New Jersey house don Kerri Chandler is rightfully lauded as a hero of the scene. He continues to pour his heart and soul into every record and imbue his music with real-world emotions that elevate his tunes. He is of course a master of a deep but driving sound that borrows from soul, funk and jazz in ignitible ways. The third volume of his Lost & Found EP series on his own label Kaoz Theory is packed with more gold, from the slinky depths of 'Let It (Give Me Back My Love)' to the soul staring vocal work of 'Another Dawn' via more paired back sounds on 'The Bassline' (Kerri Dark mix) and the percussive energy of 'The Breeze.' Yet another essential Kerri 12" for your collection.

Swiss producer and DJ Lea Lisa gathers together some of her favorite tracks to play out with in a double pack compilation for Favorite Recordings. As you might be able to tell from some of the artists and tracks on here, Lea likes her house music deep, tracky, sometimes soulful and verging on proper techno. Featured here are key tracks like 'Ekeyz' from Pure Science, the club mix of 'Be There' by Kerri Chandler and 'Blax Thanxs' by Abacus. One very desirable addition is the early 90s gem 'Emotional' by Think. This very strong gathering of deep house tracks may be one of the best this year. Act quick and grab a copy.

Apathy's Connecticut Casual: Chapter 2 delivers a potent sequel to his original project with a refined production and matured subject matter. With Playa Haze's influence evident, the album's soundtrack blends modern and nostalgic elements, complementing Ap's witty wordplay and enthusiastic delivery. Tracks like 'Connecticut Formal' and 'Hammond Court Kids' paint vivid pictures of life in CT, while 'No One Can Hear You Scream In Space' and 'Vacation' delve into introspection with compelling hooks. Ap's versatility shines on 'Jackie O' and 'Fenwick,' evoking different eras seamlessly. Collaborations like 'Never Change' with Little Vic and 'Todd McFarland' featuring Celph Titled add depth and diversity. The production, ranging from smooth samples to gritty beats, perfectly complements Ap's sonic missiles of bars. Connecticut Casual: Chapter 2 is a standout release in 2024, showing Apathy's growth and artistry while offering an an exciting audio adventure.

Contemporary D.C. punk gets another run for its money with this seven-year anniversary of No Man's 'Glitter And Spit' EP. Emerging from the city's punk scene with the collective voracity of a starved vat of piranhas, the four-piece band came together amid the fallout of prior project Majority Rule, albeit with a similar set of musical-political aims. The EP evidences No Man's sound as huge and clunking, thanks to the nearly slowcore-esque drums and guitars of Pat Broderick and Kevin Lamiell (in its slower moments, at least), yet coming fronted by a toothy, harpish snarl by vocalist Matt Michel, backed up by guest vocalist Maha Shami on one track. The faster moments are monumentally cathartic and powerful; this is by far one of the most intense punk records we've heard all year so far, carrying enough home-headbang potential to evince many a rageful family moshpit from the sound alone, let alone the commentary over the Israeli-Palestine conflict it also bears.

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Neon White was released to rave reviews in 2022, receiving multiple nominations and awards and featuring on many 'Best of' lists. This is, by no means a stretch, partly due to the sensational soundtrack that scores the combination of fast-paced speedrun-based platforming and visual novel worldbuilding parts of the game. That OST is the brainchild of Matt Stephenson, the founder of the New York alt duo Machine Girl, inspired mainly by the early works of 'RePorpoised Phantasies' and 'Wlfgrl', which centre mainly around bubbly electro-funk and breakcore cuts. 'The Burn that Cures' contains all of the non-level tracks, that soundtrack the conversations you have with your fellow neons or the ambience of certain realms of heaven that Neon White traverses. Printed on two marbled discs, referencing the adversary's Blue and Neon Green, the cover art is made by none other than artists and lead producer Esposito himself, featuring Neon White and Red in one of many sensual moments throughout the story. A big stand-out track is 'Holy Ground', a late-game track that is as unsettling as it is calming, the ambient synths washing over the ear is heavenly.