JPLS: Twilight (M_nus) - CD

Still not convinced that this brand of house works on the album format and M_Nus seems to be the label intent on proving my point. After the recent long player from Marc Houle (which I'd rather call a solid selection of DJ-friendly rhythm tracks) we have the debut of JPLS.

Clipped, precise rhythms are pushed to the fore, whilst sleight-of-hand melodies and binary basslines hover in the background. Compelling enough at the start, especially with the opening appeal of 'Twilight 1'. But the restrictive palette quickly wore me down. It's also way too long, with the running time nearly hitting an hour. Amusingly enough, two of the best tracks are remixes by Skoozbot. Which flips the script and favours lively synth workouts over the functional dance.

Infinite Livez: Bush Meat (Big Dada) - CD

The recent collaboration with Stade ('Art Brut Fe De Yoot') did not impress, so I decided to revisit his earlier effort. Released back in 2004 on Ninja Tune's Big Dada offshoot, this was one weird hip-hop album. Surrealism doesn't even begin to describe the headspace. From songs about sore nipples ('The Adventures of the Lactacting Man') to filthy sex-rhymes ('White Wee Wee'). The 'comedy' aspect can start to grate after a while, but superior pop moments like 'Pononee Girl' and 'Last Night' win you back.

Haswell & Hecker: Blackest ever Black (Warner Classics) - CD

The reactions I got from the staff of Soho's Soul Jazz as I put their ears through the jittery speed cycle of 'Movement 2' ranged from bafflement to instant dismissal. OK, so this is computer music at its most extreme. But the idea that an organisation like Warner Classics could decide to release something like this. Well, comments like "someone is getting back-handers somewhere" start flying around.

But quite rightly, Warner Classics refers to this as contemporary classical music. There's theory and intent and process at work, none of which i'll explain here (Curtis Roads' sleeve notes do an excellent job instead). And those familiar with the works of both Hecker and Haswell will continue to be rewarded.

Ultimately, this satisfies one aspect of what I seek in new music: to contain sounds that I've never heard before. Shame about the cover art though.