Review: Brazilian talent Rafael Cancian has grown in stature thanks to solid outings on the tasteful likes of Razor-N-Tape and Hot Pot Records. Now with that profile established, he heads out with a new label of his own in the form of About Disco. He inaugurates it with a quartet of edits that he has already been deploying to great effect on various dancefloors around the world. 'Sounds Chicago' does indeed with raw drums and great keys dancing over the beats. 'Ti Amo' has a more funky undercarriage and disco percussion, 'D'Afrique' again brings a funky bass riff to the fore with some psyched-out sounds for company and 'Opera' shuts down with some late-night and soul-drenched synths over intimate and stripped back house drums.
Review: Esuoh Limited's third outing takes the form of another various artists offering, and it explores an on-point mix of garage, house and tech. Ale Castro gets things underway with the bubbly bass motifs and retro stabs of 'IDWTAD' with a vocal refrain repeating the line 'I don't want to talk about drugs'. Hurlee's 'Spectral Echoes' is a super breezy house cruiser with sugar chords and more widescreen smears adding the oil to the drums while a simple, effective vocal hook brings the soul. There is a darker, more heads down energy to Housewife's 'Jus A Lil Bit' then Midas Field's 'Groover' brings class, jazzy magic and plenty of fist pumping fun.
Review: Commonsur is a rather elusive duo based between Geneva and Madrid. Now they finally present a stunning self-titled debut EP that blends their meticulous take on contemporary soul with an undercurrent of quiet optimism. The music draws from years of experience as multi-instrumentalists and producers in the European music scene and finds the artists craft a sound that's heartfelt, refined and deeply human from front to back. British-Spanish vocalist Rolita graces three of the four tracks and her rich, emotive voice adds extra lovely warmth and emotion to the polished grooves so that the result is a debut that feels both personal and expansive-music rooted in feeling, built with care, and delivered with understated power.
Review: The Fruit Medley series has been hella juicy so far so we're glad another edition is ripe and ready for picking to kick off the label's 2025 season. This one features all newcomers starting with Cromie's 'Timereite', a chubby and clubby tech pumper with full throttle rhythms. Wilba's 'New Recipes' has lush synth smears over grinding low ends that echo early West Coast tech, and Darren Roach then gets a little deeper on the percolating 'Brettski Colectski'. Lazer Man's 'Time Of Ghosts' closes down with a mid-tempo, off-kilter house cut with steely drums and distant alien activity.
Review: CRYME launches his new label SEVEN with a head-turning and ear-pleasing debut single 'Hold On', accompanied by four standout remixes. SEVEN is a queer and FLINTA*-leaning imprint dedicated to uplifting, genre-blending house and techno and it kicks off with CRYME's hypnotic original which is driven by pulsing bass and echoing vocals. Berlin house Queen Cinthie brings a soulful house spin with airy strings and bouncy grooves, while Obscure Shape delivers a darker, techno-driven rework. Lydia Eisenblatter adds a rave-tinged breakbeat flair, and VOLPE closes with a dreamy dub-techno version. 'Hold On' perfectly embodies SEVEN's mission to showcase unexpected sounds, fierce energy and dancefloor joy.
Review: Chicago's Tied label rolls out a 17th release as good as all the previous ones, this time with a four-track various artists EP that showcases emerging talents from deep, spacey electronic realms. Just_Me's 'Laser Brane' launches the journey with electro-funk propulsion, while Lumieux's 'In Your Space... It's Me In Space' drifts into cosmic grooves and ambient textures. On the B-side, Constratti's meticulously crafted 'Bind' delivers intricate synth delays and solid rhythms that capture the feeling of interstellar motion. Label head Max Jacobson and 97 Till close with 'Orion,' a break-infused and celestial house cut built for late-night floors.
Review: The third in Exitus Records' lightyear spanning V/A series, we again hear six new, boundary-pushing new ones from six satellite artists of the present day Berlin techno scene. Opening chord cascade 'Figure Eight' by Pink Concrete contrasts sharply to tunnelling techno-body suite 'The Dream Of Motion' by Krow, signalling several more tuff propulsions to come: most notably Sayid K's 'No Lights', a balmy nightscape from the newcomer, where digital zaps initially double up as hi-hats.
