*2018 Album of the Year* New Jersey based producer Flamingosis comes through with the album of the summer. Flight Fantastic contains some of the most colourful and funky rhythms you’ll hear on a record in a while. The energy he emanates through his music is just infectious. Whether it’s the bounce-heavy beats that are incredibly…

One of my favourite current producers René Schier is back in style with his new full-length album titled It Is Not Enough To Love. I have previously included Seeds, his exceptional album last year in my favourites of 2017. The Berlin-based musician is back in style with an album that is more experimental and enigmatic in…

London-based musician and DJ Jonny Drop is probably most well-known as being part of The Expansions, a jazz-funk quartet from South London. As part of that group he has been able to gain the respect from radio presenters such as Huey Morgan and Lauren Laverne as well as the general music community not only in…

17 year old Portland-based producer Quickly, Quickly is back with another incredible little EP titled Over Skies. After his Paths project and his collaborative album with ANH titled Preach EP, he has gone from strength to strength with this new EP. The usual electronic rhythms within his music are complemented by colourful and quirky synths and…

Los Angeles emcee Jeremy Ian Thomas goes under the name Surreal. A musician gifted with a clear voice and impeccable wordplay, writing raps which inspire and bring out a sense of spiritual awakening. He is back with a brand new single titled “Do Better,” a smooth journey through the mind of someone searching for meaning. “Filling myself with the wisdom of the ancients.…

My excuses for not writing about this masterpiece sooner is that 1) I don’t usually cover singles, which is about to change and 2) Leicester-based musician Scott Xylo is cooking up what is easily my most anticipated album of the year, and I wanted to wait for the full experience before I craft my opinion.…

Sometimes I need to remind myself not to get carried away with stuff because for a second today I thought Richie Saps was releasing a full project. The talented producer and rapper has been on my radar since the “Red” single last year, a smooth, jazzy track which featured a confident verse from Richie. In…

Before releasing here debut project Love Games EP a couple of weeks ago, London – based singer Vonné has only released a few tracks in the build up to this upbeat and enjoyable EP. “Down” and “Closure” were the singles she released back last year, and contained an energy that was so infectious that you can’t…

Mindswimmer are a jazz quintet from Chicago, USA. The Future Jazz Sounds Of Mindswimmer is their debut album. 9 tracks long, it is an ambitious project which features compositions that vary from shorter 4 minute tracks to 18 minute stunners. It is eclectic in sound, with influences ranging from the spiritual jazz world of John Coltrane,…

Talented London-based producer Ashley Warden, aka AJMW comes through with a gorgeous new EP under his side-project enjo called That’s All, For Now. He is known for his melodic, soft melodies that focus on key progressions, guitar leads and subtle synths that give his music an ethereal feel. This was definitely felt on No Thoughts…

Dolfin Records bossman Ben Hixon comes through with an impressive new album titled Living Quarters, released on New Math Records. An album steeped in house rhythms and electronic beats that transcend genres, the Dallas based musician is able to bridge the gap between house music, hip-hop and soul music effortlessly. Tracks like “Candy Paint” meander…

Adam Roberts is a producer from Shrewsbury in the Midlands who goes by the name More // Night. The talented producer comes through with his debut album titled Double Slash, and is a mind-blowing piece of work which exceeded all my expectations upon first listen and puts him amongst one of my favourite producers right…

Following Khalab’s exciting first release on On The Corner Records earlier this year with Zaire EP, the talented musician is back with a full length project on the great label and has taken the London scene by storm with overwhelming support and radio play. Black Noise 2084 is the name of the record, a cacophonous yet…

*2018 Album of the Year* Los Angeles based musician Pink Siifu comes through with a new album titled ensley. The talented artist continues with his usually smooth and instantly recognisable voice, something he has been able to perfect and own through years of experimenting and releasing dope music. His collaborative album BRWN with Ahwlee as B. Cool…

Safe Jazz is a group formed by talented producer and bassist Jesse Schuster, who has released an exciting and vibrant electronic/jazz album titled Joy, etc. Inspired by the sound of the LA beat scene, Jesse is able to craft a sound that experiments with electronic compositions, as well as live instrumentation that gives the music a raw…

