A list of some of my favourite finds of 2024. Some are newer releases, some are older releases — but all of them were added to my collection in 2024 and have been in heavy rotation.
Fabiana Palladino
Fabiana Palladino
Diggin’ in My Crates Album of the Year|
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𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: 1980s big-hair Kate Bush strolling through the neon-lit streets of Black Mirror’s San Junipero. In one hand, she clutches her well-loved copy of Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood. In her ears, Janet Jackson’s Control pulses through her Walkman, carried by those unmistakable orange foam headphones. Got the picture?
Good. Now you’re ready to step into the world of Fabiana Palladino.
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Voodoo Remixes / Spanish Joint
D'Angelo
When Kero One first released his remix of D’Angelo’s “Spanish Joint” it took over clubs everywhere.
A decade later, this remix is available on 45, with the flip side containing a brand new Kero reworking of D’Angelo’s classic cover of Roberta Flack’s, “Feel Like Makin’ Love.”
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The Holy Mother - Madhuvanti Pal Plays The Rudra Veena
Madhuvanti Pal
Holy Mother features two ragas spread across four sides, totalling over 90 minutes of mesmerizing music. Madhuvanti Pal’s playing is both technically brilliant and deeply spiritual. The rudra veena’s unique sound, with its deep, resonant bass and shimmering higher tones, creates a meditative yet intense listening experience.
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Foreverland
Keyon Harrold
For those who say they don’t “get” jazz, especially if you grew up hearing it through samples in A Tribe Called Quest or Digable Planets yet you struggle to connect with instrumental jazz, Foreverland might just be your gateway.
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Rough & Ready
Ruthven
I’ve been anticipating this album ever since Ruthven released his 2017 debut single, “Evil.” His style speaks to the core of me as a music fan. It begins to make sense when you realize his influence from the likes of Prince, Peter Gabriel, and Michael Jackson—the same artists I grew up on.
If you appreciate soulful vocals, electro-funk rhythms, and music that bridges past and present, Rough & Ready is an essential listen.
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Kakashi
Yasuaki Shimizu
This album is a ride, blending jazz, electronic, and Japanese folk in a unique way. Shimizu’s sax work is incredible, and the way he moves between styles is something else.
If you’re into jazz that pushes boundaries or the more out-there side of Japanese city pop, you should definitely give Kakashi a listen. Yasuaki Shimizu is a multi-hyphenate creative who loves to explore—all you have to do is join the ride.
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The Rabbit That Hunts Tigers
YĪN YĪN
The Rabbit That Hunts Tigers masterfully blends psychedelia, disco, and Southeast Asian sounds, drawing heavily from the ‘60s and ‘70s Thai guitar music scene.
If you think this sounds similar to Khruangbin, you’re not alone — though YĪN YĪN offers more uptempo options to their shared Thai-funk inspired vibe.
If you’re into instrumental music that fuses various influences with a contemporary edge, give The Rabbit That Hunts Tigers a listen.
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พลิกล็อกค์
Various
“Plik Lok” by Thai artist Setha Sirachaya, former lead singer of the Thai pop-rock band The Impossibles has all the right grooves and takes you on an interesting journey, blending 50s/60s-style bubblegum pop with 70s-style funk and rock.
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Mapunda / Mapenzi Muhisani
Kiko Kids Jazz
This song captures the essence of the Afro-Cuban sound at the time of its release in 1975.
Mapunda by Kiko Kids Jazz, a Tanzanian group named after—but not affiliated with—the original Kenyan band, Kiko Kids.
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Yuyachifca
Yuyachifca
Yuyuachifca, a Dutch band formed primarily of members of King’s Galliard, released this self-titled album as they experimented with a new sound, playing traditional Indigenous music of South America. Released in 1979 by Swedish audiophile label, Opus 3, Yuyachifca is considered one of the best sounding records ever released by the label, and revered for its fidelity amongst audiophiles. This is the sole release by Yuyachifca.
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فلسطين (Palestine)
Kindness
100% of the proceeds of this release went to Palestine Children's Relief Fund www.pcrf.net/get-involved
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I Predict A Riot
Carolina Lins & Os Planatos
“Sitting amidst irresistible Brazilian classics on the soundtrack of ‘Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football’, Carolina Lins & Os Planatos present an infectious Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) reworking of the Kaiser Chiefs’ classic “I Predict A Riot”.”
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Poser / Getaway Blues
Bona Rays
Recorded in 1978 during the rise of British punk with bands like The Clash and The Sex Pistols, *Poser* is among the earliest punk songs by a Black woman in a largely white subculture.
Rejected by labels, its sole acetate sat untouched until singer Chas Hines rediscovered it 40 years later. Flashback Records revived the track, releasing it on 7” in a replica 1978 Brit punk sleeve.
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