New Commute Albums of the Year 2021 // Comps + Reissues

Artwork by Luis Sepulveda

We collected a list of compilation and reissue titles that kept and held our attention throughout 2021. These wouldn’t be possible without years of tireless work from independent labels who invest time, money, and manpower to thoughtfully and artfully assembling these wonderful, rare, and enriching recordings. These records commemorate momentary microcultures, bizarre historic personalities, overlooked hobbyists, and out-of-print treasures from some of today’s most beloved musical cult icons.

Please consider purchasing the titles you discover from this list to support the labels dedicated to unearthing and collecting more wonderous sounds from this planet’s rich past.

Enjoy the selections on Spotify / Apple Music but it’s better to support your local record store.

40% Foda​/​Maneiríssimo
[ULYSSA]

94 East- The Cookhouse
[Numero Group]

Al-Dos Band- Doing Our Thing With Pride
[Kalita Records]

Alice Damon- Windsong
[Morning Trip]

An Eclectic Selection From the Arab World, Part 2
[Habibi Funk]

Azar Lawrence- Shadow Dancing
[Tidal Waves]

Back Up: Mexican Tecno Pop 1980​-​1989
[Dark Entries]

Belong To The Wind
[Forager Records]

Bola Sete- Samba In Seattle Live at the Penthouse (1966-1968)
[Tompkins Square]

CAN- Live In Stuttgart 1975
[Mute]

Careless Hands- When Dreams Slip Through
[Smiling C]

Carlos Fire Aguasvivas- Eclipse of the City
[Anthology Recordings]

Clarence Peters- The Magnetic Atmospher
[Eating Standing]

David Brose- Live From Founders Inn
[self-released]

Disco Reggae Vol. 4
[Favourite Recordings]

Driftless Dreamers: In Cuca Country
[Numero Group]

Eccentric Disco
[Numero Group]

Eddie Suzuki New Hawaii- High Tide
[Tidal Waves]

Female Species- Tale Of My Lost Love
[Numero Group]

Frank Hatchett- Sensational
[Telephone Explosion]

Froid Dub- Dubs & Beats From An Iceberg Cruising the Jamaican Coastline
[Delodio]

Hailu Mergia- Tezeta
[Awesome Tapes From Africa]

Hany Mehanna- Music For Airplanes
[Souma Records]

It's So Easy (When You Know What You're Doing​)​: A Tribute to Ted Lucas
[Perpetual Doom]

Joel Vandroogenbroeck- Far View
[Drag City]

Kevin McCormick & David Horridge- Light Patterns
[Smiling C]

Le Grand Sud​​-​​Est - 1979​​-​​1986
[Les Éditions Vermillon]

Leo Nocentelli- Another Side
[Light In The Attic]

Leong Lau- Late Night Flyer
[Left Ear Records]

Mário Rui Silva- Stories From Another Time 1982-1988
[Time Capsule]

Michael Masley- Cymbalom Solos
[Morning Trip]

Pastor T.L. Barrett- I Shall Wear A Crown
[Numero Group]

Powerman- Lost Tribe
[RVNG Intl.]

Rick Deitrick- Coyote Canyon
[Tompkins Square]

Roberta Vandervort & Sally Townes- Roberta Vandervort & Sally Townes
[Forager Records]

Rogér Fakhr- Fine Anyway
[Habibi Funk]

Roland Bocquet- Paradia
[WRWTFWW Records]

Ron Everett- Glitter of the City
[Jazzman Records]

Sabor Surf
[El Palmas Music]

Salah Ragab & The Cairo Jazz Band- Egyptian Jazz
[Strut]

Sam Mehran- Cold Brew
[Domino]

Sentimental Noise
[Jagjaguwar]

Silk Road: Journey of the Armenian Diaspora (1971 - 1982)
[Rocky Hill]

Singing Dust- Singing Dust
[Efficient Space]

…Still Sad
[Anthology Recordings]

Synergetic Voice Orchestra- MIOS
[Métron Records]

Teddy Lasry- Funky Ghost 1975-1987
[Hot Mule]

The Beaters- Harari
[Matsuli Music]

The Bernhardts- Moonglow
[Smiling C]

The Key To Our Love Vol. 2
[Symphonical Records]

The Same- Sync or Swim
[Freedom To Spend]

Tiziano Popoli- Burn the Night / Bruciare la Notte: Original Recordings, 1983–1989
[RVNG Intl.]

Too Slow To Disco: Yacht Soul
[City Slang]

UMAN- Chaleur Humaine
[Freedom To Spend]

William Stuckey- Love Of Mine
[Athens of the North]

Willie Dunn- Creation Never Sleeps, Creation Never Dies: The Willie Dunn Anthology
[Light In The Attic]

Wounds of Love: Khmer Oldies, Vol. 1
[Death Is Not The End]

Xochimoki- Temple Of The New Sun
[Phantom Limb]

Zulu- Zulu
[Vampisoul]