I've always had time for techno producers who aren't cowed by the tyranny of the kick drum and with "Traded Structures" Apartment Fox has delivered a masterclass in the fine art of left-field, EDM abstraction. If you prefer your dance music to wear hobnailed boots, look elsewhere; these tracks, each a vibrant melange of textures and timbres, are designed to beguile not bang. Nic Brown
"Willow" is a complex and alluring sonic bijouterie to be sure though it's hard not to wonder whether Black Hat actually intended to record a straight-up techno EP, but was thwarted by a dubstepping poltergeist that sneaked into the studio and wrought subtle havoc with his hardware. Maybe that's why beat priests Prostitutes got roped in to perform a remix-cum-exorcism on "Elm". Paranormal conspiracy theories aside though, this is one fine, spirit-raising record. Nic Brown
The German artist's so-called "digital psychedelic journey" infuses sterling classical and jazz forms with trippy, tuneful synth melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable May 5, 2024
Nearly a decade after their last LP, the Chicago post-metal trio resurface with a punishing concept album set in an apocalyptic wasteland. Bandcamp New & Notable May 5, 2024
Australian singer-songwriter explores self-examination, loneliness, and post-pandemic malaise through delicate, empathetic folk pop. Bandcamp New & Notable May 5, 2024