🔗 Share this article DJ Moopie's Intriguingly Atmospheric Curated Collections and This Week's Best New Tracks From Melbourne Ideal listening for those who enjoy the C86 indie pop sound, Australian and New Zealand guitar pop, Mess Esque Latest release The compilation 'Going Back to Sleep' is currently released The artist known as DJ Moopie, real name Matthew Xue, from Melbourne, is celebrated for captivating and eclectic DJ sets that can run the gamut from chilled-out soundscapes to churning drum'n'bass and beyond. He also runs A Colourful Storm – a remarkable DIY imprint that massively punches above its weight when it comes to issuing quirky and introspective pop experiments, featuring a diverse roster including London-based percussionist Valentina Magaletti, dubby Hobart duo Troth, and renowned underground polymath Simon Fisher Turner. In 2017, the label released I Won’t Have to Think About You, a compilation of winsome, C86-ish indie pop. More recently, it has issued Going Back to Sleep, a record that acts as a companion piece which simultaneously serves as a neatly drawn guide to several excellent bands in the gentle pop sphere currently working. Daily Toll, a band from Sydney, with a 2025 debut, A Profound Non-Event, that stands as an overlooked treasure of the year, contribute Time, a seven-minute daydream built on melodica and guitar. Chateau, the pair, comprising Al Montfort and Alex Macfarlane, push into percussive, psychedelic lounge pop on How Long on the Platform, and Who Cares?, one of Melbourne's best new bands, draw equally from Hope Sandoval and Eartheater on Wax and Wane. On other parts of the compilation, Going Back to Sleep features tracks from Bay Area indie fixtures the Reds, Pinks and Purples; the sparse-sounding Sydney ensemble the Lewers; and bright, folk-tinged pop from the Dutch pair the Hobknobs. It’s an unassuming compilation that’s almost certain to become deeply cherished and often cited among connoisseurs of art that is gentle and profoundly emotional. Fresh Tracks of the Week Flea – A Plea An uncommon single release from the RHCP bass player, which is brilliantly accomplished: driving yet inquisitive soul-infused jazz as Flea advocates for tranquility and compassion. “No cheesiness here – this is the truth!” Daniel Blumberg and Amanda Seyfried – Clothed By the Sun Following his Oscar win for Best Original Score this year, you can imagine Blumberg winning the 2026 Oscar for Best Original Song for this stunning Seyfried duet included in the soundtrack he composed for The Testament of Ann Lee. Jana Horn – All in Bet Jana Horn, an artist based in Texas paints in every shade of a sigh on this deeply gloomy comeback, where the slightest touches of piano and flute colour her weary disappointment. Umor Rex – Lo Animal You could easily imagine the work of this Madrid cellist's gothic masterpiece with industrial shades on the soundtrack to Dune, due to its seismic drum work, piercing industrial noises, haunting choral passages and apocalyptic grandeur. Zora Jones x DJ Polo – Hoes Link Up Imaginative Austrian producer-vocalist collaborates with Bristol-based UK bass maker DJ Polo on a track of hard-hitting ghettotech: the percussion is overpowering although the tune is nearly dream-pop in nature. Jawnino and Surf Gang – Hit Again On new mixtape Amnesia, British MC Jawnino rolls over an assortment of cloud-rap instrumentals by Surf Gang, and this track is a highlight, Jawnino sharp and fully engaged while he examines the drug trade. Annabelle Chairlegs – Heavy Sleeper Helmed by Ty Segall, this garagey number chugs along entirely at its own pace, shifting from a runaway vehicle to the musician from Austin's hazy daydream about how “my spirit is restored by the moon”.