New Music. . . It's been so long! I. . . I missed you!!

Inhaler - Open Wide

Label: Polydor
Genre: Indie Rock
Reviewed by: Anthony Cusat
Inhaler’s third album release Open Wide leans even more into their contemporary indie rock style while incorporating in late 20th century pop influence. The infusion of emotion into the lyrics and composition of the album resonates in a similar way to an early Kings of Leon or U2 (which the band shares a familial connection to Bono) but with the sonic quality of todays indie/alt rockers. It’s impossible not to appreciate the real time maturation of the bands sound and possibly the direction of the 2020s indie sound.

Oklou- Choke Enough

Label: True Panther
Genre: Alt Pop Rock / Dance Pop
Reviewed by: Kayra Ersoy
The French sensation Oklou’s third album, choke enough, stays true to the energy that she established in 2014. Even though this album has a familiar sound to most experimental pop artists now, it offers something unique with the instrumentation (check out tracks 2 & 3 for some awesome Medieval-timey sounds). choke enough loosely takes inspiration from popular songs in the mid-2010s. The album is split into two with an interlude in track 7, allowing for the mellow section to be first and then diving towards the more upbeat songs near the end. Overall, it is a great album to explore some refreshing electronic pop music.

Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Ebo Taylor- Jazz Is Dead 23 - Hyldon

Label: Jazz Is Dead
Genre: Brazil / Jazz / Psychedelic Soul
Reviewed by: Len Comaratta
Hyldon, a musical pioneer and early contributor to the“Black Rio” movement is a genius in synthesizing the sounds of MPB,Tropicália and Black American R&B. His unique voice, coupled with his rich arrangements and laid-back grooves set him apart from the contemporaries of the time. One of the last recordings to feature the late drummer Ivan “Mamão” Conti of Azymuth.

Darwin Chamber vs DJ Spun- Episode 1

Label: Rong Music
Genre: RPM
Reviewed by: Len Comaratta
Darwin Chamber and DJ Spun unite for a bold four-tracker here that draws on all their decades of experience to push the boundaries of trance and techno. This self-titled release is nostalgic without sacrificing innovation and opens with 'Find The Missing Letter,' a dub-tinged techno builder with hypnotic synths. 'Digits' follows with relentless beats and dark, robotic energy. The sultry 'Do It All Night' anchors the EP with a seductive groove, while 'Ants' closes with mid-tempo warmth and acidic undertones. Combining Darwin Chamber's engineering expertise and DJ Spun's club culture mastery.

Darwin Chamber vs DJ Spun- Episode 2

Label: Rong Music
Genre: RPM
Reviewed by: Len Comaratta
Episode 2. they blend dub, trance and techno into lithe new forms. 'The Revolution' is a mid-tempo and atmospheric roller with hypnotic vocals, while 'The Playa' is a deft bit of electronic minimalism with a deep space feel and ticking 808 sounds. Things get a bit looser with the warped synths and dusty tech beats of 'Dysfunction' while 'Acid Tounge' closes with trippy designs, a skeletal rhythm and a sense of late-night melodic and afterparty mischief.

Neal Francis- Return to Zero

Label: ATO
Genre: 60/70s Throwback
Reviewed by: Claire Leitner
Neal Francis’ third album was created entirely without the use of digital programming, only analog! Which is fun! The album stretches a wide range of musical influences, with elements of R&B, jazz, and modern indie rock all mixed in, and yet still manages to maintain a cohesive sound. Neal Francis said that Electric Light Orchestra inspired a lot of tracks on the album, and you can definitely hear substantial 70’s influence throughout. The heavy bass lines throughout the whole album create a groove-heavy sound, and the album has a warm, inviting sound that makes it really fun.

My Morning Jacket- Is

Label: ATO
Genre: Alt Pop Rock
Reviewed by: Eshal Khowaja
Is by My Morning Jacket easily draws in its listeners with its smooth alt rock. The 10-track record brings a strong start, the first five tracks standout in their unique sounds and polished production, but unfortunately loses its momentum in the latter half of the album. The band stays consistent with its previous work, with nothing substantially new to the table, but not necessarily a lackluster album, by any means. The quintet brings a common, classic rock sound that's well done and easy to listen to.

Ichiko Aoba- Luminescent Creatures

Label: Hermine
Genre: Ethereal Japanese Folk
Reviewed by: Mak Kanekkeberg
Ichiko Aoba's new album Luminescent Creatures captures all the whimsy of being in a magical forest surrounded by talking animals. Through airy sounds, sweet vocals, and bright instruments, Aoba crafts a surreal experience through each track. Although nothing groundbreaking on her part, if you enjoyed her last albums, you will love Luminescent Creatures. The perfect soundtrack to a rainy day full of reading, studying, or daydreaming. "Colortura" draws the listener in with an ethereal sound, like flowing water and sparkling lakes. "Aurora" matches the name perfectly, with soft piano and quiet guitar. Aoba has said before that her music is inspired by Disney and Studio Ghibli, and this album perfectly encapsulates that. Definitely check it out if you're a fan of her most popular song "Asleep Among Endives"

Fred Moten & Brandon Lopez- Revision

Label: AUM Fidelity
Genre: NCP Jazz
Reviewed by: Mak Kanekkeberg
Revision by Fred Moten and Brandon Lopez is a spoken poetry album that features experimental sounds, bass plucking by Lopez, and thought provoking speech by Moten. Fred Moten is an American theorist and poet, that focuses on topics on critical theory and black studies. This focus can be seen throughout this album in the spoken poetry. Brandon Lopez, on bass, works a lot on improvisation and looking for new artistic musical pieces. Throughout the album, behind Moten’s voice, there is a constant rhythm of bass plucking providing support for the words. Track 4 “#4” is by far the most experimental and audibly interesting track on this album. It features scraping, grinding, metallic, and ominous sounds that seem to not be featured much on other tracks.

Perfume Genius- Glory

Label: Matador
Genre: Alt Indie Pop Rock
Reviewed by: Naiel Habtemichael
Glory does an amazing job at blending larger-than-life, lush synths and distorted guitars with more acoustic instrumentation and loose song strucutre. Ya know, a Perfume Genius album! Mike Hardreas' lyrical and vocal ability is still as incredible as ever, but some of the songs don't seem to express their full potential. Songs like 'Left for Tomorrow' and 'Capezio' seem to just cylce on an on without ever really pulling you in, or giving you a worthwile release. There are some great highlights like 'It's a Mirror', which incorporates more acoustic produciton than I've ever heard on a Perfume Genius song. It's a great fit! 'Hanging Around' is a spacious, spiraling ballad that really pays off by the end. All in all, it's not as good as his last album but it still has it's appeal, listen to it!