Elly – You Idiot

Elliot Cleverdon is out of Portland, Oregon and goes by the name Elly. His LP, Monstrocity requires careful attention, I mean listen to the whole collection from beginning to end. Of course you could dip in and out but the continuity maybe important. Elly says, “These songs are mostly about animals eating other animals. Some of these go back 5 years, some of them I made two months ago. These are songs that wouldn’t leave me alone and kept asking me to set them free, so here they are now in your hands.” I took note of that. The sleeve artwork perfectly captures Elly’s slightly disturbing yet fascinating music.

Ella Machina – Your

Sometimes taking note of an artist’s comments can take you to places you probably wouldn’t go. “I don’t know. All of this was revealed to me in a dream. Which I’m still in btw.” Writes Ella Machina. That she is based in Seattle and her excellent EP is titled, Orchid Camp could relay more info but Ms. Machina seems confident enough toilet us know, “I worked rly hard on this EP, it took me several years to complete. I cut a lot of tracks and chose only the songs I thought fit into each other like a puzzle and felt like myself. It’s about a lot of things like heart bunnies, brain worms, red stars, ballerinas, feeling ugly, feeling afraid, emptiness, god, and hope. It’s a combination of abstract and concrete thoughts and feelings and an experiment of sound and traditional song structure. Now that I’ve got all that out of the way…let’s freaking rock!!!!” No argument with that. Then again, Ella’s Blue Sky page suggests I may need to spend more time getting to know this intriguing artist. As it happens Ella has six releases for May ’06, each cut decidedly popish with processed vocals and smart production. I don’t know enough about the distinctive tastes of La Swift fans but if I had to guess I’m sure Ella Machina could garner a substantial following in that world. Study prudently.

Taeybs – All That I Need

When you title your LP, I Had A Weird Dream Last Night you may probably expect the listener to have a fairly good idea of where you are going with your music. Except this talented musician presents delightful surprises with each cut on this album. But, then again he does seem almost cutely aware of what the first impression could be, “I hope this album finds you well. But if not, I hope that you find some refuge in these spectacles of the everyday. I hope that they put some lead in your pencil. Ruffle your hair. Shake your legs into action” Taeybs announces. Then a few more non sequiturs we learn, “How did I get here? Occasional spoken word became a necesary reprive for an acid-reflux damged voice. Gentle harp and upright piano sounds became the perfect vehicles for fiddily melodies. 45 years of life, a wealth of experinece to mine for 35 minutes of music.” This is gonna date me when I reflect on how Mr. Lennon’s A Spaniard In the Works was a welcome act of mischievousness in June ’65. Manchester-based Mr. Taeybs may appreciate the association after all he says, “The album cover is a sculpture I made. A life ring, made from bed sheets.” and “There’s no dog shit on this beach.” Jolly good music – do not overlook!

The Durutti Column – Liars

The album Renascent marks the long-awaited return of legendary Manchester outfit The Durutti Column, their first new studio album in over fifteen years, produced by Keir Stewart. Around the guitar work of Vini Reilly, the album plays between sonic atmospherics and structure: warm ambient washes, piano, beats and guest vocal turns by a new generation (Caoilfhionn Rose on Agonistes and Lucas Elliot on CD bonus track All they See is Fire. Essential for your collection.

Pieuvre – Blueberry Cake

The all-female trio of Fege, Lina and Pia have concocted a fun retro-sounding LP, Away From Human Behavior on Berlin’s very fine Kitchen Leg Records. These unabashed feminists present a convincing record with all the energy as if it were 1977. A cool sleeve with cut and paste artwork. 

Latex Penguin – Filth

You are encouraged to listen carefully to the lyrics the Get Ready 4 Love EP. Is that a biographical story behind the obvious pop stylings of Filth? Perhaps we learn more than we need to know – all the same my curiosity almost sent me down a rabbit hole after googling Latex and Penguin. Hailing from the post-industrial city of Sheffield, we are told Latex Penguin are a latex fan and penguin fanatic – your feedback is welcome.

Miniature Tigers – Summer Of The Cow

Miniature Tigers been around for sometime and have garnered a fine reputation. Originally hailing from Phoenix, along the way with line-up changes and locations including Brooklyn and LA the band have maintained a listenable, confident style. For my money, they’re good musicians writing quality songs in need of a daring opportunity.

