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Staff
Reviews 413
Soundoffs 78
News Articles 104
Band Edits + Tags 1,439
Album Edits 762
Album Ratings 4995
Objectivity 75%
Last Active 01-01-70 12:00 am
Joined 01-01-70
Review Comments 63,978
| a list is dig
HUH! | | 1 |  | Seidensticker
"Scribbled" Lowtec Extendend Mixes
Deep house
2025
Superb fucking album that draws together almost everything I love about deep house (excepting its more vocal-centric side) and oozes and schmoozes its way over a well-earned massive runtime with ample overtures to every bespoke lounge or classy dancefloor you will ever dream of visiting. Obsessed with this right now -- the original Scribbled (2003 record that this remixes) is tight too, but the hi-fi upgrade and longer runtime gives pushes this over the line. Would easily have been in my top 5 for 2024 if I'd heard it in time, and probably top 3.
4.3 | | 2 |  | Soshi Takeda
Floating Mountains
Deep House
2021
One of the most melodically generous things I've heard from deep house -- this thing is less mesmeric shuffle than a full-whimsy daydream, really graceful progressions across the board with enough nifty beat switches that it doesn't coast on pure vibes. T/t is just too gorgeous
4 | | 3 |  | Rechenzentrum
Director's Cut
Glitch
2003
In the same way that Ryoji Ikeda's flickering datastreams are kind of ephemeral confusion and kinda fucking bang, uh, this album absolutely fucking bangs. Takes a while to warm up, but once track 2 "Lye" hits its stride, it's just one trickling shuffling hit after another (much more solid percussion-wise than you might expect, ephemeral as the palette is). Dipped in looking for a new fix from the vintage Mille Plateaux archive and was not disappointed
4.0 | | 4 |  | Frank Bretschneider
Curve
Glitch / techno
2001
More Mille Plateauxcore, this time at its most gaseous and shimmery. Don't let the sparseness kid you into thinking it's a background listen -- this is all about training your ear on this lovely elusive contours, might be a bit subtle for some but feel free to skip ahead to the highlight pairing of Sat and Star if so (the latter in particular gets v dubby and is a great stepping stone into this sound if you're coming from e.g. Monolake or Deepchord)
3.7 | | 5 |  | Tujiko Noriko
Echoes on the Hem
Ambient / electroacoustic
2025
Our zany glitch-cum-artpop-cum-ambient queen is BACK with a 20+ reverie in the same vein as her 2023 masterpiece/AOTY Crépuscule I & II, and uh yes this is hazy intimate liminal goodness throughout
4.0 | | 6 |  | Hiroshi Yoshimura
Wet Land
Ambient / New Age
1993
This guy just *had* it, huh. Have heard this a couple of times before, but am coming back to it in earnest now - love how it trades his more minimalist approach for alternations between hazy wash-outs and achingly lovely melodic touches -- such a softly dynamic record, I still need time to get deeper into it
4.0 | | 7 |  | Illuvia
Earth Prism
Atmospheric Drum and Bass / Ambient
2024
Very patient record but well worth sinking an hour or two into -- the points here when the stammering breakbeats, uh, break (ffs) through the ambientsphere are a *chef's kiss* panoramic triumph. Very cool showing from the gauziest end of D&B
3.9 | | 8 |  | AES Dana
Memory Shell
Psybient
2004
Why have I never checked this artist before lol this is a perfect psybient slowburner, loved it from the word go -- the bangers ooze thick and fast in the opening run (Iris Rotation and Opalin jfc), and I'm just waiting to warm up to the backend a little before I bump it up. Perfect jams for exploring uninhabited(?!) cities(!!) on ghost planets, pack your torch and high vis jacket let's go
3.9 | | 9 |  | Two Shell
Two Shell
"Deconstructed" "Club"
2024
Yep fuck you and your stupid (accurate) genre assumptions, this thing is mercilessly streamlined and full of great hooks. Shiteating grinning blast of a record, if 5 or so mins too long for the unapologetic brainrot ecstasy it serves up
3.8 | | 10 |  | REIRIE
Twinning Fate
2025
J-Pop / Alt Idol
...and speaking of brainrot, this EP hits (some of) exactly the right sugary jank let's go mhmm
3.5 | | 11 |  | Moonsorrow
Verisäkeet
Black/Folk/Viking Metal
2005
jajaja you've all heard this, but I had not! After being underwhelmed by the mid Havukruunu album y'all wouldn't shut up about a couple of weeks back, I had an is-this-sound-for-me? crisis -- had always thought this arm of bm was comfortably in my wheelhouse, and a couple of spins of this monster were enough to assure me that yes, it bloody well is!
