Welcome back to In Strict Tempo, returning after a short break. I’ve spent the past couple of weeks in the South of France taking a much-needed break, eating far too much bread, and drinking far too many of them small bottles of Kronenbourg they love over there. One thing I didn’t do much of on holiday was listen to music, so since I’ve been back I’ve been going through my inbox every day listening to everything I missed. I don’t know if it’s just me but dub techno seems to be having a ‘bit of a moment’ right now? It’s everywhere - or at least it feels like that to me. As a result this newsletter is going to focus mainly on that, there’s plenty of good low end heavy soundsystem records to get through, but fear not, I’ve reviewed a couple of lighter records at the end that are well worth your attention too.
Carrier - Thresholds [Carrier]
Over the past few years Guy Brewer’s Carrier project has been responsible for some of the most interesting, immediate and downright atmospheric music I’ve ever heard. That’s a big call, but such is the depth of this work it’s fully justified. Thresholds kicks off with with a funereal toll before heading into BEB-esque broken drum patterns to create something completely overbearing. Remember that video of Tyson walking out to noise? In 2026 he’d walk out to this.
VA - American Dub Electronics [Kino Disk]
It felt like everyone was going wild for this a couple of weeks ago, and you know what? They were right to. One of those rare compilations that captures a scene in a moment in time, a document of where US experimental dance music is in 2026 it’s as good as you’d hear from anyone, at any point in history. What I like about this comp is that it goes further than just straight up dub techno there’s a lot of stuff on here that’s a bit more leftfield and out-there which is great to hear.
Ghost Dubs - Low Times [PRESSURE]
There’s definitely a dub theme to this weeks newsletter, as Ghost Dubs returns with a new EP of heavyweight space bass. Regular collaborator The Bug drops by with a couple of versions too.
Miles - Vault [Short Span]
When it comes to people in the UK experimental underground there are few names as deeply embedded as that of Miles Whittaker. Part of Demdike Stare, Pendle Coven, Suum Cique plus the man behind the DDS label he’s been shaping scenes for long before many of us even knew. This was pretty much the only thing I listened to on my holiday, and some of the tracks go back 30-odd years to his earliest experiments with a Korg X3. Definitely an AOTY contender for me, this, especially as it’s out on the peerless Short Span
Loidis - Towlift [Incienso]
New Loidis is always something to get excited about - I’ve waxed lyric enough times about A Parade In The Place… in the past, and I enjoyed One Day when it dropped a couple of years back and still go back to both regularly. Anyway, check this, it’s sick.
YL Hooi - Running Around 83 [Efficient Space]
Sticking with that dubbed out theme of this weeks newsletter this new one from YL Hooi fits right in, and just when you think it couldn’t get any heavier, there’s only a Mad Professor remix out there too…
Hallucinator - Landlocked [Numbers]
Originally released on Chain Reaction back in 1999 this dub techno holy grail has made it onto vinyl courtesy of the Numbers gang. You wouldn’t know it from first listen, but Hallucinator were a trio based in London, but were seemingly absolutely locked in to the sounds coming out of Berlin & Cologne, whilst firmly rooting the album in black British culture in the tradition of proper soundsystem records. The record is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Lawrence, who’s murder in 1993 still remained unsolved at the time.
Blawan - Gi Mi Keys Back [XL]
I always make a point of checking new Blawan when it surfaces but I’m not so sure about this. Sounds like he’s aiming for ‘Why They Hide Their Bodies’ Mk2 with the vocal on this, but it doesn’t land as well.
Regis - In Plain Sight/Backwards Man EP [Downwards]
Boomkat described these as hypnotic meat motors, and whilst I wouldn’t go that far these three/four (depending on if you buy the vinyl or not) new and renewed Regis jams are exactly the kind of butcher shop tackle you’d expect from the Downwards man.
Andy Stott - Something in Mind [Modern Love]
A new one from Andy Stott here with Elaine Howley providing vocals. Really like this, it’s channelling Broadcast so I can’t wait to hear the rest of it.
The Cat’s Miaow - When You Smiled And Turned Away/Journey’s End [Slumberland]
New, essential and utterly joyous pair of singles from Aussie indie pop auters the Cat’s Miaow in advance of their first ‘proper’ debut album. First new tunes in absolutely ages and it’s like they’ve never been away.
Lluch - La Proyección [Hegoa]
Sparse solo guitar works here from Spanish artist Lluch. A debut album of sorts, these recordings span the best part of a decade and show an artist progressing whilst retaining a sense of exploration and faith in imperfection. Not everything needs to be polished and mastered within an inch of it’s life - let’s just enjoy music for what it is, right?
