All to often music arrives with all manner of labels and genre tags – Leftfield, Obscure, Experimental, Avant Garde, Dub – I thought, how about creating a mix that collates many genres, especially the ones that are hard to label, could I make them work together in one continuous mix? 

Wil Bolton – Turquoise Artifice

For his LP, Barbican Bolton draws inspiration from the Brutalist architecture and cultural ecosystem of London’s Barbican Estate and Art Centre. Built around field recordings captured on site, the work weaves together the everyday acoustics of the complex – its elevated walkways, resonant concrete and reverberant ambient public spaces – with the expressive potential of vintage electronic instruments. The glorious Brutalist architecture is a sight to behold, better still it is an extraordinary place to live. I lived there for many years. If you love iconic architecture, do make sure you visit the Barbican next time you are in London and perhaps Will Bolton’s LP should be your soundtrack. This one comes to us from Home Normal imprint who say, “We make human music by humans for humans. Maybe for animals as well”.

Collagist – Kola

On People Can Listen an independent label out of Minsk, who advise, “We release intelligent electronic music for those who seek depth beyond trends and charts”. Amongst the sub genres listed in the tags for Collagist’s album, Mabapa is, Folktronica described by The Ashgate Research Companion to Popular Musicology describes folktronica as “a catch-all [term] for all manner of artists who have combined mechanical dance beats with elements of acoustic rock or folk” – fair enough. The delightful sleeve artwork gets a large thumbs up.

Gordi – High Line

“Being surrounded by death made me think about how beautiful life is” announces Sophie Payten AKA Gordi. As a final-year medical student, Sophie says “I learned to certify death. Beyond just what we see in the movies – checking for a pulse, hearing the monotone of a flatline, announcing the time – the process involves observing a person who’s no longer responding. As she looked at their still, waxy skin, Payten says “It made me think of plasticine – that soft, malleable substance, that we can shape and mould in our hands, until we leave it to set in place. I thought about all the ways we are like plasticine in life – how forces we can’t control, contort us into shapes, stretch us thin, and test our resilience. But sometimes, heart-wrenching change can be a thing of beauty.” These moments of transition – the anguish and the ecstasy of change – are captured on her last album, Like Plasticine. High Line the latest single from the Melbourne-based artist shows Gordi has lots more to offer. Do spend time perusing her back catalogue. 

Serenda – Hive Mind

Serenda is a British, Guyanese and Greek electronic DJ/ producer and writer living in London. She says she is influenced by the deep gospel spirit of house and the transcendental power of deep techno, she is here to remind you of the ritualistic healing potential of the rave experience. We are so pleased to report Serenda believes in no boundaries in art so refuses to stick to one sub- genre. “I enjoy a lot playing with the tension between seduction and defiance. I wanted to make music that feels like flesh under club lights-real, sweating, mutating” she says and adds “I don’t fit into one category, and maybe that’s the point. I’m the common thread. I’m all of it.” A curious photo for the sleeve. Available via the excellent London imprint, On Rhythm Section.

Beatrice M. – Wish

The EP is fittingly titled Eurotrash. Beatrice Master AKA Beatrice M. is an artist exploring. They divide their time between France and the UK while alternating their roles as a DJ, producer and label owner. Here we have a Dubstep-Techno crossover consorting with a decidedly Leftfield complexion. Beatrice’s musical upbringing was informed by both their mother’s long-standing relationship with rave and their father’s affection for punk, ska and reggae-influenced acts. Keep a watchful eye on Beatrice M.

Maara – Ultra Villain

Written and produced by Maara Louisa Dunba, the long-player, Ultra Villain is a deeply personal, narrative-driven record that explores desire, heartbreak, obsession, and the freedom that comes with choosing yourself. Written from a place of hard-won self-trust, the song marks a shift toward clarity, says the Montreal artist, “I realized people can only meet you where they’ve met themselves.” The artist’s past titles include, Revenge From The Penthouse and the self-explanatory, I Wanna Scissor (ft. My Hot Ex).

NoMoore – The Castle

It’s worth pondering on the fact that NoMoore hails from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and ask if Nicolette Moore who is NoMoore and happens to be the writer and producer gets out and performs locally? After all, if NoMoore do gig live in your vicinity, then you need to make sure you show your support. This album, Mother Mountain the fourth from Nicolette Moore is quite simply, damn good. One of the tags listed is Hypnagogic which helped the inclusion in this Enigmatic Mix. Jolly nice artwork, as are all of NoMoore’s releases. 

Muskila – Eternal Fire

Copenhagen-born with roots in North-Kurdistan. Muskila’s style encompasses high-energy rhythms blending contemporary club music over north-kurdish timbres. The nine-track LP Jah Nam found me listening in its entirety on a cold, rainy afternoon recently, while supping on a blissful pot of Earl Gray. The release includes much appreciated remixes from established producers Toumba and Hassan Abou Alam. Another cool sleeve. Do not overlook!

