“Library” Music: A Hidden Treasure
5 Albums With a New Take on Jazz: “Library” music refers to soundtracks and audio collages collected by avid archivists, originally created as background for movies, TV shows, commercials, radio productions, some games at https://22betcd.com/en_cd/, and other media. Most of this music was produced in the second half of the 20th century, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. This “warm,” nostalgic, and mysterious sound has long captivated DJs, vinyl enthusiasts, and music producers with its unique charm and obscure musical exotica.
This genre has grown into a global phenomenon, introducing listeners to numerous new bands and producers. Let’s explore ten essential albums of “instrumental funk” or “new library exotica.” Forget rigid genre definitions; let’s simply enjoy the music that speaks for itself.
The Sorcerers — I Too Am a Stranger
The new album by the British band, The Sorcerers, vividly demonstrates why they are considered some of the most respected figures on the scene. Their debut recording was inspired by the unique blend of Ethiopian jazz-fusion sounds and the music from obscure European horror films of the 1970s. The father of Ethiopian jazz, Mulatu Astatke, praised their work, and the band has been acknowledged by figures like Jimi Tenor, Shawn Lee, and Nightmares On Wax. Although The Sorcerers release their music under their modest independent label, ATA Records, they have quickly amassed a global following.
ATA Records was founded a decade ago in Leeds by local musicians Pete Williams and Neil Innes, who set up a recording studio in an abandoned garage on the city’s outskirts, equipping it with vintage gear (ATA stands for “All Things Analogue”). Using mid-century equipment and recording on two-inch tape has become a hallmark of the label’s sound, which features hazy instrumental funk, Afro-Cuban rhythms, boogaloo, and even jazz covers of J Dilla.
Their latest album, I Too Am a Stranger, sees The Sorcerers continuing their Ethiopian-inspired experiments, occasionally venturing into spiritual jazz and even paying homage to Japanese traditional music. This influence shines through in some of the album’s most memorable tracks, such as “Yasuke In Roppongi,” “Oromo Moon,” and “Warrior Code.”
Khruangbin — Con Todo El Mundo
The Texas trio Khruangbin, whose name playfully translates to “airplane” in Thai, chose the term as a joke before their first performance. They later admitted they’d have picked something simpler had they foreseen their eventual success.
Influenced by Thai psychedelia and luk thung (Thai pop), Khruangbin’s music also incorporates elements of Middle Eastern, Indian, Caribbean, and traditional African sounds. Blending these with retro surf rock, dusty American guitar psychedelia, funky rhythms, hip-hop beats, and whispering soul, they craft impressive soundscapes and cinematic images. Their 2018 album Con Todo El Mundo is possibly their best work to date, showcasing the intricate musical aesthetic of the project in full.
Glass Beams — Mahal
The Melbourne-based trio Glass Beams made waves in early 2024 with their EP Mahal, released on the UK label Ninja Tune, known for its avant-garde electronic, trip-hop, and post-jazz sounds. The debut was well-received by both fans of Ninja Tune classics like The Herbaliser, Amon Tobin, and Coldcut, as well as fans of Khruangbin and the new exotica scene. Before its official release, the video for the title track had already garnered two million views, and that number has now surpassed five million.
Mahal is the trio’s second release and a major breakthrough for Australia’s blossoming instrumental neo-funk and post-jazz scene. Glass Beams perform in masks and infuse their music with Indian and Middle Eastern influences. Their retro funk and spiritual jazz blend beautifully with meditative vibes, dusty Western tones, and mysterious library music, creating a vibrant and psychedelic kaleidoscope of sound.
Surprise Chef – Education & Recreation
Surprise Chef’s music, a refined fusion of 70s soul, jazz, and funk with library music and instrumental cinema soundtracks, embodies a bold DIY approach. Over the past five years, this Melbourne quartet has released several singles and three albums, with Education & Recreation being their latest work. They also run their own label, College Of Knowledge, which produces records by Surprise Chef and similar projects like Karate Boogaloo and The Pro-Teens.
Surprise Chef’s music combines sophistication with self-irony, making for a playful, funk-driven experience. Their album Education & Recreation perfectly encapsulates this spirit.
Sven Wunder — Eastern Flowers (Doğu Çiçekleri)
Sven Wunder is the alias of Swedish multi-instrumentalist and composer Joel Danell, who grew up surrounded by an eclectic mix of classic and avant-garde jazz, funk fusion, noir film soundtracks, Anatolian psych-rock, and Eastern European folk. Naturally, he became a passionate vinyl collector and eventually began creating his own music.
His debut album Eastern Flowers (Doğu Çiçekleri in Turkish) was released five years ago on his label Piano Piano. Filled with oriental melodies and rhythms, it quickly sold out and became a prized item among vinyl collectors. Reissued by the renowned label Light In The Attic, the album has enjoyed sustained success. His subsequent albums, inspired by Japanese jazz (Wabi Sabi), Italian cinematic music (Natura Morta), and neo-jazz (Late Again), continue to draw critical comparisons to Quincy Jones and David Axelrod.
