2025.52
ANAN: Room
This pair of Italian producers collaborate on a spectacular collection of psychedelic house music. Downtempo grooves with some jazzy excursions, the kind of album to put on in the cool-down late hours after a high energy night out or just for early eve relaxation or whenever the mood strikes. It's the putting on that's important, you're definitely gonna want to. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.53
Alex Figueira: Colliding Layers
Heck, it's been a long week, let's keep things funky, eh? Figueira is sublime here, blending and mixing from his tropicalia and crate-digging roots, playing every instrument, and never losing a steady grasp on the groove. This is Friday in music form, dig it. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.54
Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko: Our Calling
There are few sounds quite as beautiful as a well-played kora and if the guy playing it is named Sissoko, all the better. Here Ballaké joins forces with folkie Faccini for a gorgeous meeting-of-the-minds blend of the two musicians strengths. It's beautiful & meditative & might make you think this world is worth living in & working to make better. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.55
Jaco Jaco: Gremlin
If you're a fan of Unknown Mortal Orchestra's early albums (and you should be!), you'll dig this one. Psychpop out of Philly that hits everything *just* right. Just the right oomph in the bass, just the right amount of fuzzy effects on the vox, just enough weirdness. Only thing that isn't just enough is the length: the short run time will have you wishing there was more. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.56
Katy Pinke: Strange Behavior
The first line sung is "giving you head on the bed" which is definitely a choice. Even so, Pinke's lyrics are more quirky and sweet than provocative. Musically, the singer-songwriter has surrounded herself with an A-team of NYC talent, including personal fave Jeremy Gustin on drums. Combined, it's lush and lively with plenty of hidden treasures throughout. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.57
Aux Meadows: Draw Near
There's plenty of psychedelic country out there, but this trio has a unique take on dreamy twang or maybe it's twangy dream. The Oakland trio consists of lap steel, guitar, and synth and plays zone-out instrumentals in their own Venn diagram overlap region. It's light and easy and heady as heck. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.58
Billy Mohler: The Eternal
Bassist Billy Mohler delivers some excellent jazz-adjacent, sprouting from a growing west coast community. The quartet features he's-everywhere Jeff Parker on guitar. It's appropriately bass-forward with short solo vignettes tying together a set of hefty compositions, occasionally "traditional" but mostly finding a voice of his own. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.59
Curtis Hasselbring: The Curhachestra
Hasselbring, aka Curha, is often the secret weapon in whatever band he's playing in, on both trombone & guitar. So it makes sense that his own band is full of NYC secret weapons, including a guest appearance by Nels Cline. Curha's unique aesthetic is a sonic collage of traditional rock and jazz motifs, like half a big band got waylaid in a garage. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.60
Futuropaco: Fortezza Di Vetro, Vol. 2
Perhaps the king of Eurojams is the El Paraiso label. Everything they put out is heavy psych heaven. Even when the music is from ye olde USA like Justin Pinkerton who operates out of Oakland as Futuropaco. His latest one-man concoction is, indeed, heavenly. That is, if dense, bang-your-head-rhythm psychrock is your idea of heaven. Trust me, it's killer. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.61
Neil Cowley Trio: Separate Entities
This may be the shortest rec yet. A 3-track EP that's barely 10 mins long. Yet Cowley & his piano trio cover a lot of sonic ground and give a good summary of their progressive jazz+ sound. In some ways, this is the postscript to last year's full length release, but it works even better as an intro to the group. So start here, continue to explore, and... enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.62
Jeffrey Lewis: The EVEN MORE Freewheelin’ Jeffrey Lewis
Probably everything you need to know about Lewis is contained in the opening track to his latest. The embodiment of NYC neuroses laid bare in folk form. Honest, funny and poignant all at once. You'll relate to half of it & probably be glad you don't relate to the other half. It's sweet, catchy, and sure to make you smile and laugh. Enjoy!
Album link in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.63
The Lewis Express with Chip Wickham: Doo-Ha!
