Kirk Barley: Lux Life
On his latest album, Yorkshire’s Kirk Barley finds the perfect balance between avant-garde pointillism and meditative flow
Xeno & Oaklander: In A Different League
NY synthpop duo Xeno & Oaklander are back with their ninth album, and it’s a real corker – all retro-futuristic earworms, analogue anthems and an intriguingly murky backstory
Ishmael Ensemble: Colours Fly
Bristol collective Ishmael Ensemble are evolving at a rate of knots. Their expansive new album sees them pushing boundaries like never before, exploring not only contemporary jazz and clubby electronics but also dub, psych and experimental sounds. Thrilling stuff it is too
DMX Krew: Electric Eclectic
Whether he’s making classic electro-funk, arch synthpop, curious techno or raw dancehall beats, DMX Krew’s Ed Upton keeps emotional content at the forefront of his multi-hued machine soul
Maya Shenfeld: Shine On
Embracing modular synths, acoustic instrumentation and superb depth of expression, composer Maya Shenfeld’s sumptuous arrangements make for a hugely compelling listening experience
Universal Harmonies & Frequencies: Making Waves
As Universal Harmonies & Frequencies, Hieroglyphic Being and Jerzy Maczyn´ski have delivered a soul-enriching electro-jazz record – a celestial fusion of synth, sax and mystical futurism
Pierre Bastien
On ‘Baba Soirée’, his new collaborative album with Michel Banabila, mechanical instrument maestro Pierre Bastien revels in unusual ways to manipulate the sound of his cornet. His influences are a steady diet of artistic rule-breakers… and tiny circuses
Maria Uzor: Deep Cuts
Eclectic and esoteric, pinging from Aphex-esque techno to Zapp-style funk, the debut solo record from former Sink Ya Teeth vocalist Maria Uzor is an irrepressible statement of intent
Loula Yorke: Good Vibrations
With her improvised, hardware-only sonic collages, composer and modular specialist Loula Yorke has become a live performer of high repute
Andrew Ostler: Drone Ranger
The founder of music tech company Expert Sleepers, Edinburgh’s Andrew Ostler also employs modular synths in his deeply immersive ambient/drone soundscapes