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(Komorebi)
In this high-concept, anime-inspired album, Komorebi becomes her alter ego, Kiane, an alien who visits Earth on a voyage of self-discovery. Transported by delicate vocals and the sweeping orchestration, I felt punch-drunk by the end. Bethan Ackerley
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(Complete Mountain Almanac)
Rebekka Karijord and Jessica Dessner have put听together something remarkable with this album that听started as a climate change听project, but morphed after Dessner鈥檚 breast cancer diagnosis. It is a haunting work on nature鈥檚 healing cycles. BA
(Marcus Strickland Twi-Life)
The wonder of our planet and the cosmos is threaded through every track of this Afrofuturist album. Through his playful jazz, Marcus Strickland celebrates Earth as a uniquely perfect cradle for life 鈥� and argues this should spur action on climate change and inequality.
(Ashnikko)
Full of swagger and rage, Ashnikko鈥檚 debut studio album is a caustic rebuke of our times. Set in a world where super-intelligent machines have wrecked nature, this revenge narrative is weaved with themes of parasitism and bodily autonomy, particularly in the stand-out track Worms.
(Doug McKechnie)
Doug McKechnie was one of the first to get access to a modular Moog synthesiser. This collection brings together his recordings from a crucial moment in music history, when electronic instruments were beginning to show their potential. BA
(Susanne Sundf酶r)
In 叠濒贸尘颈 (鈥渂e in听bloom鈥�, from听Icelandic), Susanne Sundf酶r has created a complex set of tracks touching on Norse mythology, family
and the climate crisis. Above all,听though, it is an ode to her daughter and to becoming a听mother. The sonic palette is听all-encompassing. Take leikara听lj贸冒, which starts with birdsong, adding rhythmic hand claps followed by harmonised chants, rising to a crescendo. It听is听timeless and expansive听鈥� a听beacon of hope amid an overwhelming world. Tim Boddy
(Miss Grit)
This debut album is timely with its听themes of AI听and machine learning. Miss Grit (aka Margaret Sohn) uses the trope of a cyborg achieving awareness to explore self-hood, including gender identity. Syncing is the most beautiful break-up track you are ever likely听to hear听鈥� between a cyborg听and its creator. TB
Perfect Picture (Hannah Diamond)
Hannah Diamond continues to听play听with exaggerated femininity encased in bubble-gum pop. In her听strongest work to date, critiques听of online culture and self-perception feel听focused, aware and mature.听Affirmations is the听best听song not on the Barbie听soundtrack. TB
(Benjamin Tassie)
Benjamin Tassie explores the industrial heritage of Sheffield, UK, in听this highly original album that听draws on the city鈥檚 rich past听through three new water-powered instruments, made with instrument designer Sam Underwood. These were taken to the Rivelin valley, which听has been shaped by watermills. Tassie recorded there, and this relationship gives听the river Rivelin its voice听back, evoking a time of thriving industry with delicate, captivating results. TB
(Modern Nature)
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot to take in鈥� It鈥檚 impossible to see,鈥� sings Jack Cooper on the serene track, Ens玫. Cycles of growth and rebirth pulse through the trio鈥檚 third album, reflecting their move from rock to jazz-folk. Visions of English countryside, of dusk and dawn, burrow into your psyche in this intriguing slow burner. TB
Listen along to our picks with this , created by Bethan Ackerley.
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