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Burnished Sums (CD)

Yungmorpheus
Yungmorpheus is definitely a name to watch in the new generation of buzzing rap talent, and this short but solid EP serves as a sign of great things to come. Relaxed and sophisticated rapping over some very nice production from Joe Armon-Jones, DMH, and August Fanon amongst others. Word is that Yungmorpheus has a number of new full lengths slated for 2023, which feature a pretty impressive cast of collaborators, including Ohbliv, Kutmah, Fly Anakin, and even Mary Lattimore in the mix. Don’t surprised if you continue to see his name pop up in these Music We Like guides, as all signs are pointing towards a busy year for Yungmorph. Read more

The Remarkable Carmell Jones (LP)

Carmell Jones feat. Harold

Couldn’t close this out without one of the Blue Note Tone Poet honorable mentions. Although this LP was originally released on World Pacific. Superb music and sound quality. Another five-star jazz record from the golden age.

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Drift (LP)

Winston Brothers
A nice release from Colemine. Very funky German group brings some really solid songs. Great musicians on every instrument and all placed very well. Quality horn section. Recommended for fans of Budos Band and Daptone type of stuff. Read more

Malebox (LP)

Patrick Cowley
Super stripped down, high-quality jams from legendary disco producer. Some dance floor heat on this one. Read more

Doing It In Lagos (Boogie, Pop & Disco In 1980s Nigeria (LP)

Various
All killer, zero filler. The title says all you need to know. For those that are into this kind of thing, yes, this 3LP set is worth every penny. 2 tracks per-side very nicely ranging in tempo and style throughout. Read more

El Bueno y El Malo (LP)

Hermanos Gutierrez
A very moody, beautiful record of low-key, reverb-drenched, guitar-driven songs. Not my typical thing, but these guys really knocked me out upon first listen. Produced by Dan Auerbach. Read more

Super Freak (LP)

Pucho & His Latin Soul
Reissue of a killer record from the legendary Pucho. This one ranges from funk to some pretty heady Latin tunes. Killer Read more

The Vaults Of Zagora Records Mastermind (LP)

Daniel Vangarde
2 LPs of slamming French disco deep cuts. Amazing comp. Very little filler! Read more

Aischrolatreia (LP)

Diabolic Oath
I think this band rules and I've got the 4-sided death metal long sleeve to prove it. These weirdos ripped all the frets outta their stringed instruments and proceeded to write some of the heaviest, most oppressive death metal this side of Incantation's glory days. No jazz-fusion flirtation, no goofy chorus pedal wankery, just barbaric death worship brought out from the crypts of reverb-laden murk, laid here on full display in all of its bloody glory. More like this please. Read more

Fuzz Dance Classics Over The World (LP)

VA
Excellent, handy little comp of Alexander Robotnick's excellent brand of italo disco and synth pop. Read more

The Chicago Boogie Vol. 3 - Set It Out

VA
Killer killer comp of rare, private press, Chicago boogie tunes that usually sell for around $400 to $1,000. All unearthed and assembled by TIm Zawada and Kool Hersh of Chicago's Boogie Munsters/Star Creature crew. I've been slinging these tunes at the Sweater Funk parties to packed dancefloors. It really raises the energy level and elevates the party, amazing collection. Read more

Glass Horizon (LP)

Precipitation
A touch of house, a touch of ambient music. What a great, chill release. This has been my go to for traveling around SF this fall/winter, it was perfect. Keeps you motivated and in a positive head space. Highly recommended for vibing out. Read more

The Sparrow (LP)

Sam Prekop
Speaking of vibing out... If that's what you need, then I think you may want to give this a listen. It's a beautiful exploration of sound on Sam's modular synth system. Read more

Boy (LP)