The Lewis Express is a coming-together of musicians from various groups and releases on the oft-recommned'd ATA label out of Leeds. Formidable on their own, they're joined by flute groovemeister Wickham and the results are a boogie-down jam. Flavors of the 70's with CTI energy mixed with a peak Herbie Mann sound. It's a mood and a half. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.64
Hooffoot: Phantom Limb
Either the water or the socialized medicine, but they're doing something right in Scandinavia breeding heady shit like this band out of Sweden. Proggy jamjazz, like Miles Davis and Emerson Lake and Palmer's unholy child. Four tracks is all it takes for them to stretch to the outer limits and back again. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.65
Will Johnson: Diamond City
Johnson writes loud quiet songs & quiet loud songs, and man, can he! A songwriter's songwriter, if you're not familiar w/ his many projects, perhaps you caught him on tour with Isbell or before that in Monsters of Folk or New Multitudes. He's in finest form here, one evocative burner after another. Each sure to catch your ear with a lyric or a riff or just a mood. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.66
Dead Meadow: Voyager to Voyager
Dead Meadow has been doing the heavy psych thing for quite some time now and despite some ups & downs, they continue to deliver on their 10th studio LP. It comes weighted with tragedy as their bass player passed between recording & release. Hard not to focus on that fuzzy low end and how it complements some serious guitar riffs and power drumming. Shit rocks. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.67
Bugge Wesseltoft: Am Are
Keyboardist Wesseltoft is prolific as heck and possessing some serious stylistic breadth. As such, this is already his second rec-worthy release of the year and it's appropriately all over the place. Piano meditations, inventive jazz trio work, synthfusion jams, and experimental explorations. Amongst others. It all works, some more than others. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.68
Action & Tension & Space: New Dimensions
Eurojam perfection out of Norway. Your standard guitar, keys, bass, drum set-up takes you on a series of mind-bending, hair-raising psychedelic excursions. It's zone out music you can rock out to and rocking out music you can zone out to. I think you should listen to em all, of course, but this one is a must-listen, one of the so-far year's best. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.69
Rosettes: Lifestyles
The recommneds often looks to Northern Europe for sick psychedelic Eurojams, not for old school soul, but the pocket in this Helsinki band's debut is deep and incredibly comfy. They're not breaking any new ground, but the homage to classic soul, funk, and R&B sounds is undeniably, satisfyingly groovy. It's your perfect weekend launching pad, happy Friday and... enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.70
Rindert Lammers: Thank You Kirin Kiki
Ambient jazz out of the Netherlands. Where some ambient is like a still pond, content to luxuriate in silence, this debut finds lushness in its sparseness. Lammers' bio professes an early love of Genesis and you can feel a hint of that orchestral richness in these five quietly beautiful tracks. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.71
Øresund Space Collective: Alotta Hella down in Estrela
There are jams, there are long jams, and then there's shit like the 3-track, 90 (!) min session from this improvising collective. There's quality to go with that quantity too. You can almost hear someone ask if the tapes were rolling as they come out of their collective trance. You'll be thankful they were when you come out of yours. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree:https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.72
Charlie Ballantine: East by Midwest
Caught this guy play this week and quite possibly he's what's next in jazz guitar. The album, featuring a great rhythm section, captures the allure. Wonderful tone and smile-inducing playing. He covers both Monk + the Beatles (twice!) with a Lagesque spirit & a Frisellian approach. It's both the straight road and the crooked path. Looking forward to more. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.73
Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto: Electric War
Do you know Little Barrie? Maybe not, which is a crime. Barrie Cadogan's criminally underrated soulblues trio's been cranking out bangers for a while, each seemingly better than the last, which goes double for this collab with Catto. It's catchy-riff-heavy with some Nocentelli funk mixed in. Much to love, beginning to end. Get yourself acquainted. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.74
Romano: Güle Güle
Lior Romano is an Israeli musician with roots in Turkey & Egypt and his debut solo album is a worldly delight of instrumental funkiness that is a delight in any language or culture. Working from a base of synthesizers & keyboards of all stripes , Romano constructs grooves that are both forward-looking and reverent to past masters. One of my fave recent releases, dig it! Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.75
Charif Megarbane: Hawalat
A great companion to yesterday's rec is this latest banger from Lebanese artist Megarbane out on the Habbibi Funk label. It's funky indeed, but with a cinematic scope, the Meters crossed with Morricone out of the Middle East. Although that's just scratching the surface, the sound and the grooves are truly global. So spin it up and... enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.76
Samantha Crain: Gumshoe
There are moments on Crain's latest that could've been found on 70's FM radio. Others on 80's MTV, on an indie rock compilation from the 00's, a second stage at a folk festival in the 10's, and a algorithm discovery playlist in the 20's. It's timeless rock in its own way but mostly it's just a bunch of fantastic songs. Each track here could be a favorite. Find yours. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.77
