Back in stock: Balearic/Downtempo

Review: Is Archive's Londinium one of the best trip-hop albums of all time? For some, it is. For many, it's somehow criminally unknown. This reissue 25 years on should change all that. The music of Archive, which was formed by Darius Keeler and Danny Griffiths with singer Roya Arab and young rapper Rosko John, has aged well. The soaring strings, slowly lurching beats and meditative grooves all sit up there with any of their more famous peers, from Tricky to Massive Attack. This anniversary edition includes a 4-page booklet with song lyrics and credits, plus a hidden track.

Review: Chilean-born, Bristol-based Shanti Celeste has always brought a unique colour and emotion to her often bass-heavy sounds. She's a party-starting DJ, too, but delves into whole new realms with her wonderful sophomore full-length. Romance sees her exploring themes of love and friendship through shimmering pop textures and emotionally resonant songwriting. Her vocals take centre stage for the first time and lead single 'Thinking About You' is a heartfelt tribute to a late friend with a glowing groove and airy falsetto. Crafted between Bristol and London, the album features collaborations with Batu and harpist Miriam Adefris, whose delicate touch enhances its celestial tone and following last summer's acclaimed 'Ice Cream Dream Boy,' Romance is a luminous return and smart evolution.

Review: Hull's finest downtempo and Balearic master Steve Cobby (who is best known for being part of Fila Brazillia) is back with a brilliantly titled record that once again finds him impressing on all fronts. He is the producer but also the man who plays all the keyboards, bass, guitar, flute, clarinet, plus drums both live and programmed. Across seven captivating tunes, he explores snaking rhythms with sunny melodies, dusty broken beat smoking soundtracks, late-night lovestruck lullabies and heart-aching moments of inward reflection. Yet another vital work from this ever-underrated talent that instantly becomes a favourite for years to come.

Review: The Belgian label Higher Hopes is run by DC Salas who now returns to it with a new EP with the collaborative Los NiNos Del Parque project alongside Anthony Barbarich aka Mirror Minds. They say it is a release that has been 15 years in the making and has roots in their shared love of 2000s electroclash, plus new wave and new beat. They set out to make something inspired by that and have done so over the last four years with a mix of rugged and mechanical rhythms and angular synth lines. A fine remix by the assured Badaboum and Rinse France resident Belaria rounds out the package.

Review: ML Buch's new album pushes her experimental pop into new realms and ably builds on the expansive guitar work and catchy melodies introduced in her 2017 debut EP, 'Fleshy'. Her distinctive sound combines synthetic MIDI textures with heartfelt songwriting and ethereal vocals that evoke the fluidity of intimacy in a digital world. Through tender tracks like 'I'm A Girl You Can Hold IRL' and 'Can't Get Over You With You,' the artist takes listeners beneath the skin and explores a visceral, surreal world. Panoramic visuals captured via a pill camera mirror this exploration in a blend of technology and human emotion this is truly unique.

Review: The 1990s was arguably the first 'golden age' of ambient - a time when the inherently atmospheric and laidback style not only exploded in popularity, but also became the post-club soundtrack of choice for a whole generation. This personal survey of the 90s ambient scene from journalist and author Jon Savage does a good job in gathering together a representative selection of genuine gems and overlooked classics, drifting between the bubbly, deep space brilliance of Richard H Kirk's Sandoz project ('Limbo'), bleeping ambient house ('Calm' by 2 Cabbages on a Drip), early progressive house (React 2 Rhythm), electronic psychedelia (the tabla rhythms and swirly noises of Rapoon), ambient blues (Underworld), IDM (U-ziq), and glacial, slow-motion bliss (Biosphere).

Review: Since taking up music production following a career-ending football injury, 20-something Leeds lad Reuben Vaun Smith has delivered two tropical-tinged, Balearic-inspired albums for Soundway. On his third full-length (his first for long-serving Californian label Ubiquity Records), the Yorkshireman refocuses a little more on the dancefloor, offering up a range of attractive cuts that combine his love of mid-tempo, dubbed-out disco with African, Latin and Middle Eastern vocals, rhythms and instrumentation - as well as a heavy dose of psychedelic sounds and trippy effects. It's a smart shift that's undoubtedly paid dividends, with our picks of a very strong bunch including 'Beams', the dreamy 'Mali' (a track inspired by that country's vibrant musical culture), and the life-affirming dancefloor shuffle of 'The Waxing Gibbous Moon'.

Review: In December 2022, British soul and dance sound system favourites Soul II Soul returned to the iconic Roundhouse for a sold-out show and duly stepped up to deliver a masterclass in groove. Now captured on a limited-edition gold-coated double vinyl, this live recording celebrates 35 years since their seminal Club Classics Vol. 1 reshaped music. Featuring powerhouse vocals from Charlotte Kelly and Nadine Ceaser, the album radiates the signature Funki Dreds vibe that made the group legendary and has standout singles like 'Get a Life' and 'Jazzie's Groove' all sounding wonderful, raw and direct in a way that only live music does. It's a front-row experience of their timeless rhythms and positive vibes.

Review: Melchior Sultana's sounds have always been the set f sunset house depths that have you dreaming of warmer climates. For this new EP on Fluid Funk, he slows it down even more and explores funk, dubby drums and meditative chords. 'Sustained' is inwardly reflective and beautiful with a subtle synth glow, then 'Fusion' has a little more swagger but no less of a magical synth shine. Kaysoul keeps the buddy, intimate house tip going with 'Let's Get Down' which is underpinned by great bass work, and 'Sea Crawl Out My Eyes' which ups the ante with crunchy hits but still nice eft and subdued chords. A Nico Lahs remix brings some steamy, tropical heat.

Review: Say hello once again to an old friend - mid '00s lounge soundtrackers extraordinaire Zero 7 are reissuing their second LP When It Falls. The follow-up to their best-selling "Simple Things", this album found the pair exploring a more psychedelic, funky sound without losing that smooth finish that made their music so massively popular first time round. From the laid back groove of "Passing By" to the brooding soul of the title track, this is the kind of album that goes down easy and sets the perfect mood in the room. The production is second to none, and considering the eye-watering prices the original pressing fetches online, there should be a lot of people happy to see this one back in print.