Electro – Page 6 – 7th Level Music

Noir Addiction serve up a slick new single with “Serve Me Some Crime.”

Alternative-industrial rockers Noir Addiction present their new single “Serve Me Some Crime”, a sarcastic manifesto about embracing chaos and contradiction, where rule-breaking, humor and non-conformity become tools of personal freedom. Presented with a smashing new video directed & edited by ‪Jack Lucas Laugeni, it celebrates choosing instinct and madness over routine, control, and the suffocating seriousness of everyday life. This is the first taste of the album “Pretty Things Don’t Last”, forthcoming via Berlin-based Soulpunx label.

Emerging with a raw, industrial-tinged soul, Noir Addiction is a powerhouse trio that harnesses a dark, heavy aesthetic against a backdrop of classic rock ’n’ roll grit. Founded by Sonny Lanegan, who handles vocals, guitars, synthesizers, and programming, the band is rounded out by drummer Roberto Catanzaro and Nessie Zorba on keyboards and percussion. A seasoned musician and producer, Lanegan’s creative vision was shaped by cutting his teeth in Los Angeles’s high-octane music scene, where he honed his experimental style as singer-songwriter for White Pulp and co-founder of The Dead Good.

“Serve Me Some Crime” started from a really simple feeling: sometimes life gets too serious. Too structured. Too polite. The word “crime” in the song isn’t literal it’s more about breaking small, invisible rules. It’s about those moments when you don’t want to behave exactly how you’re expected to. A regular Sunday can feel predictable, almost scripted, and the song plays with the idea of shaking that up adding a bit of danger, irony, or mischief to something ordinary,” says Sonny Lanegan.

“At its core, the song is about freedom not the peaceful, inspirational kind, but the messy kind. The kind where you allow yourself to be contradictory, to not have it all figured out, to embrace a bit of chaos instead of pretending you’re always in control. It’s me saying: if life insists on being absurd, I might as well play along.”

Based in Italy, Noir Addiction has electrifying their way onto the music scene through their clever mix of glamorously haunting atmosphere, sense of decadence, rebellion and obsession, Noir Addiction bring a high-voltage fusion of dark rock, grunge attitude and shock-rock energy. By fusing heavy, distorted guitars and electronic textures with theatrics and raw emotion, they offer an immersive experience that is meant to be felt just as much as it is heard.

“There’s a lot of contradiction in the lyrics on purpose. Lines like “I don’t need forgiveness right now” or “I wear the joke to fight” reflect that push and pull between being sincere and hiding behind humor. I think many of us do that… we joke when things get uncomfortable, we act cool instead of saying what we really feel. The song lives in that space. Writing it felt like letting myself misbehave creatively. I didn’t overthink it, I followed the impulses that felt a little reckless. The lyrics came out in bursts, almost like I was arguing with myself. There’s tension in the song because that’s how I felt: torn between wanting to stay composed and wanting to blow everything up,” says Sonny Lanegan.

“When we recorded it, I wanted that tension to stay alive. We didn’t polish away the edges. The vocals needed attitude something slightly provocative, almost teasing. I wanted the track to feel cool but restless at the same time, like there’s something simmering underneath. We played with that contrast between restraint and release, keeping it tight in some moments and then letting it loosen just enough to feel unpredictable. That balance is really what gives the song its character”.

Sonny Lanegan brings years of behind-the-scenes studio and production experience to Noir Addiction. Many of his songs have also been licensed to and featured in American TV shows, cementing his presence in mainstream media and propelling him into notable collaborations with artists and producers, which has sharpened his sound and pushed his creative vision to new heights.

Lanegan eventually reconnected with his old friend Nessie Zorba, former bandmate in PostHuman, with whom they toured Europe, rekindling their deep musical connection and passion for relentless intensity and depth and channelling this unfiltered energy into this new, heavier, darker project. Drummer Roberto Catanzaro then joined in, bringing a new dynamic layer to their presence, his powerful and heavy-weighted performance adding body, urgency and raw impact to their overall sound.

Soulpunx is an independent record label and media production house founded in 2017 by music producer and film composer Konstantin Dellos. Dedicated to the creation and promotion of high-quality audiovisual art, the label’s focus is modern rock and alternative music. Beyond music, Soulpunx produces short films, documentaries and music videos, always emphasizing powerful storytelling.
As of March 20, “Serve Me Some Crime” will be available across digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full “Pretty Things Don’t Last” album will be released on July 16 via SoulPunx Records.

