This weekโs guide is by contributors Arifur Rahman, and Irfan Ayaan.
Hey good people, welcome to your new Between The Cracksย selection. Once again, the end of the week brings six new releases that have recently popped up on our radar. So, without further ado, here areย new albums from Common Saints, Merope, Contour, Icarus, Saagara and Maria Beraldo. As always, enjoy the music, and one last thing: donโt forget that itโs Bandcamp Friday today, so itโs a great day to support artists and labels as your ยฃยฃยฃยฃ go directly into their pockets.
Albums
ย Common Saints – Cinema 3000
Common Saints’ debut album, Cinema 3000, is a lush, cinematic journey that is hard to pin down but easy to love. Charlie J Perry, the mastermind behind Common Saints, has crafted a sprawling opus that seamlessly blends psychedelic soul, folk, and Balearic AOR influences. Recorded over several years in Perry’s home studio, the album showcases his multi-instrumental talents and deep love for music-making. The result is a warm, inviting soundscape that feels nostalgic and forward-thinking. Standout tracks include the ’70s psych-folk-inspired opener Sweet Release and the Morcheeba-esque Dream On, featuring French singer Taloula. The latter exemplifies the album’s ability to transport listeners to sun-drenched, dreamy landscapes. Pieces of War showcases Perry’s versatility, with raw vocals recorded during a fortuitous bout of laryngitis. Throughout Cinema 3000, Perry weaves themes of spirituality, hope, and acceptance into his music. From the loose grooves of C’est La Vie to the reflective closer Sweet Surrender, the album offers a thoughtful meditation on life’s journey. -IA
Contour – Take Off from Mercy
Contour’s Take Off from Mercy is a mesmerising journey through a dreamscape of fingerpicked guitar and haunting vocals. Charleston-based artist Khari Lucas, known for his eclectic musical exploration, has evolved from beatmaker to accomplished songwriter, showcasing his versatility across previous releases. This latest offering strips away samples in favour of guitar-driven compositions, weaving a tapestry of blues, tropicalia, hip-hop, post-punk, and indie rock. Lucas’s plaintive singing, reminiscent of a quiet prayer, floats atop spare yet dense arrangements, creating an intimate atmosphere that draws listeners in. Standout tracks like If He Changed My Name and Faith highlight Lucas’s growth as a lyricist and collaborator. The former features additional guitar work by Mike Gamble, while the latter incorporates Keenyn Omari’s flute and Harlan Silverman’s strings, adding depth to the album’s sonic palette. With an impressive cast of collaborators, including Saul Williams and Mndsgn, Take Off from Mercy establishes Contour as an artist who wonderfully pushes boundaries and continues to surprise and delight. – IA
Merope โ Vฤjula
โVฤjulaโ is the fifth album by Lithuanian folk duo Merope. It is a crafty blend of pastorals and the mysterious. Taking inspiration from ancient Lithuanian folk, Merope once again embellished the style with modern sensibility. Merope consists of Lithuanian singer Indrฤ Jurgeleviฤiลซtฤ, who plays the Baltic chordophone kanklฤs, and Belgian multi-instrumentalist Bert Cools. Together, they blur the lines between organic and synthetic soundscapes. In this new creative phase of their career, they are joined by a stellar cast, including Bill Frisell, Shahzad Ismaily, and Laraaji. In โNamopi,โ ambient pioneer Laraaji and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily showcase their compatibility with each other and Merope. On โKouma Lilโ and โSpindulฤ,โ Jurgeleviฤiลซtฤโs gentle voice works perfectly with surreal and sensuous electronics. Take some time out and allow this gorgeous record to wash over you. – AR
Saagaraโ3
One of Poland’s most creative and original artists, an outlier among his generation of jazz musicians in his country, Waclaw Zimpel, has released Saagara-3. This is his third instalment of a series of albums where wild saxophone and electronica meet Carnatic musical traditions. Zimpel collaborates with Giridhar Udupa, Aggu Baba, Mysore N. Karthik, and K. Raja; apparently, all of them were inspired by the Shakti with John McLaughlin. Each song is delightful in its own right; violin improvisations, spiritually nourishing rhythmic drone, and Zimpelโs outstanding sax playing work in perfect tandem in songs like โWhere Is That Blossomโ and โSunbeam Spirits.โ We definitely recommend Saagara 3 to fans of Arooj Aftab, Flock, and Vula Viel. – AR
Icarus โ An Ever-Growing Meridional Entertainment Transgression at The Edge of The Multiverse
After a hiatus of a little over ten years, Ollie Bown and Sam Britton, a British duo known as Icarus, are back with their ninth album, โAn Ever-Growing Meridional Entertainment Transgression at The Edge of The Multiverse.โ From the very first album, Icarus has been experimental in its approach to electronic music. Channeling the spirit of The Orb, Aphex Twin, Paradox, and others, it is right at home in the unique sound world of its own compositions. โCanaletto Soupโ and โGandalf Speedwayโ feature rhythms that seem to be about to collapse but dissolve and reform in shapeshifting orchestrations with harmonic progressions and melodic lines. Elsewhere, ‘Lemsip Max Relief’ offers a more sedate listening experience. The duo keeps stretching the limits of music, daring to defy traditional genre boundaries. With this album, they invite listeners to peek into their universeโa realm where echoes of the past blend seamlessly with modern-day creativity, and every note brims with artistic passion and the thrill of experimentation. – AR
Maria Beraldo – Colinho
Maria Beraldo’s Colinho is a daring sonic journey. The Brazilian artist’s latest offering, released after a six-year hiatus, seamlessly blends funk, jazz, samba, and pop into a cohesive and provocative tapestry. Beraldo, known for her work in theatre and film, brings a cinematic sensibility to her music. The album’s 11 tracks explore themes of sexuality, gender identity, and personal growth with boldness and vulnerability. Standout tracks include Guma, which ingeniously connects James Baldwin and Jorge Amado through a Frank Ocean-inspired melody, and Matagal, a folk-tinged collaboration with Zรฉlia Duncan that showcases Beraldo’s softer side. The production, helmed by Beraldo and Tรณ Brandileone, strikes a delicate balance between electronic and acoustic elements. A stellar cast of Brazilian musicians adds depth and texture to the arrangements, while Beraldo’s vocals remain the centrepiece. Colinho builds on the autobiographical nature of Beraldo’s previous work, CAVALA, but with a lighter touch and more celebratory tone. It’s a confident statement from an artist unafraid to blur boundaries and challenge expectations. This album cements Beraldo’s place as a vital voice in contemporary Brazilian music. – IA
