Back once again with a fresh Between The Cracks roundup, spotlighting must-hear releases spanning the entire musical universe. This week, we’re featuring improvisational ambient, experimental psychedelic, indie folk, eastern cinematic sounds and more. We hope you’ll find some new releases you love and feel excited to hit the buy button. Check out our latest picks below.
Albums
L’Étrangleuse – Ambiance Argile
“Ambiance Argile” is truly a laudable work of art from the French quartet L’étrangleuse. This is their first album as a quartet after releasing three albums as a duo. Consisting of Maël Salètes on guitar and vocals and Mélanie Virot on harp and vocals, the quartet is completed by Anne Godefert on bass and Léo Dumont on drums. The soundscape of this album has changed a lot from the previous releases. It sounds more open, fresh, and experimental. French lyrics with pounding drums and fanatic guitar work in tracks such as ‘Les Pins’ and ‘Ornières’ paired with a choir like ‘PAS DE MORT’ is a testament to their comparability as a band.
Sandman Project – Where Did You Go?
Sandman Project’s debut album “Where Did You Go?” is finally here. The album, anchored by female guitarist Tal Sandman from Tel Aviv, is steeped in jazz and features a range of musical shifts that feel highly cinematic. “Where Did You Go?” is a vibrant and eclectic blend of diverse and distinct musical influences into a cohesive sound. Ethio-jazz, Afrobeat, American soul music, and psychedelic elements flow in every track. The title track, “Karnataka,” and “The Other Side” are three songs that, like any other track, are an exhibition of the versatility and creativity of this band. Uniquely captivating and utterly engaging.
Kaia Kater – Strange Medicine
“Strange Medicine” is the latest record by Montreal-born Grenadian-Canadian Kaia Kater. Her jazz-fueled voice and deft songcraft have garnered acclaim from NPR’s Tiny Desk, The Guardian, Rolling Stone and No Depression. Kater wrote this album during a period of deep self-reflection and reinvention. These songs are meditations on her own life and a celebration of the power of women and oppressed people throughout history in a more profound sense. It’s encapsulated perfectly in tracks like ‘The Internet’ and ‘In Montreal’. This album also features Aoife O’Donovan, Allison Russell and Taj Mahal on three tracks.
Black Decelerant – Reflections Vol. 2: Black Decelerant
Black Decelerant, a collaboration between Khari Lucas (Contour) and Omari Jazz invites listeners to pause and delve into the complexities of race, identity, mourning, expansion and limitation, and the individual and collective. With serene whispers and gentle layers of organic and electronic instrumentation, these nine compositions rival the cream of ambient music. Dim the lights, light that sandalwood incense and let its smoky tendrils dance through the air, and press play so that the sweet sound of Reflections transports you to a place where stress is just a distant memory.
Rosa Brunello – Senseless Acts Of Love
Rosa Brunello is back with her second album, ‘Senseless Acts Of Love’. Her smooth bass tones find the perfect harmony with the talents of Yazz Ahmed, Tamar Osborn, Maurice Louca, Marco Frattini, Enrico Terragnoli, and Luca Tapino, creating an album full of captivating melodies. Each track is a finely woven tapestry of exquisite melodies and intricate rhythms. Yazz Ahmed’s evocative trumpet lines, Tamar Osborn’s baritone saxophone brilliance, Maurice Louca’s electronic wizardry, Marco Frattini’s dynamic drumming, Enrico Terragnoli’s atmospheric guitar work, and Luca Tapino’s rich keyboard textures all contribute to an album that pushes the boundaries of genre and showcases the undeniable chemistry between these gifted musicians. Take a listen and be enchanted.
Mahti – Musiikki 3
On their mesmerising third album, Musiikki 3, Finnish avant-garde quartet Mahti ventures further into uncharted sonic territory. Joined by inventive English musicians Richard Dawson and Sally Pilkington, the group embarks on a semi-improvised odyssey that spans ambient, electro, post-rock, and folk. Mahti is known for its singular blend of ancient and futuristic sounds. Here, Hannu Saha’s shimmering string kantele conjures Karelian spirits. At the same time, Tomi Leppänen, Jussi Lehtisalo, and Teemu Elo weave a hypnotic tapestry of pulsing synths, searing noise, and otherworldly vocals. Dawson’s earthy guitar work and angelic voice provide a captivating counterpoint to the cosmic explorations. Pilkington’s ethereal keys and choral vocals add further mystical layers to the mix. Among many highlights, the 10-minute opener “Brisahka” is a stunning slow build of tension and catharsis. The shorter “Hof-falssi” ventures into more abstract, unsettling terrain. With Musiikki 3, Mahti and friends have crafted a transcendent, genre-defying work of rare beauty and imagination. Adventurous listeners will find much to discover in its enigmatic depths. Musiikki is unlike anything you’ve heard before – an album to get blissfully lost in again and again.