Noir Addiction will be touring in support of this EP, beginning with two special shows in Prague – at Subzero Prague on May 14 and at Chapeau Rouge on May 15.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Shauna at Shameless Promotion PR.]

Baby Smith releases title track from upcoming album “Lately, Love Is Dead.”

Australia-born, Berlin-based Baby Smith, made up of Ray Sonder and Saxon Gable, are set to release their debut album Lately, Love Is Dead on July 10th. Today, they are sharing the album’s title-track, laden with existential lyricism and an elegantly crafted arrangement.

On “Lately, Love Is Dead”, the band said “The song touches on idol worship and beauty standards. “I wanna be pretty, I wanna be sought after, I wanna be someone else, I wanna be somewhere else.” This comments on the way our capitalist society is built and how it constantly reinforces that we should always want more and we shouldn’t dare to be satisfied with who we are, how we look, where we are in our lives, or our circumstances. Everything is disposable, people are disposable, love is disposable. We honestly think love may be dead right now. The world is in such a dark place, and it’s pretty hard to bear. As people, we are becoming more isolated and individualised.”

“Lately, Love Is Dead” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJalFtRd_TM
“Lately, Love Is Dead” on other streaming services: https://ffm.to/lately-love-is-dead

Alongside the single release, the band also created a mixer to give an insight into the arrangement of the song, which can be found here: https://babysmithmusic.com/pages/mixer-llid.

Ray Sonder and Saxon Gable grew up in sleepy beach towns on Australia’s east coast. Their parents were hippies and rockers. They were spoon fed Nirvana and The Beatles on the car stereo whether they liked it or not. Both self taught musicians, they began writing songs from an early age, evoking the quiet beaches of Byron Bay and the wild Gondwana Rainforest that were their back yards.

By university, they were writing hazy, sun-kissed demos to upload online and burn onto CDs for their friends. Inspired by technicolour, small-town beatniks and surfers, and the romantic soundtracks of their early youth, the foundations of Baby Smith were laid a long time ago. But neither Saxon nor Ray knew each other yet, despite likely crossing paths.

The pair each moved to Berlin from Sydney separately and within two weeks of each other to explore new subcultures and write songs. They met, and soon married, spiritually united by their affection for the whimsical, intimate, deeply melodic sounds of 1960s psychedelia and 1990s Grunge. What followed their creative union was musical exploration and experiments that led to the genesis of Baby Smith in 2023.

Since then, Ray and Saxon have had their foot firmly on the gas, writing, producing, and releasing EP I and EP II. However, there is stark contrast between their early music and their upcoming debut album ‘Lately, Love Is Dead’. Written entirely in their Berlin flat using a deliberately stripped-back home setup including dented microphones, a broken mic stand, and a glitching 12-year-old interface, the record trades the sun-kissed haze of their early releases for something darker, sharper and more immediate. The songwriting carries new weight; the production feels urgent and alive. It sounds like the duo have jumped into a whole new sonic universe, and it’s catchy as hell.

Thematically, the album wrestles with the human experience at close range: love and loss, self-doubt and self-loathing, fractured relationships, substance abuse within inner circles, and a simmering disillusionment with modern life and the digital status quo. What began without a fixed concept gradually revealed itself as a portrait of a specific, volatile period in their lives.

Their creative collaboration drives the project. Ray approaches writing with philosophical intention and precision; Saxon works instinctively, often guided by texture and feel. A devoted film enthusiast, Saxon drew visual inspiration for the album from Gummo by Harmony Korine, while the band’s wider artistic references stretch from André Courrèges to Suzanne Valadon and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Baby Smith have had a busy start to the project which has seen the duo sell out their debut London, Berlin and Dublin headlines, play across eight countries, and support King Hannah, Sarah Klang, Cousin Kula and Lo Moon. Baby Smith are set to hit the road again in 2026 with a UK & EU tour in support of ‘Lately, Love Is Dead’, which is set for release July 10th.

Keep your mind open.

[Lately, I want you to subscribe.]

[Thanks to Frankie at Stereo Sanctity.]

