Here in these parts we just experienced two, yes, two major hurricanes in less than two weeks. First Helene, then Milton came a-blowing. For a little insight on the trauma of suffering through a hurricane, go to the artwork for this volume, enlarge it enough to read clearly, so you can read my account. 

The Cravats – Rub Me Out

A delightful chap, The Shend who has appeared in conversation with me on a number of LE shows sent this note, “Blimey, we have a new release out! Well, an old new release but majestic it is sir. Rub Me Out / When Will We Fall from1982, produced by Penny Rimbaud and John Loder on Crass Records it has been remastered from the original 1/4″ master tape at Abbey Road and is released as a flipping great big 12″ so the quality is as it was meant to be. It sounds fab and the sleeve like the original 7 incher folds out into a 9 panel poster but as it’s a 12″ it’s massive. One of my proudest moments and our best ever selling record. Hope you dig it matey and obviously any spin would make me swell with pride.” I believe Mr. Shend’s words are everything you need to know about this fine recording apart from this addendum you should find fascinating. “Dada music was brutalist, enamored of raw sound, and could consist in simultaneous chanting of nonsense syllables or shouts.” From the Futurists’ manifesto Art of Noises (1913), Richard Huelsenbeck describing Dadaist music in his 1920 history of Dada. In late 70s & early 80s US bands The Red Crayola and Pere Ubu were daubed Dada-esque by wordy music scribes, while over in the UK, The Cravats would claim that moniker. 

Amy Rigby – Heart Is A Muscle

Serious rock ’n’ roll here from a good friend of LEM, the one and only, the very talented, Amy Rigby in fine form declaring, Heart Is A Muscle. From a superb collection of songs on Amy’s latest LP, Hang In There With Me, produced and accompanied by her husband, the inimitable Wreckless Eric. Do make sure you listen to my most recent conversation with Amy.

Sophie Thatcher – Pivot & Scrape

Actress Sophie Thatcher with her debut EP Pivot & Scrape presents seemingly unassuming, well- crafted and expertly produced songs. About the title tack she visualizes a ballerina cutting herself on glass, to which Thatcher comments, “The imagery felt really guttural.” Pivot & Scrape’s lyrics are abstract, but came to her within a moment, prompted by the melodies. “I started out with a really lo-fi demo and this distorted drum beat that we ended up bringing into the background of the final mix. The lyrics came to me pretty early on; I was inspired by the idea of redemption and the power of guilt.”

ReekO, FelixCW – Mor Mor

ReekO, FelixCW – Dancers Road

Double-sided single on Brighter Days imprint out of the UK, with the tagline, “Audio Sunshine” Absolutely! Producer FelixCW with vocals by ReekO cross genres to offer up a hybrid that has us here at LE Tower getting giddy in the dance. “2 instant classics!” They proclaim and we agree. Play loud and often!

Minor Forms & Kathryn Brenna – Let Go (ft. Alex Hill) 

Top marks for this one. From UK producer Minor Forms his Room Two LP is a beauty. Indulge in Let’s Go with fabulous vocals from Kathryn Brenna and featuring Alex Hill and you’ll understand why I recommend heading over to CIA Records out of Bristol to grab this album and check out there excellent catalogue. Drum & Bass, Jungle, Electro all represented. 

Maribou State – Otherside (ft. Holly Walker)

“What is it about you Brit fellas?” A well-established American DJ at New York’s Danceteria asked me many years ago, adding, “How come you guys know how to effortfully take a rhythm, mix in a stirring vocal to pack the dance-floor?” A question that was as pertinent then as it is now. I could have given a lengthy recitation on how the Blues, R & B, Soul and Reggae were part of your DNA if you grew up in the UK after World War 11. Those sensibilities of understanding what makes great dance music have been handed down from generation to generation. Here we are in the 21 century and chaps like Chris Davids & Liam Ivory have the essence of impact dance music embedded into their beings. Listen to Otherside featuring Holly Walker from their new stunning new album, Hallucinating Love you’ll hear why the cut oozes passion and lures you to the dance floor in seconds. In. The sleeve notes recount in depth how the duo who began the Maribou State project in 2011 underwent serious setbacks including health issues but now are back with a winner. Hallucinating Love is “about being in a dark place, a place of struggle, and then looking forward to bright futures,” Chris explains. “We reframed the way that we approached making music,” adds Liam. “It’s essentially been musical therapy,” says Chris. “It has just got us to communicate better, and that has been really powerful.” 

Jabu – Gently Fader (feat. Birthmark)

I’ve been keeping an eye on Jabu for some time. I love what they are doing. This is important music. Gently Fader featuring Birthmark on synth, is from  Jabu’s latest long player, A Soft and Gatherable Star, an intense collection of songs designed to be enjoyed in one sitting with in my opinion a bracing glass of Absinthe. The Bristol-based trio of  Jasmine Butt, Alex Rendall & Amos Childs say their album title takes it’s name from a poem written by Child’s father. “We came to this album in a bit of a different way than the previous ones, it naturally came to a place where we were all playing instruments together, none of us are really proficient musicians or anything but we enjoyed working like that, bouncing ideas off each other in a more immediate way” Says Alex Rendall. Do not ignore Jabu. Please note, in the audio to LEM Vol 370 I inadvertently call Jabu a duo at one point. Apologies.

Dot Allison – Bone China (LP Understudy)

If you follow this show regularly, you’ll know I’m a big fan of Dot Allison. Here then the Scottish singer and songwriter, known for her contributions to electronic music, most notably fronting One Dove in the early 1990s share with us Demo-itis an LP of a limited run of Dot’s demo cassettes. I love all her work here with Bone China being my favorite. Allison could have been more obvious in her presentation of this song, instead she gives a subtle, yet acute rendering. Lovely.

New York – Drama (with Ren G)

Two albums here called Rapstar. You’ve got Side A and Side B. My tip, don’t get one without the other. Performance artists, Gretchen Lawrence and Coumba Samba sample  royalty free loops and sounds of clicks and cuts with chopped vocals and impulsive lyrics. To better understand and delve into the world of New York you have to check out their website and their videos. Positively necessary.

Low Tide – In The Grey

I do not know for sure but I’m guessing Low Tide are fucking amazing live. In The Grey is from their debut EP Sunburn Season. These folks from Edinburgh, Beau, Danny, Isaac, and Oscar met in high school and have been writing together since June 2023 and what an excellent job they do. “Serotonin. Sunburned moments. Filled with love.” I’m going to keep a close watch on Low Tide, so should you. 

Porridge Radio – Wednesday

Without hesitation I believe Porridge Radio to be one of the most important new bands to come out if the UK in recent years. Dana Margolin is a star, her emotive voice can and does bring me to tears. You know she has experienced all she sings about. Yes, her work is self-revealing and yes she tells us in the intimate sleeve notes to Clouds In The Sky Will Always Be There For Me, the latest LP from Porridge Radio. Spend time reading them, perhaps quietly, alone for a few moments and let this talented person’s words circulate around your brainpan for a while. The title is part of the lyrics to Wednesday. Exceptional. Extraordinary. There are currently certain artists who garner exhaustive praise for their supposedly thoughtful song-writing, not one of them comes close to honest talent of Dana Margolin.

Another Channel feat. Prince Morella – Brother Love

A perfect way to close this volume with. The Brother Love EP from Another Channel. On Freund der Familie imprint out of Berlin who say, “Since each of us must and can make his contribution for a clean and still halfway habitable earth, 1.00 € of each record sold will be donated to the German nature conservation union (NABU) and the project ‘Seas without plastic’.”