Daniel Wang
Look Ma, No Drum Machine!

Are there two more consistently - and rightfully - fawned over names in electronic music than John Peel and Aphex Twin? A coming together of two giants is always going to be worth hearing and so this second Peel Session recording proves. One of only two radio broadcasts Richard D. James recorded as part of a special set of radio themed vinyl releases from Warp, it's hypnagogic electronic pop meets ambient techno on this instalment with the trademark timbre and tonality of James lighting up each and every track in ways that are somehow both heavenly yet of high physical impact.

When it comes to interesting, inventive, off-kilter sounds, few labels can claim quite a strong a discography as Andrea Zarza and Matthew Kent's Mana imprint. Should you require further proof, we'd recommend checking out this superb debut album from hotly tipped "mystery artist" Pretty Sneaky. Like the shadowy producer/producer's previous, self-released work, the album offers up a take on dub techno that's loose, melodious and undeniably more fluid than most records in the style, with clear nods towards the likes of Pole, Burnt Friedman and spaced-put ambient dub. The rhythms are often thrillingly off-kilter, too, while the artist's extensive use of atmospheric field recordings makes each of the 15-minute tracks a calming, mood-enhancing event. Recommended.