This must-check dinked 45 brings together two killer and influential jazz recordings from the early 1960s. On the A-side you'll find Yusuf Lateef's inspired cover of Alen North's 'Spartacus Love Theme', a shuffling, Latin-tinged, piano-laden affair that inspired many subsequent interpretations from fellow musical titans (think Ramsey Lewis, Carlos Santana, Eddie Harris and Bill Evans, for starters). It's an effortlessly breezy and life-affirming version that stands apart from the hard-bop jazz jams that Lateef was recording at the time. On the flip you'll find the scarce 7" edit of the Cannonball Alderley Sextet's recording of 'Brother John', a cool jazz interpretation that famously features a rare oboe solo from the track's composer (and Sextet member), Yusuf Lateef.

In recent times Daniel Avery has been busy collaborating with the likes of Alessandro Cortini and Roman Flugel (the latter as Noun), so few expected him to drop a new solo album in 2020. Yet Love & Light, his surprise third full-length, could well be his most sonically stunning set to date. Beginning with the gaseous ambient opaqueness of 'London Island', the set sees him blaze a trail through 1990s style Sabres of Paradise/Sabresonic techno, hazy dub techno, beatless soundscapes and intense drone tones, before switching focus to deep, gentle and melodious mutations of breakbeat, IDM and electronica.

Italian rapper, disc jockey and record producer Davide Bassi is the man behind the new Com Era Italy label. His third missive is another trip back to the sound of his youth, the disco, electro, funk and soul of the 80s that still sounds so hot in 2020. 'Taccin De Taims' kicks off with nice dirty boogie bass and happy chords that ease you into a sweet vibe. 'Infatuescion' will be recognisable to fans of Omar S who has sampled the vocal on his own work. Lastly, 'Du Iu Uont' is a jittery disco jam with charity, cold as ice perc and nice retro synths. Warmth comes from the lead hook and funky bass, both of which make this another gem.

For those who like minimalism and are open to a harder, rougher, more intense variation on your classic Philip Glass sound, look no further. Snapshot From The Island is a wonderful excursion into all that and more from Hungarian instrumentalist and composer Tibor Szemz? who doesn't get the probs he deserves. Originally released by Leo Records in 1987, it here gets a proper reissue that lays bare its intense synths, electronic bird sounds, mystic flutes and plenty of other weird and wonderful sound sources. It's magical, intriguing and can be as heavy and dark and it is playful and optimistic.

London-based, Belgian-Congolese artist Nikisi has launched her own label and this is the first release. Given that she has such a unique and singular sound it's a wonder she hasn't started her own thing before now. Cutting utterly loose here she layers up hard, flat drums with white noise and what sound like ancient drones to make for a hard but hypnotic weapon. It's dark but light, controlled but chaotic. 'Phantasmagoria' explores the same dichotomies, with poly-rhythms pummelling away beneath haunting synth drones up top. In between is the glitchy 'What Comes Next?', another stark, inventive track that is challenging yet rewarding.

Longtime techno innovator Silent Servant finds himself on the cult Hospital Productions to close out this year in visceral fashion. 'Harm In Hand' is many things - dark wave synth and jittery techno and it even has a hint of jerking EBM rhythms. It's a trip back to the future on a pulsing wave of menace. 'Damage' then cuts more loose, with spraying synths and crashing hits trapping you in dystopia and 'Death Of Decadence' bring all manner of raw textures, twisted synth lines and stark drums to a line techno groove.

New Flesh Records boss Umwelt returns with a searing new record that brings to a close the French producer's Future trilogy. It started back in 2015 with When Future And Past Collapse, then took in 2017's Encoding The Future on Shipwrec and still has lots to offer with this big finale. 'Escape The Future' is a haunting cut that keeps you on edge with its unsettling and glassy synths while 'Pionners From Earth' is slower, crispy and devastatingly final. There's more darkness from the depths of space explored on 'Wormholes Through Space' while 'Horizon Lost' kicks like a mule as it explores more contemplative moods.

Aru Takamura wanted to be a singer from her early teenage years and she soon made it happen. She had a few albums out and many EPs in the 80s and always brought a unique sound to soul. She later settled on singing in her native Japanese tongue but on the lead single here 'I'm In Love' she also dropped in a bit of English, specifically on the big chorus. The tune is a vibrant disco banger here touched up by Yoshioka Dynamite, who also tackles the more downbeat and sentimental 'Appeal To You' with its harmonica melodies and bubbling synth bass.