- Record $322 billion in China loans for stock bets feeds volatility and prompts caution Reuters
- Chinese Earnings Point to Fragility of $2.7 Trillion Stock Rally Bloomberg
- China: A-shares on fire, CNY strengthening, PMIs confirm softness FXStreet
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Record $322 billion in China loans for stock bets feeds volatility and prompts caution – Reuters
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Putin says any Western troops in Ukraine would be fair targets – Reuters
- Putin says any Western troops in Ukraine would be fair targets Reuters
- Putin rejects Western security in Ukraine, warning troops would be target BBC
- Western troops in Ukraine would be ‘targets’ for Russian forces: Putin Al Jazeera
- Russia Wants ‘Security Guarantees’ Too. Here’s What They Look Like. The New York Times
- Russia issues warning as European leaders, Zelenskyy speak to Trump from Paris ABC News
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Celebrating the Birth of Prophet Muhammad
Rabat – Eid Al Mawlid Annabawi, often simply called Mawlid, is one of the most significant dates in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, who was born in the city of Mecca in the year 571.
For Muslims around the world, the day is more than just a remembrance of history, as it is a celebration of faith, devotion, and the values the Prophet embodied. Mawlid holds a particularly cherished place for Moroccans, who commemorate it with traditions that reflect deep spirituality and cultural heritage.
Mawlid is observed on the 12th day of Rabii Al Awwal, the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
For believers, the Prophet Muhammad represents the highest moral example. His teachings, actions, and words, which are recorded in the hadith, form the basis of Islamic ethics and guide Muslims in daily life.
How Muslims celebrate Mawlid
Celebrating his birth becomes a way to renew one’s commitment to his message of mercy, justice, and compassion. Worshippers mark the day by prayers, recitations of the Quran, and gatherings where the Prophet’s life story is retold.
Many Muslims also see Mawlid as an opportunity to strengthen social ties and spread goodwill. Acts of charity, feeding the poor, and community celebrations reflect the Prophet’s own concern for the vulnerable in society.
The observances vary widely across countries and cultures. In some places, Mawlid is a public holiday, while in others it is marked more privately in mosques and homes. The common thread is the remembrance of the Prophet’s life and message.
Imams deliver sermons in mosques recounting the Prophet’s journey, from his early hardships as an orphan to his role as the Messenger of Islam. Qasidas (poems of praise) are recited to celebrate his virtues and invoke blessings upon him.
Families often gather to share special meals, including sweets and traditional dishes.
Children are taught about the Prophet’s kindness, patience, and sense of justice. In many countries, including Morocco, processions, lights, and decorations transform streets and homes into festive spaces.
Eid Al Mawlid in Morocco is more than a religious occasion, but also a deeply rooted cultural celebration. The country observes it as a public holiday, with two days dedicated to the festivities.
Mawlid in Morocco: Devotion and tradition
The spirit of Mawlid fills the air, whether in big cities or quiet villages. Mosques across the country host special recitations of the Quran and gatherings of dhikr (remembrance of God). Religious scholars and fqihs (Islamic teachers) usually recount the Prophet’s biography, known as the sira nabawiya, to remind worshippers of his humility, strength, and devotion.
One of the hallmarks of Moroccan Mawlid is the singing of madh in praise of the Prophet, often accompanied by rhythmic clapping or traditional instruments.
Families at home prepare traditional dishes such as couscous, rfissa, or pastilla. Children often receive small gifts, new clothes, or sweets, which makes the day feel festive and joyful. In many regions, families distribute food to neighbors and the poor to ensure everyone can partake in the blessings of the day.
Beyond the family and community level, Mawlid in Morocco carries national importance. The King of Morocco, who holds the title of “Commander of the Faithful,” traditionally presides over a religious ceremony to mark the occasion.
In Sufi brotherhoods, which have a strong presence in Morocco, Mawlid is particularly cherished. Zawiyas (religious lodges) organize nights of remembrance filled with chanting, poetry, and meditation. These gatherings emphasize love for the Prophet as a spiritual path toward closeness to God. For many Moroccans, attending such ceremonies is both a religious duty and a moment of emotional renewal.
Mawlid also reinforces Moroccan values of hospitality and solidarity. Many families invite relatives, friends, and even strangers to share in their meals. In rural areas, collective celebrations can transform into village-wide gatherings that strengthen community bonds.
