🔗 Share this article DJ Moopie's Intriguingly Atmospheric Experimental Compilations and The Week's Top Fresh Releases Hailing from Melbourne Ideal listening for those who enjoy classic jangle-pop compilations, Australian and New Zealand guitar pop, atmospheric pop Up next Going Back to Sleep out now Matthew Xue, who performs under the moniker DJ Moopie in Melbourne, has built a reputation for captivating and eclectic DJ sets that effortlessly shift between icy, atmospheric ambience to driving drum and bass and much more. He also runs A Colourful Storm – an exceptional independent record label that consistently exceeds expectations when it comes to issuing endearingly atmospheric avant-pop, featuring a diverse roster including percussionist Valentina Magaletti, based in London, the dub-infused sounds of Hobart pair Troth, and the prolific underground figure Simon Fisher Turner. Back in 2017, the imprint put out I Won’t Have to Think About You, an assortment of charming guitar-pop reminiscent of the C86 era. This year saw the release of Going Back to Sleep, a spiritual follow-up to that compilation which also functions as a succinct overview to several excellent bands in the gentle pop sphere currently working. Daily Toll, a band from Sydney, their 2025 first record A Profound Non-Event being one of the year’s underrated gems, offer Time, a seven-minute daydream built on melodica and guitar. The duo Chateau, the duo of Al Montfort (Terry, Total Control) and Alex Macfarlane (the Stevens, Twerps), venture into percussive, psychedelic lounge pop on How Long on the Platform, whereas the band Who Cares?, channel equal parts Hope Sandoval and Eartheater on Wax and Wane. In other tracks, Going Back to Sleep includes contributions from Bay Area indie fixtures the Reds, Pinks and Purples; Sydney's minimalist outfit the Lewers; and sun-dappled folk-pop from Dutch duo the Hobknobs. This is a modest collection that’s likely to grow into a beloved and regularly mentioned resource among connoisseurs of art that is gentle and profoundly emotional. This Week’s Best New Tracks Flea – A Plea An uncommon single release from the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist, and it is superbly executed: rhythmically forward-moving but adventurous jazz-soul where Flea pleads for tranquility and compassion. “This isn't cliché – it's genuine!” Daniel Blumberg and Amanda Seyfried – Clothed By the Sun Having won this year’s best original score Oscar, it's easy to picture Blumberg taking home the Best Original Song award in 2026 for this breathtaking duet with Seyfried featured on the soundtrack he composed for The Testament of Ann Lee. Jana Horn – All in Bet This songwriter from Texas paints in every shade of a sigh on this richly despondent return, as delicate traces of keys and wind instruments tinge her fatigued disillusionment. Umor Rex – Lo Animal You could easily imagine the work of this Madrid cellist's industrial-tinged gothic opus on the soundtrack to Dune, due to its seismic drum work, metallic shrieks, spooky vocal harmonies and cataclysmic majesty. Zora Jones x DJ Polo – Hoes Link Up Austrian visionary Zora Jones teams up with Bristol-based UK bass maker DJ Polo on a track of hard-hitting ghettotech: the drums could knock you flat although the tune is nearly dream-pop in nature. Jawnino and Surf Gang – Hit Again Included on the latest mixtape, Amnesia, UK rapper Jawnino rides an assortment of cloud-rap instrumentals by Surf Gang, and this is one of its peaks, Jawnino alert and locked in as he surveys the world of narcotics. Annabelle Chairlegs – Heavy Sleeper Helmed by Ty Segall, this garage-rock-influenced track chugs along entirely at its own pace, transitioning from a freight-train momentum to the musician from Austin's dazed reverie about how “the moon returns the spirit to me”.