AKUSMI — Terra Incognita LP

Akusmi – Terra Incognita LP arrives on Tonal Union as catalogue TU020LP, a 12-inch vinyl that ventures into a hybrid terrain of jazz-pop and world-music pop. French-born, London-based composer Pascal Bideau, who records under the name Akusmi, frames this second full-length as a series of seven imagined locales where global jazz collides with contemporary electronics and a minimalist optimism. The black-vinyl pressing presents a richly layered sound world, buoyed by contributions from tabla master Sarathy Korwar, Senegalese multi-instrumentalist Dudú Kouate, and Levitation Orchesta’s Marysia Osu on harp and flutes. Within Tonal Union’s 2026 output, Terra Incognita follows the earlier releases Anenon – Moons Melt Milk Light LP (TU004LP) and Anenon – Dream Temperature LP (TU018LE), and sits after Akusmi’s own Lines LP (TU003LP) and Fleeting Future LP (TU001LPRP). Later in the schedule the label will issue Jason Dungan (aka Blue Lake) & Johan Carøe – Routine LP (TU019LE) and Ezra Feinberg – Soft Power LP (TU006LP), positioning Akusmi’s new record as a midpoint in a year of diverse, forward-looking projects. Side A opens with “A Waking Dream”, a track that conjures a hazy, immersive ambience, setting a contemplative tone that eases into “Anima”. The second piece deepens the sense of inner movement, its title suggesting a living pulse that bridges the opening meditation with the more kinetic “Club Subterranea”. The latter track, as its name implies, drops the listener into an underground groove, offering a rhythmic foundation that can serve both as a transition and a focal point for a set. Side B begins with “Drongo’s Flute”, a piece that foregrounds the airy textures contributed by Osu’s flutes, creating a melodic thread that feels both exotic and accessible. “Rain Dance” follows, extending the percussive dialogue introduced by Dudú Kouate and Sarathy Korwar, its title hinting at a ritualistic drive that can lift a late-night set. The record closes with “Dawning Dusk”, a twilight-like composition that balances the day-break optimism of the earlier tracks with a reflective, winding down mood, making it an effective closing statement for a DJ’s set. Terra Incognita expands Akusmi’s catalogue beyond the acclaimed debut Fleeting Future, which garnered attention from The Guardian and The Quietus, by embracing a more vibrant, earthy palette. The integration of Afrobeat, Highlife and electronic Afro-pop influences marks a shift toward a looser, sensation-driven approach, while still retaining the meticulous compositional craft evident on earlier Tonal Union releases. For DJs, the record offers a suite of tracks that can be threaded throughout a set: the opening dream-like textures of “A Waking Dream” work as intro material; “Club Subterranea” supplies a deeper groove for peak moments; “Rain Dance” provides a percussive lift suitable for transition; and “Dawning Dusk” offers a melodic wind-down. Collectors will appreciate the cohesive production, the interplay of global instrumental voices, and the way the LP situates itself within Tonal Union’s 2026 narrative. The release is pressed on 12-inch black vinyl, matching the label’s aesthetic for its current output. The format invites the tactile experience of navigating the record’s six tracks, each placed to highlight the flow from one imagined locale to the next. Akusmi – Terra Incognita LP, Tonal Union, catalogue TU020LP, 12-inch vinyl, six tracks. Tracklist: A1. Akusmi – A Waking Dream A2. Akusmi – Anima A3. Akusmi – Club Subterranea B1. Akusmi – Drongo's Flute B2. Akusmi – Rain Dance B3. Akusmi – Dawning Dusk