On this day, the Prophet’s life, full of challenges and perseverance, becomes a mirror for Muslim’s own struggles and aspirations. It is an opportunity to reconnect with the Prophet’s example of resilience, humility, and compassion.
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Get Festival Ready for Galaxy 947 Joburg Day with the Galaxy Z Fold7 – Samsung Newsroom South Africa
The countdown is on to one of the biggest events on South Africa’s entertainment calendar, the Galaxy 947 Joburg Day. As you gear up for the most anticipated celebration of music, food, and fun, the excitement and prep may get a bit overwhelming – but worry, because with the new Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and Z Flip7 FE in your pocket, the way you get ready for Galaxy Joburg Day is about to be flipped up to the next level with the new flagship cameras, ProVisual engine and Gemini Live features of the Galaxy Z7 series.
Your Ultimate Tech Festival Wingman
Gemini Live Assist transforms your Galaxy Z7 Series device into your personal festival planner. It’s a real-time, conversational AI feature that works with your voice, camera, and screen sharing to help you plan, research, organise, and make everyday decisions, all through effortlessly natural back-and-forth conversations.From the moment you decide to go to the concert, Gemini Live Assist can help you stay on top of your game. This can be from scheduling the event in your diary and setting reminders (to buy tickets, etc.) so you never miss a beat. You can plan your travel and logistics, from carpooling with friends to navigating to Crocodile Creek Polo Club. On the big day, Gemini Live Assist can help you coordinate your outfit with real-time advice – you can take a picture and get feedback on how to style it. You can also brainstorm ideas for festival essentials and must-have accessories.
What’s more? If, for instance, you have a social media following that is interested in virtually experiencing the day with you, you could also practice your social media intros or even speeches so you’re ready if the spotlight finds you.
What makes Gemini Live Assist truly stand out is how effortlessly it fits into your life. Curious about the weather on the day? Want to know what time your favourite act is performing? Need directions to the best parking? Simply ask – and get tailored, useful answers in seconds. These are just some of the useful bits of information you can get with this feature.
Capture Ultra Moments
Like in previous Joburg Day festivals, the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip are the perfect photo takers for festivals. This year with the new 200MP camera on the Galaxy Z Fold7 and 50MP ultra-grade main camera on the Galaxy Z Flip7 you can capture your concert experience crystal clear photos from interesting angles. Even if you find yourself far back from the stage you can make it seem like you’re in the front row as you capture high quality pictures and use the ultra-zoom.
Whether you choose the elegantly expansive Galaxy Z Fold7 for multitasking, the stylishly pocketable and versatile Z Flip7 or Z Flip7 FE for snapping unforgettable moments, these devices are built for festival fun. Their durability, AI smarts, and powerful battery life mean you can focus more on the music and the fun, while does its bit of enhancing the experience for you.
Galaxy 947 Joburg Day is about living in the moment, and with Gemini Live Assist, you can make sure you’re ready for every single one. From prep to party, your Galaxy Z7 Series device will help keep you organised, connected, and ready to have the time of your life.Continue Reading
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Purdue Maps Gene-Inserting Transpososome for Editing
More than a decade ago, scientists harnessed a bacterial molecular machine that identifies and cuts specific sections of DNA, revolutionizing the ability to edit genes and accelerating research into treatments for all manner of diseases with a genetic link. But the technology known as CRISPR-Cas9 works by cutting DNA, not moving it. At Purdue University, researchers are investigating a similar molecular machine that moves so-called “jumping genes” into new locations in bacterial DNA, laying the groundwork for a more powerful gene-editing tool.
The team, led by Leifu Chang, a Purdue associate professor of biological sciences, has produced high-resolution structural snapshots of the Tn7-like transpososome, a complex of nucleic acids and proteins that can accurately cut and paste an entire gene from one location to another in the genome of a cell. This structural information is analogous to an exploded parts diagram for an engine, showing all the parts in atomic-level detail and how they work together. In a pair of papers published in the journal Cell in 2023 and 2024, the team captured the structure of all the components needed to understand how the molecular machine recognizes a jumping gene and the location in the genome where it will insert that gene.
“We’ve captured all the components that are really essential in this structure. This is a quite complicated process, requiring recognition of specific DNA in the gene and in the target and, while previous research has shown many partial structures, it’s important to see the whole picture,” said Chang, a member of the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research. “We’re providing a lot of information to understand how that process happens.”
Chang’s research is part of Purdue’s presidential One Health initiative, which involves research at the intersection of human, animal and plant health and well-being.