Laze – Gosson

TIOL is the debut EP from Laze, Sheffield based DJ, producer & owner of With Bells Records. The independent record label based in Sheffield devoted to all sounds electronic is run by Jay AKA Laze. Our selected cut, Gosson features Ayoko on vocals and lyrics with Ash Muscroft on drums. TIOL lists an extensive number of genre tags, all deserved of course, but perhaps the most I’ve ever spied for a release. As you delve into the excellent work of Laze I think you’ll agree with me, this is modern music that honestly defies labels…except perhaps – enigmatic. And, about the sleeve artwork, where is the source image appropriated from? Does it matter? I think not, bravo to Tom Greatorex for a stellar job. Plus you need to know that all proceeds (vinyl & digital) go to World Central Kitchen. Top marks for this one.

Dolls With Eyes Made Of Dead Porcelain – Lullaby 10

You are correct if you think Goth is in the list of genre tags. Yet, of course this is not your usual gloomy-doomy venture, instead we have eleven Lullabies 10 through 20 under the title, Sad Lullabies Vol 2. But, I’m not buying the whole eerie, spooky, cobwebby thing. From the over-the-top sleeve art to the dead-pan on-point production, I like to believe that Lark Thorne and Eli Morrowe have a wicked gleam in their collective eyes. More about the pair who are Dolls With Eyes Made Of Dead Porcelain, Lark Thorne is a former ballet dancer turned recluse; writes lyrics by candlelight in an old Victorian attic. Themes: abandonment, ghosts, divine decay. Eli Morrowe is a failed seminary student and modular synth collector; obsessed with forgotten liturgies and Californian esoterica. Themes: ruins, lost futures, machine rituals. Not so sure those details clear anything up, but what I can assure you, this is a wonderfully odd if not enigmatic release.

Szymon Wildstein – Heart Of Glass (Blondie Cover) Ft. Debbie Harry

Possibly this short bio will help to explain Szymon Wildstein, “Born in Clichy in 1988 – graduated from Print and Time-Based Media at University of the Arts London and from Intermedia at the University of the Arts in Poznan. He works with installations, radio plays, music, paintings, drawings, and literary texts. In collaboration with Dominika Święcicka, he co-founded Atelier Artel, independent artistic space whose name and form refer to Russian artels.” Although on listening to Wildstein’s album psst you may search for more clarification. Could the genre tag Plunderphonics help? It’s a curio this one, part daft, part experimental and many parts entertaining. With esoteric sleeve art by Darja Lukjanenko and available on Enjoy Life out of Poland. Do investigate their splendid catalogue. 

Joysick – Peace (Joy)

Oceanstar is the debut album from this Boston-What I do know is here we have a collection of songs with a distinctive theme that our talented producer Stephanie labeled Enigma Pop. The fourteen skillfully crafted songs cast a mysterious aura resulting in more questions than answers. Your opinions on this one are welcome. Don’t confuse Joystick with Joysick.

Herbalistek – 52 Blue

Herbalistek is a Producer / DJ duo based in Tokyo, Japan. With an emphasis on dark, deep bass music, the duo are known for their sound design experimentations and continuously shifting yet consistent grooves. As you will gather from their 52 Blue EP on Observatory Records they draw inspiration from multiple genres. They say their goal is to lead and build a foundation for the bass music scene in Japan, using original tracks, intricate transitions and distinctly trippy rhythms. Here at LE Tower we love practicing our famous robotic dance moves to Herbalistek.

Westside Cowboy – Strange Taxidermy

They are out of Manchester in jolly ol’ England, so with the EP title So Much Country ’Till We Get There you knows we had to investigate and quickly discovered Strange Taxidermy, perfect for our Enigmatic Mix. Reuben Haycocks, James Bradbury, Aoife Anson O’Connell and Paddy Murphy happily flaunt a youthful air which percolates their music – and I’m sure when they are live on stage. It’s worth considering that cowboy can mean someone reckless, independent, or operating outside the rules, often in business or driving, suggesting a lack of skill or care. Conversely, it can be a term of endearment or respect for someone tough, resourceful, and a “can’t quit” type who gets things done, fitting the myth of the wild, free-spirited frontiersman. And of course the country in the EP title could refer to the chore of a band on the road. No doubt I’m overthinking this, the main point is, Westside Cowboy make damn fine music!

Joshua Idehen – This Is The Place

Then we come to a dear friend of LE, the very talented Josh Idehen. Just scroll through past editions of LE and LEM to enjoy the conversations and music we have shared of the British-born Nigerian artist based in Sweden. Mr. Idehen an acclaimed spoken word artist and musician has made numerous recording and  engaged in many collaborations over the years.His latest LP I Know You Are Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, You Have Got To Try was made with his creative partner Ludvig Parment, this says Josh is an urgent but transcendent collection, filled with grief, euphoria and hope. After years of honing his craft this LP finds Joshua Idehen’s pen reaching the next level. This is work that is truly arresting – but simultaneously, thanks to Parment’s soundscapes, it often makes you want to wave your arms in the air and dance. In these bleak times that try to push us all further apart, it’s a beautiful, powerful manifesto for hope and collectivism. As Joshua puts it: “There’s a likelihood that we might be planting seeds that we won’t get to see harvested…but the planting is good. The planting is just as important as the watering and the tending and the harvesting. We all have to play a part so that we can have some redemption.” 

Photograph by Dr. Eugenie Skarsgard (1945 – 2023) “Insect studies – image #34” 1977 Kodachrome print. Courtesy of Norman B’s collection