News

Coming this October is the self-titled second album from Portland’s Cosmic Tones Research Trio, a record that solidifies their place in modern spiritual jazz. Led by the virtuosic saxophonist Roman Norfleet, the trio crafts layered, transcendent soundscapes that are both meditative and rhythmically compelling. Their lead single, “Sankofa,” is out now, offering a glimpse into the album’s deep improvisational traditions and thoughtful compositions.

Perpetual Doom Records has announced the September 19th release of “Best Of Generifus,” a retrospective compilation from Washington State’s Spencer Sult. Spanning two decades, the album gathers 15 tracks from his ever-evolving catalog, highlighting Sult’s intimate, enduring songwriting. These songs, drawn from bedroom tapes and recent full-lengths, offer a beautifully distilled introduction to an artist whose melodies feel found rather than made—a gentle monument to staying true while moving forward.

Hannah Frances has announced her new album, Nested in Tangles, will be released on October 10th via Fire Talk. The composer, vocalist, guitarist, and poet has also shared the video for the lead single, “Surviving You,” a poignant reflection on generational trauma and self-preservation. She has also shared details of a headlining tour to support the release.

Japanese artist Nobukazu Takemura has shared “an ephemeral radiant,” a new single from his upcoming album, knot of meanings, due September 26th. The track captures Takemura’s singular blend of electro-acoustic instrumentation with sublime, understated arrangements. Steady piano figures are dappled with melodic motifs from cello synth, plinking electronics, and a trilling vibraphone, alluding to sparks flying from struck stones.

Taken from his new album, Hillbilly Ragas, Sir Richard Bishop’s latest single, “Pass the Juggernaut,” is a ferocious, brooding track that channels tradition, near severed from its source. It’s a journey into the “dark woods” of sound, with Bishop’s jagged, blunted strikes creating an intense and intimate musical experience that is both aggressive and profoundly soulful.

Fletcher Tucker shares the video for ‘Great Flowering Mind’, the final single from his forthcoming new album Kin (out this Friday). “…a song of kinship with the more-than-human – boulders, rivers and trees, spirits of place and long-dead ancestors…a song which describes and embodies the practice of kin-making (kinning).”

Secretly Canadian have reissued Songs: Ohia’s fabled 1998 album, Impala, on vinyl. Long out-of-print, the record is a raw document of Jason Molina’s songwriting, rooted in the blue-collar melancholy of Lorain, Ohio. This new edition offers a chance to explore a foundational work from a singular artist—listen to the unreleased demo of ‘Tess,’ captured during the original sessions.

Norwegian Hardanger fiddler, composer and writer Benedicte Maurseth has released “Simleflokk under månen,” the new single from her upcoming album Mirra. The hypnotic track evokes a herd of female reindeer journeying beneath the moonlight across the vast Hardangervidda plateau. Maurseth’s distinctive fiddle blends with folk traditions, minimalism, and wildlife sounds, continuing the immersive, ecosophical themes of her Nordic Music Prize-winning previous work.

Alongside a video by Ellius Grace, Alt-folk duo DUG have released ‘Have At It!’, the poignant title track from their debut album, arriving September 19th. The song’s title comes from a heartfelt family joke, anchoring the band’s unique blend of American and Irish folk traditions. Comprised of Lorkin O’Reilly and Jonny Pickett, DUG have also announced festival dates and a London headline show for November.

Modern Nature share their hypnotic new single “Alpenglow” from the upcoming album The Heat Warps, out August 29th via Bella Union. The record marks a shift to a more direct, groove-based sound for the band, led by a dynamic dual-guitar attack. Catch them on their extensive North American tour throughout the winter of 2025-2026, where they’ll bring their potent new energy to the stage.

Emily A. Sprague has announced her new album, Cloud Time, arriving October 10th. The record chronicles her debut tour of Japan through a series of environmental improvisations guided by the energy of each moment. The lead single, “Tokyo 1,” is a spacious and welcoming track capturing the emotional arc of a night Sprague calls “profoundly healing.” Listen now and view the visual by V Haddad.

North Louisiana’s blues titan Robert Finley returns with Hallelujah! Don’t Let The Devil Fool Ya, arriving October 10th. Produced by Dan Auerbach, the new gospel-infused album was incredibly improvised and recorded in just one day. The powerful single, “Helping Hand,” leads the project. Finley supports the release with a European tour, including a headline show at London’s Union Chapel on October 4th.