Vulcara – Looping In Love

From the amount of cool releases that come our way from Melbourne, it would seem that that Australian city is a hive of incredible music talent. Vulcara are no exception with their excellent Emerge EP. On Looping In Love, Fynn Michlin, Finan McLaren and Charlie Clark take us on a laid-back, yet effervescent love story. So well crafted. Plus,fascinating sleeve artwork by Amberlie Calvert. Top marks.

Endless – Motion

“Shoegaze” is often a genre bandied about to explain music that really does not require a label. Good music is good music, after all. But, if you had to classify the intelligent efforts of Endless, then “Shoegaze” is most fitting. Domi Sánchez on bass, Rod Esquivel on drums and guitar, voice and synth are taken care of by Javier Mendoza who are Endless out of Mexico City, (a vast bustling metropolis you need to visit at least once). The very astute Nico of Shoredive Records has masterminded the Endless release. Do make sure to play Motion as loud as you can to get the full effect of this outstanding cut.

Marta Per – Red

Marta Per – Red (lofi version)

This is a London-based, Portuguese-born artist and multi-instrumentalist, drawing her inspiration from pop, rock and jazz as well as her classical roots. Marta says, “My lyrics are usually reflective, observational and at times filled with self-deprecating humor.” She adds, “I like to go through the motions of growing older and trying to make sense of life.” (Good luck with that). Two versions here of Red from Marta Per’s Fragments & Fingerprints EP. Gracefully realized. 

Astrid Sonne – Do You Wanna

On her LP, Great Doubt, Astrid Sonne has written, produced and performed all the songs. Plus, she plays drums on Do You Wanna. Listen carefully, are the drums programmed or the real thing? No matter, they work. I love the unexpected opening line, “Do you wanna have a baby…I really don’t know”. Astrid is a Danish composer and viola player, currently based in London. This is her third solo album and I suggest you check out her back catalogue as well as keeping a watchful eye on Ms. Sonne.

John Massoni – Immeasurable (ambient vocal mix)

John has been in and around the music scene in Seattle for, well, many years now. His dedication to exploring sounds and trying new ideas is admirable. On this, the ambient vocal mix of Immeasurable John boldly treats his potent vocals to an array of effects and overdubs, while his instrumentation explores haunting, if not ghostly arraignments. Massoni is a man of obvious talent who deserves your attention. Keep at it John, I believe you are not far off from making the pivotal release you have been striving for.

The Last Sound – Outskirting

Over in Dublin, Ireland, there is another fellow who has been experimenting for some while. Barry M AKA The Last Sound has an immense catalogue of past recordings, each and every one worthy of your investigation. Outskirting is from the LP, Veered, which Barry shyly reports as being old, not important, could have been better and on and on. Yes, this is a creative artist who suffers from that fairly common affliction of not considering their work to be any good. Of course, that is a ridiculous notion. Barry is a musicologist, probably without realizing it. His love of all kinds of sounds and understanding of how to make interesting music is admirable. Do yourself a favor and put The Last Sound on your shopping list.

Zuso – In The Dark

OK, the thing about the gorgeous people at Mammal Sounds, located overlooking Bondi Beach, it’s not just that they are handsome and suntanned and have lovely attitudes, it’s because they know good music and continue to send us brilliant releases. Zuso is the project of Australian producer Gabriel Cuenca, on In The Dark the ethereal vocal talents of Californian artist Kora is featured, the end result being a deliciously effective banger. This cut sounds irresistibly familiar yet at the same time fresh and new. “I wanted to give this song a bit of a dark tone whilst also making it still fun and hooky. It’s written from the perspective of being left in the unknown, whether that’s in relationship or with someone that’s special to you. It draws upon those emotions with a somewhat gloomy but optimistic feel.” Says, Gabriel. My only little criticism, I want this one to go on for much longer, a 10 minute dance-mix is in order. 

The Happy Somethings – Apples

The Happy Somethings – Pears

Since the last volume of LEM, The Happy Somethings have been in touch with us. Despite  our swooning over their music, they say they wish to remain behind a curtain of mystery, which of course has us speculating this has to be the work of famous persons instead of Jolly on bass, keyboard and vocals, Joy on main vocals and anything else she can get her hands on and Happy on guitars and and vocals. They share even more info prompting us to speculate further as to their true identities. “We first got together musically in 2016, having known each other for quite some time. We write, record and share what we’ve come up. Our approach to creativity is that we don’t work too hard at stuff, it just kind of happens. We’ve all got slightly crazy heads and what comes out of each of them seems to mesh together quite well, if not a little abstractly.” So you dear listeners can get another taste of why we are such fans of THS, we bring you their absurdly spiffy double-sided single Apples and Pears. Apples is a seemingly happy, jaunty song with seriously dark overtones. While Pears plays around with words and, wait for it, double-meanings. Now this is what good popular music should sound like. Fantastic! Top of the class! A gold star!

Dramamine – Written On A Napkin

Do listen carefully to Written On A Napkin, then grab a copy of Dramamine’s When The Time Comes EP. Pete Pom out of Philadelphia is Dramamine, he makes lovely, emotive music, so well-considered. This is a class act, everything is flawless here, the production, the instrumentation, Pete’s voice and the lyrics…

She said she’s leaving me

She told me on a Saturday

It feels like stupidity

For thinking that she loved me 

Ah, yes, if you can’t identify with those words, you’ve never had your heart broken. Here’s a tip, listen to Celestial Skies from Dramamine’s Dreamcatcher album from October, 2023. Marvelous.

Gregory Isaacs & Christine – Rock On/Saturday Night

The version you’ll hear is from my much-treasured Jamaican 12” on the Observer label an imprint of producer Winston “Niney” Holness AKA Niney the Observer. Here is the late cool ruler, Gregory Isaacs in fine form with Rock On, as the rhythm continues, Christine Oliver steps up to the mic and admonishes Isaacs with a taunt as she croons, Saturday Night. This recording from my archives is unique in many ways, first of all, it’s nigh on impossible to snag a copy of the original 12”, Christine is reputed to have only made one recording and this was it. Who knows what the real reason was, but the story goes that she quickly vanished from the entertainment scene and wrapped herself in devout Christianity. Rock On/Saturday Night remains a true gem of the Lover’s Rock period of reggae, circa 1975. Majestic.

Mystical Warrior – Dub Across The River (Version 1)

There are many dub producers operating out of the UK, a gent who goes by the moniker of Mystical Warrior is one of the best with a vast back catalogue. Dub Across The River (Version 1) is from a new EP on the Roaring Lion imprint. Interestingly for those of you keeping geographical notes, Mystical Warrior is out of Southend On Sea in the UK, not a place one usually associates with important dub music. Meanwhile, add a few fine dub LP’s to your collection.

The artwork is by H. R. Sutton 1946 – 1996 “Glass vase with flowers in afternoon sun” 1990 25″ x 23″ Kodachrome print. Courtesy of Norman B’s collection