MagazineReviewsSingles(Page 30)

Single Review: Squarepusher Reignites His Iconic Style In ‘Nervelevers’ Hypersonic Bliss

Squarepusher | Nervelevers (single) | WARP Release Date: 8 January, 2020 English musician Tom Jenkinson – known, most notably as Squarepusher – hardly needs an introduction; and with the upcoming release of his first album in five years –  the iconic producer has fans reeling with anticipation when it comes

Single Review: Jon Hopkins & Kelly Lee Owens Collaboration On ‘Luminous Spaces’ Glimmers In A Heartwarming Starlight

Jon Hopkins & Kelly Lee Owens | Luminous Spaces (single) | Domino Recording Co. Release Date: 5 December, 2019 Jon Hopkins is perhaps known as one of the music industry’s most recognisable producers when it comes to left-field electronic music; and with the English musician’s extensive library of work, one

Single Review: Grimes’ Esoteric Cyberpunk Dance In 4ÆM

Grimes | 4ÆM (single) | Miss Anthropocene | 4AD Release Date: 19 December, 2019 A celestial, obscure darkness has always sculpted the radiant aesthetic of cyber pop-songstress Grimes; her extraterrestrial sound boasting a luminous dive into science-fiction and fantasy. The artist’s unique conceptual approach is best described as ‘ethereal’ –

[PREMIERE & INTERVIEW] MANICS – Make Out Room

MANICS (Jordan Deherrera and Chris Sanders) from San Francisco, are known for their live performances, a medley of indie-pop vocals, bass & synth work, percussion and modulation (accompanied by matching lights and visuals). Since its inception in 2012, the project has developed into a dynamic performance of technology and raw

Electronica Melts into Cinematic Bliss on Lomea’s new song ‘You Are Your Memories’

Lomea (pronounced “Low-maya”) has shared ‘You Are Your Memories’, the first single off of his upcoming album Echoes in Bloom. The album will be Lomea’s second album coming via Here and Now Recordings, a label with a keen interest in experimental cinematic sounds. Lomea is the experimental electronic project of

[PREMIERE & INTERVIEW] Oscuro – Take Me Down

Interview by Arnold van der Walt Already being compared to the likes of Bonobo and Caribou, Oscuro has been making waves with his richly textured soundscapes. Today, he brings us the deep ‘Take Me Down’, exclusively on The Playground. Oscuro was formed in 2014 after he won a contest on

Premiere: XamVolo’s ‘Down’ remix by MTRNICA brings experimental style to soulful original

Today we’re excited to present a stunning remix of XamVolo‘s ‘Down’ by MTRNICA, which takes the soulful original and brings an eclectic edge, bringing the resulting track to a much darker place. Keeping it simultaneously true to XamVolo’s style while making it entirely his own, MTRNICA draws on the emotional

REVIEW: Nicolas Jaar – The three sides of Audrey / No one is looking at U

It seems like an awfully long time ago that Messrs. Pseudo and Nym came across Nicolas Jaar in a curious speakeasy on Paris’s Left Bank. But ever since first hearing ‘The Ego’, they have followed him with interest. By that time ‘Mi Mujur’ had begun its shuffle around Europe. Soon

TRACK OF THE DAY: Wise Blood – Big Data

Wise Blood released Babyland via Hopesick Cola a few weeks back; an EP which has cemented Chris Laufman’s status as some kind of obscure-pop oracle.  A disjointed fairground ride of sounds, Babyland lunges you sharply around corners without warning and it does so deliberately.  Speaking about his release, the Pittsburg musician wrote: “Over the past year I have taken time to

REVIEW: Roots Manuva – Facety 2:11

Roots Manuva, one the UK’s hip hop kingpins, has emerged from the studio after two years of writing and recording to release ‘Facety 2:11’, a brand new single produced by Four Tet.   South London born, 45 Year old Rodney Smith is the son of a preacher, man. Still putting music out on

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