There's more pop (arguably) than usual in tonight's Utility Fog, and more ambient (loosely) tonight as well. There's 4/4 dub of various sorts, processed field recordings and a surprising number of cellists doing unusual things.

LISTEN AGAIN and be inspired. Stream on demand via FBi, podcast from here.

Lucidvox - Don't Look Away [Glitterbeat/Bandcamp]

Starting tonight with something heavy and melodic that reminds me of early '90s 4AD - Lush perhaps? Lucidvox are a Russian quartet, all women, who were originally based in Moscow but left for various parts of Europe and the Middle East when Russia invaded Ukraine. I get the impression that there's a lot of stylistic diversity across this album, so I look forward to hearing the rest - but the dense riffs, effects and vocals both sweet and harsh here are just the ticket.

Peter Gabriel - Love Can Heal (Bright-Side Mix) [Real World Records/Bandcamp]

I'm surprised that it's been quite a long time since I played Peter Gabriel, a hugely inventive musician through 5 decades and many twists and turns. His new album i/o is coming out sometime this year, and he's setup a subscription on Bandcamp, where he's releasing every track from the album (and some bonuses) throughout the year. Each song is released with two different mixes (as well as some kind of 3D sound which I can't make work): The "Bright-Side" mixes are by Mark "Spike" Stent, and the "Dark-Side" ones by Tchad Blake, both weapons-grade producers/sound engineers, and it's been fascinating hearing the differences in their takes - sometimes subtle, sometimes dramatic. There have been some of his trademark upbeat funk-pop numbers, plenty of "world music" influence and use of technology - although you can forgive a 73-year-old for not being quite at the vanguard of musical and technological invention. But he's a wonderful songwriter still, as this pensive song ably demonstrates.

JOBS - Ask New York [Ramp Local/Bandcamp]

Here's some more experimental pop from a bunch of experimental musicians including renowned jazz/improv violist Jessica Pavone, along with bassist Ro Lundberg, guitarist Dave Scanlon, and drummer Max Jaffe. Jaffe recorded & mixed the album but all contribute some keyboards, and all sing. Their music can be deceptively straightforward postpunk pop, but there are a lot of electronic elements (Jaffe plays a custom hybrid drumkit), and Pavone's viola is a significant force throughout.

Loraine James - I DM U [Hyperdub/Bandcamp]

Hard to believe that this is only Loraine James' third album for Hyperdub - but there was the Whatever The Weather for Ghostly International, and the Julius Eastman reworks for Phantom Limb. James has always had so-called IDM in the mix among other things, so the title "I DM U" is particularly cute - but it turns out that this one's driven by some beautifully cut-up acoustic drums. Absolute pleasure.

Harry Klein - Who Floats Above [Harry Klein Bandcamp]

Eora/Sydney artist Harry Klein takes a left turn from the soulful electronic pop of his previous album with new single What Floats Above. Here it's instrumental electronica, by turns dreamy & melodic, and heavy and glitchy on the beats.

Sumn Conduit - What Energy [New Weird Australia/Bandcamp]

Sumn Conduit - A, B or C [New Weird Australia/Bandcamp]

We've been talking a lot about FBi Radio's 20th birthday, and Stu Buchanan is someone who was very important in its history in various capacities. One of those was co-presenting New Weird Australia for some years, and this Scottish immigrant's service to Australia's experimental music community has continued in the form of the record label of the same name (among other things! Stu is a busy man!) This week we got two new albums released on the digitals, both Pay What You Can (if you do pay, the proceeds go to the artists). First up is Sumn Conduit, the duo of Dharawal/Inuk vocalist Sonya Holowell and Ben Carey, whose solo modular synth work we heard earlier this year. Valve Is Released is the duo's first studio album, after some live documents, and it's audibly more structued (as well as being divided into separate tracks). Once again Carey's modular synth work is breathtaking - controlled, yet constantly in motion - and whether the electronics are harmonious or dissonant, Holowell finds ways of inserting melody. Really, don't let this one pass you by.

salllvage - O'Drone Park [New Weird Australia/Bandcamp]

New Weird Australia's other release this week is equally stunning. salllvage is Kombumerri man Rowan Savage, currently living on Wangal Land, who works with processed field recordings made on-Country in Kombumerri country and Gadigal country. He does an amazing job of keeping enough of the source sounds' nature while transforming them into melodic and rhythmic material for his post-club and ambient musical works.

This Friday at the Art Gallery of NSW the Volume Festival event showcases First Nations artists from around the world, including Joe Rainey. Sonya Holowell will perform both solo and as part of Sumn Conduit, and salllvage's sounds will loop throughout the night. Maybe I'll see you there?

Gentleforce - Plant Commune Dub [Oxtail Recordings]

Eli Murray has been making ambient techno as Gentleforce since at least 2010, but before that he was organising dubstep and drum'n'bass events around Sydney's Northen Beaches. He's also known to many as the composer of the music for Kinderling's meditation series for kids called Bedtime Explorers. Fucken cute! His new short album Life Anthems, out through the ever-reliable Oxtail Recordings, is made up of ambient tracks with gentle techno beats and field recordings, all made while on the go with family & friends. Gentleforce draws here from children's open & unmediated way of being in the world, making music intended to be a healing force. Come commune with the plants.

unpropped - Inner [unpropped Bandcamp]

Spanish musician Germán Sánchez spent time in a variety of places before settling, for the time being, in Germany. While he spent time studying electronic music in France, the music on his new EP Acausality seems a perfect fit for his current home, where glitchy dub techno is a native form - although that said, he's also spent time in Mexico, home of Murcof. The 5 tracks on Acausality, mastered by Stefan Betke aka Pole, have lovely clicky 4/4 beats, dub effects, and lovely pads, all put together with a lot of care.

The Bug - Possessed(The Light of Shaka) [<a href="https: