Nixxy Rain – Lawyer (Extended)

The soul-drenched vocals here take us to church, driven by rolling breaks and refreshing piano stabs on Nixxy Rain’s debut cut Lawyer. This is the second release on Hospital Records marking their 30 years of the Drum ’n” Bass sound that helped define the label’s identity. Lawyer pays homage to the foundations that shaped several eras of the Hospital catalogue. Previously known as one half of the acclaimed British electronic duo SpectraSoul, and now carving out his own path as Nixxy Rain. Lawyer is a bold step, signalling not just a new era for Nixxy Rain but a fitting contribution to Hospital’s 30-year legacy. It does seem odd that I’ve been championing this distinctive sound for so long, hopefully this cut from Nixxy Rain will convince you – at last. Massive!

Maryam Saleh – El Fetra

A luminary of Egypt’s alternative music scene, Maryam Saleh with El Fetra from her new LP, Syrr. Always pushing the boundaries of Arabic music, here Maryam offers a mythic and introspective work with Syrr (Arabic for secret),  the album traces a journey in which the self is fractured, questioned, reassembled, and ultimately expanded. Blending raw lyrical expression with subtle dramatics, Saleh crafts an immersive sonic autobiography rooted in intuition, embodiment, and human becoming. “Writing, for me, was not merely inscription, but a way toward understanding. A search for a private pulse that could hold feeling before it dissolves into noise.” Says Maryam Saleh. The album was produced by Simsara Music with support from the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC). A significant release.

Chinachinachina – Skin

On first listen, vocalist Annie Bravo sounds so familiar yet so very unique. A fascinating conundrum as you’ll be sure you’ve heard that voice before, then on a slightly closer listen you realize that with her bandmates,  Juande Jiménez and Javier Mora these talented Spanish musicians have created a delightfully accomplished album. The nine cuts including an especially cool version of Sade’s No Ordinary Love on their LP Dive In / Breathe Out convinced me Chinachinachina should not be overlooked. Listen to how Bravo’s engaging lyrics on Skin are perfectly complemented by the infectious rhythm and clever instrumentation, co-opting elements of Contemporary R & B, Jungle and Alternative Rock. A winner!

Andie – Call Me

Hailing from Dharug & Gundungurra land (the Blue Mountains), outside of Eora (Sydney), Andie’s songwriting combines old school jazz vocals and folk style lyrics with bluesy tones and her whimsical cynicism. Andie says, “I love to indulge in a hell of a spiteful song.” She adds, “Each track on my LP The Eye Of The Storm has been built around a voice memo recorded on a phone. It’s primarily an experimentation of production.” The production was by Andie with saxophone by Mateusz Sobieski, all other instrumentation by Andie. She posts a number of special mentions to people who helped along the way, including, “Isobel Knight for being my endless rock, and old mate for breaking my heart in the first place.” I love this album. Impressive.

Memory Spells & Jordan Whitlock – All I See Is You

Here we have the debut collaborative album, This Is What It Feels Like from Memory Spells and Jordan Whitlock. Perhaps I should chastised for this but I was quite convinced that these good people were out of the UK, but no these talented folks are based out of Southern California. The record carries an unusual origin story: the two wrote and produced the entire album remotely, sending files between San Diego and Los Angeles, and only meeting in person for the first time when they were already more than halfway through. What began as an exchange of demos evolved into a deeply personal dialogue and a shared sonic world. I’ve listened to this excellent album on repeat play over the past week and as much as I want to just indulge in the beautiful production and let it flow over my senses, I admit to secretly dissecting every moment, in the hope I can fully understand how Matt Bauer and Jordan Whitlock crafted each song. I mean, did they have a crystal clear vision when making this album or did the final results arrive after mixing, remixing and mixing again? Of course there is nothing seemingly haphazard about this collection of songs yet the intricacies in production are so gorgeous I must applaud the artists. Beautiful sleeve, too.

Pippa Blundell – Big Bear

What a striking voice Pippa Blundell has. Big Bear is remarkable. After each play I want to rush over and give Pippa a big hug. Maybe I’m overreacting to what I hear as the artist’s vulnerability expressed in this delicate song. After all, Pippa says, she utilizes songwriting as a form of therapy and connection to herself, her lyrics draw on themes of love, grief and womanhood. Glasgow-based Blundell writes, “Big Bear was written on the Isle of Skye during Storm Floris, in a crowded house artists and one Springer spaniel during a 3 day power cut.” Oh, how she captures that contradiction of loneliness that can happen when surrounded by  people. There is something intriguing and special about Pippa. You must listen to her 2025 album, Common Thread. 

