New albums to look out for in May

Ambient, jungle, jazz, environmental music, house, techno, lo-fi and more.

This months’ rundown is by The Vinyl Factory’s Gabriela Helfet and Lazlo Rugoff.

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Takayuki Shiraishi

Anthologia

(Studio Mule)

Due: 8th May

Sun-dappled, downtempo and house flicker through slung-out electronics as Mule Musiq continues to shine a light on the work of “living legend” Takayuki Shiraishi with Anthologia. Each of its eight tracks whirl around looping synths in varying effect: chugging Weatherall-esque dub in ‘distant thunder’, celestial crescendos of ‘birds in paradise, or the euphoric builds of ‘green on green’, for example. – GH

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Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

The Mosaic Of Transformation

(Ghostly)

Due:15th May

Synth-playing extraordinaire Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith returns with The Mosaic of Transformation on Ghostly. Described as an “expression of love and appreciation for electricity,” Smith rearranged and reworked the album through twelve different versions to create its 8-tracks. – LR

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Jonny Nash and Suzanne Kraft

A Heart So White

(Melody As Truth)

Due: 15th May

Crafting aural dreamscapes, Jonny Nash and Suzanne Kraft reunite for their second collaborative album, A Heart So White. Exploring “acoustic instrumentation, breath, air and physical space,” the duo wrote and recorded its 10-tracks in Willem Twee Concertzaal, a converted synagogue in Holland. A soothing and much needed album to uplift during these strange and difficult times. – GH

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Various Artists

Josey in Space

(Beats in Space)

Due: 15th March

Josey Rebelle journeys through her visions of a dance floor, as she helms the instalment of Beats in Space’s …In Space series. Across its 20 cuts, Rebelle lays down hypnotic panache, via dubbed-out electronics – ‘Dub (Dub)’ – moving techno refrains – ‘I Dream So Loud’ – uplifting piano-led house – ‘Piano Seduction’– glittering two-step – ‘Route II Romeos’ – and beyond. – GH

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Phillip Sollmann

Monophonie

(A-Ton)

Due: 15th May

Phillip Sollmann (aka Efdemin) unites “different strands of utopian music” in Monophonie. To do so, he uses 19th century instruments of sonic research, self-designed microtonal instruments and metal sound sculptures, in exploration of acoustic techno, kosmiche and experimental orchestral terrain. Originally composed in 2016, followed by a live show in 2017, Monophonie features Ensemble Musikfabrik collective alongside Sollman on double siren. – GH

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Moses Sumney

græ

(Jagjaguwar)

Due:15th May

Following its digital release earlier this year, Moses Sumney’s græ makes its vinyl debut this May. Framed around Sumney’s vocal contortions – which between fragile and orchestral – græ posits itself in the gray area between art rock, jazz and soul.– LR

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Thao and The Get Down Stay Down

Temple

(Ribbon Music)

Due: 15th May

Lo-fi indie meets golden pop in Thao and The Get Down Stay Down’s Temple. Featuring Thao Nguyen’s vocals oscillating through her hypnotic falsetto realms and back again, its 12-tracks were self-produced by Nguyen alongside band member bandmate Adam Thompson. – GH

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Various Artists

BLACK RIOT

(Soul Jazz)

Due: 22nd May

Soul Jazz collects tracks from the UK’s early ’90s jungle, rave and hardcore scenes in its latest compilation, BLACK RIOT. Hyped sonics to rattle your brainwaves out to, its 12-tracks include music from DJ SS, Babylon Timewarp, Leviticus, and Nu Jacks featuring Ivory Ranks. The release also features a limited-edition graphic mini-novel Black Riot: The Mysterons save Planet Earth from the Xatheroid Angels by illustrator Paulo Parisi. – GH

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Soulwax

EMS Synthi 100

(The Vinyl Factory / DEEWEE)

Due: 29th May

Soulwax, aka David & Stephen Dewaele, celebrate iconic synthesizer the EMS Synthi 100, with a new release of the same name. “A living instrument producing a living sound,” the duo recorded EMS Synthi 100 when they took care of an EMS Synthi 100 for a year. Its package also includes a 48-page book detailing the synthesizer’s history. – GH

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Motohiko Hamase

#Notes of Forestry

(WRWTFWW)

Due: 29th May

Three albums by Motohiko Hamase return thanks to WRWTFWW’s Esplanade series – #Notes of Forestry, Technodrome and Anecdote. Spanning ambient, environmental music and minimal house, all are well worth checking out, with #Notes of Forestry an equal parts quirky and soothing highlight. – GH