Talented Danish singer Marie Dahlstrøm comes through with a new EP titled Kanel. I came across her music quite recently through one of my favourite releases this year – Billy Dukes’ The Intervention, and in particular the track “Lords” where her gorgeous vocals permeated through lush soulful instrumentation. She is now based in London and has…

Producer L’Orange and rapper Solemn Brigham come through with an exquisite new collaborative album titled Marlowe. With L’Orange’s usual old-school sampling techniques, also incorporating Asian psychedelic rock influences and civil-rights era samples, this album is overtly political and personal, as Solemn Brigham raps about institutional racism and how it affects Solemn specifically as well as…

This talented duo from Manchester comprising of producer and vocalist Tyler Daley and emcee Konny Kon have been making waves as Children Of Zeus for years now. Signed to First Word Records, they have released an array of EPs and singles that have captured a vibrant, soulful sound that has been celebrated within the UK and…

Portland-based band Hosannas come through with a new album on Fresh Selects titled Picture Him Protecting You. Led by Rico Laws & Brandon Laws on all vocals and instruments, the group has been able to craft a smooth, melodic and beautiful brand of synth-led rock music. There are plenty of jazz influences throughout in some of…

Back in May last year, Inner Ocean Records’ released the BLESS Vol. 1 compilation album, which was a 111-track tape which aimed to raise some money to help people in Syria. 100% of proceeds went to help support the White Helmets, people dedicated to saving lives affected by the ongoing war. It was an ambitious project…

I’m thrilled to be able to introduce Yelloh, an incredibly talented young artist from London. Her voice is both gorgeous and soothing, and is able to create abstract hip-hop soundscapes that are introspective in theme and both soulful and eerie in production. Having purchased and used a Rago Foot and Joe Armon-Jones beat titled “Futon”…

I’m really excited about THE MUD SE, a newly formed group from South East London producing some jazz-infused hip-hop with a moody tone to it. Members include talented producer YUNG TURKISH, singer/producer SHAKE OF ARFA and rapper BEARLEY. The group released their debut EP SUNGAZER just last month and have been dropping singled since. As…

One of the (many) releases I slightly overlooked this year, Ukrainian-based musician LoVibe comes through with another incredible EP titled you are here, but I’m not ノノ. Her usual r&B flips are beautifully intertwined with some smooth, neo-soul instrumentation that perfectly complements the loops and sampled used throughout. It is a colourful and upbeat project with…

LA-based producer Swarvy is back with his highly anticipated new album titled Anti-Anxiety after a string of beat tapes released last year (Blends Vol.3 & Blends Vol.4). Over the 18 tracks on his new album, Swarvy is able to craft a sonically dense and eclectic album full of soul and jazz-heavy compositions that highlight his talents to…

Originally from Yokohama in Japan, tajima hal has been making genre-defining music for some years now. tones, his 2015 release blew people away with beautiful melodies and hard-hitting beats that didn’t go unnoticed by the real beat-heads. He is back with a new release on Urban Waves Records titled Isolated Planet, and my god is…

LA-based rapper and producer Busdriver is a legend within the underground hip-hop scene, having released critically acclaimed music since 1999. Busdriver is an innovator, his music is often avant-garde in nature and requires patience to really digest and appreciate his work. His 10th studio album Electricity Is On Our Side, is no different. Released back…

Italian producer Odeeno is back with a new EP titled Cristalost. It is a tape born from a purely abstract journey, and is a personal tape which captures a sombre mood, which can be sensed by the ocean-like cover. The music itself features bass-heavy production which is complemented by eerie synth leads and subtle keys…

Kaidi Tatham’s music has reverberated through dancefloors worldwide for years now. He is a legendary UK producer who is best known for his work Bugz In The Attic, but has also  worked with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Slum Village, Mulatu Astatke, Soul II Soul, Moonchild, Leroy Burgess, Amp Fiddler, Chris Dave and Macy Gray amongst others. After…

Having released music for the best part of two decades now, Brixton-based Afro-Dub group Soothsayers have come through with an incredibly positive and colourful new album on Wah Wah 45s titled Tradition. Their heavy, dub and afro-beat sound on this album is layered with heavy drum grooves, beautiful guitar leads, infectious basslines that are perfect…