Welcome to the new music review where we connect you with some of the best new music from around the world. Read on, click through to our Spotify playlist and enjoy it all on 2SER!

Phantastic Ferniture – Phantastic Ferniture (Feature Album)
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Mulatu Astatke – Afro-Latin Soul Vol. 1 + 2
Darren Cross – Peacer
Israel Nash – Lifted
Deaf Wish – Lithium Zion
ShadowParty – ShadowParty
Vinyl Williams – Opal
Shy Boys – Bell House

What do Nas, Four Tet and Fleet Foxes have in common? They’ve all sampled the music of Mulatu Astatke, the now 74 year old Godfather of Ethio-Jazz. Following last year’s re-issue of his incredible 1972 album ‘Mulatu in Ethiopia’, UK label Strut Records continues the exploration in Astatke’s discography and have now re-issued ‘Afro-Latin Soul Vol. 1 + 2’. These were the first two albums that Astatke wrote and were recorded in New York where Astatke relocated to in the mid 60s. A brilliant insight into the early experimentations of this fascinating hybrid of traditional Ethiopian melodies, 60s grooves and Latin inspired rhythms. Spirited, funky and infectious. If you’ve seen Jim Jarmusch’s, Bill Murray starring film Broken Flowers, Astatke’s music is found on the majority of the soundtrack.

Israel Nash who originally hails from Missouri in the US returns with his fifth album, ‘Lifted’, and that’s exactly what his music sounds like. Upbeat folk informed rock with a psychedelic overlay drawing influence from Neil Young’s discography. Nash has lived on a Texas ranch for the past decade and the sounds of his surrounds and home studio make it’s way on the album – drums played in rain collection tanks, frogs, crickets and rattlesnacks all in their natural habitats. All the way groovy, cosmic, and full of bliss.

Closer to home is Darren Cross who some might know from Gerling, and Jep and Dep fame. His second album ‘Peacer’, is a wonderful smattering of styles that leap from anarchic gospel-krautrock, indie guitar pop, neo-folk fingerpicking and spaced out electro. There’s something here for fans of both Gerling and Jep and Dep projects. Features the master of bedroom recordings, R. Stevie Moore, and Jessica Cassar from Jep and Dep. This one’s a Bandcamp exclusive, so head on over there to find this gem.

We also see the return of Blood Orange, Richard in Your Mind, JEFF the Brotherhood, and Swearin’, the debut single from ex Tigertown member Charlie Collins, and a new one from Everything is Recorded.