Kerri Chandler's 'Bar A Thym' is one of those tracks that seems to contain everything great house music aspires to beia groove so undeniable it feels perpetual, melodies that loop and evolve as though they've always existed. This reissue, spanning Chandler's original extended mix, Foremost Poets' vocal edit, and THEMBA's reimagined version, charts not only the track's history but its continuing relevance. The Foremost Poets edit imbues the already hypnotic motif with an enigmatic narrative, its vocal fragments both anchoring and reframing the mood. THEMBA's remix, on the other hand, nudges the groove toward Afro house, subtly opening up the track's spatial dynamics while preserving its magnetic pull. Chandler's work never feels datediit shifts and reshapes to meet each new moment, and 'Bar A Thym' remains as arresting today as it was when it first found its way onto the dancefloor.

Ryan Adams' cult classic album Blackhole is finally being released, much to the anticipation of his devoted fanbase. Initially demoed in 2006 and heavily bootlegged over the years, this long-awaited official release features raw and emotionally charged tracks, including 'Catherine', previously only performed live. The album's creation coincided with a tumultuous period in Adams' life, marked by struggles with addiction, making its release not just a musical event but also a reclamation of a pivotal moment in his career. Adams merged two versions of the albumione reflecting a chaotic vocal performance and another crafted in the midst of his struggles. The release promises to satisfy years of speculation while offering an authentic glimpse into Adams' artistic evolution. With its blend of previously unheard material and emotional depth, Blackhole stands as a testament to the beauty found within vulnerability and fans eagerly await its arrival.

A rare new V/A record from the diggers deific over at Time Capsule - Kay Suzuki and company - whose focus on reissues has thus far formed a dense but not unbraveable thicket of drummy disco, city pop, reggae and international rerubs. Formed out of the East London party scene centring on Brilliant Corners and Beauty & The Beat, this four-track haul of Choice Remixes is a surely credible little curation. Suzuki lends four flips to the record - first of Gaoule Mizik's 'A Ka Titine' from 2022, which reappears with expository force, providing a banging re-bake of the Guadeloupean gwoka original. The theme continues on a version of Broki's 'Es Que Lo Es', which veers Latin minimalia, before slowing to a chuggy pace on 'Sortez Les Filles', before a final, synthy piano duet leaves the proceedings on a piquant hurrah, 'Oyelo'.

Rachel Shearer's work as Lovely Midget offers a hypnotic blend of ambient minimalism and abstract experimentation. Across the record, Shearer's deft touch transforms small sonic details into immersive landscapes, each piece feeling both delicate and deliberate. 'North Head' stands out as a serene and haunting meditation, its subtle shifts in texture creating a quiet sense of unease. Elsewhere, cascading tones and near-silent pauses draw the listener deeper into her auditory world. By weaving sparse instrumentation with an almost tactile approach to sound design, Shearer crafts a listening experience that is deeply introspective yet strangely inviting. This is a work that rewards patience, demanding you listen not just to the notes but to the spaces between them, offering moments of profound stillness and clarity.

The Robinson and Takahiro Fuchigami take a side each on this compelling exploration of house music infused with diverse jazz influences. This release effortlessly blends genres, creating a rich and textured soundscape that bridges lounge, disco and blues. Side-1 opens with 'Passion Is The Key', a track that leans into lounge jazz vibes, pairing smooth melodies with a laid-back house groove. Following this, 'A Satisfying Day' injects disco elements into the mix, creating an uplifting fusion of rhythm and melody. Side-2 deepens the jazz-house connection. 'Jazzing Bird' delivers an intricate, jazz-forward interpretation of house, balancing vibrant improvisation with danceable beats. 'How's That Sound?' captures the essence of a smoky jazz club, blending sultry brass lines with a steady house pulse. Closing the release, 'In Motion' incorporates bluesy undertones into a chilled-out vibe, offering a soulful, reflective end to the journey.

Operant since 2006 as wonder-purveyors of everything funk and soul come battle breaks, Wack Records share their latest 7", a smattering of hip-hop flips met by the heated hands of resident producers Smoove and Suckaside. This time brought to two Philly-to-NYC hip-hop originals first laid down by the top-reg duo The High & Mighty (Mr. Eon and DJ Mighty Mi), Smoove and Suckaside first let the crackles and licks hang loose for a debauched drama on the A, before a tighter groove opens up further on the B-side's 'B Boy Document 25'.

Chris Marigold and Leo Wyndham's Blu Mar Ten label - an offshoot of their music alias of the same name - shares the third addition to the Wardown albums series by the eponymous artist, real name Peter Rodgers (of Technimatic fame). Described from the outset as a musical diary of smeared memory, Rodgers' drum & bass-focused Wardown records are accounts of dislocation - emotional, familial, local - that document and textualise the disjunction between the artist's childhood in Luton and a musical career forged elsewhere. While the first record in was packed with personal nostalgia, Wardown III charts a continuing macroscopy in sound occurrent thereafter; this time around, Rodgers incorporates a cyborgish, anthropocenic monologue as the intro, and follows it with humanistic, synaptic drum & bass expansiveness in the form of 'Perfect Your Memories', 'As They Fall' and 'Deteriation'.

The first notes of Strength In Numbers pull you in with the immediacy of a tightly wound groove. 'Team Spirit' sets the stage with sharp percussion and a bassline that feels as if it's pushing against a restraint, only to give way to an effortless swing. 'Gear Up Rudi!' follows with a cool, almost cinematic feel, as Gibin's intricate rhythm patterns dance around the space between the beats. The pace slows slightly on 'Come Mornin' (featuring Sandra St. Victor),' where the warmth of her vocals transforms the track into a soulful, melodic anchor. Yet, it's on 'No Matter What' that the LP really finds its strideian undulating groove, building steadily before its final, emotive release. The album balances thoughtful restraint with moments of release and in that, Gibin creates something that moves through time without losing its pulse.