It’s ironic that Bibio (aka Stephen Wilkinson) first came to the attention of the Mush label via the recommendation of Boards of Canada’s Marcus Eoin, his wonderful 2004 debut ‘Fi’ and this excellent new album manage to work in all the places BOC’s recent ‘Campfire Headphase’ album failed. Taking much the same formula that characterised his debut, Bibio’s music places its focus on those de-tuned interludes and aged educational television soundtracks that have peppered all 3 Boards albums – turning transition pieces and oddities into the focal point of the record. There is a beautifully timeless charm to the dusty guitar lullabies that make up the majority of ‘Hand Cranked’, at times displaced and augmented by found sounds, old cassette recordings, quiet dictaphone loops and even the odd vocal interjection from Wilkinson himself, never failing to evoke a hazy spool of half-formed memories and misplaced nostalgia that were the trademark of those first tantalising moments from Bibio’s artistic Patrons up in Edinburgh. It might be difficult for Wilkinson to stick to this formula for any follow-up material without starting to lose the attention of his audience, though for now ‘Hand Cranked’ serves its purpose wonderfully as an evocative, lilting collection of subliminally life-affirming music for lost souls and emotional vagabonds searching for the haziest musical recollections of childhood. Beautiful music.

Bright Channel has been described as inspiring and revelatory, dark and elegant, shimmering and roaring. One thing is for certain, Bright Channel's music defies categorization. This is a rock band with a wide variety of musical influences and a clear vision for the future. Since forming in June of 2002, this 3-piece has steadily grown a loyal fan base on the strength of their live appearances. Their signature sound consists largely of swirling, melodic guitars lapping against a wall of pounding rhythms. Encompassing the best of shoegazer, post-punk, indie rock, no-wave, brit pop and space rock, Bright Channel is forging ahead with a new sound that is highly stylized and unique.

I dig the Bibio it sounds a lot like I expected to.

I forsook the Zutons a long time ago. something about them doesn't click right with me.

Dig the Zutons single and really like Hemstad a lot. Is most of the album like this?

The new Bibio doesn't compare to his debut IMO. It's very samey, and some of the songs run too long, while debut was a collection of distorted interludes.

Feelin' the new Zutons as well. Lookin' forward to their new album.