Tame Impala – The Slow Rush

More like The Slow Rush to get this album out, amirite? But then Kevin Parker’s always been a particular fellow, even the version of Borderline here has been chopped and changed since the single came out (and for the better). Thankfully rank average advance single Patience didn’t make the cut too. A lot of songs here seem to be about time in one way or another, thematically speaking, and you can hear the agonising hours and days and weeks and months spent on these songs in how deep and detailed and crafted they sound. It’s not Currents. The singles aren’t as strong and the overall album isn’t as ambitious... but it’s one that grows on you with repeated listens as new elements of these tracks announce themselves. It’s still very much an electro-disco-funk album but the psychedelia of early Impala finds itself peeking through the curtains again as well. Top stuff.

Alexandra Savior – The Archer

Laid back yet emotionally taut desert noir. Easy grooves and beguiling tunes… there’s a line in Can’t Help Myself about “sweet melancholy” and that seems to sum it up. This is more of the same for Savior after her debut record a couple years back (which was produced by Alex Turner). There’s been industry battles in the meantime, record contract dramas and the like, but coming out the other end of that AS has retained her style and poise and sound. There’s a dream like quality here and a clarity of vision. One for the late-night ponderers out there.

The Leonard Simpson Duo - LSD

Surprise collabos are nifty, especially when they involve a kiwi and an underground soldier. Aotearoa's Leonard Charles produces a 13 song landscape for 'LSD' that Detroit veteran Guilty Simpson probably hadn't dealt with previously and it works out well, full of bright, vibrant sounds and wise street poetry from Simpson. Simpson came up working with J Dilla, Black Milk, Sean Price, Madlib and Oh No (buzzy connections when thinking about Aotearoa's creative greatness), while Charles has previous work on Tom Scott's 'Avantdale Bowling Club' along with Liam Finn and Hollie Smith. This album feels nicely suited to the hip hop heads and those who can appreciate how glorious it can be when stars align.

Aoife Nessa Frances - Land of No Junction

There’s a deceptive gentleness to what Irish folk-songstress Aoife Nessa Frances does on this album. These songs are soft and delicate but they travel unusual paths, from some sneaky risks with the instrumentation to the way her subtle voice delivers some cynical and incisive lyrical offerings. Yes, there’s a Nick Drake-ish vibe here. There’s also a very modern touch that signals a powerful new presence on the scene. Here in the Dark. Heartbreak, and Geranium are particular standouts but this is a record best indulged in a single serving.

Boldy James & The Alchemist - The Price Of Tea In China

Detroit’s Boldy James teams up with modern legend The Alchemist for their second album together and James’ second album all up. “The Price of Tea in China’ has Al in his pocket and anyone who has listened to Alchemist’s production previously knows what to expect from the composer who has a tremendous record of teaming up with all sorts of artists. Straight from the streets into the hip hop underground, James’ calm demeanour comes in conjunction with gritty tales and this provides an enticing listening experience as James sounds like an lovely wise head helping you out, while also providing a chilling, creepy vibe. High quality features come via Vince Staples, Benny the Butcher, Freddie Gibbs and Evidence, forming a mandatory listen that will have folks grilling you about your musical nuance.

Mac Miller - Circles

For Mac Miller fans, 'Circles' whips a weird sensation of emotions. Coming together as a climax of Mac's musical career with his expansion across the sounds, instruments and collaborations on offer that have highlighted the past five years of Mac's, blended in with insight, peace and writing that has been consistent throughout his working. That feeling of hearing Mac at the peak as an artist, far beyond the realms of hip hop and knowing that there won't be much more music on offer from this point forward, is strange. Dwell in the appreciation of Circles, which was meant to come connected to his Mac's previous album 'Swimming'. There won't be much more… but what else is needed when we are lucky enough to have Circles?

Jeff Parker – Suite For Max Brown

Jazz, bro. Electric guitar jazz. Hip hop and sample influenced electric guitar jazz. Jeff Parker has been living on the avant-garde edge for decades now and trying to capture with words what he does with sounds is like trying to swat a fly with your bare hands... even when you think you’ve got it you open your palm and there’s nothing there. Free jazz improvs over drum loops. A deceptive depth of layering. Jazzy precision matched with emotional tenderness... he wrote the album in dedication to his mum so there you go. Whatever you wanna say it doesn’t really matter. This is like nothing you’ve ever heard before.

Torres – Silver Tongue

Torres makes music that’s teeming with tension. Emotional, musical, sexual, even maybe physical sometimes in the way that Mackenzie Scott uses her voice. Definitely financial tension too as despite her previous record, Three Futures, being a bit of a masterpiece... it didn’t sell well enough and she was dropped by her record label. All goods, this new one is completely self produced and it’s pulsating with vision. Dressing America is a bit of a crap title for a song but it’s a real jam, same with the title track and Good Grief. This is an indie record in the vein of Mitski or St Vincent or Angel Olsen in its own way but Torres brings in a variety of curious influences, from old fashioned country to (apparently) gregorian chants which keep you on your toes. It’s pretty outstanding.

