released: 22nd may, 2026

genre: jazz / contemporary classical

from: london, uk / los angeles, usa

label: carrying colour

a few thoughts: rain music is a truly therapeutic listen. i’ve been a fan of duval timothy’s hypnotic piano compositions for a while now, while carlos niño has been a legend of the contemporary spiritual jazz scene, if you wanna call it that, for years, being at the forefront of some of the most soothing and gorgeous music being produced today. they’ve come together on the immersive rain music, an 8-track masterpiece including some stunning compositions that feel and sound utterly mesmerising. the whole album feels like a warm, sonic embrace, from the emotive textures of the opener “assata’s rain” to the soft and delicate closer “birds, shells, rivets, keys”. the dynamic piano grooves of “loopy” are fantastic, while nate mercereau’s incredible guitars and synths on “ideations on rain” create this incredibly soft and healing energy. “bellsssswell” is another stunning moment, as carlos’ percussive contributions dance between duval’s poignant piano melodies. “bumpy” is this idiosyncratic piece, with the legend laraaji contributing his voice and effects on a disorienting yet beautiful piece. navy blue’s ascending verse on “beautiful, tender, colours” is absolutely perfect and an absolute standout. “reallyfeelingthis” is another ethereal listen, with delicate percussion and bass melodies – it’s an utterly hpynotic track and leads perfectly into the earthly, reflective and sombre closer. rain music is a beautiful and utterly hypnotic album that conveys so much tenderness and beauty in sonic form. it’s one of my standout releases so far this year.

the album: