Various Artists: min2MAX (Minus) - CD
Difficult for me to write about this, 'cos I find it impossible to get beyond the first track. The high end melodic hook of Hearthrob's 'Baby Kate' has wedged itself into my brain ever since I heard it at a Lost event couple of weeks back. Everything else pretty much cowers in its shadow.

But the lo-slung dub undertones of Gaiser make my speaker cones oscillate in a weird fashion and even the usually average Magda delivers with a sprightly bounce kick of a track. Josh Wink makes his mark with the astonishing 'Have to Get back': granular reductionism stapled to cyclic 4/4. A manifesto for the label if there ever was one.

Hecker: PV Trecks (Mego) - CD
A chance visit to North London's excellent Sound 323 shop yielded this result from the master of monged computer noise. Came out ages ago in 2002, but at the time I couldn't find a copy for love nor money (I'm having similar problems with his latest release, funnily enough).

My learned colleague Anil has already written accurate words about this release. All I'll say is that whilst it doesn't scale the terrifying heights of 'Sun Pandamonium' (and face it, not much does), it's still a vicious statement in its own right.

Maurizio: Maurizio (Maurizio) - CD
As sad as it may seem, I've actually met people who've never heard of Basic Channel. Anyway, whilst this came out in 1997, i haven't been able to open the metal tin it was housed in until last week. And judging by this, either Maurizio was way ahead of his time, or everyone else making stripped down dub techno is utter shite.

Taylor Deupree: Northern (12k) - CD
Visually supplemented by a set of postcards depicting a stark, snow covered forest. But these landscapes aren't bleak; more like familiar, comforting places seen in a different light.

The looped melody of the title track is quite beautiful in its execution, never played straight as each variation is violated by digital interrupts. Continues narratively with subtle shears of noise and drone on 'A dead yellow carpet'. The break in the weather represented by cloud-breaking guitar on 'Shell Shell Bye' is a wondrous moment. Endlessly listenable, considerately played. This is more than you can ask for from any artist.