Raycevick Recommends: June 2019 (Music Time!)

Yes, it's been too long, so today's Recommendations will be followed up with Randomly Mine tomorrow. Though this time you won't find books or film, because there's just been too much material making the most of my speakers.

Monolith by Comaduster

While Comaduster's still hard at work on his latest Anthology album, meant to contrast his concept album Solace, this latest single with an accompanying track Pyramids has me coming back for more. His previous single, Fever Rift might've been an interesting experiment but one I was honestly not too keen on. Monolith puts that track into perspective though as it has many of the characteristics while being more accessible and appealing with a compelling beat that once again, is perfect material for trailers without falling into the cliches expected from J2.

It's an electronic escape, and the two ambient tracks, Pyramids and the previous accompanying track A Somnolent Descent are excellently eerie.

Fear in a Handful of Dust by Amon Tobin

There's a name Splinter Cell fans will recognize. Amon Tobin, while desperately in need of more OSTs, is comfortably doing what he's always done, produce superb ambient albums with unconventional sounds that immediately captivate. Now I'm quite familiar with Amon's work despite not knowing for decades on Top Gear, must've been due to the BBC's music-library. But that familiarity is with specific tracks rather than albums, as often they have experimental songs which feel too slow or underwhelming for my liking.

That is not at all a problem on this album.

It's just short of Chaos Theory's intensity, with effects that make you feel less like Sam Fisher sneaking, and more trapped in a rattling cage over an unknown world, only to break the lock and explore. It's overwhelming, eerie, and beautiful, an experience to listen to beginning to end. One of the biggest surprises this year and I think Amon's best to date.

No Geography by The Chemical Brothers

Chem Bros. fan that I am, I couldn't help but put pressure on their latest album, especially after hitting an absolute home run with Born in the Echoes, the album which reminded people this duo never left, they simply went in a direction less suitable for festivals before taking what they learned to create some absolute bangers, and they've committed to this styling even more here. 

Where Born in the Echoes indulged in a variety of songs with ever-changing beats and patterns, No Geography is like a winding road. Eve of Destruction leads into Bango so effortlessly I was convinced it was one-song, but that's not to say its all rave tunes. There are more ethereal songs like the title track and closer to contrast MAH's synths that are probably twice as hot with LSD.

Is it as good as Born in the Echoes? Probably not, songs which support the heavy hitters aren't quite as engaging as before, but it's an album I've already revisited, and plan to play more in the future. I definitely do not relate to those who think Chem Bros. is dead. For me, I only took a break, meanwhile they've always continued to iterate and innovate to the best of their ability.

P.S. Oh! And there's a new Rammstein album out, so you should probably give that a listen.