Nothing better than some jazz fusion to get this 2026 off to a great start. 'Head Hunters' from Herbie Hancock is a staple of the genre, and 'Chameleon' a personal favourite from the album. From the 4th minute onward, the ARP Odyssey synth comes through and starts gliding all over the place: the rest is history.

Nas and DJ Premier's latest collaboration is a tribute to the golden era of boom bap, delivered by two of the most revered veterans from that time. A personal standout is "GiT Ready" with its infectious snare and basslines, combining old styles with new formulas. It was so infectious that it took me six listens to realise that the lyrics were laced with crypto references. But, honestly, can you really blame the man? He was in on it early and got stupidly rich from it.

Marco Castello’s latest record is a breath of fresh air. The album is packed with groovy tracks and lyrics with sharp humor, yet grounded in social commentary. In "Editto dal Sottoscoglio", challenging the systems that have long weighed on his homeland, he imagines a triumphant yet surreal victory over the military forces currently residing at Sigonella, dreaming of lush forests growing in place of AWACS and Global Hawks.

Well, I think I'm beyond saving at this point. A second Franco Califano hit the Scuderia in 2025. From the late seventies to the early eighties, "il Califfo" produced his most critically acclaimed albums. Disliked by many, adored by others, the first song on its "...tuo Califano" album is a masterpiece of melancholy - a common theme in most of his music.

This year, I mistakenly let Geese’s latest album, "Getting Killed", slip under my radar. This new record is amazing, and I'll be revisiting it in 2026. The opening track, “Trinidad” is a standout with its heavily distorted drums and sharp riffs. Happy to see that a "From The Basement" live rendition is available and that it's even better than the album one.

This week I watched "The Smashing Machine", a new flick from A24 telling the story of Mark Kerr, a mixed martial artist consumed by his relentless pursuit of perfection and meaning in life. Beyond its compelling storytelling and stunning visuals, the film’s music stands out as a powerful narrative force, with Nala Sinephro’s OST perfectly encapsulating the turbulence of Kerr’s psyche.

Currently mesmerized by the retro sounds of the latest Oneohtrix Point Never album. Glitchy soundscapes full of textures and details with 'D.I.S.' being a personal favorite. FYI, the track is paired with one of the best music videos I've seen this year.

"The Sword & The Soaring" is truly a blissful album: a selection of poems dealing on grief, loss and the quiet strength that rises from hardship. "Tale of Truth" with its lush orchestral crescendos is a standout on both lyrics and production.

NIN are a gift that keeps on giving. This time, I fell in love with the visceral buildup of "The Way Out Is Through" from "The Fragile". A slow burn leading to a super-abrasive guitar section with Trent Reznor screaming at the top of his lungs.

A babel of languages, an orchestral crescendo, a Björk feature and a Mike Tyson sample. Surely one of the most out of fields lead single choices for un upcoming album. Maybe too much? Never too much.

To tribute the late Ozzy Osbourne, this week's pick is "Planet Caravan", also known as "the perfect OST for a late night drive at the the edge of the world". Its album placement between "Paranoid" and "Iron Main" really lets you appreciate the beauty in the contrasts.

The singles leading to the album were right: this new Soulwax album marks a return to the gritty, electrifying sound that hooked me years ago. So many good tracks on there but "Hot Like Sahara" is something else: raw energy and a super intoxicating buildup on the last part. This track made me run faster on the last 10km run and I have my smartwatch data as proof. Just saying.

The first time I heard 'Invaders Must Die' I was 14 years old and it hit me like a sledgehammer. A noisy, playful record packed with bangers and with some top-notch sampling, as thrilling to play as it was back then. My younger self loved the title track but this time I'm going with "Piranha": most people say it's the worst track on the record but, as sometimes happens, I strongly disagree.

I’ve never liked albums that cram political statements in just for the sake of it, as they end up feeling like preachy rants. "Joy as an Act of Resistance" is the perfect counterexample. It delivers important messages with charm and authenticity through a burst of punk brilliance. Within that record, "Danny Nedelko" stands out as a certified banger.

