Actress – Push Power

Producer Darren Cunningham presents as Actress, his 9th album is titled LXXXVIII, when translated from Roman numerals means 88. What’s the significance? Not so sure it matters, this is a long-player with glorious instrumentals that veer off in many directions while keeping a peerless dub element intact. Check that majestic (grand?) piano on Push Power. It’s on Ninja Tune so that’s a guarantee of quality and a very cool video accompanies this cut.

DJ Manny – Hard Drive (ft. Sucia!)

I’m tempted to label DJ Manny’s Hypnotized album as “Drum & Bass Chicago Style”, but obviously this gem is more than that. The almost laid-back R & B vocal coupled with well-placed delay is splendid. Play loud, dance and dance some more.

Ouri – Blueprints Of Us

Ouri – Tame Me (demo)

Here we have important seductive music from a supremely talented artist.  Ourielle Auvé, known professionally as Ouri, grew up in France and moved to Montreal at the age of 16 with dreams of becoming a composer. As Ouri developed her compositional ability, as well as her production and vocal chops, she integrated herself with late-night DJ sets in Montreal’s underground rave scene. I couldn’t resist segueing Blueprints Of Us into Tame Me. Do make sure you check out Ouri’s other releases. 

Sonlife – Piecebypiece

Now this is a nice sentimental touch from Sonlife amongst all the other credits and thank-you’s, “Thank you to the tree that accompanied me in making a lot of the album, outside the window at the Sydenham flat. It was sadly cut down two days after the album artwork was taken”. He also gives a shout out to his mum and dad. Sweet. Sonlife is a British/Turkish music producer from South East London. His name directly translates from the Turkish words OĞUL (son) and CAN (life). I’m glad he let me know that , ‘cause I admit I was curious. The beautiful evocative vocals on Piecebypiece are from Plumm. Top marks for this album, coincidently titled, Piecebypiece.

Headland X Epoch – Flaccid Acid Pt. 1 

You gotta have a little bit of nuttiness in the mix. This one comes via the masterful White Peach label who constantly release first-rate music. Epoch is out of Christchurch, New Zealand, I believe. The other side of this 12” is appropriately, Flaccid Acid Pt. 11 with a bundle of dubby effects and found samples. Very cool.

Semi Precious – The Weight

Singer-producer, Guy Baron from London seems to enjoy posing around in sleeveless vinyl outfits, ready to disrobe at the first hint of an iPhone 15 Pro in the vicinity. But enough about my fashion police work, Guy or Semi Precious has made a most enjoyable EP with Sun is Out. Honestly, I had a long debate with myself on which track to share, they are all good. The Weight got the most votes from my one-person unscientific poll. I read somewhere, maybe it was Semi Precious himself saying that he makes, “Intimate dreamy lo-fi minimalist bedroom pop”, that seems fair enough to me. This is a good ‘un.

Acopia – Disengaged 

Acopia – This Conversation Is Getting Boring

I wish I could recall what drew me to investigate Acopia. I do know that I pondered on how you pronounce Acopia. And, I know they hail from Melbourne and they are Kate Durman, Lachlan McGeehan, and Morgan Wright. Their LP, Disengaged is a lovely mélange of exquisitely-crafted songs. Their ability to walk that very thin line of “sounds-like” to “original” is admirable. I selected two cuts for your listening pleasure and because I think Acopia deserves your attention. 

Hanging Freud – This Day

I’ve been keeping a watchful eye on Hanging Freud for some time, often saying that they are very good at what they do. Yes, they do shroud themselves in doom and gloom or should that be Goth without a hint of parody. On their 7th studio album, Paula Borges and Jonathan Skinner continue refining their unique sound identity. I’m curious to hear where they will head next. Worship is an all-round good album,  Paula and Jonathan should be proud of their efforts. 

The Jesus And Mary Chain – Jamcod

From the moment Jamcod begins you must surely know it’s the Reid brothers with their signature uncompromising sound. These fellas don’t mess around, they know what works, so they throw it down like a humungous filet steak on a butcher’s block. No matter which way you try to dice or slice it, this is red-blooded meat just as powerful as their Psychocandy debut and its classic Just Like Honey onwards. A gorgeous chunk of rock that we sometimes forget that the original practitioners are still cooking a feast just like it’s 1984.

Brother Bird – Inside Of Love

When you discover a terrific singer-songwriter do yourself a favor and see if they have a back catalog, oh, and don’t be selfish, share your find. On first hearing Inside Of Love I did my due diligence and poked around for more releases from Nashville-based artist, Caroline Swon. What a treasure! Caroline has been making impressive music for some while. She is so good at what she does as you’ll hear on the album, Another Year, (available May next year). To my ears this is intelligent cross-over pop music that your indie/alternative station should be playing along side mainstream radio and Spotify mixes. Plus, Brother Bird has a firm grip on smart production and charming videos. Such a lot to rave about here.

Loraine James – Speechless (ft. George Riley)

Talking about raving, I have been championing the talents of Loraine James since her earliest releases. The North London artist’s latest LP, Gentle Confrontation, her 3rd on the Hyperdub label sees Loraine sharing a new chapter of her real and sonic life in which she examines her past and present. She says this is the record a teenage Loraine would like to have made, with musical tendencies that reflect that time, too. It’s hard to categorize Loraine James’ work and that is a splendid thing. This is a must for any collection.

Red Red Eyes – In Between Birds And Wine

This one has been on repeat play a number of times in mixes I’ve made for road journeys. Surprisingly I have not included this gorgeous cut in any LEM volumes until now. London duo, Red Red Eyes are Laura McMahon and Xavier Watkins who say they were playing together in psychedelic outfit Violet Woods, then started working on McMahon’s songs, evoking the atmospheres of their shared cinematographic interests. Their first tape was released in 2017, the album Horology was completed later in the year, and was quickly snapped up by London’s Where It’s At Is Where You Are records. In Between Birds And Wine is from that superb 2018 LP. Yes, that sounds like ages ago and probably is for anyone born after 9/11. Yet, perhaps unwittingly, Laura and Xavier made music that’s timeless. Bravo.

Jumping Back Slash, Bujin – Friendly Recommendations

Have you noticed the inclusion of seemingly classical piano appearing in so many cuts in this volume? UK-born composer, producer and mixing engineer, Gareth Jones now based in South Africa definitely understands the magic of  a poignant piano in his mix, as you can hear on Friendly Recommendations from his A Seat In Heaven album. Gareth and Bujin say they started communicating over lockdown and it wasn’t long before they were trading ideas, beats and demos and eventually building finished songs out of them. The result a striking collection of “icy atmospherics nestle up against crisp, crackling beats, and where their vocals float through it all like an engulfing fog”. They say A Seat In Heaven is an “Amalgamation of both of their sensibilities and exemplifies the best part of musical collaboration where you can’t remember how the songs came about. A song wasn’t and then it was”. Wonderful.

DJ Cable – Water (DJ Cable “Set Me Free Riddim” Edit)

To close a teaser to remind you we do like to get up and dance around the Life Elsewhere office. DJ Cable out of Essex in the UK has the right idea with a series of compilations, Dancehall Blends – Water is from Volume 3. A scrumptious combination of reggaeton, dancehall and dub. There is suaveness to DJ Cable’s work, like a high-class escort, probably dangerous, yet always irresistible. Listen to the lyrics and sing along – you’ll love it!  

Artwork by Norman B “Ms P about to vanish behind the screen” 2009 manipulated digital print 25” x 25” Courtesy of Norman B’s collection