Review: Candeleros is a six-member, Colombia- and Venezuela-rooted collective based in Madrid that fuse Cumbia, merengue, dub and an array of Afro-Caribbean rhythms, creating a psychedelic, postmodern celebration of Latin sound. Their music blends Andean echoes, cinematic textures and hypnotic percussion into what feels like a ritualistic dance experience and has seen them collaborating with artists like Dodosound and Carlos Talez. They always reject the usual genre boundaries while focusing on cultural activism and the power of collective expression and have performed across Europe. As this album shows, their sound is passionate, borderless and proof that Cumbia has truly rooted itself in Europe.
Review: More Chaos marks American rapper and record producer Ken's fourth studio album and shows a bold evolution of the distinct style he introduced on A Great Chaos. A pure solo effort with no guest features, the record sharpens his voice both lyrically and sonically and the production is handled exclusively by a close-knit circle of trusted collaborators, all of whom he's cultivated and refined across previous projects, and who give the album a cohesive, focused energy. With More Chaos, Ken expands the emotional and sonic range of what he's done before while staying true to the intensity that first defined his work. It's a sharpened vision well worth tuning into.
Review: Cassiano's Cuban Soul - 18 Kilates was first released in 1976 and is a landmark of Brazilian soul for the way it blends the groove of American r&b with native rhythms in a way few artists have matched. Long coveted by collectors, the album has achieved cult status and now returns remastered from the original tapes on 180g vinyl so it is sure to fly off the shelves. Cassiano's velvety vocals glide over lush, cinematic arrangements throughout and in doing so, evoke the grandeur of contemporaries like Tim Maia. From start to finish, this album is packed with depth, warmth and effortless cool, which makes it an essential listen for anyone who likes soul, samba and vintage Brazilian brilliance.
Review: Chilean-born, Bristol-based Shanti Celeste has always brought a unique colour and emotion to her often bass-heavy sounds. She's a party-starting DJ, too, but delves into whole new realms with her wonderful sophomore full-length. Romance sees her exploring themes of love and friendship through shimmering pop textures and emotionally resonant songwriting. Her vocals take centre stage for the first time and lead single 'Thinking About You' is a heartfelt tribute to a late friend with a glowing groove and airy falsetto. Crafted between Bristol and London, the album features collaborations with Batu and harpist Miriam Adefris, whose delicate touch enhances its celestial tone and following last summer's acclaimed 'Ice Cream Dream Boy,' Romance is a luminous return and smart evolution.
Review: Journeys through melodic electronica by blending new material with club-ready reworks like the Radio 2-supported (!!) 'Love Love Love - Here I Come.' True to Chicane's aesthetic, the album is rich in atmosphere, optimism and nostalgia and is great for both relaxation and dancefloor workouts. The 2025 vinyl release for Record Store Day marks the first time these mixes and extended versions have appeared in physical format. With a global tour, club shows, and a Royal Albert Hall orchestral concert on the horizon, Trampolines kicks off another great chapter for Chicane.
Review: Primarily known for his sprawling LA-based psych/garage/punk/all of the above work as Osees aka Thee Oh Sees aka Oh Sees, John Dwyer links up with experienced percussionist Dave Barbarossa (Fine Young Cannibals, Adam & The Ants) for the retro bratty glam-punk experience of the year - Chime Oblivion. Their self-titled debut is packed full of squelchy synths, jagged minimalist guitar lines and high-pitched eccentric vocals, paying clear homage to classic acts such as The Slits and Bow Wow Wow. Chock full of bite-sized bangers including 'Neighbourhood Dog' and 'Kiss Her Or Be Her', both of which scoff at the notion of a three-minute track, this is retrofitted throwback dance-punk in the stylised era before it even had such a moniker.
