Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ellen Reid’s work spans opera, film scoring, avant-pop, and more. A new album, Big Majestic, collects work from Ellen Reid SOUNDWALK, a famed public art project reimagining urban parks as interactive soundscapes that not only travel through ambient, jazz, and minimalism, but has been featured in legendary places like New York’s Central Park, LA’s Griffith Park, as well as Tokyo’s Ueno Park. Let’s check out the heady sound of “Spiritual Sun,” featuring a star of the jazz scene, Shabaka Hutchings, on the shakuhachi flute. 

Titans of Malian music Amadou & Mariam have been making and shaping the African music landscape for nearly 50 years. To celebrate their illustrious career, they’re issuing a retrospective compilation of their greatest hits, plus a new track composed by nomadic artist and activist Manu Chao. “Mogolu,” meaning “people” in Bambara, echoes their commitment to world peace while inviting us to dance. 

Greatish Hits, a new compilation of classics culled from Father John Misty’s five prestigious albums, includes an appropriately-titled brand new song “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All,” clocking in at eight whopping minutes. 

Channeling a fusion of ‘60s French pop, Brazilian tropicalia, and slinky reggae, Claude Fontaine’s new album La Mer echos a dreamy utopia-by-the-sea. Be prepared to sway to a samba beat on “Vaquiero.”

Beloved director, painter, furniture maker, music maker, and KCRW’s one-time weather reporter David Lynch teams up with his musical muse Chrystabell. Birthed from a vision during a late-night walk surrounded by forest, a bright light caught his eye above the treetops. That light recalled the mellifluous sound of Chrystabell’s voice and revealed a secret to him. 

Cellophane Memories is a convergence of two otherworldly portals, the Texas-born singer’s throaty sound meets the eye of the Montana filmmaker’s flickering projector. Chrystabell says of their songs, “Many doors are left open to wonder, wander, and get turned around i

Known for his blazing affection for rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly and R&B, JD McPherson is set to release his new album Nite Owls in late September. A ten-song set promises to veer off in a new direction with “Sunshine Getaway” leading the fore, with a glam T. Rex beat. 

London-based painter and tattoo master Or Kantor fatefully crossed paths with an A&R man during a tattoo session and revealed that he secretly writes music inspired by the Mediterranean Sea. In a leap of faith, Or Kantor was signed and now has a debut LP, Sarda Sarda. The trippy title track is an introspective fusion of surf music and deep desert blues. 

Two-time Grammy-winning duo Gillian Welch & David Rawlings are stalwarts of American folk celebrating the 20th anniversary of their copious partnership with Woodland, an album recorded in their Nashville studio. The duo paint a pastoral setting on “Empty Trainload of Sky.” 

Singer-songwriter and producer Rosie Lowe takes us along on her musical mantra with “Gratitudes.” “I’m a big believer in saying daily gratitudes to help shift my mindset,” shares Lowe. “This is my ode to my morning ritual, and a reminder to myself in times when I’m stuck in my head that there’s so much to be grateful for. The beat for this song came about in Berlin with D’Monk — we made it on his MPC in 15 minutes just before leaving the studio.” 

We are ready to deliver a toasty swatch of percussive electronics for your mid-week groove. Producer Evan Shornstein, best known under his production moniker Photay, makes outdoor music under the spell of the elements. His new album Windswept (out Sept. 20) is meant to mimic the wind as a “powerful, deep, unpredictable, and at times overwhelming spirit” says Shornstein.  But first, let’s check out “Derecho,”  a term used for a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms.