JamesDoesReviews

Hannah Diamond's long awaited debut album is  PC Music, but it marks a very serious turning point in how the queen of this leftfield genre views her future career. 'Reflections' is a bizarre mix up between what we know is PC Music, the child like vocals, the bopping production and the silly, lullaby like lyricism, and Hannah's despair over an unsalvageable relationship. The tracks are wide and varied, but the entire album ties together as a sort of post-breakup therapy session. Hannah sings not only about the relationship, but also about the aftermath and her emotions afterwards. 'Reflections' is, by its very nature an album of love songs and ballads, just with the familiar twist of a PC Music offering. 'True' is probably the albums best track, bubble gum production infused with the anguish of finding her partner with someone else. It's a great example of what to expect from the album. Don't assume theres no dancefloor ready trac...

Despite the name, Dallas Acid is an Austin based trio. Their latest offering 'The Spiral Arm, started life as a live performance piece, 'a soundtrack meant to accompany a visual journey through the cosmos.' And it's easy to imagine this. Spacey analogue synthscapes and quirky vintage coldness create an environment of retro futurism and the insignificance of man in the scale of the universe. The albums title track is a journey. Even without visuals it's easy to imagine floating through the vast emptiness of space as swirling synths create a lonely sound. This track, and in fact all the tracks on the album are beautiful, yet terrifying, inducing thoughts of serenity, relaxation, isolation, loneliness and anxiety. Linda Beecrofts vocals add a voice that guides you on the journey, but you will not find warmth in her tones, it's distant and difficult to locate, it's beautiful, it is omnipresent. 'Vacker' is track two on the album an...

This is my first music review and I'm about to write something that directly contradicts itself, and it may send many of you running for the hills and avoiding any review marked with my name in the future. The new Floating Points album is everything you would expect from Sam Shepherd's alias, and at the same time, everything you wouldn't. Yes it is true that Floating Points has become a name synonymous with the unexpected, up there with the Four Tets and Burials, with whom something different is always expected, but is always delivered in a new uncanny way. But that's not exactly what I'm talking about with 'Crush', Floating Points first album in over 4 years. There's something else to it. Of course his trade mark style is there, the snappy percussive elements, the oscillating basslines that almost sound alive, the serene synthesizer sounds. I agree it is difficult to pin down a style for Floating Points, but his trade mark sounds are evident on...