Squama Germany 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Old school Wisconsin based thrash-inflected death metal mammoths, Jungle Rot, make their Unique Leader debut with, A Call To Arms; the follow up to their crushing 2018 self-titled effort. With seasoned, visceral chops honed throughout the seminal nineties era, the band are an ironic outlier residing on a roster of slamming deathcore acts who all owe retrospective credence. Invoking their moniker and artwork with images of voodoo occultism, the decrepit, Lovecraftian design shrouds the jagged riffage, guttural vocals and claustrophobic percussion in a cosmic, otherworldly atmosphere.

Review: Munich-based classical guitarist and composer Jonathan Bockelmann made his mark in 2023 with his debut album Childish Mind. His journey into composition began with arrangements of pieces by Japanese maestro Ryuichi Sakamoto. These arrangements, which have previously been released digitally in three editions, are now available on vinyl for the first time. The record, presented in premium packaging with an embossed art print, showcases Sakamoto's diverse repertoire. It includes both lesser-known works like Suite for Krug and iconic masterpieces such as Bibo No Aozora. This release beautifully celebrates the timeless artistry of Sakamoto as reimagined through Bockelmann's exquisite guitar interpretations.

Review: Enji's music unobtrusively blends her Mongolian heritage with modern jazz, creating a sound that's both grounded and innovative. Her voice, deeply rooted in Mongolian tradition, effortlessly carries the weight of her cultural history while exploring new sonic territories, perhaps reflecting location of its creation, Barcelona. Collaborating with musicians like Elias Stemeseder and Robert Landfermann, her compositions gain depth and richness, with every track offering intricate arrangements that highlight her vocal prowess and emotional clarity. 'Ulbar' stands out, capturing the quiet beauty of a sunsetiits vivid, fleeting nature reflecting the transient moments Enji often sings about. In 'Much,' there's a sense of bittersweet nostalgia, urging the listener to slow down and appreciate the fleeting nature of time. On 'Ergelt,' Enji explores themes of memory and identity, her lyrics contemplating the distance between past and present with quiet introspection. Her ability to balance both traditional Mongolian folk elements and contemporary jazz creates a sound that's both unique and accessible. Enji's music is a reflection of her own journeyimoving between Mongolia and Germany, tradition and modernity, embracing multiple cultural identities, weaving a rich, textured world of sound that's constantly evolving.

Review: Enji and Popp are Squama label regulars of and here they unite for their debut LP, Nant, under the Poeji alias. It finds them expanding beyond post-dub and downtempo and building on their 2022 EP, 031921 5.24 5.53, which was a limited run of dubplates, to showcase their innovation in the studio. The duo employs minimal initial ideas and relies on non-verbal cues to shape their sound in the studio and Enji's vocals, subtly integrated with reverb and guitar effects, complement Popp's intricate use of wooden and metal percussion perfectly. It's layered with tape echoes and analogue delays so Nant offers great moments of fleeting musical beauty.