New releases last two weeks: International

Review: With his third EP and second for this label, Seattle-based South American Martin Selasco's project continues to carve out a distinct space in the Balearic downtempo universe, radiating a sun-baked, cross-cultural charm that is worldly and intimate. Side-A opens with 'La Pantera', a smoky instrumental driven by a dubby pulse and layered Latin percussion, the track's hazy atmosphere and subtle melodic touches hinting at everything from tropical lounge to low-slung sound system culture. 'Descalzo' is more of a downtempo cumbia laced gem with light funk and breezy French-Island textures. The rhythm sways with a casual elegance, evoking barefoot dances at golden hour and lazy days under a beachside canopy. Effortlessly blending influences, this EP feels like a postcard from an imagined coastline that somewhere between Colombia, Guadeloupe and the Balearics.

Review: First released in 1971, Garra captures Brazillian legend Marcos Valle at his most playful and politically subversive i a sun-soaked record full of breezy melodics, cerebral arrangements and beneath-the-surface protest. Reissued by Spanish imprint Vampi Soul, it sounds as compellingly bittersweet as ever. Valle blends samba, soul and psychedelia into something smooth but quietly radical, with lyrics (penned by his brother Paulo Sergio) touching on everything from consumerism to cultural identity, often disguised as love songs. Tracks like 'Jesus Meu Rei' and 'Com Mais de 30' retain all their sonic charm and tropical levity, while 'Black Is Beautiful' stands out for its politicism as much as its poignancy. The arrangements are rich but never overly busy, balancing Rhodes keys, strings and rhythm with ample airiness. Garra is a magnificent reminder of how music, when done right, has the power to elevate discourse, challenge the establishment, and joyfully celebrate unity.

Review: There are immersive experiences that inspire artists to do great things. Then there's Aboutface heading to the Wampis Territory, in the Peruvian Amazon, to live with the local community, learn a little of how they live and their relationship with the Lungs of the Planet, capturing field recordings collaboratively with those people, and trying to articulate their world through an electronic-organic deep dive album. After you've got over the jealousy about how life-changing that trip was, let's focus on the fundamentals. This is seriously escapist stuff that seems to have been made using every root, branch, and animal encountered during those weeks. The synthesised elements are audible, but take a backseat to what was and is actually there. Or here. Quite unlike anything we've heard this year, it's a stunning way to raise awareness and support for Indigenous-led conservation and initiatives trying to stop illegal deforestation and ecocide.

Review: Warda Ftouki was an Algerian singer whose songs tot up to a repertoire of about 300; all shine with the coptic reverence of a scarab beetle, triangulating a legacy of traditional songcraft stretched between North Africa and the Middle East. Wewantsounds here present the first-ever vinyl reissue of We Malo, her 1975 gem. Backed by a full Egyptian orchestra and penned by famed composer Baligh Hamdi, the album is a blanching blend of classical Arabic music and 70s funk, with electric guitar and organ flourishes adorning an undivided two sides of tape. This edition has newly remastered audio by Coloursound Studio (Paris), faithful reproduction of the original cassette artwork, and a two-page insert with fresh liner notes by Mario Choueiry of the Institut du Monde Arabe.