IDOL’s 2023 Autumn releases

Oscar #Worldpeace – ‘Never Know’ / Worldpeace Records
Oscar #Worldpeace is a rapper from North London’s Tottenham who blends hip-hop, grime, garage and R&B. His productions and politically committed lyrics got him noticed by Mike Skinner who took him on as his protégé.
“The North London maverick is one of UK music’s true heroes, an all-rounder whose work as a songwriter and producer ranks with the best.” Clash

Hania Rani – Ghosts / Gondwana Records
Award-winning Polish pianist Hania Rani made a name for herself with the success of her debut album Esja. She has just released a new album, Ghosts, with special guests Patrick Watson, Ólafur Arnalds and Duncan Bellamy of the Portico Quartet. The album release will be followed by Hania’s most important tour to date.
“Unsurprisingly, Ghosts, the third album by the Berlin-based Polish composer, Hania Rani, is a haunting, ethereal collection. Full of delightful surprises, it’s an album that marks something of a progression in Rani’s career arc.” Louder than War

Peter Broderick, Ensemble 0 – Give It to the Sky: Arthur Russell’s Tower of Meaning Expanded / Erased Tapes
Composer and producer Peter Broderick worked with French band Ensemble O to cover a few previously unreleased tracks by the legendary Arthur Russel. Recorded live in a small theater in southwest France, the album revives the magnificent ’80s treasure that is Tower of Meaning.
“Broderick’s music effortlessly crosses folk song, classical influences, the great American songwriters and poets of the 20th century and much more. It’s all done with an infectious charisma.” The Journal of Music

Assassin’s Creed, Brendan Angelides – Assassin’s Creed Mirage (Original Game Soundtrack) / Ubisoft Music
This new Assassin’s Creed installment plunges into the streets of 9th-century Baghdad. The soundtrack is by Brendan Angelides, who has teamed up with Palestinian composer Akram Haddad for this project.
“Watching the orchestra work towards the climax of one of the main pieces that was being recorded in the Power Station studio, I saw gooseflesh prick up on the arms of almost everyone in the room.” The Guardian

Erick the Architect – ‘Ambrosia’ – Architect Recording Company
Erick the Architect is a founding member of the hip hop trio Flatbush Zombies. Alongside this groundbreaking project, Erick has been producing for a number of rappers, including Smoke DZA, ASAP Rocky and Joey Badass, and already released a solo EP, Future Proof in 2021.
“Taking influence from turn-of-the-millennium classics like OutKast’s Stankonia, D’Angelo’s Voodoo, Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun, and more, it’s a rich-sounding, soulful EP, and as the EP title implies, these songs directly respond to the chaotic state of the world that they were written during.” Brooklyn Vegan

Alva Noto – HYbr:ID II / NOTON
A visual artist and musician, Carsten Nicolai releases electronic music under the Alva Noto moniker. A few years ago, he started a series of works, commissioned to score Richard Siegal’s choreographed performance ‘Oval’ by the Staatsballett Berlin.
“As has often been the case, Carsten Nicolai, who has collaborated extensively with the likes of Ryuichi Sakamoto and Ryoji Ikeda, operates at a crossroads of music, art and science.” Resident Advisor

Mali Velasquez – I’m Green / Acrophase Records
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Mali Velasquez is sharing her debut album produced by Josef Kuhn (who worked with Annie DiRusso, Samia, and Hannah Cole). Her sensitive indie rock compositions gained her comparisons with the likes of Big Thief, Lomelda, and Julien Baker.
“‘Bobby’ is one of the most moving, visceral and generous tracks you’ll hear this month, maybe all year.” Paste Magazine

Dam Swindle – Minor Fools / Heist Recordings
The Dutch production duo Lars Dales and Maarten Smeets have been celebrating ten years at the helm of Heist Recordings with a series of EPs. Now Dam Swindle continue their momentum with a new EP that delves into classic US house music.
“It’s easy to understand why the duo have become so popular. […] musically, they’re massively appealing, marrying a European tech house strut to deeper and more soulful inspirations.” Resident Advisor

Huron John – Indigo Jack / Acrophase Records
Self-taught pop producer Huron John crafts a glitchy sonic universe, melding influences from Daft Punk to Mac Miller, with his hands-on approach to production. This hard work has earned him over 12 million streams globally, including a cover of Spotify’s Lorem playlist.
“With blips, pops, vocal distortions, and a sprinkle of pop-culture references, his neon and noisy tunes seem to encapsulate what it means to be growing and alive in 2021.” MTV

