Evergreen house master Kerri Chandler digs back into the vault for 'Lost & Found Vol. 4', the latest instalment in his archive series on Kaoz Theory. A genuine house pioneer, he continues to shape the genre while staying mighty true to the scene's roots. And it's fair to say there aren't many out there making more authentic house music than this veteran US producer. Vol. 4 unearths more hidden gems, including 'Since I Met You' featuring the late Michael Watford, the piano-laced joyride of 'Grandiose Garden' by Alopeke, and the brooding soul of 'Circles' featuring Natalia. Closing things out is 'The Dark One', a deep and driving cut built for the floor, with its dramatic string stabs and searing synths.

On Alligator Bites Never Heal, Doechii blends her Tampa roots with her current Los Angeles life, embodying the past, present, and future of music in under an hour. A verbal banjaxer of countless genres, she delivers an eclectic mix of sounds, striking a pose on the cover as a stone-faced albino alligator queen. The mixtape follows the success of her Eurodance-ish hit 'Alter Ego', which was praised by SZA and remixed with a verse from JT. Doechii now finesses her streak, with such energetic tracks as 'MPH' and 'ROCKET' making for remarkable, cutting summer anthems.

Self-styled as group of escapees on the run from the law, Felon5 are a techno production outfit whose alliance spans back decades. Jobe Elliott-King, Charley Tucker & Oliver Rayner offer up yet another holy trinitarian prayer here - in what makes up the first release on their own self-titled imprint - hand-picking the best motifs of ragga, progressive, ambient and Detroit house for one rather cool, downtown-bound four-hand. Best on the tab has to be the speed garaged 'Groove Connection', whose burbly bass babbles and faint voices seem to suggest connections only form through re-dug grooves; repeated navigations of the same trenches.

Lirica Archives' latest V/A release is a veritable analogue bubblebath, welcoming the eccentrically named Rorschach Garden, Punx Soundcheck, Alternative Radio and Phunklarique to a rather wide ceramic basin. More of a jacuzzi, perhaps, 'Turn Back' and 'Neo Burlesque' are heard heating the waters from below, the latter track especially making ample use of the stereo wide to produce a well-wrung squeezing of new beat and Italo trance citruses. 'Fallout' throws us back to radiophonic instrumental synthpop by way of informatic ecstatics, marked by open source film dialogue samples. Finally, 'Saturation' soaks the EP in scrubdown wacko-FX, its janky percs and fidget steeze ensuring every area of the dance is patted dry.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, 36 Seasons remains a unique album, combining gritty storytelling with soul-driven production. With a compelling narrative written by Matthew Rosenberg, the album immerses listeners in the life of Tony Starks, a streetwise figure navigating betrayal, revenge and redemption. The collaboration with The Revelations brings a fresh, live-band sound that elevates the classic Ghostface energy, blending sharp lyricism with rich, retro-soul instrumentation. Guest performances feature Kool G Rap, AZ and Pharoahe Monch further enhance the storytelling, adding layers of character development, while tracks like 'The Dogs of War' and 'Homicide' showcase sharp lyricism and dramatic tension, while the album's emotional depth, especially on 'Love Don't Live Here', offers a more intimate side of Starks. This reissue brings out the full range of the album's soulful grooves and cinematic narrative. Whether revisiting 36 Seasons for its narrative or its production, this anniversary edition invites both new listeners and longtime fans to experience it in a fresh, vivid light.

Marc Moulin's long career, establishing him as a pioneering figure in Belgium's music scene, continues its journey on this release, with tracks that weave together his signature blend of smooth jazz and downtempo rhythms. Beginning with the jazz-rock group Placebo in the 70s, Moulin later formed the electro-pop act Telex, which represented Belgium at Eurovision in 1980. As a solo artist, he merged jazz with electronic and downtempo sounds, collaborating with artists like Sparks and Lio. His production, marked by complex instrumentation and atmospheric depth, solidified his reputation as a key figure in both jazz and electronic music. Whether drawing from the cool jazz of the 60s or the laid-back grooves of 90s chillout, Moulin's music transcends genre boundaries. On this album, the music explores a subtle interplay of muted trumpets, congas, and guitars, blending sensual, smoky vocals with a deeply rhythmic pulse. There's an unmistakable touch of classic jazz, reminiscent of legends like Wes Montgomery and George Benson, while the rhythms pull you into a more contemporary space, aligning with the downtempo beats that were popular in the 90s. Tracks like 'Into The Dark' and 'What?' unfold with a breezy yet intricate sense of rhythm, offering both chilled vibes and moments of tension. 'Organ' offers a groove-heavy track, with its jazz roots merging seamlessly with a funk-infused, hypnotic backdrop. The bonus remixes serve as a fresh take on these original compositions. From the midnight mood of 'Organ (Cosmos Midnight Express Remix)' to the deeper house flavour of 'Into The Dark (Karma Fever Reminiscent Step Remix)', these remixes take the core of Moulin's vision and deepen it, offering something for both the jazz enthusiast and the dancefloor. This release crystalises a rich moment in Moulin's career as he updates the familiar jazz and downtempo idioms with the intricate, soulful grooves of funk and electronic experimentation, keeping his sound vital and relevant.

Icelandic experiment Low Roar heard Ryan Karazija, Leifur Bjornsson and Logi Gudmundsson indulge a transoceanic collaboration, extending many a riotous yet sensual sludgeoff between indie pop and post-rock until Karazija's death in 2022. Since this sad event, subsequent records have heard the band reuse loose elements recorded by Karazija in a posthumous fashion, and House In The Woods is a brilliant new example. Pressed to vinyl quickly after an initial digital release, the album blends typical Icelandic ambient-string work with sensuous background vocals and harmonium layers, and deals in a range of subjects from decrepitude to endless love, marked by a sense of sublimity throughout.

One of the most iconic voices of the past 60 years blends heartfelt covers with original material on his latest album. Each track is carried by Robinson's eternally smooth and expressive voice. His take on William DeVaughn's 'Be Thankful For What You Got' radiates gentle optimism, while his rendition of Bill Withers' 'Lean On Me' feels like a personal reassurance that is intimate, direct and comforting. Robinson doesn't just revisit the past, he breathes new emotional life into it. From the uplifting tones of 'What a Wonderful World' to the classic soul lean of 'Be Kind To The Growing Mind', re-recorded with The Temptations, the album serves both as a tribute and a call for compassion. The covers of Carole King and Bob Marley deepen the album's message who, like Smokey, have long advocated for love and understanding through music. You will find Smokey communicating soul-deep truths with elegance and feeling. In uncertain times, this is feel-good music delivered by one of the most meaningful voices of any eraia soft-spoken reminder of our shared humanity.