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.
Review: German-Filipino singer, songwriter and producer Ray Lozano's new album perfectly captures life's contradictions. If finds her diving into the tension between connection and detachment while offering a sonic embrace for those navigating the chaos of modern emotions. It is rooted in classic loved-up r&b with a particularly breezy edge and seductively smooth vocal style. The title says it all:' Silk' offers warmth while 'Sorrow' delivers an emotional punch. This album isn't polished or trendy-it's raw and real, perfectly fits in with Neo-soul greats of days gone by and really hits where hurts, but also offers healing as a soundtrack to late-night introspection and survival guide for life's beautifully messy moments.
Review: German-Spanish duo Lisa Michele Lietz and Jordi Arnau Rubio unite as Luna Soul, making a swashbuckling Ruy Lopez with their debut album First Move. Lietz, a musicologist with roots in Schwerin and a musical education under Ernst Ulrich Deuker of Ideal, brings a thoughtful lyrical sensibility, while Rubio - originally a dancer from Barcelona - compositionally channels a lifetime love of blues, jazz, soul and funk. Already having toured widely across Germany, Spain and France since 2019, the duo rewires that same live energy into the recorded unit, producing a modern Med soul nostalgia record whose temporality we'd find difficult to place on first listen. Such moments are anchored by cuts like '1979', 'Hold On', and 'City Lights', where reflections on grief, resilience and fleeting connection find vivid expression.
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