Review: Synth-bothering indie-popsters Friendly Fires are the latest contributors to the uniformly excellent Late Night Tales series, and they seem desperate to prove just how diverse their tastes are. Oh, and their underground credentials. So, we get fuzzy stoner disco (Renee), curious French electro-disco oddness (Space), shirts-off end of night goodness (the much-played but still ace "Like An Eagle" by Dennis Parker), krautrock-inspired indie pop (Stereolab, Cocteau Twins), classic US garage (Iron Galaxy), future anthems (SBTRKT), dream-pop (Junior Boys, Lauren Halo), folksy musings (Grouper), and even a dash of Olivia Newton-John (the decidedly Balearic "Love Song"). While a cynic may raise a surprised eyebrow at some of the selections, there's no denying their quality.
Review: A much anticipated release from Ramp Recordings subsidiary, Brain Math, which brings together the best in limited edition vinyl releases from 2008-10 from a star-studded cast, including stunners from James Blake, Roska (under his Bakongo alias), Brackles and SBTRKT. "Paper Street" gets the ball rolling with a Burial-like air, and is juxtaposed against Brackles' infectious "6am El Gordos". "Pembroke" has that discernable Blakean style, complete with synth haze, distorted vox and clip-clop beats. "Laika" (SBTRKT's first release, don't you know?) adds a dose of mischief, before Spiders take things dark and murky, with eerie SFX a-plenty, and the compilation is rounded off with Zomby's "Rumours & Revelations".