There are many similarities between the Tn7-like transpososome and the CRISPR system. CRISPR, which evolved as part of a bacterial defense system against known viral invaders, identifies and stores snippets of DNA from invaders between DNA brackets in a pattern called “clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats,” hence CRISPR. Using the stored DNA as a template, the system generates an RNA mirror image of the viral DNA and surveils the cell looking for a match. When a match is made and an invader identified, a protein cuts the DNA of the viruses, blocking replication. The beauty of the system, from the standpoint of researchers, is that it uses RNA — a molecule easily synthesized in a lab — to identify and target DNA. By synthesizing an RNA snippet that searches for its own targets, researchers can use the system to snip DNA with precision.
But while CRISPR is great at what it does in bacteria, Chang said, it’s not a one-stop gene editing tool in human cells. For starters, cutting DNA in humans triggers a DNA repair pathway that could undo the cut or unintentionally introduce a mutation as part of the repair. Also, once the DNA is cut, it might not be repaired in which case the cell would die. Researchers have devised various workarounds, but they aren’t yet efficient and only work in dividing cells, putting repairs to cells that don’t divide, like neurons, out of reach.
By contrast, the transpososome is a complete package that includes the machinery for inserting genes. The transpososome facilitates the movement of transposons, or “jumping genes,” that can be copied and moved to different locations in the genome. Jumping genes make up about half of the genome in animal cells, including in humans, and are believed to increase genetic diversity.
“In general, breaking DNA to achieve genome editing is not ideal,” Chang said. “The transposon system is a more efficient approach because the proteins insert DNA seamlessly, so that avoids the harmful consequence of breaking DNA.”
Scientists who study the Tn7-like transpososome have discovered two pathways that it uses to find its target. The first uses a protein to directly recognize specific DNA sequences. The second is similar to CRISPR-Cas9, in that it uses a snippet of RNA as a guide to find the target. Chang, who is an expert in CRISPR-Cas systems, is interested in understanding how the CRISPR-type pathways work.
The two Cell papers taken together present complete cryo-electron microscopy structures of essential components in atom-by-atom detail. The structures show the point at which DNA attaches to two proteins, which triggers formation of the entire transpososome complex, and initiate transposition. As the 2024 paper states, “The findings provide mechanistic insights into targeted DNA insertion by Tn7-like transposons with implications for improving the precision and efficiency of their genome-editing applications.”
Chang said researchers are already trying to use the Tn7-like transpososome to edit animal cells but, so far, the process isn’t effective. While much work needs to be done to arrive at systems useful in nonbacterial cells, the full structural information he has provided will accelerate that work.
References:
1. Wang S, Gabel C, Siddique R, Klose T, Chang L. Molecular mechanism for Tn7-like transposon recruitment by a type I-B CRISPR effector. Cell. 2023;186(19):4204-4215.e19. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.0102. Wang S, Siddique R, Hall MC, Rice PA, Chang L. Structure of TnsABCD transpososome reveals mechanisms of targeted DNA transposition. Cell. 2024;187(24):6865-6881.e16. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.09.023This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source. Our press release publishing policy can be accessed here.
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Sneak peek behind the scenes of festival
Shivani ChaudhariBBC News, Essex, Hylands Park
Shivani Chaudhari/BBCRadio 2 in the Park is due to welcome its first fans on Friday afternoon Two large stages, various food outlets and a big disco ball are just some of the things being prepped at Hylands Park, as it gears itself up to host Radio 2 in the Park.
Up to 65,000 music lovers are due to descend on the Georgian grounds, just outside Chelmsford, during the weekend to watch pop and rock royalty, including Bryan Adams, Def Leppard and Essex’s very own Olly Murs.
With the final preparations being put in place on Thursday to open the doors on Friday afternoon, Rhys Hughes – head of live music and events at the BBC – said seeing the site come to life was “rewarding”.
“It’s a beautiful site. It’s got festival heritage,” he said.
The venue, known for its beautiful gardens and 1700s stately home, is well versed in staging big events, having hosted V Festival several times between 1996 and 2017.
Mr Hughes, who has been in his role for the past eight years, played a big part in bringing one of the BBC’s flagship festivals to Essex.
“I love live events, it brings great joy to my heart to see the site come to fruition from when we did the first site visit in [last] September and talking about this as a venue,” he said.
“Seeing it come to life now is rewarding.”
