Janko Nilovic / JJ Whitefield / Igor Zhukovsky – Cosmos Giants

Three veteran musicians—Janko Nilovic, JJ Whitefield of Poets of Rhythm, and Igor Zhukovsky of The Soul Surfers—come together for Cosmos Giants, a cosmic collision of psych, funk, soul, and jazz. The trio creates a series of magnetic instrumental grooves that feel rooted in classic beat music while sounding completely fresh.

There’s a strong emphasis on rhythm and texture throughout, with dusty, hypnotic grooves, psychedelic flourishes, and plenty of space for the imagination. It’s the kind of record that works equally well as a front-to-back listen or a treasure trove of potential samples for the hip-hop heads out there. If you dig instrumental funk with a little cosmic weirdness, this one is a no-brainer.