Despite a number of stand-out releases (The Melvins, Ennio Morricone, Mark Lanegan, Zu, Dalek, Circus Devils, BEAK>, Trevor Dunn) with much of what’s released on Mike Patton’s own Ipecac label, it feels like the story is Patton himself. Between Tomahawk, Peeping Tom, Fantomas and Mondo Cane, plus numerous guest appearances, solo albums, collaborative works and even the latest Faith No More album, Patton has very much made this imprint his home.

Interest in Patton too is likely a little higher than usual too, as having spent years and years growing weirder and crankier (hopping from a Maldoror to a Mit Gas, from a Lovage to a Laborintus II, or even a John Zorn collaboration to the soundtrack of Crank 2: High Voltage), Patton returned to Faith No More for the excellent Sol Invictus LP in 2015. After touring the world yet again with one of the best and most ambitious rock bands of all time, he unleashed the bizarre but beautifully accessible Nevermen album with Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio) and Doseone. This was a rare moment of commercial clarity from one of music’s greatest anti-heroes and where he goes next is always something of interest.

So, despite Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Kaada’s sterling reputation and stunning talents, this LP will likely be approached by most as a Mike Patton LP. And it is and it isn’t. To quote Patton himself on their gorgeous 2005 Kaada/Patton Live concert film: “I think it’s time for a round of applause for the composer, Mr. John Kaada.  It’s his world: we just live in it.” John Erik Kaada’s unique and eclectic work has spanned three decades, ranging from electronic anti-pop to classical, his talents have even even translated themselves into celebrated international filmwork. And while very few people can perform and create like Patton can, Kaada is the star of Bacteria Cult, his arrangements and compositions are wildly original and tremendously atmospheric.

The album is often fantastically visual, even cinematic, 'Red Rainbow' creeps like the theme to a classic Spy feature, 'Black Albino' has the grit and triumph of a Morricone Western score, while the stuttering 'A Burnt Out Case' sounds like a walk in a park, on the edge of hell. That is not to say that the album does not at points veer into dissonance and confusion but Kaada and Patton successfully lead their listeners through the album’s strange terrain.

This follows 2004’s Romances LP, which at the time would have been considered one of Patton’s less eccentric releases. The progression from one album to the other is subtle but substantial, both sound minimal and slight but where Romances sounded like a broken pop record, Bacteria Cult sounds more like classical music eating itself. This is far from a lyrical album, with Patton performing more as an instrument than as a singer.

It’s true that there’s nothing on here quite so moving as 2004’s 'Seule' and those lured back into Patton’s world by the reformed Faith No More, Nevermen or even the latest Tomahawk album may be a little thrown by this less immediately rewarding collaboration - but at eight songs and 33 minutes, Bacteria Cult is a pretty manageable walk on the weird side.

Bacteria Cult is available via Amazon & iTunes.

A self-described amalgamation of afro, heavy, psych and soul, London based trio VŌDŪN are a unique group of musicians bursting through the midst of the repetitive heavy rock scene. Lead by vocalist Oya (AKA Chantal Brown, formerly of Do Me Bad Things), driven by Ogoun’s driving, tribal drums and completed with insanely heavy, trance inducing riffs from Marassa, this band is like nothing you have ever heard before.

Starting off with some context, VŌDŪN is a West African Religion that you may know better as Voodoo. In a recent interview with The Sleeping Shaman, Oya explains the bands interest in this ancient practice as both personal and educational: “the spiritual side of connecting with nature, but with the added aspect of female loas were also very appealing to us. We felt like those traits have much to offer our modern world and its destructive enthralment with capitalist, disposable consumerism.” Each member’s deep connection to Vodun seems to have created a strong musical bond between the three resulting in brilliant, ground breaking songs.

Because of this, Possession doesn't feel like a debut album at all. Tracks like 'Oya' and 'Bloodstones' are so intricately written with Oya’s vocal range used in every possible way. 'Possession' and 'Mawu' are so tight, the ensemble brings such a huge sound it’s almost impossible to believe that there are not more instruments taking part. You get so much from this album, there are even little history lessons in between tracks; they discuss the use of Vodun during the French Revolution and the suffering that the religions followers’ endured if found to be practising.

The amount of talent, time, effort, belief and work that has gone in to this album is obvious from the start. VŌDŪN’s work ethic is intrinsically linked to the subject they immortalise; their ability to be consumed by their experience, indeed, to be possessed by it, allows them to create music that is deep, meaningful and other worldly.

Possession is available via Amazon & iTunes.

There’s no safer way to keep a firm grasp on your creative control than to run the whole show yourself- just ask Guy Grogan, the one-man band penning pop-sensible indie-folk songs. Hailing from Santa Fe, Grogan has produced and self-released 9 albums to date and has been likened to bands and artists such as Dinosaur Jr., Elliot Smith, and The Jesus and Mary Chain. In 2015, Groban also received several songwriting awards granted by organizations such as American Songwriting Awards, Indie International and Song of the Year.

His latest release is Dynamite Bouquet. The 10-track album kicks off with a pair of power-pop guitars strumming alongside stuttering drums on ‘My Own Way Out’. Grogan’s vocals are rough and loose, but anything else would feel out of place on this DIY record that drips rawness from every instrument. ‘Metafixation’ takes on an angsty, somewhat grunge-inspired sound that tensely builds before bursting at the seams with a cranked-to-11 guitar solo and anthemic final chorus. The album takes a breath for air on track three ‘River Like A Cry’, a cruisy pop number that bounces along coolly with a strumming acoustic guitar; as simple as it is, it’s one of the album’s catchiest tracks. ‘A Ghost Too Soon’ opens somewhat ethereally with a quilt of mandolins and droning violins, while ‘Moonbird’ sinks into jazz territory. Final track, ‘What If I Told You’ features nothing more than Groban’s voice accompanied by a ukulele, closing the album on a stripped-back, hauntingly emotional note. 

Dynamite Bouquet is a DIY record done right. While most of the album leans towards indie-rock and power-pop, Groban’s strongest moments are in fact on the mellow songs where he proves most authentic.

First impessions? I don't like the vocals, a statement that "It's like sexual Christian rock, really. But with out all the Christianity" is hardly appealing and that the artist has a guided hypnosis tape amongst his initial works is equally off-putting. Still, I stuck my neck out of my comfort zone in picking this so the least I can do is listen further.

As a result track one, 'Cool As Ice' begins to reach me, musically at least. Given the electronic nature of the work it's hard to tell if there are effects on the vocals or not. Those on third track 'Turn Me On' show an improvement, sounding less affected and the general '80s slant of the whole shebang begins to gell that bit more.

Dinner's Danish and apparently splits his time between LA, Copenhagen and Berlin so from that you'd assume he's already not doing too badly. Unfortunately the same can't be said for those vocals as they return to sounding like he's got a blockage somewhere between his nose and his throat. Guest vocalists would have benefitted this album greatly.

Which is a shame as you'd be hard pressed to find fault with the moody music herein, effortlessly echoing as it does classic Tears For Fears, coldwave bands etc. Good, but needs some work.

Psychic Lovers is available from Amazon & iTunes.