Live: LCD Soundsystem and Automatic – Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, IL – March 07, 2026

This was the third performance of a four-night residency at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago for LCD Soundsystem. They’d done this a couple years ago, and like the last time I saw them here, all four nights were sold out. It was cold and windy, and all the bars and restaurants in the area were packed, so my fiancée and I waited in the sharp wind with everyone else to get a decent spot on the ballroom floor. Much to my delight, I learned from a guy behind us that Automatic was opening the show.

I hadn’t seen Automatic since I’d caught them at Levitation France a couple years ago, so I was surprised to see someone other than Lola Dompé on drums. I’ve since learned that she’s left the band, and their new boy drummer’s name is still unknown to me. Regardless, he won me over with his Kraftwerk shirt and precision drumming. Meanwhile, lead singer / synth player Izzy Glaudini and bassist / vocalist Halle Saxon were having a fun time. Saxon’s fretless bass riffs are impressive and the crowd was solidly with them by the end of their set.

LCD Soundsystem came out to a packed house, but thankfully everyone seemed to have room to dance. They started out with “Oh Baby,” which brought the crowd to an early frenzy when spotlights hit their trademark giant disco ball during the song’s big, bright moment.

“You Wanted a Hit” was a nice one. I didn’t expect to hear it, and following it with “Tribulations” was great. I’d forgotten how good “Tonite” is, as it features some of James Murphy’s best lyrics (if you ask me).

“I Can Change” always delivers, and “Other Voices” was another surprise. The whole band was clicking, hopping around on various instruments the whole time. LCDSS is a big group, and the amount of gear on stage with them is impressive (and a good chunk of it is vintage synths that are difficult to find or afford). “Losing My Edge” had a fuzzy grit to it that I loved.

The encore included “North American Scum,” which feels more appropriate than ever in 2026, and the classics, “Dance Yrself Clean,” “New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down,” and “All My Friends.” It was a solid end to a solid show all-around, and a great way for me to kick off my 2026 concert season.

My fiancée, who fell in love with them when we last saw them, said, “They feel like a family.” when they play. That’s accurate. The camaraderie between all of them on stage is splendid and almost pulls the audience up there with them.

Unseen in this photo: At least four other band members manning bass, percussion, and synths.

Keep your mind open.

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Eve Maret’s new single, “Hit U with a Banger,” is appropriately titled.

Eve Maret (sounds like “muh-ray”) is a Nashville-based experimental artist and composer who employs a wide array of electronic media and techniques in her various disciplines, exploring the possibilities of personal and communal healing through creative action. She has been praised by the likes of WIRE Magazine, Chicago Tribune, DJ Mag, Bandcamp, and more.

Drawing inspiration from nineteenth-century orchestral and choral works, the Fluxus movement, Kosmische Musik and funk, Eve makes use of digital and modular synthesizers, a vocoder, clarinet, electric bass, guitar, and field recordings to create works that range from lush cinematic compositions to space disco. Eve’s music practice is a conversation with her numerous curiosities, manifested in the form of video art, drawing, dance, ritual, and cymatics.

Her upcoming release Diamond Cutter is out April 17th, 2026. Over twelves tracks, Diamond Cutter is an exploration of the space where strength meets vulnerability. The title comes from an ancient Buddhist text of the same name.

“A diamond represents the invisible potential within everything. Diamonds are perfectly clear, while also being the hardest substance in the universe,” Eve describes. “With this body of work, I endeavored to create music that was both strong and honest. I set aside any genre-specific limitations to allow the pure expression to come through directly. Each song is a commitment to using my authentic voice, to embodying my highest potential by singing the truth.”

Today, Eve shares the second single, “Hit U With a Banger.” It zeroes in on the dance floor, thanks to acid bass squelches and a hypnotically syncopated vocals. The new video, like the song itself, pops with energy and color with themes of empowered transformation at the forefront. Check out the new video and single via YouTube and pre-order the album here.

On the new single, Eve shares: “‘Hit U With a Banger’ is an expression of the idea that the ultimate form of love is acceptance. When I feel frustration about the opinions and actions of others, I channel my angst into music. Expressing my feelings helps me to accept myself as I am – I embrace strong emotions, and they become fuel for my transformation.”