Review: NRG 4 is the latest instalment in drummer and producer Chiminyo's boundary-pushing series and it captures the raw improvisational spirit of London's jazz-adjacent underground.The album is a communal outpouring of pure energy that was recorded live at the iconic Ronnie Scott's with no rules, no scripts, just spontaneous creativity and featuring a powerhouse ensemble including James Akers, Marysia Osu, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton and Tile Gichigi-Lipere. The set moves between frenzied burners like 'Levitate' and serene pieces like 'Sonder.' With surprise guests like BAELY and Regis Molina, NRG 4 is a genre-defying celebration of live collaboration and musical intuition that's electric, ephemeral and deeply alive.
Review: Emanuele Cisi's Rushin' celebrates jazz in its purest form. It was recorded in just one inspired April weekend with Cisi leading a stellar quartet of Dado Moroni on piano, Nicolas Thys on bass and Jorge Rossy on drums. The full emotional range of the genre is on show here with swing, blues and spiritual depth rising up through the tracks which range from reimagined standards to soulful originals like 'Pharoah's Message'. Throughout, the album honours jazz greats such as Coltrane and Lee Morgan with Cesare Mecca guesting on trumpet and it all adds up to heartfelt performances rich in discovery and style.
Little Boy For So Long, Little Boy But Not For Long (10:00)
Arapaho (4:21)
Don't Get Around Much Anymore (12:10)
Review: American saxophone player and composer Clifford Jordan's 1990s Maple Shade Records albums are well thought of for their high-quality ideas. This release features a 1987 live quartet performance from a Baltimore jazz club in which Jordan delivers a mature, lyrical and swinging set encompassing standards like 'Round Midnight' and 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore' alongside his original compositions. The recording was meticulously captured with minimal microphones and high-quality cables so it achieves remarkable realism while blurring the line between live performance and studio recording. This is a definitive glimpse into Jordan's artistry at the height of his career.
Review: Polish producer Latarnik and American vocalist Anthony Mills collide on this new album for Polish label Astigmatic to explore lo-fi hip-hop, soul, dub and experimental electronics. Mills's falsetto vocal brings great Neo-soul warmth to Crack Rock with emotionally charged tones soaring over the production which ranges from sugary and 80s-tinged disco and boogie on 'Crack' to deep, seductive and gooey on 'Passive Lover' which is a more romantic sound. Latarnik's work is often minimal yet immersive which creates space for Mills' voice to shine and is delivered in equal parts spoken word, chant and soulful croon. The hypnotic, slow-burning soundscapes that result are both intimate and confrontational, ready to make you dance but also often just to feel. Unapologetically raw and deeply human, this one lingers long after the final track ends.
Mi Amor Buenas Noches (Con Carlos Agentino) (2:29)
Review: Celia Cruz is widely known as the Queen of Salsa, and Azucar & Salsa is a perfect celebration of her iconic voice and the unique spirit she brings to her work. The album finds her at her most electrifying and fuses the driving rhythms of salsa with her unmistakable charisma, with the results being a high-energy mix of percussion, horns and powerhouse vocals. Tracks burst with salsa colour and are anchored by Cruz's signature cry of 'iAzucar!'-a joyful call to life and rhythm which you will soon be shouting yourself. Cruz's presence is magnetic here, whether commanding the dancefloor or weaving emotional depth into ballads. Whether you are new to her work or a diehard fan, Azucar & Salsa isa fine tribute and reminder of why her music still moves new generations.
Review: Cult American hip-hoppers and legendary stoners Cypress Hill played live at San Francisco's iconic Fillmore on August 16, 2000. Now available on vinyl for the first time, the set captures the legendary group's explosive live energy as the band were in top form and delivering raw, high-octane renditions of their biggest hits. What better way to relive classics like 'Insane in the Brain,' 'Hand on the Pump,' 'Cock the Hammer' and 'I Wanna Get High' than on vinyl? Those gems sit alongside deeper cuts such as 'A to the K,' 'Riot Starter' and '(Rock) Superstar' making this a great blend of those for singing along to and those for the head.
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