FILTER ALBUMS EXTRA

Blick Bassy ★★★ Mádibá INFINÉ. CD/DL/LP

Last spotted with Disclosure, the Cameroonian’s latest explores the rarity and vitality of water. Synthetic textures offset by tipsy trombones and buzzing bassoons, Bassy’s turns range from tender (LoBa) to joyous (Touye) at the crossroads of electro, soul and folk. AC

Elkhorn ★★★★ On The Whole Universe In All Directions CENTRIPETAL FORCE. CD/DL/LP

The NY duo normally gravitate around psych-backwoods guitar jams. But here Jesse Sheppard and Drew Gardner switch up for a languorous vibraphone/12string jazz-folk masterclass akin to Tim Buckley’s Dream Letter London instrumentalising. JM

BCUC ★★★★ Millions Of Us ON THE CORNER. CD/DL/LP

Soweto’s festival slayers are in fine voice on LP four. Driven by Mosebetsi Nzimande’s bass riffs and pulse-racing percussion, Zithulele Nkosi’s Afropsychedelic chant and Kgomotso Mokone’s sweet counterpoint help its 20-minute title track distil all their choppy live magic. AC

Eyes Of Others ★★★★ Eyes Of Others HEAVENLY. CD/DL/LP

Edinburgh human jukebox John Bryden’s debut spins through baggy psych-pop, dub distortion and retro-techno, fusing Weatherall or Sherwood moves with self-deprecating moods. Escalation hails its tribe to a Beta Band groove: “Sad people/my people/bad people”. JB

Christian Cohle ★★★★ Wetlands N-6. DL/LP

Dublin’s answer to James Blake doubles down on his debut’s 808s and heartbreaks on a cinematic suite of bruised confessionals that marry mesmeric synths with aching pianos on Wasted, squealing sax and alienation on the Blue Nile-ish Offline. Impressive. AC

Kaukolampi ★★★★ Inside The Sphere OPTIMO MUSIC. CD/DL

Conceptually akin to Stephen King’s Inside The Dome, K-X-P’s Timo Kaukolampi’s second solo LP is a twinkling array of detuned drones, sparse polyrhythms and cinematic ambience. Its heady mix of blurred techno and pitch-black prog is as intense as it is immersive. AC

Decisive Pink ★★★★ Ticket To Fame FIRE. CD/DL/LP

Enigmatic modular synth-pop from Russian experimentalist Kate NV and former Dirty Projector Angel Deradoorian. Their pristine vocals often melt into harmonious counterpoint to the chill of space-age electronics, on this beguilingly, knowingly rendered debut. JB

Laura Loriga ★★★★ Vever GOD UKNOWN. DL/LP

Layered organs, drones, harmoniums and skittering drums underpin the singular chamber pop-folk of this Bologna singer-songwriter. Loriga’s uncanny textures shape dark ballads Door Ajar and Black Rose, akin to Sibylle Baier or Susanne Sundfør. AC

Robert Ellis ★★★★ Yesterday’s News NILES CITY. CD/DL

After 2019’s waggish Texas Piano Man, Ellis locates a tender spot on this wise, eloquent set, recorded live to tape; just his voice, willowy acoustic fingerpicking and smattering of percussion (faint bells add a suggestion of enchantment to Out Of The Woods). JB

Novelty Island ★★★

Wallsend Weekend Television 9X9. CD/DL/LP

Liverpool singer/songwriter/ producer Tom McConnell’s second album, recorded in Abbey Road, is full of Beatlesy pop smarts; familiar but adeptly executed, and with woozy electronic effects aligning it to Temples et al. LW