4.0 | | 12 |  | Imperial Triumphant
Goldstar
Dissodeath
2025
...speaking of metal albums everyone has heard by now
3.8 | | 13 |  | Blue Planet Corporation
Overbloody Flood
Goa Trance
1993
Adore this project's s/t LP (a genre classic), and it turns out their first EP is pretty tight too. Doesn't quite have the Goa builds/climaxes on lock yet, but the production is pristine and it nails the retro-future escapist cleanse Blue Planet Corp made its signature
3.7 | | 14 |  | Brendon Moeller
Blue Moon
Atmospheric Drum and Bass
2025
Very tight new record -- compact for atmo d&b and fairly techy in its programming (without going overboard). Apparently this guy's background is in dub techno, and you can tell from that trademark shimmer. Last two tracks are where it's at
3.5 | | 15 |  | Yagya
Vor
Dub techno
2025
I'm not well-versed in nu-Yagya, but the deal here is that he used to make pared back gauzy dub jams to bring Icelandic weather meditations to your headphones (this early shit is good), and then took a left turn to pair dub techno stylings with dreamy pop vox? Opinions vary. This is a solid enough offering -- it's all-instrumental, but very melodically outgoing for a dub techno record (despite covering the classic dub sound at every turn). Some of its progressions feel cluttered to me, but the bulk are very easygoing and inviting. Would recommend this specifically to any genre newcomers.
3.6 | | 16 |  | Deepchord
Functional Designs
Dub techno
2022
Haven't decided exactly how much I dig this yet, but its dense, adamantly inward-oriented reverie does a little more for me on every listen. Deepchord never exactly disappoints, but this could creep as a favourite
3.5+ | | 17 |  | Akina Nakamori
Shaker
J-Pop / Alternative Dance
1997
Yes yes yes you know Akina Nakamori for her 80s idol kayo *bangers* or cult classic ethereal wave departure Fushigi, but do you know her for her whistlestop tour through every dance trend the '90s were sending through Japan? You should! This record is heavily underrated on Sputnik (if equally overrated on Rym), and its bangers bop (get that BASS on the perfectly-titled "APPETITE ~ HORROR PLANTS BENJAMIN") and its ballads, uh... its ballads are not the highlight and there are too many of them. But still! Opener is a gorgeous swoon of (adorably) dated downtempo bliss and should have been a Dream Dolphin track and/or the basis for this entire record.
3.7 | | 18 |  | Rajie
Espresso
Techno kayo
1985
Think of techno kayo as city pop's chicer synthpop correlate, think of Rajie as your daydreaming reverb guide, think of the first three tracks here as extremely fucking excellent (and the rest as pretty good), and you have a swoony genre staple to lose yourself in within a nice economical runtime nice.
4.0 | | 19 |  | downy
Mudai (8)
Experimental Rock / Alt Rock
2025
The new downy tones up the paranoia and dissociation, and goes to town on all the elements of deconstructed rock off-kilter drums stuttering typewriter guitar that gave their (excellent) last album its edge. Does this new emphasis add up to anything greater? Uhhh, I am still deciding! Interesting enough record to be worth a check regardless.