Shivani Chaudhari/BBCRhys Hughes said it was important to make live music more accessible for smaller towns and cities In recent years, Radio 2 in the Park has visited Leicester and Preston – a conscious decision to go to places that “don’t get as many big festivals”.
Talking about the decision to come to Chelmsford, he said “sometimes I do feel towns around London slightly get overlooked”.
He added that Preston City Council estimated £5.3m was brought in to the local area during the event and he hoped the Essex city would get a similar boost.
Shivani Chaudhari/BBCThe DJ Stage is due to host sets from many Radio 2 presenters across the weekend Elsewhere on the site, Andy Grey, production director at Far and Beyond, said there were about 70 people helping to set up the main stage.
He said the recent wet weather had “slowed us down a little bit”, but “we are used to working in the British weather”.
“We’re making things work. The main stage is starting to take shape,” he said.
Shivani Chaudhari/BBCMarc Peers (left) and Andy Grey said they were used to setting up events in wet British weather Sound engineer Joe Baker said he had travelled four hours from Liverpool to come to work at the festival.
The DJ Stage was first introduced in 2023 and this weekend fans can expect sets from Scott Mills, Rylan and DJ Spooney under a huge disco ball.
While setting up the decks, he said himself and the wider team had been getting the stage ready for the past two days, and he was really looking forward to the event.
Shivani Chaudhari/BBCJoe Baker said he had travelled all the way from Liverpool to be at Radio 2 in the Park Meanwhile, Chris Halls had a much easier trip from Chelmsford to help prepare the main stage.
“I am a roadie – we lift and shift the gear,” he said.
“I’ve been here since 6am.
“I’m looking forward to seeing some famous faces.
“We’ve been at it since Wednesday morning. It’s going to be full-on… and then we have to take it all down on the Sunday.”
Shivani Chaudhari/BBCChris Halls was setting up the main stage and said he was looking forward to seeing some famous faces All the details about this year’s Radio 2 in the Park, including where to listen and watch across the BBC, can be found here.
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USA v Samoa match preview
Fresh from their stunning second-half fight back – or indeed fight backs – v Australia, USA know they have to hit full throttle from the whistle. With a current points difference of -62 versus Australia’s of +73, the Women’s Eagles know they need a huge victory against Samoa before hoping England do them a favour later in the day. Full details here.
Despite the scoreline, Samoa did enjoy a strong 10 minutes at the start of the second half v England, and they will be looking to get their big runners in to the game far earlier against USA. A first try of the tournament would be celebrated wildly by a side that sits at No.15 in the world rankings.
Kick-off: 13:30 BST, Saturday, 6 September
Venue: York Community Stadium, York
If you have a ticket already, make the most of your trip by reading England star Ellie Kildunne’s Guide to her home-town, featuring tips on where to eat, what to do and which pubs are great pre and post match.
How to watch: Head here to get a last-minute ticket.
Or check out our Global Guide to the TV options in your area.
USA team:
USA’s key player: While there is so much focus on her admirable off-field activity, there is no doubt Ilona Maher has been on a hit on the pitch so far at RWC 2025. Two turnovers in the first 20 minutes v Australia helped set the tone, and so far Maher has not taken a single backwards step. Expect a whole heap more direct running from the star centre.
Samoa team:
Samoa’s key player: Harmony Vatau slotted Samoa’s only RWC 2025 points so far, v England. But the inside-centre is not only a kicker, with three off-loads and several line-breaks, she is the linchpin of a backline that can dazzle.
Recent head-to-head:
WXV2 2023: USA 36-26 SAM
What USA said:
USA head coach Sione Fukofuka:
“Our physicality (v Australia) was outstanding; we asked them for it and they stepped up in spades. They dominated collisions, they played a really good platform and obviously created opportunities to score points and took a few of them themselves. They’ve been consistent and we’re really happy with the combination we’ve got out there.”
USA captain Kate Zackary:
“Mood’s been really good. We adjusted a little bit of our training this week just because Saturday was a huge match, physical match as well.
“So a bit of community engagement on Monday, which lifted spirits, being involved with the local rugby clubs, youth, and some women’s teams reinvigorates the ‘why’. You have to remember why we do this: we don’t do it for the money, we do it for the passion.
“Tuesday’s training was one of our biggest and heaviest combat days. We joke it’s the hardest day of the week, because we purposely make it harder than a Saturday. And that put people up for selections.
“Then Thursday was fast and it was furious and it was a really good session.
