Albums
May: 18 albums you need to hear this month
Little Dragon, Shed, Anthony Parasole and more
The Bug vs Earth 'Concrete Desert' (Ninja Tune)
Inspired by both “urban dystopias” and English writers such as JG Ballard, kinetic producer The Bug and doom-heavy maverick Earth unite for a long-awaited full-length album on Ninja Tune. Titles such as ‘City Of Fallen Angels’ and ‘American Dream’ are clear indications of the LP’s focus on exploring the “fragmented underbelly” of LA, and the songs themselves are no less melancholy with their deep, viscous notes and barely-there sounds. Lead single ‘Snakes vs Rats’ adds stalling beats to echoing guitar licks and sludgy riffs, while the title track is a 14-minute cut of gliding sonics. ‘Concrete Desert’ is a potent blend of cinematic music-for-outsiders and deep, drone-leaning sounds.
7/10
