Today, Pachyman — the musical project of Puerto Rican-born, Los Angeles-based musician Pachy Garcia that’s amassed an international following on the back of a dub reggae sound that pays homage to genre masters like King Tubby and Scientist not only via technique and form but through a kindred pursuit of bleeding edge, boundary-expanding sonics — announces Another Place, his fifth album for ATO Records due out May 23. 

Another Place is Pachyman’s most daring project to-date, one that builds upon its forebears by leaning into the idiosyncratic elements lurking beneath previous projects. In doing so, it synthesizes the myriad scenes that have recontextualized the methods and aesthetics of dub — from pioneering synth-pop weirdos like William Onyeabor and Yellow Magic Orchestra to Basic Channel’s amniotic dub techno — into a sound that, while still anchored in dub reggae’s glorious walls of sound, is undeniably Pachyman’s own.

Pre-order / Pre-save Another Place here. 

Accompanying the album announcement is lead single “Hard To Part,” a skeletal drone-funk workout Pachy describes as “influenced by ESG and so many other sounds of that era that were cut from the same cloth as reggae and dub.” It’s an early contender for 2025’s best one note guitar riff. 

The track doubles as a cowbell-addled ode to Pachy’s adopted hometown of Los Angeles, one made ever the more poignant in the wake of the city coming together to help those impacted by the tragic wildfires of January 2025. Of the “Hard To Part” music video,  Pachy writes:

i’ve learned much from los angeles and its inhabitants, many who are diaspora or migrants. we all come here for some reason, we all find ourselves shedding a past skin and having some sort of rebirth. it’s a city that embraces you even if you try to resist. 

after seeing the fires nearly destroy the city, we decided to scrap the original “hard to part” video idea and shoot a sort of love letter or homage to los angeles.

the locations featured in the video are all places that I frequented or have been part of my commute, places i’ve met people that became lifelong friends, or spots I went to decompress. the sunset dancing shot was taken at one of my favorite places to rest during rides along my most frequented cycling routes.

shot and directed by the giraffe sisters, nicola and juliana, two artists and los angeles natives.”

Watch the video for “Hard To Part” — shot and directed by Los Angeles artists the Giraffe Sisters, Nicola and Juliana — here. 

Recorded, as ever, in his basement studio 333 House, Another Place marks an artistic breakthrough for Pachy. “I was trying to understand who I am as a musician — not just operating in a distinct lineage but how I’ve metabolized and expanded upon it,” Pachy explains. “Who am I behind all of this? It’s a very personal, vulnerable journey. I wanted to build my own world and create these new connections in my brain, incorporating everything: vaporwave, chillwave, soul-jazz, James Brown, Kosmiche musik and krautrock, the driving repetition of drum n bass.”

Another Place delivers on this far-reaching vision. “Berlin” pairs a pastoral, Boards Of Canada-cribbing organ sound with the kind of obscured, textural percussion that might suit a Berghain techno night. “In Love” is a joyful, egg-melting-on-the-sidewalk haze in the vein of Washed Out or Neon Indian. And the Slits-inspired “False Moves” uncovers fresh nuance in what Pachy describes as “a working class, anti-establishment DNA” shared by dub and post-punk music.

Pachyman is preparing to take the alchemical, indelible sound of Another Place around the world. Beginning at the end of February, he’ll be embarking on headlining dates throughout New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and the UK. He’ll also be joining Darkside for select North American dates this spring. Full dates below — keep an eye out for more to be announced later this year.

Another Place
Calor Ahora
In Love
Berlin
SJU
Take Me To Dance
False Moves
Strikes Back
Hard to Part
Another Place
ADSH

Tour Dates
Feb 27: Auckland, NZ @ Whammy Bar
Feb 28: Wellington, NZ @ Meow
March 1: Lyttelton, NZ @ Port Noise Festival
March 2: Hamilton, NZ @ Hamilton Arts Festival
March 5: Sydney, AU @ The Vanguard
March 6: Adelaide, AU @ Summertown Studio
March 7: Melbourne, AU @ Brunswick Music Festival
March 9: Tasmania, AU @ Panama Festival
March 13: Mapleton, AU @ Mapleton Pub
March 14: Brisbane, AU @ Warehouse 25
March 15: Bangalow, AU @ Flo Records Courtyard
April 4: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater^
April 5: Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre^
April 6: Seattle, WA @ Showbox^
May 21: Hamburg, DE @ Knust
May 23: Stockholm, SE @ Hosoi
May 24: Gothenburg, SE @ Nefertiti
May 25: Copenhagen, DN @ Ideal Bar
May 28: Berlin, DE @ LARK
May 29: Munich, DE @ Import Export
May 30: Zurich, CH @ Moods
May 31: Antwerp, BE @ De Roma
June 1: Utrecht, NL @ De Nijverheid
June 3: Paris, FR @ Le Point Ephémère
June 4: Brighton, UK @ The Hope & Ruin
June 5: London, UK @ Jazz Cafe
June 6: Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade
June 7: Nottingham, UK @ Rough Trade

^ = with Darkside

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