Back catalogue: Balearic/Downtempo

Review: Brijean is the solo moniker and shortening of the name Brijean Murphy, the percussionist and singer-songwriter best known for his outings as an instrumental player at the heart of various live band instances of well-known alt-indie bands such as Toro Y Moi, Mitski and Poolside. Here, however, Brijean manifests as a collab project with multi-instrumentalist and producer Doug Stuart, adding another record to their own discog. Macro takes in the big picture, erring from the themes explored on 2021's Feelings and 2022's Angelo - which took in discrete topics - and instead providing the formal toolkit with which we may, simply, dance. Colourful, collaborative, sophisticated, and deeply fun, the album animates a macrocosm with characters, moods and points of view rooted in the notion that no feeling is final and the only way out is through.

Review: Bullion continues to perfect his endlessly charming strain of modernist synth pop with this new album for Ghostly International. The lead single from the album sets the tone beautifully, as the mighty Carly Rae Jepsen lends her voice to 'Rare' for a blissful, woozy ride through exquisite song craft that calls back to AOR and soft rock as much as synthwave. Further guest spots arrive from Panda Bear and Charlotte Adigery, but as ever Bullion's own charisma remains the driving force on this latest dose of honey-coated audio pleasure from a master of the art.

Review: Bullion (Nathan Jenkins) returns with a surprise full-length album, Affection. Breaking from his irreverent electro-shanties for a minute, Affection reminds us of Jenkins' far-reaching capacities as a producer and songwriter, with each song on this expansive new LP centring on the titular theme of affection and intimacy. Avowing the sound advice that is not to take others' advice, Bullion's M.O. going into the record was to follow his instincts and treat the studio as a site of adventure; this is reflected as much in the album's roomy, deep and detuned pop ditties, which veer away from banger science and more into the slow dreams of warm synths, subtle progressions and emergent horizons. Carly Rae Jepsen's feature is the bait highlight on 'Rare', though star cuts like 'World_train' and 'Cinch' also catch us off guard.

Review: Ghostly International come through with belated double LP vinyl edition of In Decay, the second LP from Seth Haley, better known as Com Truise, which was originally issued digitally back in 2012. Here you have thirteen diverse tracks ranging from funky, boogie-inspired drum machine soul to more watery soundscapes and creative little collages. The opener itself, "Open", is a majestic ride into the sun. The successive track, "84 Dreamin", is just as good if not better, and this process repeats itself another eleven times, until the end of this epic journey into sound.

Review: As they mark over two decades of collaboration, HTRK continue to thread past and present with a new, upcoming reissue of Rhinestones. First self-released in 2021, the album marked a stylistic turn for Standish and Yang, embracing a sparse and haunted approach to songwriting inspired by gothic country and Western folk minimalism, contrasting their earlier dub-punk dramatics. More emotionally forthright as their records go, it drifts over echoic acoustic textures, hushed vocals, and a characteristic metronomic pulse, conjuring a shadowy, intimate atmosphere. A landmark release epitomising their noted progression out from minimal-wave origins to "gentler, more inviting" territory, Rhinestones motivated a quiet resurgence for the band. This reissue follows the 2024 repress of their debut Marry Me Tonight and the collaborative 'String Of Hearts' EP, with reinterpretations from peers like Loraine James and Liars, reaffirming HTRK's strong creative orbit.

Review: Canada may not shout as loud as the US, UK or Germany when it comes to electronic music, with the exception of Richie Hawtin perhaps, albeit frequently assumed he's American, and is actually part-British. Nevertheless, the larger North American state has a truly remarkable legacy in house, techno, ambient, and synth-y odds and sods.

It's proof the apple never falls far from the tree, given proximity to some of the bonafide birthplaces of those sounds - Chicago and Detroit. Edmonton's Khotin is indicative of the difficult to define tones that emanate from the Maple Leaf and its people. So much texture, pouring with emotion, and fundamentally born of new ideas, or at least different ways of thinking. Release Spirit, his third album on Michigan's Ghostly International, is thoughtful, intelligent, downtempo electronic stuff, crafted with love and attention to detail.

Review: Cherry Blossom Baby marks Shigeto's first full-length since 2017, emerging from a period of introspection and renewal. The Detroit-based artist, renowned for his blend of electronic, jazz, r&b and hip-hop, delivers a vibrant, collaborative album that reflects his cultural heritage and personal evolution. Drawing inspiration from the cherry blossoms of Hiroshima, Shigeto infuses each track with a sense of resilience and transformation. The album shows Shigeto's artistry and his commitment to collaboration. From the high-energy 'Ready. Set. Flex' featuring drummer Ian Maciak and rapper Zelooperz, to the soulful 'The Punch' with KESSWA, Shigeto embraces a range of sounds and styles. Tracks like 'BookaMagick' and 'Runnup On'm' showcase his ability to blend genres and create immersive experiences. Cherry Blossom Baby celebrates Shigeto's return to his craft, honoring both his roots and his growth. The record's rich, expansive production, influenced by 70s and 80s psych and jazz, reflects a collaborative spirit and a deep connection to Detroit's musical landscape.

Review: Shigeto started playing drums at a young age and spent his childhood immersed in the Detroit and Ann Arbor music scene. After nearly failing high school, except for his music studies, he pursued jazz at New York's New School and later in London, where he delved into electronic production. Since moving to Brooklyn in the early 2010s, he has not looked back and is now a mainstay of the underground and a key artist in the Ghostly family. His new album Cherry Blossom Baby marks his first full-length release since 2017 and is is another succulent and sublime blend of electronic, jazz, r&b, and hip-hop with a collaborative Detroit-rooted sound that celebrates personal growth and resilience.