Afro B / AfroWave Music
Afro B is best known for his track ‘Drogba (Johanna)‘, which has 100 million streams on Spotify and 197 million views on YouTube. Encouraged by the success of ‘Shaku Shaku‘, Afro B is back with new singles to burn up the dancefloor, starting with ‘Wo Wo Wo (Ebony)‘ featuring Rich The Kid and Rimzee.
“He’s proved himself very versatile, capable of crafting both crooning love songs and thumping club bangers.” Tone Deaf

Smoove & Turrell – Red Ellen / Jalapeno Records
Hailing from Newcastle, the British duo Smoove & Turrell blends funk, soul and electronica crafting danceable tunes that topped the UK Dance Album Chart. Their new album pays homage to Ellen Wilkinson, an influential politician, who fought for social justice.
“Not only did the authentic funk & soul boys from the UK’s North East exceed any preconceived expectation but dare I say, they surprised a fair few into the bargain, as they leapt genre with confidence and became a force to be reckoned with, as they hit the top spot in the dance chart.” Blues and Soul Magazine

THALA – twotwentytwo / Fire Records
THALA began as a street musician in 2019, sharing her compositions at open mics in Berlin, all the way to SXSW a few years later. Her music blends dreamy sounds and retro vibes, with influences from Slowdive to Deerhunter, and draws comparisons with boygenius and Snail Mail.
“While THALA’s songwriting is profoundly introspective, it simultaneously oozes a woozy confidence that at once reels you in and hugs you tight.” Rough Trade On the Rise

Lord Apex – The Good Fight / E/M Worldwide
Hailing from London’s White City, Lord Apex is a prolific rapper who likes to experiment. Having honed his flow and collaborated with Willie The Kid, A$ap Rocky, Smoke DZA and Erick the Architect, he is now preparing his new album The Good Fight.
“His appreciation and understanding of the genre allowed him to spearhead a new-school wave of underground British hip-hop, over an almost-decade career.” Hypebeast

Bruce Brubaker – Eno Piano / InFiné
After paying tribute to Philip Glass on Glass Piano in 2015, Bruce Brubaker is back with an album dedicated to Brian Eno. The pianist embarks on a stunning reinterpretation of selected pieces from the masterpiece Music for Airports, accompanied by three originals.
“Bruce Brubaker is one of the most exciting pianists in the contemporary American classical scene.” Pitchfork

Morning Silk – Dark City Silence / Superbloom Records
Led by the creative vision of Frank Corr and drawing inspiration from the likes of Mac Demarco and Connan Mockasin, Morning Silk, a New York-based alternative indie pop project, mesmerizes with their dreamy sound.
“An indie masterpiece, ‘Nightlife‘ embodies everything we love about artists like Tame Impala and Thundercat, and puts its own pop-infused spin on it.” This Song Is Sick

Myele Manzanza – Crisis & Opportunity Vol.4 – Meditations / DeepMatter
World-renowned drummer, composer and producer, Myele Manzanza has left an indelible mark on the global music scene with five solo albums and collaborations with luminaries like Theo Parrish, showcasing his genre-spanning musical prowess.
“Aptly titled Crisis & Opportunity, the series has so far traversed free-flowing, hard-swinging explorations of the London jazz scene, as well as a forthcoming house-inflected offering on Volume Three.” The Guardian

Kraak & Smaak – Twenty – The Remixes / Boogie Angst
Hailing from the Netherlands, the musical production trio Kraak & Smaak blends disco, house, funk and breakbeat to create a versatile and dancefloor-ready sound that embodies the essence of Nu Disco for twenty years now!
“This dynamic album [Twenty] comprises twenty tracks filled with funky grooves and warm synths, embodying the essence of this summer’s vibrant sounds.” Magnetic Mag

Piotr Wiese – I Will Keep Sailing / Moderna Records
Renowned Polish composer, pianist, and producer, Piotr Wiese is a musical powerhouse celebrated for his mastery in modern-classical piano music. He oscillates between composing for film and theater, and a collection of introspective albums streamed worldwide.
“‘Coming Home’ is a lovingly executed solo piano piece, with roots in European romanticism and newly-born branches in contemporary classical and reductionist minimalism genres – exactly how I like it.” Headphone Commute