Choicevaughan - Deuce

Auckland producer Choicevaughan takes charge of production and Aotearoa hip hop legend Tom Scott handles the words in this six-song project ‘Deuce’. With features from Melodownz, INF, Dharmarat and Diggy Dupe, Deuce legit feels like a delightful encapsulation of Aotearoa hip hop early in 2020 and the vaughan’s mellow production forms the perfect platform for kiwi raps. Whether it’s the wisdom from Scott or an insight into some of Aotearoa’s finest story-tellers, Deuce requires numerous listens and serves those who want to catch intricate, relevant to Aotearoa bars as well as something to pump loud in the background.

Madlib & Oh No - The Professionals

Literally nothing can go wrong when the legendary Madlib teams up with younger brother Oh No. Nothing. 'The Professionals' is 13 tracks of exactly what you'd expect from the professionals and that might be a bummer if you're looking for something super out of the box from these two, it felt to me more like a comfortable blankie that is always there, always loving and always right. Madlib handles all the production, Oh No does the rapping and this is a delightful project that has enough bounce to get active to, as well as plenty of replay value - whether looking for Madlib's nuance or basking in witty bars from Oh No.

Kota the Friend - Lyrics to Go, Vol. 1

If you’re after a tightly packaged collection of introspective bars and mellow vibes, Kota the Friend’s 10 jam project ‘Lyrics to Go, Vol. 1’ is what you deserve. Coming in at just over 14 minutes long, LTGV2 is incredibly efficient with every word and sentence packing a daily dose of vitamins and minerals, which is then compounded by there being more than enough musical pockets to dwell in. Perfect for a Sunday morning clean up, or if you’re caught in a moody drive/walk somewhere, chuck this on and feel the pain, love, bliss and life yarns from Kota.

The Big Moon – Walking Like We Do

TBM’s first album from a couple years ago was a gem of an indie guitar pop record. For their second offering, there’s been a clear decision made to brighten things up, bringing in a few synths and the like and a whole lot of piano/keys. But there’s a sense of doom behind the glitter which keeps this from feeling like a sell out move, largely built around the top notch and consistent lyricism of frontwoman Juliette Jackson. The difference between their two records is pretty striking and while a few more of the old grungier guitar tunes wouldn’t have gone astray, it’s always invigorating when a band takes a big shift on that second record... once you’ve busted expectations at the first turn they’ll never pigeon hole you again. Excited to see what’s next.

Abronia – The Whole Of Each Eye

More bands need to cop onto the brain-melting potential of the pedal steel guitar in psychedelic rock. The way that sucker wails and whines, it ain’t fair to let the country tearjerkers hog the sounds. Abronia, coming out of Portland, Oregon, knows what’s up and across six tracks here on their latest record they explore those spacey horizons with the fervour of a really trippy mushroom journey, you know the one where you thought you looked into the eyes of God. Definitely not afraid to get dark. Nor to catch a mean groove. Some of that percussion’s coming straight out of the wilderness too, gotta love it.

Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats - Unlocked

For starters, 'Unlocked' is delivered in the most glorious way possible with a full visual partner that has Denzel and Kenny on an animated adventure. With eight tracks of tightly packed and immensely varied poetry from Denzel, this is a lovely project to uplift you in whatever little situation you find yourself in. Despite being one of the busiest producers in the game at the moment, Kenny does a neat job of offering layers for Denzel to explore and low key; as far as alternative hip hop beats being combined with wise rhymes goes, this has as Madvillain kinda taste to it.

070 Shake - Modus Vivendi

Having exploded into the musical atmosphere via her appearance on Kanye West's 'Ye' album, 070 Shake comes through with her debut album 'Modus Vivendi'. No matter how you're listening to Modus Vivendi, it feels as though your in a very large house with a gang of excellent speakers in every room providing a loud, over-bearing groove. This isn't exactly a light, funky album from Shake and may not be the best for folks going through some level of emotional turmoil, but the wizardry smacks you in the eardrums. Producers Mike Dean and Dave Hamelin handle most of the production, providing a large, textured canvas for Shake to work her way across. Definitely pump this loud when you've got the whare to yourself.

Mick Jenkins - The Circus

Such projects can often fall through the clutter, although the typical depth of Mick Jenkins' latest offering 'The Circus' allows for the seven song EP to gather momentum with every listen. Full of social commentary and introspective thoughts, The Circus has Jenkins in a cloudy pocket - cloudy as in floating on a cloud. EarthGang make an appearance on The Light and that's the only guest appearance, while there are a bunch of producers providing beats, led by Hit-Boy and Black Milk.

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