"Locanda delle Fate" stands as one of Italy’s most regarded progressive rock bands of the 1970s. Their debut album "Forse le lucciole non si amano più" ("maybe fireflies don't love each other anymore") is considered by many a staple of the genre. The title track, a sprawling ten-minute fable, merges together delicate flutes, lush keyboards, and a hauntingly melancholic atmosphere that perfecly capture the bittersweet essence of summer’s end.

I periodically come back to "Pigro" ("Lazy"), my favourite record from Ivan Graziani. This time it's because of "Scappo di Casa" ("I run from home"), the closer of the album. A delicate song that beautifully describes the internal struggle of a boy whose wings are clipped by his mother’s overprotectiveness. Yet, despite this suffocating fate, his desire to discover the unexplored world of love is stronger than his parents' paranoia.

Action Bronson. The only one capable of say "Ever since a fetus, I had visions of a leader / Purple X6 truck driven by a cheetah" with a straight face and be totally believable while doing it. "Live from the Moon" is one of those cases where the album version is good but the live one completely blows it out of the park. The Tiny Desk version of this track, ending with an otherworldly sax solo by Yung Mehico, is 100% worth a listen if you haven't already.

I'm a big fan of the relaxing, laid-back tracks from Earl Sweatshirt: furthermore, I'm happy to hear that he is now in a better place, surrounded by the love of its family and its community. "Live, Laugh, Love" is basically the Yang of "Some Rap Songs", another record from him that I loved, masterfully balancing themes of depression and despair with glimmers of hope. "Tourmaline" stands out as a celebration of the light finally breaking through.

Always down to listen to some new Flume. He's truly one of the most unique electronic artists of our generation and a trailblazer of the future bass genre. This new collaboration with Emma Louise is really great too, with her soothing voice really complementing the glitchy soundscapes. "Shine, Glow, Listen" is one of my favorites: it reminds me of something that SOPHIE would have produced.

This summer I spent a few days in Corsica, a stunning island with rich culture, a strong identity and welcoming people. Tuning into local radio stations, I took a deep dive in Corsican popular music. Among the artists I discovered, "I Muvrini" became a personal favorite. Their song "A rombu di cantà" is a folk ballad with a melancholic yet uplifting chorus, dealing with themes of resilience and hope in difficult times.

Franco Califano was one of Italy’s most iconic figures of the 1970s, embodying the archetype of the strong yet vulnerable man: charismatic with women, yet restless and unsatisfied. "Tac", the title track from one of his most celebrated albums, is a masterclass in bittersweet nostalgia: a reflection on missing someone only when they’re gone, and longing for solitude when they are back. The lush instrumentation and Franco’s silky voice blend seamlessly and, with this retro-futuristic allure, the opening moments of this track could almost be mistaken for a lost cut from Random Access Memories.

Kevin Parker is setting the stage for his upcoming album. The new track caught me completely off guard and 100% works as a declaration of intent: don't expect the sound you want for me because you won't get it there. Here's an entrancing seven-minute house deep cut instead. Love it.

This week I revisited "Thirst", the second studio album by the renowned French electronic artist SebastiAn. I was lucky enough to catch one of his rare performances in Paris last year: an experience I’d call both a flex and a privilege. The album faced immense pressure, tasked with living up to the hype of its predecessor "Total", widely regarded as a masterpiece of the genre. The attempt was made, and it gave its best effort: "Movement" is a spectacular, abrasive crescendo and a remarkable feat of production.

Nobody expected a new album from Tyler The Creator so early, given that less than a year has passed since Chromakopia. This surprise drop is a fun dive into 80s rhythms, in contrast with the more heavy content from the previous record. "Ring Ring Ring" is a personal favorite with a distinctive MJ inspired groove.

It seems like nowadays, one cannot enjoy some mainstream pop music anymore. I'm up for intricate sounds and groundbreaking genres, but sometimes you have to take a break and enjoy something like a R&B soul Justin Bieber album in 2025. If anything, we have to make up for the abuse we collectively piled on the kid when he was just an innocent kid with a dream. I really like "Daisies" - the Mk.Gee production feat may be the reason.