Craven Faults beautiful and ghostly new album, Sidings, is nearing its release date on January 23rd through The Leaf Label and today the British enigmatic producer has shared a second track from it called ‘Yard Loup’. Hypnotic and elevating, the single comes with an accompanying video by Michael Connolly which you can watch below.
As we reach the tail end of 2025, we’re uncovering some hidden gems from earlier in the year that have slipped under our radar, and Funghi, the debut album from Porto’s Barananu, is one of them. Released through Jazzego Records in March, Funghi hit us like a breath of fresh air, with its infectious grooves and adventurous mix of jazz, disco, and progressive rock, blended in a way that is spontaneous and free-spirited as childhood play itself. Funghi is not bound by genre, but rather, it explores a variety of influences, from the hypnotic and atmospheric elements reminiscent of Boards of Canada and the improvisational spirit of BadBadNotGood to the adventurous edge of Kamasi Washington and the lush and experimental textures of Stereolab, blending cosmic synths with laid-back grooves. Comprising some of Porto’s most talented musicians – Eduardo Carneiro Dias (drums), Xavier Nunes (bass), João Pedro Dias (trumpet), Fábio Gil (saxophone), José Pedrosa (keyboards), and Fábio Mota (percussion) -, Barananu have crafted one of the most fun, daring and groove-heavy records we’ve heard all year. In the works for four years, including a period of intense collaboration during the pandemic, Funghi is the result of their creative experimentation, as the band explains:
“This album is the natural result of four years of musical growth, including the unique challenges that the pandemic brought us. During pre-production, we intensified our collaborative approach with almost daily rehearsals, where each member actively contributed to the composition, resulting in more sophisticated arrangements and a truly shared artistic vision.”
A ride from start to finish, Funghi is an album full of surprises, joy, and boundless creativity, exactly what we need as we close out 2025. For a taste of what’s on offer, take a listen to two exhilarating tracks from the album, ‘Tiny Steps’ and ‘Ode Metro’.
As the year draws to a close, we picked our favourite Albums of 2025.
With Pullman’s long-awaited III just around the corner, and following the dazzling and dreamy ‘Weightless’, the storied Chicago-based acoustic supergroup have unveiled a beauty of a second single. Titled ‘Kabul’, the track builds on their unique blend of ambient folk and post-rock with even more intricate layers of instrumentation and gently hypnotic rhythms. As the band’s Chris Brokaw describes, the song’s creation process is a blend of influences and collaboration:
“Kabul. Dig deep. Banjo nod to the East. Throw it in the mail and into Bundy‘s blender. Back to the boys and out into the ether. Boiling weeds for soup ain’t no way to live.”
There is a sense of playful experimentation in ‘Kabul’, aligned with the spirit of the album itself, one that was shaped by friendship and endurance. After more than two decades, the band’s bond has been tested and strengthened over time, especially after drummer Tim Barnes was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2021. The album, and as the press release describes, “carries forward the group’s signature intimacy and space while embodying the spirit of community that has always defined their work.”
III is one of the most anticipated releases of 2026 and we can’t wait for it to drop on January 9th through Western Vinyl. Now check out the accompanying video for ‘Kabul’.
Last Friday saw the release of What Ails You, the debut album from composer and producer Essvus (aka Gen Morigami). A gripping and noise-driven album blending IDM, ambient, and drone influences, What Ails You is an emotional rollercoaster, reflecting Essvus’ struggles with mental health, family trauma, isolation, and personal healing. Drawing from both his personal struggles and his creative growth, Essvus creates a soundscape that is both haunting and cathartic. “When I started working on this music, I was in the midst of a severe, self-destructive depression that had already lasted for years,” he says. “I hadn’t come to terms with the fact that my father was a cult leader until 2020… Only then did I realize I had endured decades of narcissistic abuse and psychological torment.”
Essvus’ complex production combines layered electronics, field recordings, and manipulated voice clips, channeling a variety of influences from UK techno and the LA beat scene to the experimental traditions of Nyege Nyege and Groupe de Recherches Musicales. The result is an intricate mix of bliss and beauty but also gloom and tension, as Essvus explains:
“This music isn’t just about simple contrasts or a straightforward path. It’s a cross-section of my life, in all its confounding ways.”
The album’s lead single, ‘Never Here’, epitomizes this blend of darkness and light, with hypnotic rhythms driving the eerie phrase “I wish I was never here.” The track, and the album as a whole, encapsulates Essvus’ journey through personal torment and, ultimately, healing. ‘Never Here’ is offered with an accompanying video and you can watch it below.
What Ails You is out now on New Amsterdam Records and is one of two debut albums by alumni of the New Amsterdam Genre-Fluid Composer’s Lab.
Mammal Hands have just dropped ‘Alia’s Abandon’, their first new music since 2023 and the first taste from their forthcoming album Circadia, set for release on February 27th. This marks a fresh direction for the band, with brothers Jordan and Nick Smart now joined by drummer Rob Turner (formerly of GoGo Penguin), who brings a new pulse to the trio’s evolving approach. It’s also their debut release with the legendary German label ACT. Speaking about it, they commented:
“We’re incredibly excited to join ACT for the release of ‘Circadia’. This album is about change, about the cycles of endings and new beginnings, and it feels like a perfect match — a moment where our own evolution as a band meets a label that has, for decades, put art and music at the heart of everything it does. ACT has released some of the most creative and influential instrumental music in the world, supporting artists who push boundaries, blending genres in ways that are both deeply emotional and genuinely original. Joining this lineage feels like stepping into the next level of our journey. The team is phenomenal, the ethos inspiring, and we’re excited to see how our music will grow in a new home that truly cherishes art and music”
Formed in Norwich in 2012, Mammal hands are known for their thrilling fusion of jazz, contemporary classical, electronica, folk and minimalism. With ‘Alia’s Abandon’, the trio are offering a first glimpse of what’s to come, blending their signature cinematic style with a more rhythmically-driven energy. Listen to the single below.
