 5

Excellent new release from Alan Davidson that finds him at his most haunting, particularly on the atmospheric instrumentals that mix field recordings with his unmistakable guitar sound. Some great new songs too such as the weird casio pop of "Ampometer". A couple of new versions of old songs (one for John's radio show) - "Jock Sheep" and "The Gleam in the Heron's Eye". Finally there's a poem read by Alan's late father "I Wish I Were a Caterpillar" mixed up with some swirling radiophonics. Highly recommended.

The Kitchen Cynics & Rory McIntyre - Ephemera cdr (self-released) 5

Aberdeen meets Glasgow : Kitchen Cynics (aka Alan Davidson) and Rory McIntyre share this disc and the results are very pleasing. Some tracks are collaborations, others are solo (McIntyre plays a lovely cover of the Cynics song Now's the Time and Marissa Nadler's Virginia ) and the "best title of the set" award has to be taken by A slow dance for Alfie Bass! Enchante, for sure! (JC)

Klangmutationen - Liturgie cdr (Dreamsheep) 1

An incredible blast of free jazz wipeout from a collective from Malaysia. This set was recorded live at the Annexe Central Market, Kuala Lumpur - two tenor sax, electric bass and guitar, bamboo whistles, vocals and drums. Feedback hums and sears and the saxophones provide a wall of malevolent energy.

complete with jittery bubbling bass-synth lines and vocoder, these are 2 fine European retro-electronic-pop songs

Kuupuu  

• Yokehra LP (Dekorder) 10.50 

This LP is a compilation of some of the tracks on Kuupuu's early releases: "Sateen Suutelemat" on Nidnod, "I Can Walk the Earth" on Foxglove and the 3 self-released cdrs. Intimate night-time meanderings, primitive electronic loops, wordless vocal wow and lost-in-the-woods whisperings.If you missed those, don't miss this as it is truly magical.

• Lumen Tahden LP (Time Lag) 16

Jonna Karanka's first non-cdr / tape release. When not playing with the likes of Avarus, Anaksimandros & Hertta Lussu Assa, Jonna creates a unique kind of bedroom psychedelia, formed from loops, backward tapes, toy instruments, repeated piano figures, casio drones, creepy strings and haunted layered vocals. Acid-drenched nursery rhymes with an unsettling undertow and a spellbinding hypnotic presence. Highly recommended. Packaged in a stunning ultra-heavy laminated full color gatefold cover with full color art labels, all created by Jonna. Heavy vinyl.

La Grieta - Decision cdr (Black Petal) 3

Le Cose Bianche - Cose di Nessuno cdr (Striate Cortex) 2

Pounding loops, a shifting soundscape of, possibly, field recordings, a nod in the direction of our old friend industrial music (it's refreshing to hear a new take on these influences) and maybe even a hint of dub. La Cose Bianche bring it all together in a rewarding way and Striate Cortex wrap it up in a chunk of fishnet tights material! The last time I saw anything like this, it was wrapped around a 7" by Van Halen!! (JC)

2 tracks from Boban Ristevski: one of high-octane hiss and field recording and one of radioactive rattle and rumble.

Another Striate Cortex release from Boban Ristevski, this time featuring 3 tracks. Minimal pulsing oscillator tones.

Logan Seguin  

• SS-Vntrx-34000 Original Film Soundtrack cassette (Digitalis) 3

Recorded on an old Yamaha keyboard.  At its best sounding like it's soundtracking a very odd sci-fi horror straight out the '70s, very John Carpenter - simple spooked one-finger lines tip-toeing around each other. Other tracks are gorgeous melting tones, moments of lush pop bliss and minimal submarinal drones.

• Drone cassette (Digitalis) 5

Lorsson - Lorioppia cdr (267 Lattajjaa) 0.50

Mind-blistering beatings and primitive howl (musically and vocally) in short sharp bursts from this demented band

This, the latest from Australia's The Lost Domain, starts out with an easy saxophone duel, dark and foreboding jazz / blues sprawl, before launching into the album's centrepiece - a long loose krautrock jam that sounds like "Monster Movie"-era Can might sound were they forced to play to the point of exhaustion: drumming that somehow manages to be both bone-rattling loose and onward-driving and squalls of feedback that sound like blinding headlights in the dark. The dark, foreboding percussion-driven sprawl continues on the last 3 tracks with "Drift / Crack" being particularly fine - with distorted howls to wake the dead. Great to hear some new sounds from the Lost Domain. 

• Northgate 2005 cassette (Pseudoarcana) 5

Recorded in 2005 with the same line-up as the "Palace" album (also released by Pseudoarcana) and also featuring Antony Milton on guitar and violin. Burnt-out blues with parched revelatory hollers from John Henry Calvinist.

Loud & Sad - Whale Fall Volume on cassette (Digitalis) 3

Duo featuring Nathan McLaughlin ("Echolocation" tapes) and Joe Houpert. Huge clouds of gaseous hiss and drone and some spectral synth lines quavering amidst the depths.

Lunar Blues Band - Cryptomana cassette (Hashram Audio) 3

Lunar Blues Band are a trio featuring Matt Earle (Antipan, xNoBBQx), Adam Sussman and Michael Donnelly (Brothers of the Occult Sisterhood, Terracid). Low level improv noise rock, like watching a squall move across the sea on the horizon. Free-falling drum, electronic and guitar clutter.

Lunar Miasma - The Gateway cassette (Digitalis) 5

Glacial synth & sequencer gems from Greece's Panos Alexiandros. Spiralling sequences of levitational bliss.