Previously, I have said that _SNDWRK/gh was the pinnacle of the work done under Halley Labs label... I stand corrected. arc,regn is a direct expansion on the ideas in _SNDWRK, while still remaining novel in its own right. This is greenhouse's second album, one in which he properly comes into his own sound. However, this is also Essex sharpening the bleeding edge of the craft. A stellar record.

Emma Essex's best album to date, _SNDWRK/gh is the culmination of close to three decades of musical refinement. Each track is intelligent and considered - peaceful when needed, and harsh when warranted - dotting the album with comforting landmarks when lost in its aural glitter. Despite these contrasts, it manages to keep things warm, familiar, and inviting; a perfect introduction for a curious newcomer to Essex's world and its musical inhabitants.

One of the most novel records in recent years, Rakshak is the thunderous debut work of Indian folk-metal band Bloodywood. The piercing rhythm of the dhol is a sonic staple, often punctuating the infectious and powerful chords of their guitars, as well as the rap and metal vocals that stand laden in meaning. Bloodywood's Rakshak is best captured by their own words; "The fire and fury of the Third World."

Thoroughly brilliant. Sea of the Dying Dhow is genuinely one of the best post-rock records to ever have been released, drawing from a variety of genres to construct a soundscape that brings you from one end of melancholia to the other.