Music inspires. It awakens the spirit and binds moments together. It soothes, excites and supports—and it’s a fundamental for many, including us at COOL HUNTING. Whether sharing our favorite songs, looking for records, testing headphones and speakers, playing instruments or reading about a favorite band, there are no limits to the pleasure of being in love with music. Inside our Musicality Gift Guide, you will find everything from record box-sets to audio recording devices, label merch, biographies, prints and more—chosen for those who play or listen to music. For more gift ideas, check out our full BUY section, which is updated regularly.
Celebrating the fourth anniversary of their acclaimed studio album Love What Survives, Mount Kimbie (aka London-based duo Dominic Maker and Kai Campos) has released two previously unheard tracks from the recording sessions. Not only online, the songs are also available on 12-inch vinyl—limited to just 500 copies worldwide.
Nura’s newest audio product, the wireless NuraTrue earphones improve noise-cancellation along with the sound quality. Providing exceptional bass and clear phone calls, the buds are ideal for audiophiles. They’re also water-resistant, with an IPX4 rating—meaning they’re safe from splashes and sweat. They come with a fast-charging case as well as four sets of different sized silicone ear-tips.
Limited to 500 copies and available only from Ghostly, this special edition of quickly, quickly’s The Long and Short of It comes on vinyl with a paint-splattered effect. Portland, Oregon-based quickly, quickly (aka musician Graham Jonson) combines countless genres—from psych-jazz to classic hip-hop—on the album, which shows off his immense talent as a songwriter, vocalist and arranger.
The sound quality of in-ear headphones can be lacking that immersive feeling, but the PI7 In-Ear Wireless Headphones from English audio company Bowers & Wilkins provides big sound in a small package. Founded in the 1960s, the brand has been innovating audio products for 50+ years and these headphones are evidence of their success. With adaptive noise-cancelling capability, 24-bit connection and Qualcomm aptX technology, and dual hybrid drive units (with individual amplifiers), the sound delivered is clear and crisp. With their snug fit, they’re great for any level of activity and block outside sounds even when the active noise-cancellation is off. There are also six microphones for better phone calls. The charging case can be used with or without a cable, making them super-portable.
This patchable analog synthesizer kit from Moog is the legendary audio brand’s most affordable synth, and an ideal option for those just beginning to experiment. Easy to assemble, the device also comes with a CV Expander, which makes the synth compatible with CV-equipped analog gear. It’s also a great and flexible tool for more advanced enthusiasts who value simplicity and customization.
Put down on cassette in 1981, Kirtan: Turiya Sings comprises nine devotional songs that Alice Coltrane (aka Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda) recorded for members of her Sai Anantam Ashram. The tremendously talented artist—a highly influential pioneer of spiritual jazz—founded the ashram in 1983 and would perform solo and with groups there. Now the music receives an official release on vinyl, via Impulse! Records/UMe. Kirtan is a Sanskrit word for reciting or storytelling, while turiya is pure consciousness—a state of mind that transcends all others. The stirring record features organs, synthesizers, strings and other effects and has been produced by Ravi Coltrane.
Mood Valiant is Australian jazz-funk band Hiatus Kaiyote’s first new record since 2015’s Choose Your Weapon, and it’s available to pre-order as a limited edition glow-in-the-dark vinyl. Officially released 25 June via Brainfeeder/Ninja Tune, the album was made after frontwoman Naomi “Nai Palm” Saalfield’s diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. She says, “When you think your life is going to be taken away from you, it makes you think about who you are. I guess after the breast cancer scare I decided that I needed to prove to life that the offering I have is genuine. My only wish is to live and offer my experience of time and beauty.”
After selling out quickly, a collection of Sun Ra works Extensions Out, Plus: Four Poetry Books (1959/1972) has been restocked at Corbett vs Dempsey’s online store. The Chicago gallery recently hosted an exhibition of Sun Ra’s multidisciplinary art, tracing some of his remarkable life as a musician, poet, performer and beyond. Included in this set of books by the Afrofuturism pioneer are Jazz By Sun Ra, Jazz In Silhouette, The Immeasurable Equation and Extensions Out: Immeasurable Equation Vol II. With hundreds of poems, photographs and more, it’s a significant collection that includes some of Sun Ra’s most sought-after works.