Hydroponics – Beware Dubplate Version

Here we have a first-class 12” on Partial Records out of Chesham near Oxford an imprint with a wonderful catalogue you need to search out. Hydroponics sample the reggae giant the late Vivian Jackson better known as Yabby You. Two glorious visions showcasing essential melodica leads over classic bleeps. 

Ivy Knight – Swimming In Blood

The daunting title of this cut belies the delicate approach Ivy Knight brings to her music on Iron Mountain. It’s not so surprising to learn that Ivy writes, “I was living in the Hudson Valley while writing most of the songs on the album, including my most recent single. To anyone who knows that area knows it’s impossible not to be completely moved and changed with the seasons and cycles.” She continues, “Space and location are everything. Whether I’m writing about what’s within reach or as a means of navigating an escape. I like to hyperfocus on a detail or feeling of the landscape and then turn up the saturation.” And Ms. Knight does exactly what she says extremely well. Do I detect a vulnerability in Ivy’s voice or is it the combination of her lyrics and Deer park – real name Andy Santella’s production? I listened to Iron Mountain on repeat for a whole evening attempting to discover a tiny flaw. Impossible.

Getdown Services – I Can’t Die Like That

Having played these lads on an earlier volume of LEM I thought I knew what to expect if I happened to witness them live. The lesson here is, always be prepared to be surprised. While on my recent trip to London, I was lucky enough to see Benjamin Sadler and Joshua Law give a marvelous spirited performance on Jools Holland’s TV show. Getdown Services’ new LP is Massive Champion. They are out of Bristol and that should be a definite guarantee of excellence.

Tara Clerkin Trio – Lazy Daisey

The collections songs that make up Somewhere Good, the new long-player from Tara Clerkin Trio showcase excellent musicians who are not trying to be clever or gimmicky – quite simply good music so well presented. Formed in Bristol UK (where none of them are from yet all of whom are deeply engrained) in 2020, the Tara Clerkin Trio – as it somewhat democratically exists today, despite the singular authority implied by its name – consists of the titular Tara Clerkin, her partner Sunny Joe Paradisos, and Sunny’s brother, Patrick Benjamin. While we could ponder on the influences it’s far better to concentrate on how Tara and cohorts have forged such an impressive identity. Altogether a superb album, one to savor and yes, introduce unsuspecting music aficionados to. Top marks!

Night Swimming – Hope And Wavering

According to the sleeve notes, “Across five Summer days in August 2025, producer Peter Miles recorded the EP tracks live to tape at Middlefarm Studios in Devon. The surrounding moors provided a haunting backdrop, enveloping the creative process and setting the tone for Melting, Sometimes Bleeding.” That sounds about right as this five-piece based in lovely Bath share carefully-crafted songs on this their second EP. I’m told by a friend who lives in the West Country and have seen Meg Jones, Sam Allen, Jesse Roache, Josh Nottle and Torin Moore perform live, they are definitely not to be missed. Just one thing you need to know, please ignore the redundant genre labeling used so liberally in describing Night Swimming. Label them damn good! 

Bethia Beadman – Woman Of Day

First of all there are certain parts of Bethia’s bio  that make me wince. I’m truly sorry about that because I love her LP, Kitten Feel. Clearly she is a talented writer who has much to say and yes, she says everything – in great style. There is so much I could go on about here, the castanets on It’s Not Too Late; her cold open on Lady London; the talk-singing on Kitten Feel. It’s an album with so many enjoyable facets, clever-creative motifs. Moving at times, a little angry, sultry, certainly thoughtful. This is music I’m sure I should have heard circa my days at the Crawdaddy Club or probably imagined what I could hear after decades of inhaling all the dangerous tropes I willingly availed myself to. Honestly, I don’t want to dismiss Ms. Beadman’s bio, mine too would read like an impossible tale. I would like to think Bethia was diligently in control of the verbiage just like her exceptional music. Tell me to cool it if you think I’m being over zealous, the fact is Kitten Feel is my favorite long-player this year to date!

Delian Sound – Kool Down

Ah yes, a marvelous slice of minimalistic techno infused with hypnotic dub from Delian Sound on Manchester’s Size Ten Records. Yet another label with a back catalogue you are advised to delve into. This form of electronica may be not to everyone’s taste but do yourself a favor, when the time is right and the mood suits you indulge. Thank me later.

Photo by Norman B “10 to 8am, Victoria Mansion, Ripon, Yorkshire, May 21 2026″. Digital print on archival paper. Courtesy of Norman B’s collection