Mac DeMarco
2

Oregon sextet Elite Beat continue their dubwise world-groove mission with a two track 12”of what sounds like organic, in the moment live takes with an intro count to boot. Layers of psychedelic sax and drums ebb and flow alongside heavy low end, building on their compilation of ‘healing and hypnosis’ inspired jams Selected Rhythms Vol. 2. Despite being based across the ocean, big Jah Shaka dance vibrations occupy the A-side with a steady house tempo combining with the woodwind across ten minutes of proper body music.The slower, introspective approach to side B takes in elements of post-rock with flourishes of electric guitar yet grounds itself in the dub mentality through pulsing sub-bass and swirling synth work. The wide-reaching bed of influences present in Portland’s bands, shops and labels shows itself time again in Elite Beat’s work, evident through recent collaborations with Mdou Moctar and past outings here at Research.

‘The Beginning & End Of Cereal Killer” is the band’s first full length album to date and also their last release since 2016’s, “Demo’s EP”. The album was recorded over six weeks of tracking in the famous Geelong studios, “The Barracks”, before calling upon mastermind Mikey Young to sail his yacht across the bay and put his much practised mixing techniques into full effect. The result is mind-blowing.Cereal Killer gained worldwide success in 2016 after their headline performances at Glastonbury and Coachella festivals where they blew away hundred’s of thousands of adorning fans and reached international stardom.The band have not performed since 2018’s Old Bar show on August 17, in which a predicted 7,000 screaming fans crammed into the building. However, rumours of an album launch on August the 3rd this year are emerging, and tickets are predicted to sell out within the first hour of sale.

Lacklustre Records: ...Brisbane's Make More are without a doubt the finest indie pop band this side of the equator. Refreshing, clear and pure guitar pop. There is a familiar warmth behind each track, so much so that by the end of the full length LP you're listening to, it'll be like walking out from your favourite sauna.

EM Records: ...These recordings pull back a curtain to reveal the mysterious world of Syntoma and early-80s underground Mexico. Founded by Alex Eisenring in 1980, making use of synths and drum machines and driven by a freedom-seeking DIY ethos but informed by a "rock-jazz-prog-experimental" background. These 70s-born influences throw crazed funhouse mirror reflections onto later Kraftwerk, UK synth-pop, post-punk and pure pop forms. The first five tracks are instrumental, evidencing some intelligent melodic and harmonic conceptions; the same can be said for the remaining female/male vocal tracks, but the sense of otherness is boosted as the vocal stylings combine a definite UK 80s feel with an unplaceable geo-temporal essence, spanning decades and continents. Primarily a trio during the period of these recordings, 1981-84, Syntoma transcends the era and stands apart from their peers with a surprising melodic sense, harmonic adventurousness, interesting arrangements and, above all, an atmosphere of freshness and enthusiasm. Available on CD and 12" vinyl with liner notes and lyrics.

Edition of 500 copies with a hand-numbered fold-over sleeve.Recorded in Nashville, USA 2012.The lacquer cutting engineer is identified by the run-out etchings.