Eve’s music has been featured on Echoes Radio and Iggy Pop’s BBC radio show Iggy Confidential. “Synthesizer Hearts,” off of Eve’s 2020 release, Stars Aligned, appeared on BBC Radio 6 Music’s B-List in December 2020 and premiered on Mary Anne Hobbs’ BBC Radio show “Music From The Near Future.” In 2021, Eve contributed to Moebius Strips, an audio installation and companion album honoring the work of electronic music pioneer Dieter Moebius. Other contributors include Geoff Barrow (Portishead, Beak), Sarah Davachi, Jean-Benoît Dunckel (Air), Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo), Phew, Hans-Joachim Roedelius (Cluster, Harmonia), Michael Rother (Harmonia, NEU!) and Yuri Suzuki.

In 2022 and 2023, Eve and her collaborators Dream Chambers and Belly Full Of Stars composed a live-score for FW Murnau’s 1922 film, Nosferatu, which they performed in theatres across the United States. Collaborating is an important aspect of Eve’s creative path, and she has an on-going dance music project called GLAZIER with her partner Scott Glazier, as well as a synth-rock duo, Eardrummer, with longtime friend Adrienne Franke.

Eve has performed across the United States and internationally, alongside artists such as William Tyler, Guerilla Toss, MATMOS, JEFF the Brotherhood, and Lydia Lunch.

In addition to her personal creative practices, Eve is committed to providing avenues for others to create and uplift one another. In 2018, She, Jess Chambers, Deli Paloma-Sisk, and Arlene Sparacia founded Hyasynth House, an electronic music collective and education center for female and LGBTQIA+ artists. Together they facilitated workshops, performances, and community-wide conversations in an effort to support and empower marginalized groups. The founders went their separate ways in 2019, but Eve continues to lead electronic music workshops and to organize live music events in Nashville and beyond, including her work co-producing Nashville Drone, a 6-hour music experience featuring 13 regional artists across genres, in an effort to create an immersive space for the community to connect and recharge.

Keep your mind open.

[Hit me with a subscription.]

[Thanks to George at Terrorbird Media.]

Miss Grit’s new single is a “Mind Disaster.”

Miss Grit—the project of New York-based, Korean-American musician Margaret Sohn (they/she)—releases “Mind Disaster,” the third single from their forthcoming album, Under My Umbrella, out April 24th via Mute. Following the “trippy, futuristic electronica” (The Forty-Five) of “Tourist Mind” and the “dreamy electro-pop track” (Stereogum), “Stranger,” “Mind Disaster” is a warped lullaby that swells and swoops with fizzing drums, dramatic choir pads, a heady electronic pulse, and euphoric synths, evoking a raw electronic sound. It’s about trying to wrestle free of the social anxiety that comes with being overwhelmed by others.

Margaret describes “Mind Disaster” as “the one that really helped create the palette for the rest of the album for me. It’s my favorite instrumental on the record and so many good friends helped make it happen.” Some of those friends include electronic visionary and film scorer Sae Heum Han (mmph), producer Luciano Rossi (Mui Zyu), drummer Preston Fulks (Momma), and Aron Kobayashi Ritch (Momma), who mixed the whole record.

Watch the Visualizer for “Mind Disaster”

Sohn is a bold experimentalist and architect of sculptural texture, known for deftly moving between analogue and digital, guitar and synths, and creating an immersive cosmos of sound with futuristic frameworks for their searching introspection. For their second full-length album, Under My Umbrella, they’ve lifted the lid on their internal world, lasering in on the anxieties and heartbreak of the past two years. It’s an album that is as immersive and expansive as it is intimate, channeling the noirish atmosphere of classic trip-hop bands, while adding a hefty dose of maximalism and a dream-pop sensibility.

Under My Umbrella began to take shape when Sohn returned from an intense touring schedule where they’d driven themself around North America totally alone. When they returned home, Sohn found themselves yearning to capture that specific, less restrained energy of playing live. Like Follow The Cyborg, its creation mostly took place in Sohn’s Queens apartment. The music came to them quickly, streams of consciousness with one new guiding principle: don’t overthink it. “I tried not to edit too much or force a moment to happen,” they explain, leaning into big choruses where it felt right. Some guitar sounds were first takes, ditto vocals, thus preserving the immediacy and authenticity of the emotion. As such, it’s a densely layered album, charged with electric crescendos that build to moments of unbridled catharsis. “It feels truer to myself, and more of a representation of what is actually coming out of me,” says Sohn.

