First up we have some intriguing post-pop from Pauline Andres. “Medicine Woman” is a trippy, atmospheric piece, with synth washes breaking against programmed beats and subtle guitars. It makes for a fine, hazy backdrop to Andres’ ghostly vocals. Fans of progressive, intelligent pop will want to check this, and her forthcoming album All Them Ghosts, out.

From Pauline Andres’ official bio: “Born in France, she grew up in a family of mainly Hungarian and Balkan descent by the Franco-German border in a town where the local dialect was more common than the official language. Caught between the fun of it all and the harsh personal and social truths that lead to such an environment, Andres started taking notes.”

Next, another fascinating project – Zar by JuJu Sounds.

“JuJu Sounds collates field recordings and stories about music from all corners of the globe – the peripheral music genres, rhythms and melodies accompanying everyday life, and the practices related to transcendental experiences, initiation and ritual. “

The art of field-recording has a long and distinguished history, responsible for capturing some of the greatest music from across the world. This release focuses on Zār, a “…possession cult practiced on the outskirts of the rapidly-modernising societies of North Africa and the Middle East.” The music is as spell-binding as you might expect.

You can pick this up via Bandcamp now, in digital, vinyl and CD form.

Thirdly, we have French fingerpicking-jazz guitar player Jean-Baptiste Hardy, who has two imminent album releases, Which Way, recording in trio format, and a solo effort, Confidences. Jean-Baptiste Hardy studied classical styles before tuning into the likes of Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and Marcel Dadi.

Jean-Baptiste’s playing is exceptional, across a mixture of jazz and other styles, and both albums are well worth investigating. This is invigorating, fresh music which captures both the ear and the soul.

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JINJ are a class act, with high-production-value mini-films which are a treat to watch. More importantly, their music is fascinating. Contemporary beats and sounds brush up against traditional melodies and instruments in a wholly organic-sounding manner. The new video, “Cheat Code,” will be unveiled October 24th. Having had the privilege of an advance screening, I can say that it’s something worth looking out for.

In the meantime, you can view their other works here.

Also released this week, a new album by pianist, keyboardist and producer Công Minh Pham, who records as Matekita. Công has been playing since the age of seven, learning both classical and jazz styles. He embraces sonic experimentation and electronic sounds, sculpting his own, floating universe. Công’s latest record, And Then The Sun Rose In The West, available October 22nd, is a thrilling blend of fast, processed beats, live instrumentation and avant garde edges. Fans of progressive music will find plenty to savour.

Last, but not least, we have Promised Thing, the beautiful new album by talented talented finger-style guitarist, Nicolas Blampain. Blampain’s technique is astonishing and deceptively simple. There’s no showboating here, the guitarist paints lovingly-crafted, immersive pictures which can’t help but pull you in. Another who started young (aged 11), Blampain is a veteran of over 1500 concert appearances. Perhaps the most striking aspect of Promised Thing is how easy it is to forget that this is a solo album. The tracks here possess such width and depth that Blampain’s guitar offers an entire band’s worth of output.

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