This week’s guide is by CF Smith and contributors, Words By Shoaib, Neil G and Irfan Ayaan.
Every Friday (more or less), we post a new edition of Between The Cracks. We look beyond the major labels for those releases by artists who don’t fit into neat little musical boxes. This week, we share music from Natural Information Society, Kutiman, Yesterday’s Princess, The Circling Sun and more. This is the kind of music we love, the sort that slips between the cracks, blending hints of different genres in delightfully unpredictable ways. Dive into our latest selection, and if something tickles your eardrums, follow the buy link to make it yours! Enjoy the music, and have a great weekend.
Albums
The Circling Sun – Orbits
Serving a delectable treat of cosmic jazzy tunes, ‘Orbits’ by the New Zealand-based band The Circling Sun is a heavenly album that masterfully blends nostalgic influences with flavours of experimentalism that are both surprising and sonically captivating. Fusing a variety of musical elements, namely, retro spiritual jazz, funky percussion, and celestial choir vocals, Orbits is an exciting album of planetary proportions that none should miss out on. As one progresses through the album, the atmospheric vibe and tightness of each track easily elevate the personal experience to greater heights, allowing listeners to enjoy the ride across the cosmos. – NG
Joey Waronker & Pete Min – King King
King King, the new collaboration between Joey Waronker and Pete Min, is a hypnotic dive into the textured space between experimental jazz, ambient groove, and electronic abstraction. Released via Min’s Colorfield Records, the album showcases the duo’s expansive sonic curiosity, built from layered improvisations and left-of-centre arrangements that never sit still. ‘Tangled Woods’, one of the singles, reveals the duo’s knack for constructing immersive environments. Waronker’s percussive patterns pulse beneath Josh Johnson’s saxophone, while the harmonic bed, handled by Min, unfolds with restrained elegance. It’s a dense, wandering piece that rewards repeated listening. The title track ‘King King’ delivers a more song-like structure, opening with sequenced keys before gradually growing into a complete ensemble moment. Strings by Daphne Chen and sax by Nicole McCabe add vibrant colour to an otherwise shadowy groove, creating a piece that feels cinematic yet loose. Together, these tracks preview an album both earthy and otherworldly. King King is not about immediacy; it’s about feeling your way through the fog, led by two masters of sonic navigation. – WBS
Brandee Younger – Gadabout Season
Brandee Younger transforms Alice Coltrane’s sacred harp into a vessel for profound self-discovery on her most intimate statement yet. The accomplished harpist, now on her third Impulse! release, has crafted an entirely original suite where she wrote or co-wrote nearly every composition. This marks a bold, creative leap for an artist known for reimagining standards and contemporary works. Gadabout Season weaves together jazz, classical, funk, and hip-hop influences into a cohesive meditation on life’s complexities. Younger’s harp work is both ethereal and grounded, supported by stellar collaborations with saxophonist Shabaka, composer Courtney Bryan, vocalist NIIA, and multi-instrumentalist Josh Johnson. The title track and ‘Surrender’ showcase Younger’s evolved compositional voice, the former dancing between playful exploration and introspective depth, while the latter builds to a cathartic release through layered harmonic textures. This is Younger’s most essential album, a mature artistic statement that positions her among jazz’s most compelling contemporary voices while honouring the spiritual lineage of her chosen instrument. – IA
Natural Information Society – Meditation
Space — the essence of Natural Information Society’s newest album, ‘Meditation’. Distancing itself from the conventional standards of today’s music, the musical ensemble’s latest release aims to provide listeners with an unforced contemplative experience that lets people simply “feel”. In the slow and spacious moments, each track evokes pure and powerful emotions that are unique to each individual. A mesmerising journey to the inner realms of the human soul is discovered in the sombre and soothing melodies of the songs in the album. With flavours of minimalism, jazz, and experimental music, Meditation invites deep introspection, offering its listeners a sonic space where they can listen at their own pace, breathe, relax, and reflect. – NG
Also check out Momentum:
EP’s
Kutiman – Dreams In Aspamia
If you can imagine a blend of Khruangbin, El Michels Affair, SAULT, and BADBADNOTGOOD, then you’ll get the vibe of the new Kutiman EP. The lead single ‘So Long Stay Safe’ perfectly captures the essence of the EP with its eerie, mysterious analog keyboards, hypnotic percussion, and lush strings. ‘Fog Ahead’ masterfully blends nostalgia with modern flair, combining funky grooves and an airy atmosphere. It pulses with the rhythm of a ’90s boom-bap beat, enveloped in a cinematic, warm, and intriguingly jazzy downtempo vibe. As with everything Kutiman puts out, this one is unique, individual and highly worth your time. – CFS
Yesterday’s Princess – Tomorrow’s Yearning
Swedish duo Yesterday’s Princess steps into the spotlight with Tomorrow’s Yearning, a debut EP that gracefully bridges jazz-funk, hip-hop, and cinematic soul. Released via DeepMatter Records, the project feels like a walk through a misty memory lane, melancholic but full of colour. Lead track ‘Anemoia’ pulses with modal jazz textures: rich Fender Rhodes chords swirl around warm basslines and smoky guitar riffs. The groove is hypnotic, never hurried, with the kind of nostalgic swing that feels sampled but isn’t. Drummer A.J. Hall’s tasteful restraint lets every moment breathe. Another standout is ‘Meanwhile’, which grooves with a lo-fi swing, striking a balance between soulful warmth and rhythmic complexity. It’s cinematic, almost like a lost scene from a ‘70s art film, where nothing happens, but everything feels. Producers Fredrik Bergsten and Marcus Larsson craft with intention: every tone is a mood, and every detail is a deliberate choice. The EP may run just under 13 minutes, but it leaves a lasting impression. Tomorrow’s Yearning is less about arrival and more about the beauty of reaching. Quiet, radiant, and fully formed. – WBS
