Cherry Pumps, the side project of musician Yaan Pessino (of The Pesos), is my new favorite flavor, and his collection of four impressive, incredibly lo-fi, raw and honest and intrinsically California tracks will set you off on a warm buzz that should carry you through the week. Recorded by Kyle Mullarky (Allah-Las, BOYTOY) on a Tascam 388 at the Pump House in Topanga Canyon, the EP embodies a certain Southern California sandy vibe that’s hard to define yet easy to sip, like a cool tiki cocktail that’s bound to give you a hangover. In this case, no hangover included, just a steady groove to float you down. And, as an added bonus, the EP includes some candid ramblings and whistles and ruminations by Pessino, in his surfer twang, as a cherry on top to an overwhelmingly enjoyable album. So listen up. –Maya Eslami 

Photo: Derek James