Bleep

First released in 2004, Loscil’s influential third LP First Narrows gets a repressing for a new generation of loop enthusiasts. Having garnered quite the fanbase over the course of a dozen-odd LPs and numerous EPs, soundtracks and collaborations (with bvdub and Fieldhead among others), this record is particularly important in the Loscil canon in being the first to bring other musicians into the fold. The human touch of live keys, guitar and cello imbue each instrumental with a wonderful nuance. Each track here is a slow-burner, with micro-beats and flickering modulars wriggling around the deft instrumental work over the course of several minutes. The cuts are plaintive - there are no great post-rock soundscapes here - but the lightness of touch and tacit encouragement of the listener to get right up close to the speaker is what makes First Narrows such a joy.