Albums
March: 18 albums you need to hear this month
This month's listening sorted
Marc Houle 'Sinister Mind' (Items & Things)
Canadian producer Marc Houle serves up nine science fiction-infused creations on ‘Sinister Mind’. The opening ‘Don’t Think Of Me’ is tinged with eerie atmospherics thanks to its brooding bass and menacing whispers, while the title track settles into a midtempo techno groove before an otherworldly vocal takes control. ‘Maskatron’ is more villainous, its gurgling bass and alien percussive sounds building pressure before ‘Loafers’ gets trippy. ‘Failure’ is a complete contrast, resetting the mood to slow-motion dark wave. The final third carries the robotic melodies of ‘Bassorrific’ and bleeping synths of ‘Conbular’, but it’s bubbling closer ‘Paligama’ that’s most primed for the dancefloor. Ben Jolley
7/10
