How To Have Fun is the second release from Lea  Cummings( Kylie Minoise, Official Music Team, etc), lo-fi/ outsider folk project King Futile.  It takes in another eight tracks, and really, it sees him pushing even further the tongue-in-cheek/ glum/ sarcastic lyrical edge.

Devil Times Five is an early 70’s mix of killer kid thriller and slasher. It starts fairly campy/ soapy, before slowly but surely getting more mean-spirited/bleak, before diving into a truly nihilistic resolve. It features a decent selection of both victims and killers,  a snowy setting, and one or two fairly impressive low-fi gore effects. Here from 88 Films, as part of their Slasher Classic Collection, is a Blu-ray release of the film. It takes in both new and archive extras, including a brand new commentary track from slasher-loving podcast  The Hysteria Continues.

Well, just as I hadn’t properly heard Sun Ra before reviewing Sun Ra, I’m probably one of the few people who listen to power electronics who’ve never concentratedly listened to Sutcliffe Jugend, Slaves No More being the project that Kevin Tomkins and Paul Taylor initiated after they ended the legendary Sutcliffe Jugend. So I come to this with fresh ears, and there won’t be any comparison of the two projects, for better or worse. House Of Dolls is a two disc album, released by 4iB Records, and packaged in a card wallet covered in images and collages that clearly connect with power electronics aesthetics formally, but are slightly more cryptic and obscure than your usual black and white xerox affair. There are ten tracks, the longest being nearly half an hour long and the shortest nearly nine minutes in length. Each are titled ‘Scene I’, ‘Scene II’, and so forth.

Back in 2000, Martyn Ware (Heaven 17, B.E.F. and The Human League) and Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yazoo and Erasure) formed Illustrious Company. Their MO (to paraphrase their own words) was to create new types of spatialised sound compositions using three-dimensional surround-sound systems. Collaborating with a host of digital and fine artists, world heritage sites, museums, exhibitions, live events, dance, theatre, technology, developers, researchers and educators. Up to now, they have created more than sixty sound projects that have been played, exhibited and heard across the world. It’s Always Ourselves We Find in the Sea is one such project.

Here from the fine folks at Cherry Red’s Doctor Bird is another collection of tracks produced by legendary/ innovative reggae producer Lee’ Scratch’ Perry. Black Man’s Time- The Jamaican Upsetter Singles 1972- Chapter 1 is a two-CD set, and as it’s sub-title suggests, all the tracks date from the year 1972.  The release takes in forty-nine tracks, and as we’ve come to expect from these Doctor Bird compilations, we get a good/ varied selection of material, with some true gems.

Bøyning, Brytning ( Bending, Breaking) is a very fitting title for this new album from  Norwegian guitarist Ivar Grydeland. As the tracks often feel as if they are being steadily pushed, pulled, and at times twisted out into unpredictable/alien shapes.