Back catalogue: Rock (All)

Review: Kartell's debut album Everything Is Here melds French electronic accessibility with r&b and disco grooves while also drawing on prog rock's esoteric elements and introspective psychedelia. Nostalgic yet forward-looking, it expands on his EPs with dream pop aesthetics and the futuristic allure of the 60s and 70s. Space rock's nebulous textures and ethereal sounds permeate throughout as tracks are anchored by minor-key grooves. The dense, cinematic production weaves a vivid tapestry, integrating live bass, drums, and guitars amid hazy effects and synths to leave you lost in sound.

Review: Keshi's new album Requiem is a powerful statement to his growth as an artist. Created across Houston, LA, New York, and Tokyo, this 13-track album showcases Keshi's exceptional talents as a songwriter, producer, and performer, with an ambition clearly aimed at arena performances. Born Casey Luong, Keshi has built a reputation for his unique blend of lo-fi hip-hop and r&b, characterised by soothing vocals and deeply introspective lyrics. Requiem, his sophomore album, follows 2022's Gabriel, which solidified him as a top debut artist. The new album delves into themes of love and loss, particularly influenced by the death of a close friend. This profound experience shaped Keshi's perspective on life and time, culminating in the album's title track, 'Requiem,' which reflects a coming-of-age realization. The album also features the single 'Say,' infused with city pop influences, adding another layer to Keshi's evolving sound. Requiem promises to be a deeply emotional and resonant project, continuing to connect with listeners worldwide.

Review: King Pari is an LA-via-Minneapolis duo who creatively blend influences from Prince and psychedelic dub into a new sound they have described as "bedroom funk." Their infectious lo-fi tracks are rich in emotion and brimming with funky grooves so make for a catchy listen. This group actually picked up props from Prince himself before the late Purple genius passed in 2016 and since then jazz innovator Kamasi Washington has also annoyed himself as a fan. This full length is only sure to win the pair ever more accolades for this new take on classic funk.

Review: Japanese singer-songwriter Junko Kudo has released just two solo albums and one EP but has many more credits having built up a reputation for her vocals on the works of others including greats like Mimori Yusa amongst others. Her debut full-length Akaneiro No Carnival gets reissued here with an insert and obi-strip 40 years after it first arrived. It features Tetsuya Komuro and Daisuke Hyuga working on the arrangements and performance and is a delightful pop gem with hints of wave and synth-pop all drawing you in while the ephemeral whispering vocals from Kudo blend with melancholic melodies and wistful chords.