Cheikh Ibra Fam

Adouna

Cumbancha, 2026

9/10

Listen to Adouna

The Senegalese singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Cheikh Ibra Fam is back with a personal effort, where knowledge, faith, unity, migration and love are packed into plenty of worldly flavor.

The animated mood of “Gnou Mbollo” opens with flowing vocals, crisp drumming and rhythmic guitars that make an instant impression, and “Amoul Solo” follows with rich horns and playful winds that radiate plenty of culture and grace.

Halfway through, “Shabida” blends and pop and soul ideas into the thoughtful climate, while “Sali” carries an infectious energy that invites singing-along- even if it’s not in your native tongue.

“Mama” and “Wakhtane” exit the listen. The former leads with tribal drumming before frisky pop gestures enter, and the later showcases Fam’s expressive pipes amid the colorful dynamics.

A truly global record that was recorded in multiple countries and utilizes Afro-pop, soul, and the traditional languages of West Africa, there’s a very contemporary appeal as well, where lyrical intimacy, grooves, rhythm and melodies are never in short supply.

Travels well with: Kimi Djabaté- Dindin; Wesli- Tradisyon

Layla Kaylif

Call Of The Yoni

Self-Released, 2026

8/10

Listen to Call Of The Yoni

The English–Arab singer-songwriter Layla Kaylif pens an album steeped in pop and rock ideas that surround sovereignty, spirituality, roots, sight, and transformation.

The title track opens with warm guitar and bright singing alongside playful drumming and charming winds for the Eastern fueled ideas, and “My Love Is A Saint” follows with spoken word before the flowing melodies and mesmerizing spirit enters.

“Everyone Is As Stranger” and “The Bride Is Beautiful (But She’s Married To Another Man)” arrive in the middle. The former relies on sophisticated keys and Kaylif’s soaring voice, while the latter is a textured and animated album highlight that blends strings into the precise rhythm section and powerful vocals.

“Hallelujah” exits, and it’s a cover of the Cohen classic sung in Arabic that gives the setting a different angle that’s much appreciated.

An effort that carries a world fusion vision and much spirituality, Kaylif delivers anthemic songs that embrace womanhood and offer insight into modern feminism.

Travels well with: Lucy Dreams- VVVVV; Chloe Navarre- Periwinkle

Yolanda Kondonassis

Terra Infirma

Azica, 2026

9/10

Listen to Terra Infirma

The Grammy Nominated harpist Yolanda Kondonassis presents world premiere recordings by the composer Reena Esmail, where the violinist Vijay Gupta, the Interlochen Center for the Arts Orchestra and Chorus, conductor Andrew Grams and choral director Carter Smith are all in attendance.

The title track opens with 7 segments, where the intimate strings surround “Bone-Colored Branches”, and “Helium Ember” incorporates bells and Kondonassis’ dreamy harp that adds much richness.

Deeper into this set “Swallowed” gets tense via the booming drums and firm harp dynamics, as a cinematic quality unfolds, while “Sandhiprakash” recruits Gupta’s stirring violin prowess alongside the mysterious and ambient duet.

“Earth Speaks: Curiosity” exits with 3 chapters, as the SATB Chorus and chilling harp make for harmonic and textured ideas that radiate warmth and timelessness.

Each selection touches on the care towards our relationship to the environment, where the harp playing is superb and adaptable, and the contributions from the guests helps make for a colorful, intricate, and occasionally fierce body of work that is of the utmost importance.

Travels well with: Yolanda Kondonassis- Five Minutes For Earth; Laila Biali- Wintersongs

Bill Laswell & P.ST

Mount Analogue

Subrosa, 2026

9/10

Listen to Mount Analogue

The bassist Bill Laswell and the electronics of P.ST come together with plenty of help for 2 discs that pays tribute to René Daumal and his enchanting world of mysteries and magic.

The title track occupies disc 1 with the quick “Introduction” that unfolds like a field recording, before “Meeting” blends Henry Kaiser’s radiant guitar amid the soft spoken word of Percy Howard and Anna Clementi’s gorgeous singing.

Further into this portion, “Meeting” uses wordless vocals alongside the meditative talking that floats with a New Age appeal, while “Arrival” meshes Peter Apfelbaum’s keys, Nils Petter Molvaer’s trumpet and Hideo Yamaki’s percussion into a lush and enlightening bout.

Disc 2, Mount Analogue Solos, leads with the dreamy guitar playing of “Jodorowsky’s Peradam” before finding all sorts of sounds and tones to reside in, and “The Application Of Obscure Knowledge” exits with a gentle, rhythmic finish that’s melodic thanks to Kaiser’s precise fingers.

A truly unique unfolding of colors, aromas, meanings, textures, and moods, this musical poem is in excellent hands and incorporates cinematic and psychedelic nods in an often soothing demeanor.

Travels well with: Petr Bakla- Cello & Piano; Miroslav Beinhauer- Pieces For Sixth-Tone Harmonium

Veronika Wu

Under The Ocean

Navona, 2026

9/10

Listen to Under The Ocean

The inimitable composer Veroniku Wu is joined by Tomoki Tai’s cello for this 6 movement suite that highlights the voices of the sea and its creatures.

The eloquent “A Mermaid Without Legs” opens with the plucked and bowed strings making for an inviting start, and “Breathing In The Dark Ocean” follows with a murky presence that emits animated gestures near the end.

“Humming A Melody Too Loud To Sing” lands at the midpoint, and balances tense moments with much beauty, while “Peeling The Scales Elegantly” showcases Tai’s acrobatic fingers via the meticulous progressions that are rich and poetic.

“Hear You Hearing Me” exits, and weaves in and out of thoughtful, sometimes turbulent instrumentation that illustrates the unpredictable nature of the ocean.

Each selection is tied to an emotion that pulls the listener further into the ocean’s spiritual depths, and instills even more awe for the natural world.

Travels well with: Gabriel Jackson- Rigwreck; Laurie Altman- Songs & Poems Briefly

Don Vail

Stand Of Tide

Self-Released, 2019

9/10

Listen to Stand Of Tide

A Canadian indie-rock vehicle spearheaded by Mitch Bowden that has blossomed into a full band in a ten year existence, Don Vail is in its best configuration yet, as evidenced by the dynamic, eclectic and charming sounds of Stand Of Tide.

After the brief guitar “Intro”, the band get right into pulsating indie-rock with the shimmering rhythm of “Pulse Of Disappearing”, and “On The Wire” continues with cautious melody in a subdued alt-rocker that takes subtle nods to post-punk.

An album where each tune is the stand out track, the warm keys of “Basement Therapy” bring a cinematic and instrumental moment, while ‘If We Both Start Young” takes the keys in another direction with punchy pop-rock fun.

The back half of the album is just as luminous with the fuzzy yet cautious “New Danger”, the booming alt-rock of “Stand Of Tide”, and the ambient, hazy “Institutionalized”, which bursts into clever indie-pop. “Fireflies” ends the listen as strong as it started, with a glorious display of multifaceted rock that’s spacey, chamber-influenced and beaming with radiant energy.

An extremely inviting record, Don Vail are well versed in infectious power pop as they are the dreamier side of rock, and while the tunes here remind us of some of the greatest songwriters of this generation, they still very much belong to Don Vail.

Travels well with: The New Pornographers-Challengers; Elliott Smith- Figure 8