Plutonic Rainbows

This album dates all the way back to 1984. Despite that, I've only just got around to listening to it. It's a pleasant enough collection of strings and jazz that caused quite a stir back in the day. During the early 1980s, this would have appeared in many stores under the New Age banner. I remember seeing it mentioned in many magazines of the day as an essential album for relaxation and so forth. In many way, it really was a different world back then.

It also became a staple for the Japanese fashion house, Comme des Garçons - who used various works by the artist for their runway shows. Séigén Ono went on to compose albums of music specifically for the shows.

In truth, this album falls in with the Windham Hill collection and sounds a lot like George Winston and other artists of that era. Gentle piano appears on 'Manhattan' and although not typical of the album as a whole, it's a pleasant piece.

These days, albums like Seigén are largely forgotten but often find a new if somewhat strange after-life in the Vaporwave genre.

Seigén is available on Audio CD as a Japanese Import.

Aaron Dilloway is an artist still very new to me. He is also someone who has seemingly no understanding of, or interest in, the supposed limits of experimental music.

The Gag File his first new album since Modern Jester in 2012 is an abstract, visceral selection of experimental electronics and vocal manipulations that make for uneasy listening.

I don't really know what to make of The Gag File but absolutely nothing on this record is typical or expected.

You can pick up the vinyl from Bleep and digital editions are available from the artist's Bandcamp page.

Brand new three-track EP from Lone sees him continue to develop his own style. Crush Mood takes its cues from 90s rave while From A Past Life traverses darker terrain in a more satisfying way than elsewhere on this release.

You can order the new EP from most specialist retailers including Bleep & Bandcamp.

Bleep Records:

His first music since the release of his 7th album, Bibio hooks up with collaborator, Olivier St. Louis (Olivier Daysoul) for an EP brim filled with discoed delights and funky flecked rhythms. The title is tongue in cheek of sorts, with the lyrical content covering confused loves, blurred lines, unnecessary stresses and lonely nights. Serious only in the feat of love. The terrifically groovy guitar playing is the highlight of ‘Why So Serious’ though it is almost equally matched by St. Louis’ excellent vocal delivery, which glides from a pained whisper to a wailing chanteuse in seconds.

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