Council Meeting Memo #120 — Five for Friday

Various Artists: Alt Dub Artist Series 2 (Alt Dub)
More skewed variants on dub techno from most excellent Cornish imprint Alt Dub. Everything here has merit but its the sub-bass sleng teng undertow of ‘Conversions’ by Beppu that holds the most value. (SA 🇵🇸)

Saapato: Decomposition: Fox on a Highway (Constellation Tatsu, Cassette)
Overwhelmingly beautiful, this is a ‘hushed, slow-burning ambient album where field recordings and soft synths trace the fox’s decay as a gentle, transformative cycle rather than something grim.’ With collaborations from the likes of ambient heavyweights KMRU, Laaraji and James Bernard amongst others. This totally gripped me on its initial intro and has continued to enthral since. (SA 🇵🇸)

Michael Grigoni, Pan American: New World, Lonely Ride (Kranky, Album)
Discovered this via my DJ partner DJ PJRJR….‘Hushed, wordless drift of ambient Americana where pedal steel and dobro trace out a quietly devastated landscape, equal parts comfort and desolation. Grigoni and Pan American lean into slow, song-shaped instrumentals that feel like dusk drives through a frayed America: gorgeous, unhurried, and often almost inconsolably sad.’ (SA 🇵🇸)

Giovanni Di Domenico & Alex Zethson: Edge Runner — Noema (Defkaz, Album)
’A dense, dual-piano set where Di Domenico’s side smoulders with dark, granular weight while Zethson answers with cooler, spacious improvisations. Demanding but refined.’ (SA 🇵🇸)

Zimoun: Harmonium I-VI (Room40, Album)
Neatly aligned with the work of the dearly departed CC Hennix. ‘This stretches a single antique harmonium into six slow, hovering studies in texture and breath. The pieces feel like a quietly pulsing sound sculpture: minimal, micro-detailed and patient, inviting you to lean in rather than pushing anything forward.’ (SA 🇵🇸)