released: june 5th, 2026

genre: electronic / trip-hop / jazz

from: bristol, uk

label: world of echo

a few thoughts: oh this album is a treat! my life’s in a bit of a crisis at the moment (i won’t bore you with the details), but somewhere good was released just at the right time. it feels like therapy in sonic form. it’s a comforting, reassuring album, with catchy melodies that feel warm and inviting. tara clerkin trio consists of tara clerkin, her partner sunny joe paradisos, and sunny’s brother, patrick benjamin. this is my first proper introduction to the band, despite this being their sophomore album, and it blew me away. not that somewhere good is groundbreaking – it doesn’t have to be. it just feels so good to the ears. the textures, from the soft and gentle guitar leads on tracks like “lazy daisy” and the title track, to the groovy and hypnotic energy on tracks like “silently” (the absolute highlight for me) and “there was a nice sunset”, make for an immersive and memorable listening experience. it’s an experimental, almost genreless album. the trio dipped their toes in a plethora of genres and sounds, combining gorgeous piano compositions with fast-paced drumming, soulful vocals, energetic drumming and infectious guitar melodies amongst other things. the subtle and sweet jazz on “ups & downs”, with its double bass groove, piano melody and synth leads, is a gorgeous and light moment on the album. the playful dub-inspired “slow island” is a colourful moment album, while the frantic and disorienting closer “movin’ on” is an eclectic, almost comical track. i say comical because the synth melodies and percussion on this project feels playful and disorienting, making this a fitting and energetic way to close out the album. somewhere good feels good. it feels like a warm hug, and might be one of the albums i return to the most this year. thank you tara clerkin trio!

the album: