A rare new V/A record from the diggers deific over at Time Capsule - Kay Suzuki and company - whose focus on reissues has thus far formed a dense but not unbraveable thicket of drummy disco, city pop, reggae and international rerubs. Formed out of the East London party scene centring on Brilliant Corners and Beauty & The Beat, this four-track haul of Choice Remixes is a surely credible little curation. Suzuki lends four flips to the record - first of Gaoule Mizik's 'A Ka Titine' from 2022, which reappears with expository force, providing a banging re-bake of the Guadeloupean gwoka original. The theme continues on a version of Broki's 'Es Que Lo Es', which veers Latin minimalia, before slowing to a chuggy pace on 'Sortez Les Filles', before a final, synthy piano duet leaves the proceedings on a piquant hurrah, 'Oyelo'.

Madlib's back catalogue is one of the most revered in hip-hop and it would be quite interesting to hear a load of jazz cats rework it in their own style. But this essential album from Blue Note is sort of the opposite - the legendary US producer gets access to the vast Blue Note vaults and from that culls his own library and sound and samples and cooks up fresh takes on plenty of classics. As such you will recognise his beats under melodies from the likes of Donald Byrd and Bobbi Humphrey, Ronnie Foster and Bobby Hutcherson. The whole thing has been remastered as part of the Classic Vinyl Edition series so has never sounded better.

Rachel Shearer's work as Lovely Midget offers a hypnotic blend of ambient minimalism and abstract experimentation. Across the record, Shearer's deft touch transforms small sonic details into immersive landscapes, each piece feeling both delicate and deliberate. 'North Head' stands out as a serene and haunting meditation, its subtle shifts in texture creating a quiet sense of unease. Elsewhere, cascading tones and near-silent pauses draw the listener deeper into her auditory world. By weaving sparse instrumentation with an almost tactile approach to sound design, Shearer crafts a listening experience that is deeply introspective yet strangely inviting. This is a work that rewards patience, demanding you listen not just to the notes but to the spaces between them, offering moments of profound stillness and clarity.

The Robinson and Takahiro Fuchigami take a side each on this compelling exploration of house music infused with diverse jazz influences. This release effortlessly blends genres, creating a rich and textured soundscape that bridges lounge, disco and blues. Side-1 opens with 'Passion Is The Key', a track that leans into lounge jazz vibes, pairing smooth melodies with a laid-back house groove. Following this, 'A Satisfying Day' injects disco elements into the mix, creating an uplifting fusion of rhythm and melody. Side-2 deepens the jazz-house connection. 'Jazzing Bird' delivers an intricate, jazz-forward interpretation of house, balancing vibrant improvisation with danceable beats. 'How's That Sound?' captures the essence of a smoky jazz club, blending sultry brass lines with a steady house pulse. Closing the release, 'In Motion' incorporates bluesy undertones into a chilled-out vibe, offering a soulful, reflective end to the journey.

Operant since 2006 as wonder-purveyors of everything funk and soul come battle breaks, Wack Records share their latest 7", a smattering of hip-hop flips met by the heated hands of resident producers Smoove and Suckaside. This time brought to two Philly-to-NYC hip-hop originals first laid down by the top-reg duo The High & Mighty (Mr. Eon and DJ Mighty Mi), Smoove and Suckaside first let the crackles and licks hang loose for a debauched drama on the A, before a tighter groove opens up further on the B-side's 'B Boy Document 25'.

Chris Marigold and Leo Wyndham's Blu Mar Ten label - an offshoot of their music alias of the same name - shares the third addition to the Wardown albums series by the eponymous artist, real name Peter Rodgers (of Technimatic fame). Described from the outset as a musical diary of smeared memory, Rodgers' drum & bass-focused Wardown records are accounts of dislocation - emotional, familial, local - that document and textualise the disjunction between the artist's childhood in Luton and a musical career forged elsewhere. While the first record in was packed with personal nostalgia, Wardown III charts a continuing macroscopy in sound occurrent thereafter; this time around, Rodgers incorporates a cyborgish, anthropocenic monologue as the intro, and follows it with humanistic, synaptic drum & bass expansiveness in the form of 'Perfect Your Memories', 'As They Fall' and 'Deteriation'.