Reviews

There’s a certain boldness in turning big, messy global systems into music that actually grooves, and Wes Carroll pulls it off with The Capitalocene. Released in 2026 under the Wes Carroll Confabulation, this four-track EP dives headfirst into conscious issues. Blending hip-hop, soul, jazz, and roots, Carroll builds a sound…

There’s a certain restless energy in “lil runaway” that feels like it was made somewhere between a late-night drive and a bad decision, and that’s exactly where Outlaw Cartier thrives. Formerly known as Chxrles, the Philadelphia-based artist leans into a hybrid sound that fuses darkwave gloom with post-punk grit, while…

There’s a fine line between chaos and charm, and Phytö dance all over it with “Like Poles.” The track arrives as a bright, off-kilter burst of energy, less heartbreak ballad, more neon-lit spiral through attraction, confusion, and self-delusion. Known for blending funk grooves with a modern, slightly nostalgic twist, Phytö…

There’s nothing surface-level about Psyche—and I.K.P. makes that clear from the outset. This four-track EP is a mapped-out emotional arc, named after the asteroid symbolizing the soul’s journey. Drawing from a life shaped by military service, homelessness, recovery, and rebuilding, I.K.P. turns survival into structure. Each track feels like a…

There’s a quiet rebellion in making things shorter when the world keeps demanding more—and that’s exactly where Apstara steps in with One Minute Mantras I: Awakening. The Los Angeles-based artist, also known as Juliet Lyons, trades sprawling compositions for something far more intentional: bite-sized, one-minute soundscapes designed to ground you.…

If there’s one thing The Hypnotiks understand, it’s how to make groove feel like second nature. Hailing from Paris, this tight-knit collective has built its name on reviving soul and funk with a lived-in, no-frills energy—less museum piece, more late-night jam session that spills into the streets. With “Stone Cold…

There’s a quiet shift happening in Karen Salicath Jamali’s artistry, and “Seeds of God” captures it in its most intimate form. Known primarily for her piano compositions, many of which, intriguingly, came to her through dream-like states after a life-altering experience, this 2026 release marks new ground, as her first…

There’s a certain kind of love song that doesn’t feel staged or polished to perfection—it just sort of happens. That’s the lane Tyler McGinnis leans into with “Like Make Believe,” a 2026 release that trades grand gestures for something far more grounded. Based out of Tacoma, McGinnis has built his…

After a long seven-year silence, James Darcy returns with Pieces, and it doesn’t sound like a comeback so much as a reckoning. Rooted in folk-pop and alternative rock, the EP leans into the uneasy space between faith and doubt, asking the kinds of questions most people quietly avoid. Drawing from…

Some albums you listen to; others you wander through. Around the World…Music by Koradan firmly belongs to the latter. Released in late 2025 via Filibusta Records, this debut project from Alex Baccari and Marzia Di Cicco feels more like a borderless sound atlas. Drawing from over 80 instruments, many handcrafted…