The '90s version of prog-rock meets the real thing on 1995's Deseo Remixes. Global Communication, Trans-Global Underground, Future Sound of London, and Deep Forest each contribute remixes of the world music project by Yes' Jon Anderson. The Deep Forest and Global Communication tracks are the highlights.

Coming in way above their previous effort, 1990’s Smooth Noodle Maps, Something for Everybody is the album Devo's fans had craved for 28 long years, or maybe 29, if you fall on the sour side of the iffy Oh, No! It's Devo. The synthetic, compressed, and punchy production – courtesy of producer and Bird & the Bee member Greg Kurstin – is a modern take on the sound of 1981’s New Traditionalists, and if you judge by hooks, this is right in line with their 1980 breakthrough, Freedom of Choice, although there’s certainly no “Whip It”-sized megahit here. Instead, there’s the opening “Fresh!” a herky-jerky, infectious number with lead singer Mark Mothersbaugh stuttering as if he just created New Wave’s “My Generation.” The wicked highlight “Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)” (“They’ll hunt you down/And tase you bro/For playing with the rules”) is the album’s other key track, thanks to Mothersbaugh’s perfect framing of de-evolution’s give (hybrid cars) and take, take, take (Beltway snipers, overzealous cops, etc.).

Warp20 (Chosen) placed the track selection process in the hands of fans, who voted online with the option to add messages like "This song makes you feel like a proud parent, à la John Hurt in the movie Alien," as reprinted throughout the booklet. The ten tracks (+ bonus track for Japan) that received the most votes make up the first disc. After track five, the disc makes a swift transition from covering exemplary material (Aphex Twin's bent lounge-porn single "Windowlicker," Boards of Canada's eerie yet blissful "Roygbiv"), to looking more like a sampler of recent releases (from Plaid's "Eyen" to Clark's "Herzog," all 2001-2006 territory). The 14 tracks on the second disc were picked by label co-founder Steve Beckett…

The Pulse EPs gathers together some of the strongest tracks FSOL recorded before the release of Accelerator (1991). Originally pressed as four 12" EPs between 1991 and 1992, the record collects 16 pieces under the band's more well known aliases of Mental Cube, Indo Tribe, Yage and Smart Systems, plus the first ever Future Sound of London tracks (which, "Hardhead" in particular, are far removed from the layered, abstract work the name is most famous for). On that level, there is little here for those wanting another Lifeforms or Dead Cities, but any fans of Accelerator are urged to get ahold of this, and it works as a more singular and focussed effort than the similar Earthbeat compilation, which veers jarringly from vocal house to ambient breaks and acid house…

After nearly two decades of releasing on other people's labels, Icelandic producer Aðalsteinn Guðmundsson aka Yagya now launches his own new Small Plastic Animals imprint with a brand new album, Old Dreams and Memories.
This album marks another subtle move away from the icy dub techno sounds he has dealt in before, hence the need for a new label. It follows full lengths such as Stars and Dust and Sleepygirls, both on Delsin, as well as 2019's Stormur on A Strangely Isolated Place, and plenty of vital work as part of the Thule Musik collective. This acclaimed album specialist is known for his mastery of atmosphere, melody and mood and ability to create soothing and escapist soundtracks that make for utterly mindful experiences…

The Future Sound Of London's Translations takes their very essence, subverts it, turns it on it's head, twists and nurtures it. This is an album that makes a global journey of rare insight and beauty through the history of musical composition. Translations grew from the seminal 'Papua New Guinea' and is a transportive journey through the world of music and image, an album which is a stepping stone between their former works and their new incarnation.

10 Years Remixed was a limited edition release created following the success of the previous year’s debut Banco de Gaia compilation 10 Years. It began as a conversation between friends and evolved into a collection of remixes. This is a deeply personal document with every remix being commissioned by Banco himself and every remix with the exception of one mix being borne out of a long term relationship.
In a super reactionary and totally cynical music industry how do you express your joy at what you do? After struggling to re-acquire his master tapes, how do you throw a sonic party? In this instance Banco de Gaia called his friends and the result is 10 Years Remixed, a beautiful collection of mighty fine exclusive remixes…

This compilation of work from the decade by Banco de Gaia (aka Toby Marks) not only shows off his best work in a setting that's a continuous mix, but also makes one of the strongest cases yet for electronica as the new prog rock. It might not have the complex time signatures or rampant instrumental virtuosity of an earlier era, but it does offer far more than most rock music, with depth, ingenuity, and a tune that - generally - progress from A to B, and in the best cases, to C and beyond. And Marks frequently offers the very best cases, not just on pieces like the excellent "Last Train to Lsaha" or "887," but also on "Gizeh" and "Mafich Arabi." You can trace the development in his work, from the early post-rave material to the more thoughtful, ethnic-influenced work, which is ultimately more satisfying…