The hypercreative Simon Hanes who helms bands like Tredici Bacci and personal fave Tsons of Tsunami heads to Brussels to compose a soundtrack in an incredibly creative, immersive way. You should read up on it while you're listening. You'll hear lots of influences from soundtracks of the 60's and 70's and Hanes own sonic fingerprints throughout. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.78
First Beige: Wayside
Sometimes things can get a little complex or esoteric around recommneds HQ but we like to keep it simple sometimes, too. Which isn't to say there isn't a twist or two in today's pick. But mostly it's just a super enjoyable jazzy, dancey indie pop out of Brisbane. There's an occasional Toro Y Moi vibe in there as well. Starts in one place, evolves to another. Cool stuff. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.79
Daughter of Swords: Alex
Alex Sauser-Monnig is 1/2 of Mountain Man amongst other things, performing solo as Daughter of Swords. Their previous release was a lovely, sparse folk, so the latest offering is quite a leap. The emotion-laden songwriting remains but now the sound is anything but sparse - a sonic depth sparkling with creativity, closer to early StVincent or JuanaMolina. Impressive. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.80
Web Web: Plexus Plexus
This one hits a sweet spot for me and I'm guessing if you're reading this for you as well. I mean, what's not to love? The Munich band finds the perfect balance of funk and fuzz, managing to squeeze a surprising amount of kapow! into each one of these 2-3 minute tracks. Bet ya dig... enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.81
Cold Diamond & Mink/Jimi Tenor: July Blue Skies
At its base, this has the feel of an old-school soul record that could've been the result of a heroic crate digging excursion. But give it a minute and it reveals new facets: garage psych here, flute grooves there, some synthfunk... both instrumentals and songs with summer-ready lyrics like the title track. So great ready for summer and... enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.82
NRG: Live at Ronnie Scott's
Sometimes I'll see sick improv at a club in NYC & wonder if those types of things happen in other cities. Well, here's proof that, of course, it does. A collective blending jazz, rock, soul, funk in a session at one of London's big jazz clubs that's mostly make it up as they go. Spontaneity & fun as the players, folks that make the big names sound good, go deep. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.83
EZRA: Froggy's Demise
They aren't the first to do the chamber bluegrass thing, but this quartet of young string players certainly have a way of making it feel like they are. Pretty much a new band, this is somehow their 3rd release, each better than the last. There's a vibrant warmth to their compositions and their ensemble playing. This music tells a story and it's one worth listening to. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.84
Spellman: Herbwise
This album gives the feeling of being in a mostly empty bar late at night, there's a band in the corner fiddling around, oozing pure quiet vibes. Then at others it's like happening upon a completely different band in the middle of an ancient magical forest, spinning pure spirtualism. Guitars and keys make room for primitive flute sounds. It's a mood, for sure. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.85
Uwade: Florilegium
The 1st time I heard Uwade I had to wonder why I'd never heard of her before, like was someone keeping her from me? Well, I'm not going to play you like that. Here to share her lovely voice & wonderful indie folkpop. The production is on point, making the pretty parts sounds prettier & giving the parts with more bite a little more bite. It sounds good, she sounds good. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.86
Shai Maestro: Solo: Miniatures and Tales
It's all there in the title, solo piano, with little pieces (ie miniatures) interspersed with longer explorations (the tales). It's a study in contrasts, all the ways of musically point-counterpoint-ing: tempo, mood, volume... In the end, it's mostly just lovely, introspective, and calming. Beautiful piano as balm in a not-always-beautiful world. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.87
Maia Friedman: Goodbye Long Winter Shadow
When you talk about music being *lush*, this is it. Chamber folk rich in ornamental instrumentation: strings and reeds and vocal harmonies. All in service to Friedman's voice and songwriting - love songs and existentialism. The result is like a sonic flower garden with varied textures, colors, and musical aroma. Put on your headphones and... enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.88
Michael Grigoni & Pan-American: New World, Lonely Ride
Just in time for your weekend zone-out is this enchanting duo record that weaves pedal and lap steel with acoustic guitar and a touch of synthesizers. It's an ethereal delight: sparse, floating meditations of strings. File alongside Mary Lattimore, Chuck Johnson, and William Tyler. Absolutely gorgeous. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.89
André Drage: Journeyman
Ah, this one I really love. Norwegian musician with the first release on his own label and dang, I'm looking forward to what's to come. This has hints of Zappa and Eno and Terry Riley. Dreamy groove and afro-ambient and bits of weirdness thrown in for good measure. At its highest moments it gets quite transcendent. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
2025.90
Frente Cumbiero: Inconcreto & Asociados
Cumbia is almost always a deeply enjoyable groove on its own, but it also has a lump-of-clay quality that allows it to take all sorts of forms. Here's an excellent example. At times, it morphs into almost Balkan brass, either an intentional style mashup or a dance-ready demo of how sounds from corners of the globe just mesh. All that and much more. Enjoy!
Album links in LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/recommneds
@Neddyo Went to look this up on Tidal, excited to listen. While there, I saw that one of their recent singles had a cover image from a #DJKicks release I hadn't seen before, one from Quantic.
Turns out that was released this past Friday.
So bc of this post and a cover art snafu, I get some dope cumbia *and* a set from #Quantic --- thanks!
neddyo
Trevor Burrows