New releases last two weeks: Psych/Garage Rock

Review: Candeleros is a six-member, Colombia- and Venezuela-rooted collective based in Madrid that fuses Cumbia, merengue, dub and an array of Afro-Caribbean rhythms into a psychedelic, postmodern celebration of Latin sound. Their music blends Andean echoes, cinematic textures and hypnotic percussion into what feels like a ritualistic dance experience and has seen them collaborating with artists like Dodosound and Carlos Talez. They always reject the usual genre boundaries while focusing on cultural activism and the power of collective expression and have performed across Europe. As this album shows, their sound is passionate, borderless and proof that Cumbia has truly rooted itself in Europe.

Review: Primarily known for his sprawling LA-based psych/garage/punk/all of the above work as Osees aka Thee Oh Sees aka Oh Sees, John Dwyer links up with experienced percussionist Dave Barbarossa (Fine Young Cannibals, Adam & The Ants) for the retro bratty glam-punk experience of the year - Chime Oblivion. Their self-titled debut is packed full of squelchy synths, jagged minimalist guitar lines and high-pitched eccentric vocals, paying clear homage to classic acts such as The Slits and Bow Wow Wow. Chock full of bite-sized bangers including 'Neighbourhood Dog' and 'Kiss Her Or Be Her', both of which scoff at the notion of a three-minute track, this is retrofitted throwback dance-punk in the stylised era before it even had such a moniker.

Review: LA Lom's March 2024 show at Chicago's Thalia Hall debuts on vinyl for Record Store Day 2025 a year or so after the band's defining live moment. Just months after packing the Empty Bottle, the band returned to an even larger crowd, which served as proof of their ever-growing Chicago fanbase. Determined to keep the raw energy of their LA roots alive, they built a bright red round stage in the centre of the hall and were surrounded by fans dancing and singing from every side. The night was captured on film and tape by longtime collaborator Jacob Butler and now, the much talked about performance featuring original tracks, classic cumbia covers and a Smokey Robinson ballad finally makes its way to wax.

Review: Carpet of Fallen Leaves serves as the luminous introduction to Eddie Marcon, a folk-pop project from Eddie Corman and Jules Marcon. The collection takes in more than two decades of intimate, self-released recordings that all bring fragile beauty and melodic grace from Japan's underground psych-folk scene. Gentle guitar, soft organ and deft bass interlace with pristine vibraphone, flute and pedal steel sounds to form sparse and spare yet intricate arrangements. Collaborators like Ikuro Takahashi and Shintaro Sakamoto add their own contributions, and so songs shimmer with a real emotional depth and Eastern charm. Highlights like 'Tora To Lion' and 'Shoujo' inspire quiet wonder while capturing fleeting moments of everyday life with a real tenderness and elegance.