January: 18 albums you need to hear this month

Tornado Wallace 'Lonely Planet' (Running Back)

After several years spent bringing some of his native Australian sunshine to house and disco cuts on labels such as ESP Institute and Beats In Space, Tornado Wallace steps up to Running Back with a sumptuous album. ‘Lonely Planet’ is an exquisitely lush and naturalistic affair with humid jungle atmospheres, bird calls, yawning chords and fluttering melodies all encouraging you to lay back in the sun and let go. Shades of 80s synth hero Jan Hammer and pastoral tropical disco all loom large throughout. Sometimes drums carry you along and on other occasions you’re suspended by long-tailed pads and breezy Balearic riffs, but never does this record feel trite in place of totally right. Kristan J Caryl

9/10