Ulterior motives: This week at South Records

Another brilliantly varied week of new releases, from long-awaited returns to essential reissues. Eddy Current Suppression Ring emerge from the shadows with In Light of Recent Events, their first album in years, capturing the raw, locked-in energy of their secretive live shows while turning a sharper eye on modern anxiety and political disillusionment. Australian psych explorers Pond continue their remarkable run with Terrestrials, an urgent, widescreen record that blends glam, pub rock and scorched-earth psychedelia into one of their strongest records yet. Elsewhere, Downtown Boys return with Public Luxury, an exhilarating mix of punk, indie, Latin rhythms and industrial textures that refuses to separate politics from joy. On the reissue front, Pixies' Complete B-Sides: 1988–97 finally arrives on vinyl, newly remastered with bonus live material, while Metallica's Reload receives the latest deluxe remaster in the band's ongoing archive series. Rounding things off, Stax Sings The Beatles gathers soulful Beatles interpretations from Otis Redding, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Isaac Hayes and more, now available on vinyl for the first time.

→ Recommended

One of the great cult records of 1970s Japanese jazz, Easy Rider brings together pianist Shigeru Narumo, bassist Isao Eto and drummer Akira Ishikawa for a loose, adventurous set inspired by the landmark counterculture film. Rather than simply recreating the soundtrack, the trio push the material into jazz-funk, psychedelic rock and free-flowing improvisation, creating something entirely their own. Long sought after by collectors, it's an exhilarating snapshot of Japan's jazz scene at its most creative and a record that more than lives up to its reputation. Japanese first pressing right here.