HERB004 Engine7 - Tempertantrum (11.36am)

Release Date - 28th April 2008 "Glaswegian producer Engine7 works with a hybrid of IDM and techno influences only to combine them with a more aggressive, rock-oriented sound, resulting in the crisp, accelerated beats of 'Tempertantrum' and the more tranquil strains of 'Sunrise Catalonia' whose semi-yodelled vocal fits in nicely with the post-rock chord changes and the slightly new age feel to the production." Boomkat

HERB001CD Rubens - Carnivalesque
CD

Release Date - 8th October 2007

"Carnivalesque echoes with early Warp-era electronica a la Black Dog, Autechre or B12, sprinkled with essence of mid-seventies Kraftwerk, Cluster and Tangerine Dream, the lot blended into voluptuous swathes of synthetic waves and unashamedly upbeat and modern electronica. Right from the opening moments, the pair set the tone with crystalline acoustic guitars layered over crisp electronics on Vertical Hold, and swirling melodies on the uplifting Breaking Into Smile. Within the first ten minutes, Rubens deploy an impressive armada of sounds and moods, wrapped up in disarmingly simple and confident pieces, that it is a wonder how they could sustain the pace for long and continue to deliver. Yet, they do, time and again."  The Milk Factory

HERB003 Rubens - Breaking Into Smile EP
12" Vinyl

Single Of The Week - News Of The World

Release Date - 1st October 2007

"The Black Dog, Kirk Degiorgio and Dextro provide revised versions of the pair’s Breaking Into Smile, another track taken from Carnivalesque. One of the definite standout moments from the album, the original, also featured here, is another piece of heady melodic electronica which continuously evolves around a central theme, a classic structure pioneered by the likes of The Black Dog and Degiorgio, amongst others, in the early nineties." The Milk Factory 

Featuring remixes by:
The Black Dog (Warp, Soma, Dust Science)
Dextro (Gronland, Border Community)
Kirk Degiorgio (Mo'Wax, Peacefrog, New Religion)

HERB002 Rubens - Puggies/Vertical Hold
7" Vinyl

Release Date - 27th August 2007

A  - Puggies
AA  - Vertical Hold

"A lovely little 7" this, dunno much about Rubens, two blokes from Scotland that make electronica. Anyway that's by the by, what really matters is that "Puggies" is a great electro pop instrumental, with flashes of Stereolab (without the rubbish vocals) and Caribou, a lush melody line, driving beats and deft edits. Over on Side-B "Vertical Hold" mangles acoustic guitar, rewound synth noises and motorik beats into a stunning little number. Just like Bibio with beats."
Record of the Week - Piccadilly Records