Back in stock: Balearic/Downtempo

Review: For a brief period in the early 1980s, Colored Music - the duo of Atsuo Fujimoto and Ichiko Hashimoto - burned brightly. They released one critically acclaimed album on Japanese avant-pop label Better Days before vanishing into obscurity. Individual Beauty draws together previously unheard of alternate versions of the duo's eponymous 1981 EP, unreleased tracks and a handful of archival solo productions. It's an eclectic and hugely enjoyable affair, with the Japanese duo flitting between experimental ambient soundscapes, heavy no-wave proto-techno ("Heartbeat (Unreleased Version)"), mutant funk ("We Are Only Dancing"), head-in-the-clouds hypnotism ("Ambient Discotheque") and more raucous, post-punk disco insanity (the decidedly crunchy "De To Ri Mi").

Review: 'Mordechai is another blissed-out record from Texan party-chill-psyche trio Khruangbin. It's also among the outfit's most defined and driven, a smooth, sticky hot funk odyssey made for hazy afternoon soirees. Leader Laura Lee is, as ever, unfathomably siren-like on vocals, her bass grooves aiding the process of seduction no end. Even at the most upbeat and anthemic, 'Time (You and I)', it's hard not to feel woozy and intoxicated by the pared-back breaks and guitar lick combination. Dance floor ammo for sure, as is Pelota. Overall, though, it's an album best savoured slowly, allowing you to fully appreciate every lackadaisical moment of opiate goodness, with tracks such as 'Father Bird, Mother Bird', 'One To Remember' and 'Shida' summoning stunning sticky, heavy, deep atmospheres.

Review: Mukatsuku goes all Balearic with this limited hand-numbered 180 gram 12 inch with a collaboration with Leng.First up is the sultry, melodic & life affirming jazzy keys glory which is ''Susta'' taken from the 10 Years compilation from 2020 now given a whole side of vinyl for itself. On the flipside Payfone is in fine form on "Last Night in Sant Celoni" is where Phil Passera offers up a warm and humid chunk of soft-touch dancefloor bliss underpinned by a combination of vintage analogue drum machine, 1980s style slap bass, rich electric piano motifs, and casually brilliant jazz guitar flourishes provided by regular Payfone guitarist Royce Wood Junior. First time this instrumental version has been available on wax.As played by Ashley Beedle,Faze Action, Chari Chari, Calm, Smoove,Red Greg, Crazy P,Charlie Dark etc...

Review: There was much excitement surrounding Granit Records' recent reissue of Claude Rodap's sole album, 1982's synthesizer-heavy fusion of traditional Martinique styles and (then) contemporary electronic music, Syn-Ka. Now Rush Hour is getting in on the act, issuing three more obscure Rodap productions - this time made around the turn of the Millennium - on vinyl for the first time. There's naturally plenty to enjoy, from the rainforest melodies, spacey synth-bass and gentle tropical rhythms of "Hiwa", to the glistening, guitar-laden Caribbean Balerica of closer "Zouklove". The track that sits in between, the denser, jazzier, solo heavy "Paco", is also superb.

Review: Charles Webster's 2020 album Decision Time, his first for decades, was widely praised for the depth, soulfulness and densely atmospheric of its hazy and tactile sound. Those with long memories pointed out that Webster has form in this regard, with the legendary British deep house producer taking a similar approach with his 2001 solo debut album, Born on the 24th July. That album was overlooked at the time, so it's fabulous to see it finally get reissued on vinyl. Shot through with woozy, soft-focus, ultra-deep soul, trip-hop and gorgeous downtempo beats, the set is not only immaculately produced and full of inventive instrumentation, but also boasts some seriously inspired guest vocals. It's genuinely an overlooked classic that deserves any belated attention it finally receives.