In time honoured tradition, a round up of 2005 will be posted up once I get some sleep. In the meantime, some loose odds and ends reviewed here. Hopefully I'll never have to listen to another Morr Music record again.

Various Artists: Heavy Meckle (Shadetek) - CD

There's been so much written about the Grime/Dubstep movement in the blogosphere that I feel I can't really add much to it. My coverage has been restricted to highlighting the occasional bits that I pick up from Soho's Black Market Records. I'm quite happy to quietly sit back and wallow in its propulsive force.

Certainly siding with the more techno-affiliated Dubstep sound. Contributions from Boxcutter, Digital Mystikz, Slaughter Mob, DJ Distance and Skream revealed a more digitally pure, pared down palette that I could totally immerse myself in.

But for those not blessed enough to be able to receive the numerous pirate stations within the M25, this release serves as a handy snapshot of all that's gone on in 2005. Sub-current, sub-bass, sub-low.

John Callaghan: Every kiss takes a minute off your life (Short.Sharp.Shock) - 12"
Avrocar: Guidance (Short.Sharp.Shock) - 12"

John Callaghan peddles in humourous, oddball electronica that's unmistakably British in tone. 'They're coming' harmonises vocal samples from the Daleks to amusing effect and 'Organgrinder' takes 'The Mouse Song' from the children's TV show Bagpuss and pulverises it with distorto-bass kicks. John Callaghan...the king of IDM: Intelligent Dunce Music.

Avrocar impress with six frozen modules of suspended guitar and fx-drenched vocals. Discreet wafer-thin layers of pop hooks and urgent drum programming nudge along the opening 'Maiden 39'. Sonically reminiscent of the first early movements of British Techno frozen by blizzard winds.

Dave Aju: Dive And Lie Wrecked (Context) - 12"

The concept here is that Dave Aju has sampled the discarded sounds from other people's live LP's and constructed a smart 6-track EP. Book-ended by experimentalist takes, it's the glitch'n grind of 'Love Evangelist' that'll win you over.

Lali Puna: Micronomic (Morr Music) - CD Single

Never liked this band to be honest. The first track I ever heard was that famous one that Weatherall bigged up. That was alright. But everything else has been utter gash. Like most of the nonsense on this label (Opiate being the exception). Thankfully I've managed to eBay most of it out of my collection.

Capracara: Capracara (Soul Jazz) - 12"

"Superb underground old School style acid house / Techno release from the little known Capracara. Featuring the vocal appearence from the much talked about Nick Glider on 'Flashback 86'. Utterly essential!"

Various Artists: Electro Pop 4 (Mofa Schallplatten) - CD

The problem with electroclash is that its all very palatable whilst it's on. An urgency and thrusting sexiness that engages you for short bursts. But as soon as you switch to something else, you kinda realise how shit it all is. 29 tracks of machine emptiness that contains just one moment of brilliance (The Dance Inc's 'Looking like that'). Rip, Mix, Auction.

One Chip: Brv Nu Wrld (Zora Lanson) - 12"

Lo-fi but inventive mix of straight up house and dub. Hovering somewhere in between headphone space and dancefloor nous, loaded with a quirky charm all its own.

Dsico that No-Talent Hack: City Stirs EP (Magic Postcard) - 12"

Got all excited there for a moment. Nice graphic design on this 12" from new York label Metal Postcard. Nice mix of blue's and white's and the way the title of the EP is in blood red really works. This sort of design surely belongs on some German minimal house.