Amoeba Music

East Portal is the debut collaboration between LA based multi-instrumentalist Patrick Taylor (a studio musician and touring bassist in the pop industry) and John Atkinson, co-leader of Brooklyn avant-rock ensemble Aa (Big A little a) who now also makes solo ambient music. As a duo, they create an interesting and detailed experimental soundworld filled with layered electroacoustic textures, upright and electric bass, strings, clarinet, synths, and more. Some truly fascinating stuff here, with lots of improvised-sounding bits, and definitely influenced by jazz and post-rock. Hard to pin down what it reminds me of but it’s really nice, sparse stuff that keeps you inwardly focused on the sonic details as they slowly emerge and morph through a series of chang Read more

Atlanta is no stranger to talent in Hip Hop and beyond, and J.I.D keeps that time honored tradition alive - and banging. His writing has always been good, but there's a leveling up on this record that is so inspiring, showing that he can sing-rap or chop with ease. Content rocks between being personal while inviting you to join him on the journey, and loose and fun, reminding you to let go the stress and let the beat and cadence shake your troubles away. The production is nothing short stellar - neck breaking bangers, slow and smokey, emotional resonance, backyard BBQ family session - it has it all. Read more

The duo of PremRock & Curly Castro is like a match meeting a stick of dynamite. It doesn't matter which is which because the results will be the same - an explosive barrage of lyrical beatdowns over a bed of razor-laced beats from some of the best producers roaming the indie rap landscape right now - Steel Tipped Dove & Child Actor, with one track by Olof Melander. I could listen to these guys rap all day, and I have. Read more

I'm excited every time a new Young Fathers album drops because they have a distinct musical delivery and perspective. There's a communal vibe to their sound, and as it washes over you you become part of that community, finding yourself in the middle of the circle while your peers, strangers, and elders dance around you, channeling universal energy. Messages of struggle and celebration mingle around each other as they do in real life, like one can't exist without the other. Read more

Sampa is another artist that seems to unlock a new chamber of artistic expression with every new release. Musically, the album's sound is very much tapped into her Zambian roots, pushing deep, bass booming drums with traditional claps and keyboard percussion, occasionally dripping with heavy synth. Her writing and rap delivery is fierce and elevating, warning to test at your own peril. There are many times throughout the album when it feels like her and the music are one - inseparable, traveling the spectrum of sound as a single point. At least that's what I see in my head. Read more

My love for Mike's artistic output is no secret in these MWL pages. Every record is a puzzle piece of the man, while at times also being a reflection of aspects of me, and society at large. A love letter to mixtapes, the nostalgia those bring, and how they can very much inform who we become. As someone who grew up with cassettes (and still actively collects and listens to them), there's a lot here that speaks to me - from memories of my finger on the red button trying to catch my favorite song played on the radio, to recording the Wake-Up Show every week (I still have those), to making a tape for a girl to express my feelings (sometimes, cringe!). Production from heavy heads like Quelle Chris, Child Actor, Illingsworth, Madlib, Diamond D, and more add weight to the mixtape ethos here, and guest features from Armand Hammer, Serengeti, R.A.P. Ferreria, Video Dave, STILL RIFT, Diamond D, and Aesop Rock will have you saying, "Yo, flip the tape!" Read more

woods and his label, Backwoodz Studioz, are the poetic and psychedelic juggernauts of the indie rap scene, setting the bar at near-earth orbit. You may think you can pass them up by hitting a high-earth orbit, but you'll find yourself struggling to keep up. Read more

The Suede God is one of the most prolific artists right now, releasing four albums in 2022, and two as of February 2023, with more on the horizon. Though released in 2021, Avada Kedavra was one of the many albums affected by the huge backlog of vinyl pressings, finally hitting collections and record store shelves in 2023. Fully produced by AJ Suede, his singular vision and sound is fully displayed, delivering laid back but assertive and reference-heavy raps over dramatic and psychedelic scores. Deluxe LP includes a remix version of the album with different producers and a different song sequence, originally released as Re:Vada Kedavra. Read more

Originally released in 2020, the vinyl has finally landed and it is a glorious thing to behold. High production quality and includes the instrumentals. Buck 65's playful quality of delivery is always welcome among the landscape of all-so-serious rappers, and Controller 7's production is very much a character in the stories held within. There's a call-and-response vibe between Tommy & Richie that makes for a highly enjoyable listen. Read more

Must have. Don't Sleep. Do your homework. RIP Dave aka Trugoy the Dove aka Plug 2. Read more

Europe's funky master returns with an excellent album of deep, spiritual jazz. Read more

Devastating and very rare lowrider ballad reissued by the excellent Symphonical label. Read more

By far his funkiest and likely rarest album gets a lovely reissue from Japanese label P-Vine. Read more

Blistering salsa album from Venezuela gets a nice reissue from Spain's Vampi Soul label. Read more

Superb dub album from 1978 given the proper vinyl reissue. Essential. Read more

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