Broker / Dealer: Initial Public Offering (Asphodel) - CD
Shit. I have to stop reviewing records so late, this came out in January 2003 for fuck's sake. But such is the brilliance of what Broker / Dealer do, that as we hurtle towards 2007, this still sounds refreshingly zestful. The San Franciscan duo of Ryan Fitzgerald and Ryan Bishop obviously consider Berlin as some sort of mecca, for this is sprightly house with basic channel propulsion.

Just listen to the opening salvo of 'Take your time' and 'Satin Jacket' and tell me it doesn't push all the right buttons in the right order. Lacing their 4/4 with a plethora of spacious fills and decayed chords gives the album a slow vibe. Head-nodding tempo's that allow ideas to drift and swirl, but still remains incredibly detailed. The near perfect ride of 'Can't Believe' being the best example.

Jazzkammer: Panic / Pulse (Bottrop Boy) - CD
Some might start to suspect that this blog is turning into some sort of shrine for all things Marhaug. The Norwegian master of noise here under his Jazzkammer project (with John Hegre). Two releases: both different, both brilliant.

'Panic' is a single 35-minute piece that moves through passages of solemn ambience to rusting guitar shrills. Does the whole "loud-quiet-loud" routine to a tee. Tense as fuck and proved an apt soundtrack to wandering the streets of Soho on dark, wet nights.

'Pulse' which is the earlier release, is less textural but still manages to contain layer upon layer of discreet detail. A isolationist orchestration of ticks that recall dense jungle, insect patterns and night heat. Both releases are stunningly presented with beautiful photography by Yuen Chee Wai.

Marc Houle: Bay of Figs (Minus) - CD
Something tells me I should spend more time with the debut album from Marc Houle, but I'm not entirely convinced by this. On first listens I found it a pretty dull affair, certainly not an album as such. But as my friend Jason put it "I took it as a great set of plates for DJ's, just a bunch of singles." Can't argue with that.

Marclay / Tone / Wolff: Event (Asphodel) - CD
Created specifically for a dance piece choreographed by the New York-based Merce Cunningham Dance Company, this would probably sustain more of an interest within the context of its original intention. But isolated from the visual synchronisation, it's still an intriguing albeit tortuous affair.

Marclay creates narrative with passages of plunderphonics, Wolff tries to interject with real instruments whilst Tone does his usual 'sound-of-a-CD-dying' routine. All three eventually maxing out their assigned channels until we reach the frenetic conclusion. Individually these artists are pretty essential, but I'd really have a tough time recommending this release.

Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto: Insen live (Raster Noton) - DVD
Out of all the projects that the ever prolific Alva Noto (aka Carsten Nicolai) is involved with. It seems his long-term collaboration with legendary Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto is the one that gains the most attention. And rightly so, it takes the micro-sound palette of his Raster Noton label and supplants it within Sakamoto's accessible strain of classicist piano.

Yielding two pretty essential albums of post-digital ambience ('Vrioon' and 'Insen'), this DVD aims to capture their live rendition of the aforementioned works. The widescreen digital backdrop is the main focus. Synchronised to both Sakamoto's chord strikes and Nicolai's frequency manipulation, the results are a joy to watch. But its the visual contrasts that make this recording. Aside from the HD-definition of the generated graphics and the futurist sheen of Nicolai's desk you have Sakamoto's professor-like demeanour, earthy piano and sheet music.

And of course, it's breathtakingly put together. The lavish booklet that accompanies the DVD sharply defines the visual presence of their set. The extra's are involving too: the alternative viewing angles of 3 tracks and an awkwardly delivered interview with the two creators. Who obviously haven't really thought about trying to describe this project with words. But who have a firm idea of musical and visual restriction. Limitations never sounded (or looked) so good.