Ahead of their upcoming LP release on the Otis label later in 2024, the Barcelona/Brighton duo Phil Passera and Jimmy Day deliver a stunning addition to their already impressive discography with The Wild Butterfly EP. This release features three fresh tracks alongside a highly anticipated tenth-anniversary rework of their much-loved Golf Channel label classic, 'Paradise'. The EP showcases the duo's ability to craft elegant mid-tempo grooves, perfect for both dancefloors and laid-back listening. The tracks are rich with immersive harmonies, pulsating synth basslines, and dreamy jazz guitar melodies provided by guests J Felix and Royce Wood Jr. Add in some smoky saxophone layers, and you have a selection that oozes tactile and evocative vibes. Tailor-made for intimate, love-filled moments and reflective sessions alike, The Wild Butterfly EP is a beautifully layered, emotionally resonant journey that further cements Passera and Day's status as excellent purveyors of mood-driven music.

Renowned for his extensive record collection and deep knowledge of house and garage, Jeremy Underground brings his passion to Vol. 3 of Z Records's 90's House & Garage compilation series. It features tracks that are either unreleased or newly digitised from original DAT tapes and vinyl. This edition comes on double vinyl with four sides of glorious grooves, each one of them carefully selected and professionally treated to reflect the golden era of house, taking in rare gems and remixes from Kerri Chandler, Murk, 95 North, and more. Vital stuff.

The deeper end of the techno spectrum is where Stojche finds himself with this new 12" on Luck of Access. 'Bermuda Triangle' opens up with some of the mystery you might expect of a tune with such a name - the beats are mid-tempo and soft around the edges, the pads swirl up top with a subtle sense of mysticism and the whole mood is richly immersive. 'Damascus Dub' then has a swaggering dub rhythm with aqueous pads and sub-aquatic bass sinking you into a watery world of sound as hits ricochet off to the distance. An Andrey Pushkarev remix of this one shuts down with a perfectly smooth dub techno roller for late-night hypnotism.

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Expect a stellar line-up from the realm of 'modern electronic jazz,' featuring long-time collaborators Jessica Lauren and Ben Hadwen (on tenor sax, bass clarinet, and flute), alongside Twm Dylan (upright bass), Peter Zummo (trombone), Sarathy Korwar (Tabla), Magnus Mehta (congas/percussion), Raimund Wong (Yamaha MT400/electronics), and Nick himself on drums, percussion, vibes, and synth. The album offers four standout tracks: 'Spice Routes' delves into deep bass-driven space jazz with Ben's sax and bass clarinet leading the charge; 'Messimalism (Above Thought)' is a fusion of space jazz and dub; 'Paradox' invites listeners into a rich soundscape of gong baths; and 'Pathways to Presence' stands out with its expansive, 18-minute exploration, blending elements of Art Ensemble of Chicago and Kahil El Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, along with a hint of early Cinematic Orchestra vibes. Fans of influential DJs like Patrick Forge and Michael Ruetten are particularly excited by this release. The album reflects Emanative's collective spirit, drawing on jazz traditions while forging new paths. With connections to Sun Ra Arkestra and Tribe jazz royalty, and a sound reminiscent of Carlos NiNo & Friends, this album is a significant addition to the genre. In terms of missing elements, it's notable that Liz Elensky, Nick's partner of 25 years, is not involved, which might be a point of interest for those familiar with his personal history.

DJ Deep's Connected EP on Gettraum from France is a refined collection of deep house tracks that beautifully explore emotion. On Side-1, 'Sunday Loop' stands out with its melodic and groovy elements, embodying the classy house sound DJ Deep is known for. 'Cable Guy' follows with a deep, immersive vibe that pulls you in with its rich layers while 'The Third Man' rounds off the side, delivering a strong, resonant track. Side-2 brings a fresh take with Traumer's edit of 'Sunday Loop,' which amplifies the energy with a stomping house beat and lush organ keys, adding a new dimension to the original. The version of 'The Third Man' strips the track down slightly, offering a more focused yet still powerful interpretation. Connected EP is a perfect example at melodic house music that resonates on multiple levels.

Marcos Valle's illustrious career is nothing short of extraordinary. From becoming an international sensation overnight to navigating political turmoil, dodging the Vietnam draft, and shaping fitness trends, Valle's journey is as dynamic as his music. To truly grasp his impact, one must experience his diverse discography. Spanning from his 1962 debut to the present, Valle's work covers bossa nova, samba, disco, psychedelic rock, and beyond. With 22 studio albums, his music has been celebrated by legends like Frank Sinatra, Elis Regina and sampled by contemporary icons such as Jay-Z and Kanye West. Valle's twenty-third album, Tunel Acustico, marks a grand synthesis of his musical evolution. The album unifies Valle's varied styles with a natural, sincere touch. It features two tracks from his time in Los Angeles in the late seventies: 'Feels So Good,' a soulful gem created with Leon Ware, and 'Life Is What It Is,' a disco delight co-written with Laudir De Oliveira of Chicago. 'Feels So Good' was restored from an old demo with producer Daniel Maunick, who used AI to enhance the track, while Valle added Portuguese lyrics and new instrumentation. Valle's take on 'Life Is What It Is' boosts the tempo and groove for an infectious summer vibe. The album also showcases contemporary Brazilian talents like Joyce Moreno, Ceu and Moreno Veloso, alongside Valle's brother, Paulo Sergio Valle. Closing with 'Thank You Burt (For Bacharach),' a tribute to Burt Bacharach, Tunel Acustico promises to be a compelling addition to Valle's legendary career.

Swedish musician Molly Nilsson presents her 11th full-length record, a bedazzling album that immediately strikes the listener with a mature sense of irony, one that is yet not incompatible with a sincerely beautiful, end-productive sound. Un-American Activities draws its name from the allegedly un-American acts of Lion Feuchtwanger, a survivor of the National Socialist regime in 1930s Germany, whose flight from fascist persecution to America in 1933 ironically saw him placed on the FBI's surveilling blacklist for "premature antifascist" acts. For this reason, Feuchtwanger was not granted citizenship; and only after Lion's death in December 21, 1958 did his wife Marta receive a letter stating that both of them were approved to become American citizens. Nilsson themes her album after Feuchtwanger, having recorded it entirely in the villa in which he and his wife formerly lived, while sojourning there as part of an eponymous artist residency: Villa Aurora. The resulting album is a love note not only to the artist - among the very first to be declared an "enemy of the state" by the Nazis - but also to the internal, external and eternal struggle he fought. The record draws heavily on the German synth-pop born of the same modernist movement that the Nazis necessarily harped on; yet Nilsson's sound also comes tinged with a deeply sad sense of inadequacy, one that is implicitly mocking of the hopeless nostalgias and returns-home so central to the Nazi project.