Every since that iconic vocal featuring on STRFLL's "Forget", I've been eagerly waiting for a proper release from sleepingprayer. "Heartstrings" is her debut EP, released today by Vertigo Cult. Existing in the hazy, liminal space between dream-pop and witch house, this release is an atmospheric ethereal pop gem. For fans of Merely and Elusin!
Download the EP here, and stream all three tracks below.
Black Coral is a drone/noise alias of Irish musician Cian Megannety. On his debut tape for Hibernian Leather, "Reef Worship", he pairs up with saxophone player Dan Walsh, committing an early contender for my favourite album of the year. I have a small obsession with music that sonically or conceptually references nautical motifs - here, translated through layers of crushing drones and textured noise. Add alluring, mystical sax lines to that, and you've got yourself a fan. Absolute must!
Get yourself a copy here. Stream below.
Luminol returns with "No Longer Human", a spectral five-track release that creeps between harsh noise wall and death industrial. I love the variety here, the whole release is well structured in its minimalism and manages to keep my attention until the mellow, textured-ambient finish. It may be my favourite thing from this artist so far!
Download the release here, and stream all the tracks below.
Back in 2024, Zola was asked to compose an original score for the horror movie Saint Clare. While the film hasn't made waves, the music behind it was just released on Bandcamp, and it's simply amazing.
The album is available on Bandcamp, you can stream it below.
Blear Moon, an ambient-composing alias of Germany-based musician Vlas Presnetsov, returns to Language Instinct - the Texan home of all things fuzzy - with a second release entitled "Nocturne Between Cycles". As the title aptly suggests, the album is a collection of glittering ambient tones bouncing off each other in a sleepy manner while remaining in perfect harmony. Floating somewhere between the grainy hiss and nightly ambience, glimmers of playfulness and curiosity push the tracks into slightly darker, yet captivating, territory.
Download the album here. Check it out in full down below.
Second release from the Australian noisemaker Martyr In The Sand. "معاقبة [Punish]" is a 45-minute long sonic warfare set somewhere deep in the Pacific trenches. Crusty layers of noise take over the curious play of shadows, in the accompaniment of death industrial gasps and harsh noise screams. It's only until the final track we can get that final breath of air and calm after this hellish ride.
Download "Punish"e here. Stream below.
Klokhet, the reincarnation of Travis Egedy's SCYTHE project, finds a clear and confidently executed direction within a self-described dungeon dub sub-genre. Drawing on muted trip-hop, UK bass, and ambient dungeon styles, "The Emerald Sphere" is simply incredible and hits all the right notes! Cop the single here.