Miss Grit will play record release shows in NYC on Friday, April 24th at Nightclub 101 and Los Angeles on Saturday, May 2nd at Scribble. Prior, Sohn will appear at Rough Trade in NYC for an acoustic set and signing with free entry along with a pre-order of the album. Fans can RSVP here. Additionally, there will be a listening party for the album at Yu and Me Books in NYC on Saturday, April 18th.

In May, Miss Grit will support Just Mustard on their North American tour. A full list of dates is below.Under My Umbrella will be available digitally and on limited-edition crystal clear vinyl and CD.

Pre-order Under My Umbrella

Watch the Visualizer for “Stranger”

Watch Video for “Tourist Mind”

Miss Grit Tour Dates:
(New Dates in Bold)
Fri. April 24 – New York, NY @ Nightclub 101
Sat. May 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ Scribble
Fri. May 8 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern *
Sat. May 9 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret *
Sun. May 10 – Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall *
Tue. May 12 – San Francisco, CA @ Café Du Nord *
Thu. May 14 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room *
Sat. May 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour *
Sun. May 17 –Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar *
Tue. May 19 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
Thu. May 21 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle *
Sat. May 23 – Toronto, ON @ Garrison *
Sun. May 24 – Montreal, QC @ Bar le Ritz *
Fri. May 29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
Sat. May 30 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd *

* = supporting Just Mustard

Keep your mind open.

[You not subscribing feels like a disaster in my mind.]

[Thanks to Jessica at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Review: Enduser – Unquiet

After moving to Stockholm, Sweden, drum and bass / techno / breakbeat producer and D Enduser had to adjust to the extreme changes in seasons there: Long periods of darkness, long periods of sunlight, extreme cold, perfect sunny days. The experience was, I’m guessing, unsettling at first. This might’ve led to the title of his new album, Unquiet, which is anything but quiet.

Starting with “Trial By Fire,” Enduser immediately begins layering beats and rhythms with trip-hop sounds to ignite something under your feet and in your chest. The “Lost” mix of “Turning Point” could be the theme music to your new favorite streaming TV show about a mysterious organization or town or a group of hackers. The beats of “Northern Tribe” slither and sizzle with drone synths behind them. “Broken Branch” is pure industrial fury and menace. The “Decay” mix of “Waiting,” believe it or not, brightens things up a bit with lighter synths and bouncier beats.

“Street Lamp” has an Orbital-like quality to it with its big drums and soft synths. The “Homemade Weapons” remix of “Where I Found You” is another standout with big, thumping bass and lurking synths. Nowan‘s remix of “Northern Tribe” makes the song, somehow, bolder and brasher. SCRWZ‘s remix of “Cabin Fever” will get the whole place jumping.

Another thing I like about Unquiet is, much like Enduser’s Swedish landscape, it gives the songs room to breathe. The shortest song on the record, the album mix of “Where I Found You,” is just under five minutes in lengths. Most songs are at least six minutes long. They change shape, stretch, retract, and pull you in different directions – to the dance floor, a shadowy corner, a warm bedroom, a cold forest. It’s meant to upset the quiet around you but also help you appreciate it.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Ksu from Discipline PR.]

Omni Sound to release “When There Is No Sun” – a reimaging of the music of Sun Ra.

(Ricardo Villalobos courtesy of Omni Sound)

Omni Sound is excited to announce When There Is No Sun, a global recording project uniting visionary electronic music producers to reimagine the universe of Sun Ra, out March 27th. Commissioned by Omni Sound and curated by Ricardo Villalobos, When There Is No Sun brings together Underground Resistance, Chez Damier & Ben Vedren, Calibre, A Guy Called Gerald, SHE Spells Doom, Barış K, and Ricardo Villalobos himself to draw from Omni Sound’s recordings of Living Sky by the Sun Ra Arkestra and My Words Are Music, a spoken-word album of Sun Ra’s poetry. The producers pull fragments of sound and text into their own creative orbits, passing through the portal that Sun Ra opened into a realm where the impossible is possible.

