Encoded Frequencies - Initialised (1LP)

Two decades of guitar loops, beats, and melodies collide on Paul Whalley's stunning debut "Initialised" – a nine-track sonic statement that transforms years of accumulated musical fragments into something genuinely explosive. The Wigan-based multi-instrumentalist finally hit Alien Sound studios in October 2023, turning what began as an instrumental project into an unflinching examination of growing up in 1980s Skelmersdale. Mastered by Ride's Mark Gardener, tracks like the chilling "I See Dead Pixels" build from bass-driven foundations into overwhelming walls of sound that recall Mogwai's dynamic shifts and Godspeed You! Black Emperor's apocalyptic grandeur, while "Bad Movie" delivers Sonic Youth-inspired guitar barrages over the memorable refrain "We're just a scene, in a bad movie."

This isn't background music – it's foreground music that demands attention and rewards it generously. Whalley's guitar work layers with the precision of someone who's spent years perfecting every loop and transition, creating controlled chaos that feels both deeply personal and universally powerful. The emotional weight behind these songs – intensified by profound personal loss during the album's completion – never overwhelms the music but instead gives it gravity and urgency. "Initialised" announces a significant new voice in British alternative music that's essential listening for anyone who believes guitar music still has vital stories to tell.

1. I See Dead Pixels

2. Glitters

3. Afterlife

4. Bad Movie

5. Shadow In My Way

6. Never Know

7. These Streets Are Paved With Gold

8. Don't Dismantle Your Love

9. When They Come Looking For You