Berlin-based reissue label Habibi Funk has announced the launch of a sister imprint, Audible Beauty. While Habibi Funk is known for uncovering and reissuing rare music from across the Arab world, Audible Beauty will expand that mission globally.

According to the label, the idea for Audible Beauty emerged during a record-digging trip to Malaysia and Indonesia more than a year ago.

“We decided to stay some days extra in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur to dig for records and tapes, and initially we were curious to learn about gambus, the local genre heavily influenced by Arabic music,” they said on Instagram.

“The find that resonated most with us was this stack of LPs with generic sleeves produced by Malaysian radio and their composers. The sounds were wide-ranging, but more than a few were all-jazz records, and 95% of them were ungoogleable.”

The label’s debut release is Tiga Trombone by Alfonso Soliano, a landmark collection that retells the largely untold story of Malaysian jazz through 11 tracks by the legendary composer, arranger and pianist. Originally recorded for Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), the music was pressed in extremely limited quantities for radio broadcast use.

Widely regarded as one of the foundational figures of Malaysian music, Soliano blended jazz, Latin influences and traditional Malay musical forms into a distinctly local sound, all through original compositions.

The second release, Jazz Dari Angkasapuri, spotlights nine recordings by legendary composer, arranger and trumpeter Johari Salleh. A pivotal figure in shaping the sound of modern Malaysian music across radio, television, film and live performance, Salleh composed dozens of beloved songs throughout his decades-long career.

Reflecting on the discovery process, the label said: “We went down the rabbit hole and, some months later, sat with the family of Alfonso Soliano and with Johari Salleh himself, two of the artists whose work resonated most with us.”

Both albums will be released in early August. The vinyl editions will feature special gatefold packaging with a 12-page booklet attached to the sleeve, containing in-depth essays, archival photography and historical material documenting the artists and their work.

Listen to Johari Salleh’s “Johana” on Bandcamp now: