Back catalogue: All genres

Review: A decade on from its original release, this compilation remains a spellbinding window into the musical mind of one of modern music's most innovative figures. As comfortable behind a grand piano as a homemade synth, Frahm brings his taste for boundary-blurring to this curated journey. Consider this a love letter to his inspirations and a reflection of his multifaceted artistry. The compilation weaves classical greats, jazz legends, ambient pioneers and experimental mavericks into a singular, late-night odyssey. Vladimir Horowitz's crackling rendition of 'The Flight of the Bumblebee' connects Frahm's own virtuosic piano play to the classical canon, while Miles Davis' smoky 'Generique' and 'Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio)' speak to the atmospheric jazz undercurrents that color much of his work. Nina Simone's aching rendition of 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes' carries the same stripped emotional core that Frahm achieves in his more minimalist moments. Elsewhere, the warmth of Dub Tractor's 'Cirkel' and the ghostly dub of Rhythm & Sound's 'Mango Drive' nod to his love of minimalism beyond genre. Boards of Canada's slow-burning 'In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country' is also featured, showing the esteem Frahm holds these newer tracks in, nestling among legendary musical acts of the past. From Colin Stetson's avant-garde saxophone to Bibio's lush textures, the compilation spans eras and aesthetics with cohesion and care. It's not just a mixtape - it's a tribute, a seriously rich tapestry of influences that shaped a singular voice.

Review: The Freedom Affair's second album lives in the sound of Southern soul. Recorded in four whirlwind days at Memphis' Royal Studios, the Missouri-based band doubles down on grit and grace, bringing their KC-honed fire into the same space that birthed Al Green's classics. Opening with 'With You', the trio of Paula Saunders, Seyko Groves and Shon Ruffin set the tone: unflinching, full-bodied vocal leads that carry across simmering arrangements. 'Picking Up The Pieces' and 'Tell Me I'll Be Yours' offer different shades of heartache and healing, while 'The Water' and 'Don't You Wanna Love Me' show off the band's dynamic range i from sweeping gospel tones to raw, handclap-heavy funk. Horn section veterans Brett Jackson and Pete Carroll deliver tight, melodic lines in a single take, winding through a rhythm section made even more cohesive by Chris Hazelton's switch to Hammond B3. 'Be Who You Are' and 'Anchor' feel like declarations of purpose, soulful and sure-footed, while the closer 'Coming Home' brings it all back to love i and to Royal's vintage tape warmth. Not just revivalist, but reverent and radiant, this is soul with some new stories to tell.

Review: Florian TM Zeisig's latest project has been created with perfumer Angel Paradise so blends scent and sound into a multi-sensory experience rooted in the Bavarian Alps. While living in the rural village of Hinang, Paradise studied alpine plants to craft natural perfumes while Zeisig composed Spool, a reflective suite inspired by nostalgia, landscape and the duo's impending departure. Combining field recordings, ambient loops and blurred instrumental vignettes, the music has a wonderfully dreamlike, pastoral atmosphere that has your head lost somewhere beautiful. Paired with the fragrance that comes with it and captures the oily, floral essence of their environment, this is a poignant meditation on memory, nature and the fleeting beauty of physical presence that is unlike anything else you will experience this year.