3.6 | | 20 |  | Fleetwood Mac
Tusk
Rock / Pop Rock / Art Rock / Rock Rock
1979
Always found Rumours a little twee, but took a punt on this and was not disappointed -- if only because Stevie Nicks' contributions are a 4.5-tier EP packed with some of the most gorgeous songwriting and moving vocal performances you can expect from any classic rock act (if this album even qualifies as such). Lindsey Buckingham throws poo against the wall over the rest of it, and Christine McVie more or less gets by. We'll take those good times.
3.5 | | 21 |  | FKA Twigs
LP1
R&B/Art Pop/Glitch
2014
Finally got around to this to see off her new release cycle, and it's impressive how cutting edge the bulk of it still sounds 10+ years on. Production is so confident and nuanced, the obvious highlights (Two Weeks/Pendulum/Video Girl) are impeccable, the pacing is tight -- only quibble is that some of her more intimate efforts to hold the floor as the main feature are a little strained and tedious to me (Lights Out, Numbers). Probably her best, though Eusexua scratches a different itch comparably well
3.7 | | 22 |  | Miles Davis
E.S.P
Post-bop
1965
Finally getting into Miles' second great quintet, and mmmph this is a lovely starting point that finds him working with a knottier set of chords than his butter-smooth first quintet days and with perhaps a little more boldness. Not all of the obtuse phrasings land for me, but the hit rate is high and I'm a big fan of the refinement this record shows in its more demure pieces. Herbie Hancock's keys on the faintly noirish reverie and album highlight "Mood" and Miles' first solo on the preceding "Iris" are just exquisite
3.9 | | 23 |  | Gato Barbieri
The Third World
Spiritual Latin Jazz voyage of the SOUL
1970
Unbelievable record, one of my favourite jazz finds in recent months. A brief flute/vocal overture, and then it's four tracks of passionate mystical abandon. Not dissonant enough to be free jazz, but the wonderful howling rapture this man blasts out of his sax is only a stone's through away. Absolutely gorgeous shimmering piano/drum accompaniment too, makes me think (loosely) of Steve Reich or the Necks carried away in a howling fucking wind. Do not sleep on this.
4.2 | | 24 |  | Saya Gray
Saya
Indie folk/pop/rock/ART_music
2025
Reminder to hit this here 2025 AOTY-for-now if you ain't already
4.1 | | 25 |  | Park Jiha
All Living Things
Post-minimalism / Neoclassical New Age / Ambient
2025
Reminder to hit this here 2025 [#2]AOTY-for-now if you ain't already
3.9 | |
JohnnyoftheWell
03.25.25 | get dog!
1 and 23 are mandatory everyone-checks, rest is on you lfg | budgie
03.25.25 | u cant feature ur own lists | CottonSalad
03.25.25 | you had me at gaseous
lost me at no Nefertiti | Relinquished
03.25.25 | fan of 4 and 14's other works, gonna check the new stuff | JohnnyoftheWell
03.25.25 | likewise need to go backwards on 14, interested to hear his dubbier stuff
nerfertiti is another 3 dogs and a handful of dead birds away, bus is currently parked at sorcerer! | Relinquished
03.25.25 | lol holy shit I remember adding his 2012 album and barely of his many many EPs aren't added (of course) | normaloctagon
03.25.25 | List is dig list is good dig is list good is dig
@budgie look who’s a rule stickler now ; ) | budgie
03.25.25 | jonny is ETHICALLY COMPromised | anode
03.25.25 | man i wanna check some of these but they all seem very heady and sophisticated and i dont know if ill be able to get into any of it. johnny do you hang out at cocktail bars and wear suits everywhere? | JohnnyoftheWell
03.25.25 | lol hit 2 or 13, can promise minimum airs and graces and max immediacy from both (and yikes lol am on much more of an oversized sweater + pub wavelength) | anode
03.25.25 | haha good to hear and thanks | pizzamachine
03.25.25 | I can dig | SlothcoreSam
03.25.25 | Needs more punk!