Aloka – Strange Forms

Originally from West Wales, producer Aloka gives us his 16th releases on his own Typeless imprint. The four cuts on Strange Forms EP showcase Aloka’s signiture razor-cutting percussion and textural atmospheres. Train-spotters may enjoy identifying the samples but we here at LE Tower prefer to get up and start the bones working to the beats. A tasty back catalogue is awaiting your inspection. Cool sleeve by Joana Céline. Not just for electro fans.

Local News Legend – Shelly Duvall Pt. 2

So, I’m quite positive that Emily, April, and Moth who present as Local News Legend are sincere when they proclaim they are “Harrisburg, PS folk punks who just want to eat n sleep n fart n shit”. Their LP, Criterion Of Embarrassment is damn good. Take Shelly Duvall Pt. 2, “Wake up…take these pills and go to sleep” they repeat, then later they tell us “There’s a courtyard with concrete walls, If you try to climb it they’ll taze you in the balls. Lol, just kidding, they’re not allowed to taze.” With the mandolin and banjo, Local News Legend’s music sounds kind of jolly albeit with nice thick, probably curdled layer of dark humor. Such an enjoyable collection of songs. I’m quite sure these people would be fun to see live. Damn excellent sleeve artwork.

Kate Brunotts – Love Is A Verb

It would appear that Ms. Brunotts is au courant with all aspects of social media, energetically utilizing the assorted platforms. The PR blurb for her new LP, Light In Dark Places informs us “Kate is an avant-pop music producer and artist, she strives to create accessible sonic dreamscapes that challenge the bounds of music.” Fair enough. I’ll add that Ms. Brunotts is accomplished at creating listenable pop music. And… do I hear the ghosts of Cocteau Twins lurking around in Love Is A Verb? 

Ego Ella May – What You Waiting For

Ego Ella May the British-Nigerian award winning singer-songwriter and musician you need to know about. A critically acclaimed artist with an all-encompassing love of music, which she channels into her own genre blending R&B, neo-soul and contemporary jazz as deliciously showcased with her outstanding album, Good Intentions.  Plus, you must watch the video that accompanies What You Waiting For, it’s so incredibly choreographed. You may not realize at first, but watch closely…oh goodness…wonderful…and that brilliant dress Ego wears! Top marks for the production on Good Intentions. The London-based artist has a number of not-to-be-missed earlier recordings we highly recommend. 

Alex Zhang Hungtai – Rub’ Al Khali

Acclaimed experimental artist Alex Zhang Hungtai explains his album Dras was recorded  inside Montreal’s Saint Joseph Oratory, the nine pieces sat dormant on his hard drive through pandemic years until something finally clicked. This is only a saxophone record in the barest sense. The digital manipulation applied to those church recordings doesn’t obscure that human element of Dras. It transforms the raw material into something that navigates between external space and internal landscape. There’s a finality here even though something in these passages feels weightless. This is music permeated with inner dialogue, a wordless spell dancing above the psychic abyss. Tonal sequences disintegrate into narcotized sonics, a sharp elegant edge that cuts without drawing blood. This lonely work of exploration becomes something communal. Dras is a map for traversing the space between where we are and where we might go. This superb album gloriously crosses the boundaries of jazz, experimental and ambient genres. Curious and fitting artwork.

Hone Sound – Indigo

The duo of Hone Sound out of Copenhagen work up some meticulously crafted beats and breaks adding offbeat dub chords on their Original EP. Indigo is a magnificent atmospheric slow-fast treat. Cuts as good as this should be played for those snotty people who get grumpy about electronic music in any of it’s many forms. 

Girls Of the Internet – Found A Love 

Girls Of the Internet – Promise

I couldn’t resist giving you two in a row from Girls Of The Internet. These recordings are built around the work of industry veteran, Tom Kerridge who began Girls Of The Internet in 2017. His manifesto was to create dance music that calls back to how it was made at its inception, but with the knowledge and experience of the past 50 years of the genre, joining the dots that have not been joined for a long time. Here we have an unmistakable homage to original disco and queer culture. Music like this should be compulsary listening when you’re feeling just a little bit down. A splendid tonic for the soul. Totally fabulous! Do visit the GOTI site for more details and wonderful links. The logo (I guess) Tom has come up with is righteously irreverent and divine. I’m a fan!

Photograph by Annie Chow “New Year Celebration #34” 2009 Kodachrome print. Courtesy of Norman B’s collection