ALBUM: 12 STONE TODDLER Scheming (Amazon)
The Toddlers promised much when they sent us their Under The Weather single a couple of months ago. It told us, via the medium of 2:29’s worth of ridiculously catchy “bum buppa buppa bu bum bum bum bum” repetition, that their new album would be an eclectic firebrand of a record. It further said it would be as un-pin-downable as an electric eel, a crazy melange of disparate styles marinated in a rich sauce of riffery and basted with pure rock spunk. At least, that’s how we took it. It might have just meant, “bum buppa buppa bu bum bum bum bum”. (NC)

SINGLE: A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA China (Self Released)
Music boffins The Wire magazine called A Scandal In Bohemia the “best band in Brighton”, so don’t come to this three part single expecting a three minute pop song. China sounds like a medieval folk band using a Star Trek style teleporter to travel to Mars and slipping through a wormhole on the way. Over the 17 minutes, more happens than that series of 24 that was soundtracked by Bjork, Squarepusher and Animal Collective. Only with a bit less torture. (JK)

ALBUM: KINNY Idle Forest of Chit Chat (Tru Thoughts)
Here’s Kinny, with her first solo-billed album release, which had a somewhat eagerly awaited status around these parts. We thought we could sort of imagine how it would be; tight, funky and soulful with a sonic watercolour over-brushing with what used to be called trip hop. Happily the record lives up to our expectations – with trademark Tru Thoughts style it’s peppered with contributions from their esteemed stable and beyond. We’ve got production guestings from Quantic, Nostalgia 77, TM Juke and Hint among others, bringing enough warmth across its eleven cuts to heat a modest family home. (NC)

ALBUM: MEDICINE AND DUTY Don’t Use ‘A’ (Foolproof Objects)
In an era where some of the most asinine pop music ever known to man graces the nation’s lethargic radios, its antidote and absolute opposite demands to be heard. If you imagine the Yin of this rather poorly thought out metaphor to be Timmy Mallet singing the hits of The Tweenies, so the Yang called unexpectedly into existence to counter it would be free-wave electro terrorists Medicine And Duty. A lot of it sounds like a thousand drum kits falling over a cliff, each landing heavily on a different de-tuned instrument, but we rather like that about it. (NC)

ALBUM: THE MOJO FINS The Sound That I Still Hear (Amazon)
We rather liked the Fins’ Always Now single recently, and indeed told you we did on these very pages. The album carries on in a mostly slower and more reflective theme, which is perhaps understandable under the circumstances. The sad death of their singer and guitarist Jon Chandler in May 2007 is evidently still at the forefront of their collective mind – it’s the first thing both the biography and press release mention and therefore will inevitably be a major part of any reviews written. Leaving less room to talk about the record though,itself highly accomplished, well produced and if there’s any justice it should bump them a good few rungs up the indie ladder. (NC)

SINGLES: PROK & FITCH/GOLDEN GIRLSEl Beasto/Kinetic (Prok& Fitch Remix) (Floorplay)
Prok& Fitch are on their way to becoming big stars. Their Floorplay night at Coalition is one of the most exciting house nights the city has seen in quite a few years, while their label is picking up rave reviews. These two latest releases give some idea of its future. El Beasto is a huge basslined slab of electro that has that melancholic euphoria that only trance seems to nail. Kinetic meanwhile sees the return of Orbital’s secret classic, now with a sturdy bottom end to support those angelic synth stabs. The next stage is a release on Roger Sanchez’s Stealth and longer queues outside Coaliton. (JK)

ALBUM: VARIOUS Rekids Revolution (Rekids)
To say Matt ‘Radio Slave’ Edward’s is the DJs producer is to underestimate the frenzy that his long, sparse records whip up in the international techno and house scenes. This round up of his label is a great place to start if you’re new to his heavy take on minimal, but as you plough through the three CDs you may well find it’s not for you. This is understated and subtle, bringing to mind the best of the second wave of Detroit. Dubfire, Luke Solomon and Runaway provide some of the highlights but this is Matt’s show really. (JK)