This week’s guide is by CF Smith and contributors, Words By Shoaib and Irfan Ayaan.
Each week at Twistedsoul, we showcase the finest new releases from across the globe. We scour Between The Cracks to bring you new music that might have flown under your radar. This week, we’re highlighting releases from Kwashibu Area Band, Kayatibu, Khotin, Amanda Whiting and more. Lend an ear to the music, and if it strikes a chord, show some love to the artists and labels by supporting them.
Albums
Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke – Tall Tales
Electronic visionary Mark Pritchard and Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke conjure a haunting dreamscape in their long-awaited collaboration Tall Tales, where experimental soundscapes and ethereal vocals intertwine with mesmerizing results. Pritchard, known for his genre-defying electronic compositions, provides the perfect canvas for Yorke’s distinctive falsetto, creating an album that hovers between ambient meditation and glitchy introspection. The sonic palette blends warm analog textures with crystalline digital elements, crafting environments that feel simultaneously alien and intimate. A Fake in a Faker’s World opens the journey with an expansive eight-minute odyssey that establishes the album’s surreal tone, while “The White Cliffs” represents another highlight with its gradual build from spectral whispers to an immersive electronic crescendo. Though not jazz in the traditional sense, Tall Tales shares jazz’s spirit of improvisation and boundary-pushing. This Warp Records release promises to be one of 2025’s most captivating listening experiences for those who appreciate artful electronic exploration. – IA
Daylight Robbery with Nick Marks – Third Island Suite
Daylight Robbery’s Third Island Suite is a mesmerising sonic journey that brilliantly bridges the gap between spiritual jazz and hip-hop sensibilities. The British producer’s sophomore effort, following 2022’s Moons of Jupiter, demonstrates significant artistic growth through this collaboration with New York pianist Nick Marks. Inspired by John Fowles’ metafictional novel The Magus, the album creates an immersive soundscape that guides listeners through psychological illusions and sonic deceptions. The production balances contemplative jazz explorations with head-nodding beats, creating a fusion that feels both nostalgic and forward-thinking. Island Arrival stands as the album’s centrepiece, where Marks’ sublime keyboard work dances atop Daylight Robbery’s meticulously crafted rhythmic foundation. Reality Paradox similarly impresses with its hypnotic grooves and unexpected harmonic shifts that reward repeated listening. This sophisticated mood music demands attention, making it a compelling addition to the contemporary UK jazz scene. It proves that Daylight Robbery is an artist with a distinct vision worth following. – IA
Kwashibu Area Band – Love Warrior’s Anthem
Kwashibu Area Band’s Love Warrior’s Anthem is a lush, meditative triumph, an instrumental love letter to Highlife’s past and future. Across seven seamless tracks, the band weaves Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, dub, and ambient textures, creating a sound that feels rooted and exploratory. Without a single lyric, the album speaks volumes, each melody unfolding with purpose, patience, and warmth. The production is immaculate yet organic, thanks to Berlin-based sessions with reggae drummer Giuseppe “Big Finga” Coppola. Standouts like ‘M’akoma Nnwom’ and ‘Nkwanta Bisa’ feel like spiritual invocations, using repetition not as filler but as a tool for resonance. There’s a clear shift from their past collaborations with Pat Thomas; this is quieter, deeper, and more reflective. With artwork by Zak Ové and a Bandcamp feature courtesy of Soundway Records, Love Warrior’s Anthem is more than just music; it’s a cultural offering. Whether you’re tracing its subtle dub grooves or letting the horns wash over you at dawn, this album invites stillness and attentiveness. It’s Highlife for a new century, romantic, grounded, and deeply human. – WBS
Kayatibu – Kayatibu Ni Hui Voz da Floresta
With Kayatibu Ni Hui Voz da Floresta, the young Huni Kuin artists of Grupo Kayatibu, guided by Brazilian producer Luiz Gabriel Lopes (LUIZGA), deliver a raw, ceremonial soundscape rooted in the Amazon and resonant with spiritual force. Across nine tracks and roughly 30 minutes, the album channels the healing energy of nixi pae, ancestral ayahuasca chants, channelled through a raw, intimate sound they describe as “shamanic acoustic punk rock.” Each piece feels like a ritual in motion: earthy, unpolished, and full of intent. Field-recorded in Acre using bare-bones gear, the project merges organic vocals with minimalist guitar, subtle electronics, and a grounded, rebellious spirit. Lead track Nai Basa Masheri stands out as a radiant convergence of tradition and modernity, while Ni Hui and Nuku Bari Yuxibu bookend the album with reverence and resolve. More than an album, Ni Hui Voz da Floresta is a transmission from the forest, an act of cultural preservation, resistance, and communion. It doesn’t ask for attention; it holds it like a chant echoing through the canopy. – WBS
EP’s
Khotin – Peace Portal
Khotin’s new EP is simply a beautifully realised piece of work. Peace Portal’s unhurried, gentle soundscapes feel like a gentle breeze on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The opener, ‘You Made My Weekend Wonderful’, sets the tone perfectly, with soft, cascading piano lines. Khotin has a knack for crafting soundscapes that evolve organically, allowing listeners to get lost in the flow. Tunes such as the playful ‘Druid Dance’ and the serene new-age ‘Vacation (Spam Free Mix)’ introduce subtle yet impactful variations in rhythm and texture. Perfect for a quiet night or a contemplative morning. It’s the kind of music that makes you want to close your eyes and exist in the moment. – CFS
Amanda Whiting – Can You See Me Now?
Amanda Whiting’s new EP, Can You See Me Now?, is a bold, graceful statement of feminine strength and artistic evolution. Known for her harp-led jazz explorations, Whiting expands her sonic and emotional palette here, blending cinematic spiritual jazz with soulful collaborations and rhythmic experimentation. The lead single, ‘What Is It We Need?’ featuring powerhouse vocalist Alice Russell, is a standout; its dusty upright bass, brushed drums, and stirring vocals deliver a message of empowerment with spiritual weight. ‘Contented’ stands out for its calm, introspective tone, featuring heartfelt and emotionally rich vocals from Faye Houston. Its gentle delivery is hypnotic, inviting listeners into a space of stillness and contemplation. Elsewhere pieces like ‘Intent’ inject rhythmic complexity with skippy, jungle-influenced drums, showing Whiting’s range. Produced by the brilliant Adam Scrimshire and supported by a tight ensemble, the EP flows like a personal manifesto: poetic, reflective, and deeply intentional. Whiting’s harp is both anchor and guide, threading through each track with precision and emotion. Can You See Me Now? is more than an EP; it’s a quiet roar of purpose, inviting listeners to tune in and for women to stand tall and be seen. – WBS
