Albums

Pareidolia is a subtle and teasing record, beautiful and sometimes bewildering. It has an engrossing element that resembles the arc of a story, which is difficult to achieve in improvisational music but which gives you an insight into how closely and how well Eiko Ishibashi and Jim O’Rourke work together, and how much background work they put into this intuitive, cohesive album.

In his new album Só Ouço, German-Spanish artist Wolfgang Pérez chronicles a two-year journey through Rio de Janeiro that profoundly reshaped his musical perspective. The project, which started as a formal study, evolved into a full immersion in the city’s rhythms and culture. The result is a vibrant musical dialogue between his European roots and the complex soul of Brazil, born from unexpected collaborations.

Following a diagnosis of a degenerative nerve condition and told he would no longer be able to play guitar, Amit Dattani taught himself a new way of playing, and, several years on, defiantly returns with ‘Wrong Kind of One’, an album that’s as strong as his debut and deserving of further glowing accolades.

With Patterns, Katy Pinke & Will Graefe nail the perfect cover album, hitting an impeccable balance between variety of material and consistency of tone. While covering well-known songs by Bobbie Gentry, The Beach Boys, Elliott Smith, SZA, Frank Ocean, Paul Simon and Jeff Buckley, you could come to Patterns without knowing any of these songs, and it would still be an entrancing and rewarding listen.

Chicago Underground Duo’s Hyperglyph is a stunning return, a masterful fusion of free jazz and otherworldly exploration. Rob Mazurek’s trumpet and synthesizers blend with Chad Taylor’s percussion, creating a relentless, vibrant album that feels both familiar and entirely new. It’s an exhilarating, multi-layered work of pure invention.

A profound and meditative forty-minute journey, Nathan Salsburg’s solo acoustic guitar album, Ipsa Corpora, is a testament to his creative and technical prowess. This deeply personal work challenges genre norms as Salsburg’s masterful playing explores moods from the melancholic to bucolic joy, with every note meticulously crafted for a captivating listening experience.

Jake Winstrom’s third album, RAZZMATAZZ!, is a masterclass in musical restraint. The former frontman of Tenderhooks opts for a stripped-back sound, allowing ten tightly written songs to shine. From the fingerstyle guitar of “This Blue Note” to the Springsteen-esque rock of “One More for the Moon,” Winstrom confidently explores new sonic territory. This is a fresh, clean, and deliberate album that’s a pleasure to hear.

Radio Lusaka marks the first-ever vinyl compilation of Alick Nkhata’s work, a golden-voiced singer, freedom fighter, and a pivotal figure in Zambia’s freedom movement. The album is accompanied by a booklet featuring lyric translations by Zambian author Ellen Banda-Aaku and in-depth notes by scholar Jamal Khadar. The album reveals the legacy of a man whose music and voice were deeply connected to his country’s journey towards independence.

Georgia Harmer’s new album, Eye of the Storm, is a powerful testament to emotional growth and self-discovery. This deeply personal sophomore release, recorded in intimate settings from living rooms to garages, offers a stripped-down sound that feels both raw and vulnerable. Harmer’s meticulous songwriting and production shine throughout.

Dean Johnson’s new album, I Hope We Can Still Be Friends, is a powerful testament to long-gestating artistry. The singer-songwriter’s raw vulnerability and sharp wit shine through a collection of songs that are both tender and biting. With a gentle musical touch, Johnson tackles themes of heartbreak, insecurity, and personal history in a memorable and deeply moving way.

C.R. Gillespie’s new album, Island Of Women, is a moving sonic tapestry woven from personal experience. Conceived during the pandemic, the album began as modern-classical demos that Gillespie meticulously transformed into a humanistic soundscape. Inspired by a family trip to Mexico’s Isla Mujeres, the record is a beautiful, balmy blend of organic textures, electronics, and field recordings that capture the profound experience of fatherhood and quiet isolation.

Marking their 11th Anniversary, International Anthem continue their reissue series with Angel Bat Dawid’s 2019 debut, The Oracle. Originally recorded and mixed on her cell phone, this influential album solidified Dawid as an essential voice in improvised music. The new IA11 edition features redesigned artwork and new liner notes by percussionist Asher Gamedze, celebrating the album’s powerful blend of emotive songs, free improvisation, and enduring magic.