BORIS A BONO ****
Epoch (Cul:De:Sac)
The work of an enigmatic Cardiff producer, this six-track EP is a stirring venture into abstract, intangible sound-scapes. Flowing chord sequences, jarring electronics and a hypnotic lead vocal make it easy for you to forget who you are for all of 20 minutes and experience the vivid atmospherics of this unworldly music. CPI
BUZZCOCKS ****
Spiral Scratch EP (Domino)
Reissued to toast 40 exact years since it entered history as, by my reckoning, the third ever UK punk single, the four songs on Buzzcocks debut Spiral Scratch are far rawer and snarlier than what followed. This has no reason outside of strained nostalgia to exist, but let’s all hail Time’s Up and Boredom as the prototypical classics they are anyway. NG
E BIAS ****
The Emmanuel Bias (Kick + Clap)
Six brisk, delightful tracks of funky-yet-ghostly oddness inspired by 1980s dancefloors: electro, boogie, house (No Way Back is a quasi-cover of Adonis) and postpunk. It’s supposedly based on unreleased music written by an Italian bloke during that decade, and features Franz Ferdinand’s Paul Thomson, Glaswegian experimentalist Richard Youngs and Turner Prize nominee Luke Fowler. NG
JODIE ABACUS ***
Keep Your Head Down (Household)
Inspired by the refugee crisis and with some countries rolling up the welcome mat, the subject matter is backed by a soulful beat with Abacus’ always standout piano playing. The singer’s heart’s in the right place, but this is less memorable than previous singles – a bit more fire needed. His debut album is still eagerly awaited. RLR
TEAM PICTURE / LAMINATE PET ANIMAL ***
Split 7” (Come Play With Me)
The latest offering from this Leeds singles club features Team Picture and Laminate Pet Animal. TP’s Back To Bay Six is a bouncy little ditty with progressive overtones whereas Eve is LPA’s quieter B-side, more post-trance than punk rock, but both make for interesting listening. LN
ZIG ZAGS ****
Ripping Death (Famous Class)
There’s a thin line between the kind of modern day retro bozo metal that throbs with gay abandon and primal teen adrenaline, and the kind that sounds like a bad joke for people who don’t really like metal. Having played this new two-tracker from LA’s Zig Zags four times on the spin, I’m convinced they’ve nailed that whole NWOBHM/Dictators/Death hybrid, and aren’t another Early Man or whoever. NG