“The second instalment from London Odense Ensemble digs deeper into the group’s vision of what modern psychedelic jazz should sound like. Cut from the same sessions as Jaiyede Sessions vol. 1, released last summer, vol. 2 presents a more nuanced approach to the material. On this set the ensemble focuses on shorter, layered pieces – travelling from deep spiritual jazz grooves to gorgeous free-flowing minimalism to full-on acid jazz. There’s echo-drenched flutes being absorbed into layers of analog synth pads and guitars, bossa beats and double bass sequences merging with electronics. It’s an intoxicating mélange of sounds and styles, spanning wide temporal and geographical distances.”
Korb & EHAA – From the Mountains to the Oceans (2022)
“‘From the Mountains to the Oceans’ is the culmination of collaborative experimental transatlantic jams between Korb and El Hombre Al Agua. From minimal atmospheric ambience to all out psych rock the album combines a range of analogue synths, electric and acoustic guitars, organ, bass, drums and percussion to create cosmic journeys that evoke evolution and ancient landscapes, the alchemy of elements and timeless tectonics.”
Guranfoe – Gumbo Gumbo (2022)
“Guranfoe is a four-piece rock band from Norwich, England whose music forges psychedelia, and prog intricacy. These styles combine with years of cohesive group playing to produce a live show defined by medleys of prog compositions and extended improvisation.”
London Odense Ensemble – Jaiyede Sessions Vol. 1 (2022)
“In recent years London has become an epicenter for experimental, visionary jazz. On this unique session, two of the finest exponents of the London jazz scene, Tamar Osborn and Al MacSween, join forces with members of the celebrated Danish psychedelic underground – Jonas Munk, Jakob Skøtt and Martin Rude – to create a heady sonic brew. On this first volume of material there’s everything one could hope for in such a collaboration: sonically it summons the free flowing euphoria of Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders’ work in the late 1960s and early 1970s. But there’s also a focus on rhythmic energy and vitality that calls to mind the grooviest krautrock or electric period Miles Davis, as well as a healthy dose of electronic experiments.”
Artifacts & Uranium – Pancosmology (2022)
“Pancosmology was recorded during the Summer/Autumn of 2021 and is the second collaboration between Mike Vest (Bong, Blown Out, 11 Paranoias) and Fred Laird (Earthling Society, Taras Bulba, Empty House). More song structured than the kosmische vibes of the first A&U LP, ‘Pancosmology’ is a Smorgasbord of sonic attack and lonesome desert twang. Here the ghosts of Ron Ashton and Takashi Mizutani are raised in Vest’s stereo delayed guitar attack and the Dub and Eno-esque soundscapes inspiring Laird’s dream like synth textures and echoed keys. Seekers looking for the sounds of The Stooges, Lez Rallizes Denudes, CAN, Chrome, Barn Owl and other noise refuseniks will find plenty in these sonic grooves.”
Black Holes Are Cannibals – Surfacer (2022)
“BHAC are a collective with a varying line-up and each time they record all the music is improvised as they let their collective and innate abilities guide them, but what does bind them are the touchstones of Drone and Minimalism that runs through the music they create or just plain HEAVY. Call them Drone Metal or Psychedelic it matters not as the music created is an immersive, all consuming and thought-provoking transcendental listening experience that awaits those brave enough to take the ride with BHAC.”
Flower-Corsano Duo – The Halcyon (2022)
“Since 2007’s brilliant “The Radiant Mirror”, Flower-Corsano Duo have occupied an idiosyncratic space in the musical spectrum. Who else exactly is looking to build a power duo from improv drums and electrified shahi baaja sounds? The duo don’t release much either, so a new set from them is always worth a peek, and on this one Corsano sounds more energetic than ever, working his kit in tides rather than rhythms, leaving Flower to fire shards of harmonic noise from his instrument. The album is assembled from recordings captured in Leeds, Edinburgh and Bristol, and hearing the occasional scream of delight as Corsano spirals into a wormhole or Flower ascends into the heavens just adds to the hyperactive delight. What do u call it? We’ve no idea, but it’s fucking great.”
Kandodo4 – Burning the (Kandl) (2022)
“kandodo was invited to play at the 2015 Roadburn Festival as part of The Heads residency. Robert Hampson from Loop/MAIN was also going to be at the festival and so it seemed a good opportunity for him to join kandodo for this gig along with Wayne and Hugo from The Heads (who are also the Loop rhythm section as well as part of kandodo). Rehearsals were set up in Bristol and the gig in Roadburn was a couple of nights later and that is the recordings gathered here for “Burning The (Kandl)”… So get ready for a total immersive trip through a psychedelic vortex . A glorious head nodding voyage into inner space where the vast churning of fuzzy guitars / keys / bass and drums phase in and out of focus with your inner core.”
Smote – Drommon (2021)
“Summoned from the murkier reaches of the subconscious and summoning a powerful aura of twilight communion, Smote’s ‘Drommon’ is here to intimidate and enchant. The first Rocket release for this enigmatic Newcastle-based entity is no less than a mystically-aligned voyage into abandon and epiphany…Replete with doom-laden atmospherics and crepuscular intensity, this is an intimidating denouement to return to time and again. Join the ritual, and submit to ‘Drommon’.”
Diagonal – Live in Leeds 2012 (2021)
“A remastered ‘official bootleg’ documenting Diagonal in its second formation – playing live in support of Wolf People in 2012 at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. A very different beast to the current band line-up, this Diagonal shared territory with the likes of Magma and ‘Red’ era King Crimson. Hot from the release of their second album ‘The Second Mechanism’ Diagonal were in top muscular form, sonically blasting West Yorkshire with unique, pulsating heavy prog.”