Harvey Sutherland
Harvey Sutherland stormed onto the scene with his amazing disco/house 12", Brothers, in 2014. His out put has since been a steady trickle of quality singles, something like once a year. In that time he's been gigging and collaborating and we must mention the fact that Harvey was band leader for the one and only Leroy Burgess, the godfather of boogie when Leroy toured Australia. All of these experiences have been building to and informing this collection of tunes in an album format. This is a funky record. Not necessarily a FUNK record, but it does contain some funky, dance floor monsters. There are cuts here that will satisfy a disco or boogie fan (head straight for Feeling of love ft. Dam-Funk or Time on my side) but there's also some excellent synth pop, memorable AOR moments and even some jazz funk. An excellent listener and dance floor instigator! Highly recommended! Read more

Wilderness of Mirrors (LP)

The Black Angels
Their first album in five years, "Wilderness of Mirrors," breaks the spell of The Black Angels' silence with their customary Sturm und Drang. The Black Angels heavy psych sound is unmistakable and I will always gladly ask for more of it, even if it's a harbinger for our own doom. Layer upon layer of swirling organ, guitars, fuzz, and samples back provocative lyrics that hold a mirror (a wilderness of mirrors) to the chaos we call home. It's the perfect psychedelic soundtrack for the the apocalypse. It lifts us up while we spiral down. “Empires falling / It’s history on repeat / Our nations’ pleading from street to bloody street.” Read more

Islands In The Sky (LP)

Death Valley Girls
I'm pretty sure I've covered each of the Death Valley Girls' albums for Music We Like editions at some point. Let's do it again with their latest, "Islands In the Sky." I could say that their sound is psych, or post punk, or dark garage rock, but in my heart of hearts, I've always considered them to be mystic rock. Their sound swirls like psych, rocks like punk, quirks like garage, but it also both conjures and transforms. As with their previous album, "Under the Spell of Joy," lyrical themes often start from a negative place of being on the outside of society, then the focus goes inward toward self-discovery. As with ceremonial magick, the outer performative action creates inner personal change. Their music is beguiling in its shifting multitude of layers, ebb and flow of melody, waxing transcendent with each new instrumental addition of sax or organ. This band gets that it's about the journey, the spell, the playing, the song. “You’re in charge of the perception of your life." Read more

House Of Psychotic Women: Rarities Collection (BLU)

The writer/programmer/filmmaker Kier-La Janisse, who directed the documentary "Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched" (plus put together the accompanying box set of folk horror films, "All the Haunts Be Ours"), has teamed with Severin Films again to release a box set of four films of feminine delirium and hysteria, all on Blu-ray for the first time. The collection adheres to the overall theme of perceived female sanity, but each film's approach is entirely different. Strap in for: 1974’s Italio psycho fest "Identikit" (aka "The Driver's Seat"), featuring Elizabeth Taylor. 1986's bizarre Polish vampire flick "I Like Bats." 1975's giallo amnesia-mystery "Footprints." 1972’s "The Other Side of the Underneath," an experimental film by Jane Arden. Read more

The Dunwich Horror (BLU)

Raise the Old Ones! Arrow Films has released a restored Blu-ray version of Daniel Haller's Lovecraft freakout, "The Dunwich Horror," from the original 35mm negative. Follow a very groovy Dean Stockwell as he tracks down the "Necronomicon" at the local Miskatonic University and proceeds to unravel time and space. Extra occult nerd points for Stockwell's use of Aleister Crowley's Pan gesture. Read more

The Lady from Shanghai (BLU)

Orson Wells' "The Lady from Shanghai" is one of the greatest, most bizarre, and perhaps most baffling Noir films of 1948. Every viewing yields new angles of understanding to its labyrinthian plot, almost as if we the audience are venturing into the house of mirrors for that last infamous, fateful scene. The latest Kino Lorber Blu-ray features a variety of new commentaries, including tracks from Peter Bogdanovich and Noir City's Eddie Muller! Read more

Pena Ao Mar (LP)

Carla Boregas
As a member of Rakta São Paulo's genre-bending experimental post-punk outfit, Carla has been exploring sound as a language for years. On Pena ao Mar sonic encounters and situations occur through her manipulation of analog and digital synthesizers, electric bass, field recordings and acoustic sounds. Read more