Hermanos Gutiérrez – “Los Ojos Del Cóndor”
The Swiss duo Hermanos Gutiérrez recently released their highly anticipated eighth studio album, “Los Ojos Del Cóndor,” an instrumental odyssey exploring the dreamy sounds of Latin folk and spaghetti-Western film scores. Brothers Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez split their time growing up between their father’s home in Switzerland and their mother’s native Ecuador, informing their instantly recognizable sound of cavernous reverb and dual-guitar dialogue. They make music for when the sun is high in the sky, whether you’re on a nomadic expedition through the Andes or on a stroll around town.
For fans of: Khruangbin, LA LOM, Cuco, Grupo Fantasma, Agustín Lara, Tim Bernardes
John Roseboro – “Va Va Vroom”
I’m a firm believer that any day can be a beach day when you’ve got a positive attitude. John Roseboro’s latest album, “Va Va Vroom,” is the expressway. Drawing from traditional bossa nova grooves, Roseboro experiments with modern sensibilities and subtle pop structures. He sings in English instead of Portuguese, absorbing and synthesizing all of the cultural diversity he experiences as an artist in Brooklyn, New York. Roseboro’s voice is whimsical and the band’s instrumentation organic, seemingly void of any digitally generated sounds.
For fans of: Mei Semones, Laufey, Jonah Yano, João Gilberto, Liana Flores
Julia Jacklin – “The Gem”
From New South Wales, Australia comes gut-punching indie-folk from Julia Jacklin. On her latest album, “The Gem,” Jacklin’s dulcet voice drives each song forward, replacing the tropes of romantic songwriting with lyrics capturing the awkward messiness of real life. Cooldown tracks like “Angel Vision” offer a chance for reflection, while “Real Life” and “Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)” are a bit more upbeat, reminiscent of American songwriter Adrianne Lenker. Growing up in Australia’s Blue Mountains, tracks like “God Sometimes” evoke the expansive and rugged nature of Jacklin’s rural landscape juxtaposed with her razor-sharp and vulnerable lyricism. This album deserves to be listened to while sipping a warm cup of chamomile tea.
For fans of: Phoebe Bridgers, Courtney Barnett, Big Thief, Soccer Mommy
John Garcia, Morning Show Host
Kiefer – “Memory Bomb”
Jazz, hip-hop, soul and electronic production collide on Kiefer’s latest album, “Memory Bomb.” The Los Angeles producer and multi-instrumentalist builds the album around feelings of nostalgia and daydreaming by creating a sound that feels as rooted in beat-making as jazz improvisation. The album title “Memory Bomb” is Kiefer’s poetic way of saying “A Dream.” For Kiefer Shackleford, there are three types: the sort you experience when you sleep, the wishful longing type and the ambitious. Those themes steer the direction of some, if not all, of the songs on this album. Kiefer’s distinctive musical style, which he calls “Over The Breaks,” is complemented by the plethora of guest features that fill the tracklist, including Nate Smith, CARRTOONS, Cisco Swank, Erick The Architect and Planet Giza.
For fans of: BADBADNOTGOOD, Knxwledge, Robert Glasper, Hiatus Kaiyote
Tinashe – “Popstar”
Tinashe is no longer considering herself underrated by fully leaning into being a “Popstar.” In the past 14 years, Tinashe has released seven studio albums, four mixtapes and enough viral buzz to make a name for herself (she was also the voice of On Ji in one episode of Avatar). The album highlights the versatility that has defined Tinashe’s career, moving between intimate vocals, playful hooks and more experimental production without ever settling into a particular sound. Could you go the rest of your life without hearing the word “brainrot”? Same here, but when Tinashe is singing “Brainrot,” my feelings for that word dissipate. End-of-year awards are right around the corner; “Popstar” likely tops my list for the best pop album of the year.
For fans of: FKA twigs, Amaarae, Ravyn Lenae, Janelle Monáe, Jhené Aiko
Frankie Stew and Harvey Gunn – “Goodbye For Now”
UK rap duo Frankie Stew and Harvey Gunn return and pledge to leave again with “Goodbye for Now.” Stew announced this summer that they will be stepping away from music “just because they felt like doing something else.” His conversational delivery gives the 15-track album an introspective quality, touching on relationships, growing older, uncertainty and the everyday details that tend to stick with us. Harvey’s production leaves plenty of breathing room for subtle shifts in mood from melancholic and dreamy to peaceful and warm, carrying as much weight as the lyrics. The result is an emotional yet detailed record that rewards close listening, revealing new layers with each return.
For fans of: Loyle Carner, King Krule, Knucks, Lord Apex, Fin Foxell