“We want to empower everyone to showcase their X factor, but it’s an 80-minute game and we don’t need any heroes. As a team, we need 15 or 23 people collaborating constantly to create opportunities. We’re not chasing anything this week and I think that’s the biggest message: we’re going to be the creators of our own destiny.”
What Samoa said:
Samoa head coach Ramsey Tomokin:
“We want the girls to express themselves and show who we really are. We showed last week who we were, but we can show more, and we want to finish strong.
“We understand the equation: USA needs points, and we’re going to make that very difficult for them. We’re targeting to try and win and get some points, and put pressure on them. They’ll be chasing points, and hopefully that will translate into us getting our own points. I sent a message to the Australia camp, saying we’re going to do our bit for the region.
“I heard their coach saying they’ll stick to the plan and process, and the rest will take care of itself in terms of points, so our plan and process is to do the exact opposite of that. Stretch them out a bit and put them under pressure.
“It’s another opportunity to play a tier-one team. We had a good game with them a couple of years ago, and I believe we have the players to match them.”
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Preview and how to watch track and field action live
Track and field stars to watch at Tokyo 25 World Athletics Championships
These World Athletics Championships will mark the end of an era, as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce retires from the sport.
Twice the Olympic champion over the women’s 100m (and winner of a further five world titles over that distance), the 38-year-old will call time on a career that has seen her win eight Olympic and 16 World Championships medals.
After withdrawing from the semi-finals at last year’s Olympic Games, the Jamaican decided to return for one more season, and will now get to go out on her own terms.
Elsewhere, there is a question over Noah Lyles. The reigning men’s 100m and 200m champion began his season late due to injuries, and has yet to win a 100m final this season. However, the USA star has shone over his favoured 200m distance, including winning the Diamond League Final.
There is intrigue in the women’s one-lap race, as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has focussed all her attention on the flat 400m this season. The world record holder over the single-lap hurdles has the third-fastest time in the flat race this year at 48.90, behind only Olympic silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser (48.67) and Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino (48.81).
And there will be lots of reigning champions and world record holders in action who will try to improve their marks further. Returning world champions include Mondo Duplantis, Femke Bol, Neeraj Chopra, Faith Kipyegon, and Yulimar Rojas.
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NexLawn Unveils Arm-Equipped Robotic Mowers and Smart Yard Lineup at IFA 2025
BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NexLawn, a premium brand under MOVA offering advanced garden tools and robotic solutions, made its global debut at IFA 2025 with three groundbreaking robotic yard care products: the VIDAR Series, the VIDAR AWD Series, and the futuristic Master X Vison. Together, these models set new benchmarks for safety, intelligence, and versatility in autonomous lawn care.
NexLawn VIDAR AWD, VIDAR Series and the Master X
MOVA’s smart garden tools
“Our VIDAR and VIDAR AWD Series showcase the power of 3D LiDAR and AI stereo vision in delivering next-generation lawn care.” said Jian Li, Chief Product Officer of NexLawn. “Looking ahead, NexLawn plans to expand its ecosystem beyond robotic mowers, with future innovations in smart garden tools, robotic pool cleaners and other next-generation yard technologies currently in development.”
The VIDAR and VIDAR AWD Series will launch in Europe and North America in spring 2026. At the exhibition, NexLawn partnered with MOVA to showcase smart yard innovations, with MOVA presenting its gardening tools and NexLawn highlighting its future plans.
NexLawn Master X: Redefining Outdoor Robotics
The Master X Vison reimagines what’s possible in autonomous yard care, combining advanced mobility with a fully integrated robotic arm. Mounted on a 25 cm-high four-wheel-drive chassis, the arm folds down to just 44.5 cm and extends up to 77 cm—reaching as far as 1 meter to perform complex outdoor tasks with precision.
With multiple interchangeable tools—including a multi gripper, a trimmer head, and an edging disc head, Master X goes far beyond mowing. It can weed, trim, pick up branches and toys, harvest fruits, and even play fetch with pets.
NexLawn VIDAR AWD: Power and Precision for Challenging Lawns
Engineered for areas up to 3,000㎡, the VIDAR AWD Series combines robust all-terrain performance with NexDetect™ technology, which integrates 3D LiDAR and stereo vision for wire-free, high-precision mapping and obstacle detection. It conquers slopes of up to 80 percent, trims edges with less than 1.5 cm of uncut grass, and detects more than 300 types of obstacles in real time. Users control mowing height, patterns, and safety settings directly through the NexLawn App.