Wacky Wacko (aka artist/musician Seth Bogart and artist/designer Peggy Noland) has just released a new range of towels, covered in their signature kitsch-meets-punk designs. Our favorite of the four is the GRRRLS towel, which pays homage to NYC girl group The Chiffons, Swiss punk band Kleenex, English experimental rock outfit The Raincoats, and more. Measuring 34 by 66 inches, the towel is made from 96% cotton and is covered in artwork by Bogart.
To celebrate the 26th anniversary of their brilliant Do You Want More?!!!??! album, The Roots will release an expanded vinyl reissue. Officially out on 12 March via Universal Music Group’s Urban Legends imprint, the deluxe edition comprises three LPs—two remastered from the original tapes, and the third composed of bonus tracks selected by Questlove. There’s also a booklet with photos, liner notes, and essays by Black Thought and Questlove. The record’s appeal remains, thanks to the band’s flawless approach to hip-hop—blending jazz, boom bap, beatbox and beyond.
When creating the Orba, the designers at Artiphon found inspiration from video game controllers. This compact, sleek and infinitely addicting new musical instrument is a hand-held synth, looper and MIDI device. It interfaces with Garage Band, Pro Tools and more for easy music-making. Eight capacitive-sensing pads, responsive multicolor LEDs and an embedded haptic engine offer visual and vibrational feedback. Orba features sound design from DJ and engineer Richard Devine. Create a drumbeat, bass, chord and lead parts that can play from the built-in speaker, headphones or through the output into amps and speakers. Professional musicians and amateurs alike will enjoy making music as soon as they have the Orba.
American artist John O’Hara now offers custom versions of his Vinyl series through Forsyth—the gallery he founded with Maggie and Annie Genovese. O’Hara will adorn a piece with your favorite song or album name, along with the name of the artist. Select anything—be it a classic ballad or an obscure house track. Orders typically take several weeks to make and ship, but a “Rock-n-Roll Option” (for $150) ensures speedy delivery. Forsyth will reach out to field custom requests after purchase.
From CH favorite, Stockholm-based Teenage Engineering, the OB–4 Portable Speaker offers about 100 decibels of super-clear sound via two four-inch bass drivers and two neodymium tweeters with 38 watts per channel. Minimal and modern, but with a distinctly old-school boombox vibe, the speaker plays music through Bluetooth, FM radio or line input (like an iPhone or RCA jack). There’s also disk mode, for which the brand will continue to experiment with features. (Right now, it offers three settings: Ambient, Metronome and Karma.) The speaker’s powerful battery provides eight hours of sound at maximum volume or (for more subdued listening experiences) about 40 hours on just one charge. Further, the OB-4 operates on a two-hour recorded loop, allowing you to rewind albums or live radio broadcasts.
Familiar and previously unpublished images of a dynamic music scene by photographer and filmmaker Michael Grecco fill the pages of Punk, Post Punk, New Wave: Onstage, Backstage, in Your Face, 1977-1989. Whether an action shot from the stage wing or a quiet backstage portrait, the photographs provide another perspective on the bands and musicians that defined the energy, chaos, grit and creativity of punk, post-punk and new wave. From images of Siouxsie and the Banshees to The Slits, Dead Kennedys, Talking Heads and The Ramones, there are 300 photographs to flip through. Fittingly, The B-52’s frontman Fred Schneider offers a foreword.
For anyone with a burgeoning vinyl collection, it can be hard to know what the next step should be when filling in the gaps. With Vinyl Me, Please, a team of music lovers makes that decision for you—with special editions of contemporary classic’s like The Fugees’ self-titled masterpiece and Beck’s Odelay being recent examples. In addition to the record, subscribers also get one original art print, a cocktail recipe and access to member-exclusive products in their store. There are three memberships tiers here: a full annual commitment translates to $33 per month, the Three Month plan costs $36 per month, and a month-to-month membership runs for $42 per month. We recommend the Three Month service, as its a valid trial for what Vinyl Me, Please has to offer.
Made in an edition of 50, record label Ghostly’s collaborative headphones with Kawasaki, Japan-based Phonon emphasize the next-generation audio company’s dynamic, high-quality sound experience. Phonon says that the 4400 model is their most user-friendly—which is foldable and lightweight but powerful. Ghostly’s spooky branding can be found on both ears, too.