Invocations by Saul Williams, Anthony Joseph, Mahogany L. Browne, Abiodun Oyewole, Tunde Adebimpe, and Tara Middleton turn rhyme into rhythm and resistance into revelation. Rooted in deep reverence for Sun Ra’s legacy, yet reaching forward as a living, generative force, When There Is No Sun is not a tribute but a continuum. Each contributor balances the pulse of electronic music with the spirit of experimentation, embodying Sun Ra’s conviction that sound is a vessel for transformation.

In conjunction with today’s announcement, Omni Sound present “When Angels Speak” by Underground Resistance featuring Saul Williams. As one of Detroit’s most influential and uncompromising musical movements, Underground Resistance bring their anti-extractive, futurist vision of techno rooted in independence, resistance, and Black empowerment to the title track of Sun Ra’s rare 1966 album, released on their Saturn label. Williams, an internationally acclaimed poet, musician, actor, and filmmaker contributes a distinct blend of lyrical intensity and cultural insight.

Listen to “When Angels Speak” by Underground Resistance feat. Saul Williams

One of the most radical musical pioneers of the 20th century, Sun Ra used jazz, electronics, poetry, and performance to expand the possibilities of sound, identity, and imagination. A composer, bandleader, philosopher, and visionary, Ra didn’t just play music, he invented a universe. At the core of his philosophy is freedom through creation. He taught that the world’s dominant narratives—history, race, time, even gravity—are prisons of the mind, and that through music, myth, and performance, one could transcend these limits and reclaim control of destiny.

The artists featured in When There Is No Sun, in their own way, embody Sun Ra’s conviction that sound is a vessel for transformation. They are not united by genre but by purpose—artists who use rhythm, language, and imagination to rewire perception and open portals to new worlds.

Pre-order When There Is No Sun

When There Is No Sun Release Events:
Tue. March 17 – Cape Town, ZA @ Pan African Space Station (streaming event only)
Fri. March 20 – Wuppertal, DE @ Open Ground (feat: Ricardo Villalobos & Chez Damier)
Fri. April 10 – New York, NY @ Nublu (feat. Sun Ra Arkestra & Chez Damier)
Fri. July 31 – Amsterdam, NL @ Dekmantel Festival (feat. Saul Williams & Underground Resistance)

Keep your mind open.

[When there is no subscription, there are no music news and reviews.]

[Thanks to Sam at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Review: Nevaris – SoundSession

One of the things I like best about dub music is that it’s the kind of music that always finds me when I need it. Sometimes I just need to chill out, or to take a breath, or to get laid, or remember to stop worrying about things out of my control. Dub music is perfect for all of that, and Nevaris has returned with another solid dub record for all of that – SoundSession.

The album consists of four tracks, all of them recorded in a single session in May 2023. They bring together Nevaris and his excellent hand percussion work with heavyweights like Peter Apfelbaum (saxophone, flute), Will Bernard (guitar), Matt Dickey (guitar), DJ Logic (turntables), Jojo Kuo (percussion), Bill Laswell (production), Lockatron (drums), Jonathon Maron (bass), and Angel Rodriguez (percussion).

“Ninth Sun” immediately hooks you from the first few notes and settles you into what you know is going to be a groovy, trippy time. Apfelbaum’s saxophone is practically incense smoke moving through the room. It’s jazzier on “Remedy,” with neat, stretched guitar sounds from Bernard and Dickey, and sizzling hand percussion and distorted synths that bring spaghetti westerns and back alley Negril bars to mind.

Lockatron is locked-in on “Document,” putting the whole band in his pocket and letting them know they can go bonkers and he’ll be the silver cord anchoring them to the material plane. DJ Logic’s scratches and long, almost droning guitar chords seem to extend the space around you. Apfelbaum’s saxophone solo on the track is high-class.

The album’s final track is its biggest. “Dub Orchestra” clocks in at nearly eighteen minutes with Logic’s scratches sounding like a mystical crow or raven chattering away as it leads you down a winding path. Apfelbaum’s flute is something on the wind you hear as you walk, and the percussion from Nevaris, Kuo, Lockatron, and Rodriguez is a treat. All four improvise with each other with no one overpowering the other. It’s a long, cool trip and worth the drive.

The record is just what you need, whether you know it or not.

Keep your mind open.

[You can remedy my blues by subscribing.]

[Thanks to Shauna at Shameless Promotion PR.]

