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36 & zakè – Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel III

In the last few years, 36 has become one of my favourite artists, although I became a fan after he started his Statis Sounds… series with zakè, so don’t feel like I’ve been a part of that particular journey. Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel III is the final part of the trilogy, made up of two long pieces: “Final Approach” and “Blue New World.”

As with the first two volumes, it’s cinematic in scope and carefully paced, built around slow-moving drones, soft static, and layered synth work. “Final Approach” includes some striking use of low-end and piano, while “Blue New World” leans into heavier, darker textures, and there’s even a nod to doom and drone influences in places, though still within the ambient framework. It’s an immersive final chapter to the series.

https://3six.bandcamp.com/album/stasis-sounds-for-long-distance-space-travel-iii

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Margaux Gazur – Agata

I was slightly obsessed with Smallville about 15 years ago, so it’s comforting to know that not much has changed in terms of the music they’re putting out in the intervening years. Margaux Gazur’s new LP Blurred Memories is dusty, low-key, slightly eeire, hypnotic house and I can’t get enough of its opening track.

https://smallville-records.bandcamp.com/album/smallville-lp-18-margaux-gazur-blurred-memories

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Romance – End Titles

Romance’s latest album, Love Is Colder Than Death, is perhaps their bleakest to date. From the ghostly, pitched down vocals on opener Too Much Love to End Titles, the final (and most striking) track, the album is drenched in not just melancholy, but misery. And I love it. End Titles shares much of its DNA with The Caretaker’s ballroom deconstructions, but without dropping entirely into despair – although it does get pretty close. Majestically moody stuff.

https://youmustrememberthis.bandcamp.com/album/love-is-colder-than-death

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Not Marshall – UNKNOWN PRODIGY

Pretty sure I write a variation on this every time I post a Not Marshall track, but it is staggering they don’t get more attention. At time of write they have one (!) follower on Soundcloud and get 56 monthly listeners on Spotify. And I don’t think they even have a Bandcamp account. A ludicrous state of affairs. Their latest LP ELLIX is another masterclass in icy ambient and drone, even swerving into more trancey textures a la 36 and Lee Gamble. Should be massive, never will be 😦

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Smerz – But i do

Slickly detached bedroom pop and electronic excursions from Norwegian outfit Smerz, taken from their new album Big city life. But i do has an almost Massive Attack-esque swagger about it, but with a touch of humour in both the vocals and synth work replacing 3D and Daddy G’s dour delivery.

https://smerzforyou.bandcamp.com/album/big-city-life

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DJ HEARTSTRING – Staring Into The Sun

Another stone-cold banger from the princes of modern trance. How these megababes haven’t been booked for Glastonbury is beyond me.

https://djheartstring.bandcamp.com/track/staring-into-the-sun

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Night Tapes – pacifico

Night Tapes boldly go where quite a few have been before, mining Souls of Mischief’s seminal classic 93 til Infinity for their latest single pacifico, the third drop from their upcoming album portals/priorities which is coming in September. It’s pretty lush.

https://nighttapesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/portals-polarities

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Ericka De Casier

Ericka De Casier mines 00s r&b to incredibly convincing effect on her latest, entirely self-produced album Lifetime, and it might very well be her best yet. The title track is the final on the LP, with drums emerging from a billowing cloud of synths before shimmering keys and her yearning vocal take centre stage. For fans of Sade, Janet Jackson and being very romantic.

https://erikadecasier.bandcamp.com/album/lifetime

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The Vernon Spring – Known

This is taken from Under a Familiar Sun, the new album from The Vernon Spring and the solo project of British composer and producer Sam Beste. Over twelve elegant songs, Beste’s beautiful, expansive compositions centre around a graceful and deliberate approach to piano, accented by vocal collaborations, spoken word, and a gently compelling mix of electronic and acoustic instrumentation.

https://thevernonspring.bandcamp.com/album/under-a-familiar-sun

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Thee Sacred Souls – We Don’t Have To Be Alone

Thee modern masters of sweet soul return with We Don’t Have to Be Alone: a gorgeous, floaty ballad that deals with two folks coming to terms with the fact that it’s ok to find comfort and joy in love at a provisional level. Happy Friday y’all.

https://theesacredsouls.bandcamp.com/track/we-dont-have-to-be-alone