NexLawn VIDAR Series: Compact, Smart, and Efficient
For medium to large lawns up to 2,000㎡, the VIDAR Series offers advanced mapping and navigation in a more compact form. Powered by 3D LiDAR and stereo vision, it manages dual maps for complex layouts, handles 50 percent slopes, and navigates narrow 60 cm paths. With NexTrim™ technology, uncut edges are reduced to under 1 cm, so post-mowing touch-ups are kept to a minimum.
MOVA’s 60V Garden Tool Series：Where Power Meets Intelligence
The MOVA 60V series is designed to unite intelligence and strength in one premium platform. Equipped with high-torque brushless motors, a robust IPX4-rated build, and an advanced battery system, the range delivers gas-like performance while staying quiet, clean, and effortless to use.
From adaptive blade speed control to ergonomic refinements and intuitive digital interactions, each feature makes lawn care smarter, safer, and easier. App connectivity and OTA updates ensure the tools remain reliable and future-ready.
Flagship models bring this vision to life: the GL620 self-propelled mower with PaceMate™ technology naturally adjusts to the user’s walking pace for smooth, efficient mowing, while the GT616 grass trimmer integrates an EquiDrive™ central-drive motor for balanced, precise cutting power.
Built for performance and tuned for intelligence, the MOVA 60V series redefines premium lawn care — delivering professional-grade results through advanced design and innovation.
SOURCE NexLawn
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Sacred Lodge: Ambam review – heady, hypnotic beats inspired by the hollers of Equatorial Guinea | Music
Sacred Lodge is the side project of Paris-based producer and sound artist Matthieu Ruben N’Dongo. Rooted in his ethnomusicological research, which explores the role of music in ritual contexts and his own Equatoguinean heritage, the results are unsettling but compelling, characterised by heady percussion and swarming electronics. But while his 2019 debut Hijos Del Sol was made up of murky downtempo instrumentals, N’Dongo’s follow-up amps up the intensity almost beyond recognition, with a collection of sludgy, abrasive tracks.
Sacred Lodge: Ambam. Photograph: Avon Terror Corps One of the starkest differences is the use of vocals, which have previously only featured as echoey background textures. On Ambam, N’Dongo makes full use of his voice. Inspired by the tradition of field hollers and ritual chants (specifically of the Fang people, from which his father originates), he ranges from guttural metal-style growls to distorted screams and yelps; some lyrics are delivered in a panting, rap-like cadence. On opening track Wa Wa Ke Wa Wa Yi, N’Dongo’s grisly tone is offset by composer and vocalist Sara Persico, whose smoky, seductive drawl only reinforces the uncanny atmosphere.
The instrumentals are harsher this time, too, welding elements of horrorcore, industrial and bass music into buzzing storms of noise. Excitingly, several tracks are anchored by hypnotic drum patterns that might even seem clubby in a different context. Enêñ is a highlight, with its metallic, polyrhythmic percussion, as is the skulking A Bo Biboa. Other tracks are straight-up discordant, such as Mongu Nnang, featuring Cairo-based producer El Kontessa, which clatters along frenetically. At points, it’s so deconstructed it resembles a malfunctioning computer game.
Both dense and disorientating, Ambam may well be too overwhelming for some listeners. But the more you listen, the more you get sucked into the thrill of N’Dongo’s unapologetic resistance music.
Also out this month
Written and recorded during her pregnancy, Le Don des Larmes is French-Algerian musician Léo La Nuit’s gentle tribute to her newborn child (Knekelhuis). Across 16 lo-fi recordings, there are intimate ditties and lullabies that draw on north African folk music, interspersed with atmospheric pop-ish moments and scattered field recordings, from birdsong to crying. Blurrr, the latest album by Glasgow painter-musician Joanne Robertson, is another lovely, cosy listen (AD93). Aside from Oliver Coates’s occasional cello feature, it’s just Roberton’s voice and acoustic guitar in these meandering folk songs. But the foggy production quality sets her squarely beyond the singer-songwriter category, adding an edge reminiscent of her regular collaborator Dean Blunt. As in her DJ sets, Spanish producer JASSS defies genre boundaries on her excellent new album Eager Buyers (AWOS). There are shades of trip-hop, dub, pop and post-rock in these shapeshifting compositions, where glitching electronics fizz around moody guitars and echoey vocals.
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