Co-incident with the release of her second album Street of Dreams about a year ago, Sofia Talvik also released a free downloadable remix album, Street of Dreamix which has a more electronic vibe.

Johan Sigerud remixed So Good To Me, looping brief segments of the song and adding electronic washes. There’s also a heart-tweaking video to accompany it. If you’re a fan of animated fruit please view:

Revisiting Autechre’s appropriately titled Incunabula 14 years after its debut made me realise how generic they sounded back then: firmly in the mould established by Warp’s Artificial Intelligence series, borrowing ideas of sound and melody from Aphex Twin – albeit with a more polished production. Curious as it appears, for them to migrate away from this into their new world of polyrhythms, machine-generated sequences and mathematics, was probably a relief for them and, ultimately, their long-term fans.

But this could have made music that is difficult to love. I think, however, you just need to deal with differently. One way is suggested in their videos, for example Chris Cunningham’s video to Second Bad Vibel but particularly 2002’s Gantz Graf video created by Alex Rutterford. In the case of Gantz Graf, synchronising video so meticulously to the soundtrack such that each sound has a different visual metaphor. Being bombarded by two senses improves the understanding of the music and once this door is opened, the rest of the music from their ‘weird’ period becomes more accessible.

Acroyear2, the opening track of LP5, is less chaotic than what would come later, but holds two pretty and distinctive melodies that hide or reveal themselves amongst the sparking overlapping rhythms. Zone in on these and become accustomed to them, then you’ll discover how the rest of the track works.

LP5 – iTunes UK
LP5 – Bleep.com

I’m not usually a fan of duets, but this one is subtle enough to appeal to me. The video is great, beautifully echoing the undertow of the song. Be sure to check out the saturated reds, the guitar strings and that ball of wool, which isn’t a ball of wool.

Street of Dreams – Official Store
Sofia Talvik – Official Website
Street of Dreams – iTunes UK

Last year’s album In Between continues the meandering of Paul van Dyk’s career which began with Reflections. New York City, despite or because of its gaggle of collaborators, rises above the majority of fairly forgettable tracks.

Vocalist and songwriter Ashley Tomberlin – who partnered Laurence Rapaccioli for the excellent Luminary – is the main attraction on this song. As with their lovely Amsterdam, New York City puts clear distance between the backing track and the vocals, with lyrics that recall memories of a place and time. There’s no climax to the track, nor should there be for a song that aches this much – just occasional crashing waves of sound that mark out the verses and a rhythm that mirrors the inevitability of history and that every second takes the past further away from us.

In Between – iTunes UK
Ashley Tomberlin – MySpace

Terami Hirsch’s albums are little jewels offered in layers of increasingly shiny wrapping paper. That is, you’ll maybe think them merely ‘okay’, perhaps even ‘good’, after the first listen, but become astounded by how different and better they sound each time thereafter. I might have a half-finished metaphor here, but so what. I know how they make me feel.

What You Think I Need is from Terami’s debut album, 1999’s All Girl Band. This song’s closest companions would be the piano-led pieces from Tori Amos’ Scarlet’s Hidden Treasures, which it pre-dates. Like the rest of All Girl Band, it’s an apartment recording, with Terami doing almost all of the work. These factors make it more intimate and rewarding. Visit for the music, but stay for the words.

All Girl Band – CD Baby
Terami Hirsch – Official Website

Release yourself – it’s a big sky
Reveal yourself – it’s a big sky

I missed this one when it appeared last year, or rather I didn’t, but I promptly forgot about it. John O’Callaghan’s first attempt at a solo vocal production, and six months in the making, Big Sky follows the main rule of vocal trance, namely don’t let the backing track overshadow your vocalist. Audrey’s cute and uplifting vocals fit the pad-dominated backing perfectly. Everything else just simmers nicely, with appropriately placed filter sweeps and drops keeping things moving when the vocals are absent.

Big Sky – iTunes UK

Last year’s Forever album continues the Icelandic band’s electronic ecleticism, but as a complete work it’s not nearly as successful as their previous albums.

Moss is lead by chorused filtered keys and well matched with a squelching bassline and basic drum patterns, giving an understated progressive house feel. Together they provide a solid foundation for Daníel Ágúst’s relaxed vocals. Nicely placed key changes are all that’s ultimately required to make the song work.

Forever – iTunes UK
Forever – Amazon UK
Gus Gus – Official Website