Across the last nine odd weeks, 2025 has been bountiful for new music. But this week’s vastness really is something to write home about.
Luminescent Creatures is the new LP from Japanese singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ichiko Aoba and it is just sublime. Although well-established in her native Japan (collaborating with Haruomi Hosono, Cornelius, and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto), her international awareness has really been a more recent movement, with the (also sublime) Windswept Adan deservedly receiving much acclaim. Luminescent Creatures is stylistically similar, with slow and minimal arrangements gently flowing into melancholic and equally stirring moods around her beautiful, whispered vocals. The mood that this one creates is just so special, it is a rare and unique album, our Record of the Week.
+ We have a very last few of the limited ‘Ocean Blue Eco-Mix’ colour vinyl.
Recorded primarily at Richard Russell’s own west London Copper House studio, Temporary is the third collaborative LP from his Everything Is Recorded project. The contributors on this occasion are pretty wild, featuring; Sampha, Bill Callahan, Noah Cyrus, Florence Welch, Maddy Prior, Berwyn, Alabaster Deplume, Jah Wobble, Yazz Ahmed, Laura Groves, Kamasi Washington, Rickey Washington, Roses Gabor, Jack Peňate, Samantha Morton, Clari Freeman-Taylor and Nourished By Time. Although recorded with so many voices over the last few years, there is such a cohesion - perhaps the most successful in fact from the project to date. Dreamlike, woozy, ebbing and flowing with all sorts of lush tones and timbres. A lot to dive into.
+ Available on limited Red colour vinyl.
Supreme shoegazers Bdrmm return this week on Rock Action with the electronically inspired Microtonic LP. Big walls of sound, but club music textures are right in the mix on this one too, also including Working Men’s Club’s Syd Minsky-Sargeant on guest vocals. There is a free-flowing quality, an album about atmospherics primarily and that makes for the sort of vibe to totally get lost in. A really enthralling progression.
+ Vinyl copies include a limited signed 12” print.
+ Available on limited Marbled Blue and White vinyl.
The mighty Mdou Moctar returns with Tears of Injustice - a companion piece to last year's blistering Funeral for Justice LP. This new set is completely re-recorded and rearranged for acoustic and traditional instruments and it is quite the trip that the songs retain that fearsome power. Meditative, sombre and pretty heartbreaking, but with some amazing texture to those knotty riffs. Very highly recommended.
+ Available on limited and exclusive Sky Blue vinyl.
Sinister Grift is the first solo LP in five years from Animal Collective’s Panda Bear. Really lush psychedelic wooze, but also plenty of more maudlin tones and the way his vocals reflect both is really exciting. The directness of the more intimate songs are some of his most arresting moments on tape. Great stuff.
City of Clowns is the sixth LP from Canadian DJ and producer Marie Davidson and again produced in partnership with Soulwax. Such rich analogue boops and blips. Any few seconds of this album, in isolation, could have been produced anytime in the last forty years, but it’s Davidson right in the middle of it all that really makes it sing. Great energy and very smart.
+ Available on White colour vinyl.
Pinball Wanderer is the third solo LP from Ride guitarist and songwriter Andy Bell and the production really is fantastic. He locks into such serious grooves, a mix of 70’s and 90’s psychedelic swagger with ingenious DIY flashes. Also features Dot Allison and Neu! legend Michael Rother!
A contemporary Jazz/Soul treat on the Colemine Records label with Entrance Music from trio Okonski. The spontaneous set features pianist and leader Steve Okonski with long-time musical collaborators bassist Michael Isvara “Ish” Montgomery and Durand Jones and the Indications bandmate Aaron Frazer on drums. Proper graceful air, it’s so pretty.
+ Exclusive Orange/Black Swirl vinyl.
Seattle based rock band Deep Sea Diver release Billboard Heart on Sub Pop and it’s another album with really great production. 
As you well know, Darkside’s Nothing is also on the racks this week. Our February Record of the Month is starting to get to that ‘multiple play deep obsession’ phase, an oozing and woozing trip of timbres and tones. It really is a belter.
Lastly for today, Constellations For The Lonely is the new LP from Mancunian institutions, Doves. They sound older (in the best possible way), but indisputably like themselves, with triumphant highs and long-held cinematics. There is a lot of subtlety here amongst the epic waves of sound; but a few listens in, those hooks are well and truly hooked. What a mood, such a great band.
+ Available on exclusive Orange vinyl with alternative artwork.
