Hailed as the first and only alt K-pop band, Seoul-based collective Balming Tiger is made up of nearly a dozen artists and creatives, boasting members such as director San Yawn, rapper Omega Sapien, and singer-songwriters sogumm and Mudd The Student. They bring an eclectic mix of styles and sounds, from hip-hop to trap, g-funk, punk, emo, K-pop and electro, usually accompanied by highly stylised music videos that shine a light on the vibrancy of their local scene.

On their long-awaited debut album January Never Dies, the collective bring their expansive vision to life across 14 exuberant tracks, which flex the diversity of its members. Opener “BTB” is a sultry jazz-turned-rap number, while the instantly catchy “Bodycoke” exudes an effortless cool, with funk-infused grooves and lyrics like, “Supersoaker pussy got a Coca-Cola bottle body”. Lead single “Kamehameha”, named after a Korean drinking game, oozes with beer-goggle confidence, felt in the playful refrain, “Bitch don’t kill my vibe”, and evokes the heady spiral of an aimless night out on the town.

Elsewhere, Evian Christ releases his debut album, Jeshi returns with a hard-hitting release, and Sampha is back with a beautiful new record.

BALMING TIGER, JANUARY NEVER DIES

CITY GIRLS, RAW

EVIAN CHRIST, REVANCHRIST

JESHI, THE GREAT STINK

KLEIN, TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL

LEE GAMBLE, MODELS

OLOF DREIJER, ROSA RUGOSA

SAMPHA, LAHAI