Kelela‘s New Avatar promises a rich mix of sounds shaped by her early years in the D.C. indie scene while still embracing the electronic textures and experimental sounds she has become known for. The album will also feature collaborations with PinkPantheress, Fousheé, and A. K. Paul. Speaking about the project, Kelela shared: “This album finds solace in confronting. I don’t want the music to be a distraction from what’s really going on in the world; I want it to make sense in this crazy moment while helping people get in touch with the beauty and joy they’re also experiencing.”

Alongside the album news, Kelela has also unveiled the hypnotic new single “linknb”, following the previously released album opener “Idea 1”. Produced by Oscar Scheller, “linknb” blends Kelela’s unmistakably fluid vocals with shimmering guitars that subtly remind us of ML Buch’s dreamy sound palette. In the track, she sings: “It’s not hard to be brave / Easier to give too much away. All I know is that I paved the way, underpaid.” The song arrives with a visually striking video directed by Mischa Notcutt, filled with atmospheric city shots. Watch and support below.

“Cherry Blue” carries that signature bittersweet digital nostalgia Lopatin does so well. The track hums with gentle drones and layered pulses. It’s calm, hypnotic, and just a little strange, like the foggy clarity that hits when you’re too tired to sleep but somehow still alert.

The single also comes with a beautifully textured visual companion by French artist Pol Taburet, marking his first foray into music video direction. And if you’re based in Madrid like us, you’re in luck: Oneohtrix Point Never will be performing at Teatro Barceló on November 7, just ahead of the album’s release. Check his website to see his full itinerary.

“It’s a record shaped by commercial audio construction kits from a bygone era—an index of cliches turned inside out,” Lopatin explains. “It is a return to a process-oriented form of music making for me that I felt best evoked a certain kind of madness and ennui in the heart of culture today.”

The new LP follows 2023’s Again and arrives alongside his recent scoring work for the upcoming film Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie, but Tranquilizer feels like a very personal statement. Built from sonic fragments that recall lost ‘90s archives, the record leans into that strange space where nostalgia and unease overlap.

These first three previews (of 15 tracks in total) are already setting the tone, shifting from misty and breathy textures to jittery bursts of percussion and warped, beat-driven layers. You can dive into “For Residue,” “Bumpy,” and “Lifeworld” now, the latter coming with a self-directed video.

Yves Tumor, meanwhile, continues to expand their left-field universe following the critically acclaimed 2023 album Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds).

THE BEST NEW RELEASES, UPDATED DAILY? STREAM OUR FORECAST TAPE PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY.

Their worlds collide on “WE DONT COUNT”, a hook-laden, bass-driven new wave track that feels like a shared fever dream. Propelled by hypnotic rhythms and jagged guitar stabs, the song lets Tumor and NINA’s vocals twist and coil around each other, creating something that’s both urgent and surreal. The mood carries into the shadowy black-and-white video they co-directed. The stylish, enigmatic piece matches the track’s dark pulse and swagger. It’s a collision of two singular visions, and the result feels electric.

Following up to “Gospel For A New Century,” already featured in our favourite tracks of the year, Yves Tumor has just shared “Kerosene!,” another glimpse taken from his forthcoming album Heaven To A Tortured Mind. A burning ballad about a consuming passion, the track features vocals from Diana Gordon as well as an epic guitar solo which seems to come straight from the 80s. Listen and pre-order the record via Bandcamp below.

Detroit’s rapper Danny Brown recently released an excellent new album titled uknowhatimsayin¿, which was introduced by the amazing Q Tip-produced track “Dirty Laundry“. The track is already featured in our Best Tracks of 2019 playlist.

The second single, “Best Life”, was also produced by the A Tribe Called Quest leader and sounds less gritty and salacious than some of his previous offerings. This different vibe can also be felt in the accompanying visuals, which were directed by Augustin Vita. Watch below.

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Any Danny Brown fans who missed hearing the rapper at his most playful can rejoice: “Dirty Laundry”, the Q-Tip produced single from his upcoming album uknowhatimsayin¿ is a wacky romp through the city that keeps it real while still having a laugh at itself.

About his upcoming album, Danny said “this is my version of a stand-up comedy album”. Lines like, “Once got a ho, ain’t had money for the room, so we did the humpty hump in a Burger King bathroom”, combined with the outrageously unpredictable music video definitely make this ring true, all while Danny’s rap chops remain as sharp as ever. With drugs, sex, and a hell of a rock & roll attitude all deeply woven into every bar of “Dirty Laundry”, it’s hard not to crave a little debauchery just listening to it.

The beat here calls to mind the point in every good party when sensibilities go out the window. A little bit of chaos and a lot of lip-curling grooves make Q-Tips production work on “Dirty Laundry” feel equal parts modern and classic: a perfect fit for Danny if there’s ever been one.

The follow-up to 2016’s critically acclaimed Atrocity Exhibition, uknowhatimsayin¿ drops October 4th on Warp records, and includes features by JPEGMAFIA, Blood Orange, Run the Jewels, and Obongjayar. To make a long story short, mark your calendars and watch the Simon Cahn-directed video below.

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“Dirty Laundry” is also featured in our Spotify playlist: Best Tracks of 2019.

American experimental music producer Yves Tumor has released a video for “Lifetime”, a highlight from his latest album that we listed in our 100 Tracks of 2018. Directed by iconic visual artist Floria Sigismondi, the powerful visuals combine eroticism, high fashion, devilish and cyberpunk aesthetics, amongst others. Besides the video, Yves Tumor also announced an extensive Spring and Summer tour. Watch the video and check his itinerary below.

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Yves Tumor – Upcoming Gigs:

25 Mar — Brooklyn NY — National Sawdust *Full Band

26 Mar — Brooklyn NY — National Sawdust *Live A/V Set with Ezra Miller

29 Mar — The Hague NL –Rewire Festival

30 Mar – Berlin DE – Creamcake @ Ohm *DJ Set

04 Apr – Milan IT – Club To Club Milan #C2CMLN

06 Apr — Tbilisi GE — Bassiani

12 Apr — Indio CA — Coachella *Full Band

19 Apr — Indio CA — Coachella *Full Band

26 Apr — Reykjavik IS — Sónar Reykjavik

28 Apr — Brussels BE — Nuits Botanique

03 May — Krems AT — Donau Festival

09 May – Brighton UK – The Great Escape Festival

10 May – Brighton UK – The Great Escape Festival

11 May – Leeds UK – Leeds International Festival

19 May – Ste-Thérèse QC – Santa Teresa Festival

26 May — London UK — All Points East Festival *Full Band

30 May – Dudingen CH – Bad Bonn Kilbi Festival *Full Band

31 May — Barcelona ES — Primavera Sound *Full Band

01 Jun — Hilvarenbeek NL — Best Kept Secret Festival *Full Band

02 Jun — Paris FR — We Love Green Festival *Full Band

06 Jun — Gothenburg, SE — Garden Festival *Full Band

08 Jun — Porto PT — Primavera Porto *Full Band

20 Jun — Budapest HU — Kolorádó Festival

22 Jun — Katowice PL — Tauron Nowa Muzyka

13 Jul — Dusseldorf DE — Open Source Festival

21 Jul – Seattle WA – Capitol Hill Block Party

01 Aug — Amsterdam NL — Dekmantel Festival

09 Aug — Oslo NO — Oya Festival

10 Aug — Helsinki FI — Flow Festival

16 Aug – Hasselt BE – Pukkelpop

24 Aug — Lincolnshire UK — Lost Village Festival

30 Aug — Dorset UK — End Of The Road Festival

01 Sep — Stradbally IE — Electric Picnic Festival