Rewind Review: Orbital – Orbital 2 (1993)

Orbital‘s second album doesn’t really have a title (like their first). It’s commonly known as “Orbital 2” or “The Brown Album” (Because, you know, the cover is brown…and their first album is sometimes called “The Yellow Album” because, you know, the cover is yellow.).

Regardless of what you call it, it’s a techno classic starting with the Lt. Worf-narrated “Time Becomes” that lets you know time will loop, curve, and rebound on itself across the span of the record. The looped sample of “Even a stopped clock can give the right time twice a day.” on “Planet of the Shapes” further explores this theme of stretched, repeated, and warped time. Once the drums kick in, you’re dancing for almost nine straight minutes.

The next four tracks become one long, beautiful techno suite. Starting with “Lust 3-1,” and then drifting / floating / bumping / bouncing through “Lush 3-2,” “Impact (The Earth Is Burning),” and “Remind.” The first of the quartet has become a primer on what early to mid-1990s electronic music was at the time: Bright synths, big beats, and transcendental grooves. “Lush 3-2” flows right out of it and, somehow, becomes even better for dancing. The layered beats on it keep driving you forward, getting your heart rate up and your joints lubed for the third part of the suite. “Impact” is over ten minutes long, so I hope your cardio is good. By the time you get to “Remind,” you’re pretty much in an industrial club.

The repeating synth groove of “Walk Now…” is top-notch, bringing in sizzling house riffs on top of rave beats. “Monday” is almost an ambient track, amd “Halcyon + On + On” has become a rave classic by this point, having been remixed by probably hundreds of DJs across the years. It uses sampled female vocal sounds to lovely effect and the beats on it are crisp. It will throw you back into the early Nineties right away if you were anywhere near rave culture then.

The whole album will do this, even the weird “Input Out” ending with its strange, repeating sample that becomes almost hypnotic by the end. “The Brown Album” (not to be confused with the Primus album of the same name) still holds up today as prime rave music.

Keep your mind open.

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Rebelski takes you down some lovely “Roads” with his new single.

Unfolding from a place of quiet familiarity into widescreen cinematic scope, established composer and producer, Rebelski unveils his latest emotive single, “Roads.” A richly layered and immersive track that stands among the most expansive in his catalogue, the long-standing collaborator with artists including Doves, Peter Hook and The Light and Echo and The Bunnymen releases the single, rooted in cinematic, jet-age nostalgia, as he moves closer to the release of his latest album, Algorithms, on March 13, 2026.

Opening in recognizable Rebelski territory, “Roads” begins with a gently unfolding piano motif, intimate and reflective in tone before passing into territory built upon by a lineage of electronic and cinematic greats. Playing into stated late-20thCentury influences, Rebelski hints at David Axelrod’s orchestral soul, Boards of Canada’s hazy electronica and John Carpenter’s deeply affecting, narrative soundtracks in pushing forward Algorithms’ own, structured story.

Having previously light—touch released the first of the album’s singles, “Today,” in late 2025 (subsequently supported with attention from BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 3) and followed-up with the motorik “Momentum” at the turn of the year, Rebelski detailed Algorithms as the final album in a considered trilogy. Recorded in studios and outdoor spaces across Manchester, Barcelona, and Shropshire, the album follows 2023’s Simplicity and 2024’s Monochrome to form a document of artistic preoccupation, musical experimentation and human connection to vibration, tone and timing.

In releasing “Roads,” Rebelski’s music reads like the soundtrack to an unseen film, playing along to journeys spooling through memory, landscapes seen and moments remembered. Working towards a body of work that challenges the narrative of inevitable technological takeover and leaves untied edges where robotized perfection could attain ‘perfection,’ human-first recording techniques ensure organic detail sits at the heart of each composition.

Rebelski says: “The music on Algorithms tries to occupy the spaces in between motion and stillness and action and pause, taking up its own territory with quiet but definite, assertive confidence. Various influences, from film soundtracks to groundbreaking synth composition have been woven into a framework that’s relevant to the present, trying to balance out feelings of retro warmth and the need to document human presence in the music with recognition of contemporary recording practices.”

Pursuing personal solo endeavors in between meeting the uncompromising demands of international touring, Algorithms was completed in stolen periods off the road while absorbing the influence of each country Rebelski counts himself lucky to pass through.

Keep your mind open.

[Travel over to the subscription box.]

[Thanks to Rob at Perspective.]