Check Cacerolazo - The Sound of Anger and Dissent | Cygnatti
03.25.25 | Ima sucker for Ms. Park Jiha, so yeah | Hawks
03.25.25 | 11 on a Johnny list makes me happy. Jam the new Saor. | Sniff
03.25.25 | New Downy very good | Sniff
03.25.25 | Yagya album goes hard too | Demon of the Fall
03.25.25 | gonna chk 23 as requested
nice that you dig 11, it is one of the good metals
cool, new downy | Demon of the Fall
03.25.25 | also will agree on Havukruunu, basing my thesis on the last album being mid and prize metal-derp Coma trolling Saya in honour of their supposed greatness
solid enough evidence
| JohnnyoftheWell
03.25.25 | the new Havukruunu wasn't a complete flop - prod and leads are on point - but I found it boring af as a riff album, and went in expecting a barnburner
"Cacerolazo - The Sound of Anger and Dissent"
this was just alright. concept and platform deserve respect, but the tunes are p overproduced cookie cutter hxc to me | BaselineOOO
03.25.25 | nothing hurts johnny more than a beautiful girl scolding him | DePlazz
03.25.25 | Will check 1, 7, 23 because reasons | JohnnyoftheWell
03.25.25 | Nice lfg
and yes lol give it to me baseline | someguest
03.25.25 | Some of these sound cool. I'll try not to forget | SteakByrnes
03.25.25 | sick list I gotta hit some of this, 2 is very sick I love that guys work | Icebloom
03.25.25 | 2 is very nice! Somehow feels like a deep house version of Donkey Kong music to me idk if that makes any sense
I've cooled off a bit on the Park Jiha record but it's still good | anode
03.25.25 | 2 and 13 very nice johnny but lack an edge. which i guess isnt a bad thing but i for some reason kinda require it. guess im an edgelord lol | myri14
03.25.25 | I tried Frank Bretschneider's rhythm-only album and that wasn't the right move, but this one is fantastic. And that Soshi Takeda album was great too, I agree about that title track. Also with "mille pleateauxcore" and Rechenzentrum, you're almost getting into Tigerbeat6 territory which has plenty of gems. Anyhow, love the electronic digs. As you can see I'm getting some mileage out of copying your HW lol. | onionbubs
03.25.25 | lfg i have my shovel and cannot wait to dig | bludngorevidal
03.26.25 | oooh i haven't checked that blue planet EP, gonna get on that. & intrigued by 1, 2, 6, 18 | evilford
03.26.25 | Hey Johnny
Check Ulcerate | evilford
03.26.25 | Jk good list I've heard zero of these | JohnnyoftheWell
03.26.25 | YAY wait, what - even 11?!
"deep house version of Donkey Kong music"
lmfao yes those square waves, i feel it
"lack an edge"
this is meant to be u moving ur body
"Tigerbeat6 territory which has plenty of gems"
lol i know literally none of these artists except kid606 and the soft pink truth - make a list!? | jrlikestodance
03.26.25 | Always warms my heart when you give 9 its flowers | evilford
03.26.25 | Yeah nah, not a huge bm fan, even the tourist-friendly subgenres | evilford
03.26.25 | I probably should check IT at some point tho | Calc
03.26.25 | I'm going to be bumpin 1 all night thank you | someone
03.27.25 | Johnny, bump Golden BP, humanity needs to know about it | JohnnyoftheWell
03.27.25 | they do, and it should go on [month of Japan] list #2 when I make that, which I should!!
but first you must bump its adorable vanilla sister project Qubinoix | OzeanKudaH
03.28.25 | Haard | AsleepInTheBack
03.31.25 | Gotta hit 1 and 23
Was eyeing up a different album by 23 when I was raving for Eddie but never got around to them | neekafat
04.18.25 | "if only because Stevie Nicks' contributions are a 4.5-tier EP packed with some of the most gorgeous songwriting and moving vocal performances you can expect from any classic rock act"
have been saying this about tusk for years, glad u agree goddamn | neekafat
04.18.25 | wow I am stealing these recs |
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