ALBUM: JO HARMAN
& COMPANY •
Live At Hideaway (Chief Recordings)
Since the untimely demise of Gary Moore, Brighton’s had a situation vacant for blues rock ambassador – but maybe not anymore. Jo Harman’s been on our radar for some time now, but this atmospheric and crystal-clear live set from London’s Hideaway Club might just be the definitive sound she’s always been working towards. It’s more Later With Jools than OMG With Peaches, but that’s just fine by us – this doesn’t piss about trying to be yoof or zeitgeist-straddling, it’s an authentic and authoritative performance that can’t fail to open yet more doors for her. (NC)

EP: LOST IDOL •
In Time & Space (Cookshop)
Written specially for a live performance at London’s Union Chapel, ‘In Time & Space’ is a four-part overlap of sounds and textures which was clearly created to capitalise on the acoustics of its original venue. There’s something of a sense of tidal movements as the aural waves advance and retreat, and much like the sea itself it doesn’t need any obvious melody to be deemed a beautiful sound. For comparisons we suppose there’s some Tangerine Dream and some Eno in there, but it’s largely a work of sonic art that no one could genuinely find fault with. (NC)

ALBUM: MAZES
A Thousand Heys (FatCat •)
Don’t ever think of references like DIY and lo-fi meaning something slipshod or amateurish. Mazes embrace both sensibilities, and the reality of these standards they bear is a bright, energetic and optimistic debut; qualities we can imagine the homogenisation of major label morals stifling out of them. As the tracks come at you thick and fast you’re gathering armfuls of hooks thrown with a youthful exuberance that screams ambition and talent. It’s the sound of a band with great record collections – Buzzcocks, Kinks, even Monkees are all present on an album you really need to hear. (NC)

ALBUM: NOSTALGIA 77
The Sleep Walking Society (Tru Thoughts •)
Benedic Lamdin has been busy since the release of his last album, four years ago. Production, engineer and musician work on other people’s projects has kept his own output at bay, but he’s returned to Nostalgia 77 enriched by this variety of experiences and breathed it into his new release. His trademark jazz palette is certainly back, enhanced by a widening into bluesy folk, and the concentration on a single vocalist across the album (German singer Josa Peit) results in his most rounded yet. (NC)

SINGLE: THE QEMISTS •
Take It Back (Ninja Tune)
Having toured together in 2009 ploughing a similar dance rock hybrid furrow, it’s no surprise to see this Qemists/Enter Shakari collaboration. ‘Take It Back’ sees the two forging a bass-heavy manifesto as they bask in the glow of the acclaim both received throughout last year, with Qemists definitely living up to the promise we suggested when we had them on our cover a couple of years ago. Remixes by The Prototypes and VIP add some variation, but all retain the same big, dirty sound. (NC)

ALBUM: MUDDY
SUZUKI • Head In The Sand (Bandcamp)
Muddy Suzuki can often be found on drum stool duties for the likes of Electric Soft Parade, Restlesslist and Clowns, but for his own third album he’s created a sprawling 60-minute set of wide-eyed psych-prog-pop, conjuring up some of the most gleefully skewed music in town. Playful melodies and rich textures move from the ridiculous to the sublime and manage to sound something akin to the bastard lovechild of Soft Machine, Yo La Tengo and Tortoise, all delivered with a distinctly English flavour. It’s quite a journey, but one well worth undertaking. (IC)

DEMO OF THE MONTH: AGATHA & THE CHRISTIES •
(myspace.com/agathaandthechrisites)
There’s something fabulously dissolute and down-at-heel about these six tracks that skulked through our letterbox. Garage girl-punk from half a century ago has an uneasy exhumation, scowling in all the darkest corners and resolutely leaving behind any notion of polish or sheen. Stay Sickers and Born Badders should be all over this – it has that timeless waft of dirty cocktails and pomade delivered with a cheap twang and threatening feminine panache that comes across like the B-52s on some strong and wrong medication. (NC)

WORDS BY IAN CHAMBERS, NICK COQUET