Fiona Soe Paing – Tower of Babel EP

Fiona Soe Paing's second solo EP is a tough-but-sensual slice of modern electronica. Filtered samples struggle for breath against a stark backdrop of synthetic minimalism and doom-hop detonations, whilst glowering bass stabs circle the mix like hungry vultures. Soe Paing's extraordinary vocals are really what separate these tracks from the pack though.

Flitting between Burmese and purely improvised vocalisations, these artfully multitracked performances convey urgency, ecstasy and a haunted sense of dislocation. Fans of the Lisa Gerrard school of otherworldy vocal channeling will appreciate what's going on here, but Soe Paing's style is uniquely her own. Closer Behrot is probably the best cut here, its sparseness giving Soe Paing enough breathing space to showcase an intimidating Eartha Kitt-like sexiness that lingers in the imagination. [Mark Shukla]