Carl Craig – Versus
A nearly year-long collaboration with Les Siècles Orchestra finally yields a studio album of symphonic versions of Craig’s techno classics, ably supported by InFiné mainstay Francesco Tristano on piano. A fairly bonkers project that repays some patient listening.
Carl Craig – Sandstorms
Bonnie Prince Billy – Best Troubador
Will Oldham first performed in public a good 25 years ago by playing a Merle Haggard song, Having often cited and covered Haggards’s work, Best Troubador is a full-on tribute album with songs picked from throughout his extensive career.
Bonnie Prince Billy – Bad Actor
The Afghan Whigs – In Spades
First full band album from the Whigs since 1996 and here they are traversing the genres in theirown, distinct, darkly jaunty fashion, mixing punk, psychedelic soul and elaborate hard rock.
The Afghan Whigs – Arabian Heights
Blondie – Pollinator
There's a worryingly long list of collaborators on Blondie's 11th album. Sure, some of them are good – Johnny Marr provides a song and guest performers include Joan Jett and Laurie Anderson – but are we being offered generic "product" or something that is quintessentially Blondie?
Blondie – Long Time
Mac Demarco – This Old Dog
Demarco is back with his usual effortless classy songwriting and the simplest of arrangements. These songs are one step up from demos with little in the way of adornment so if you like that laid back acoustic vibe with some tasteful synths then this may well be for you.
Mac DeMarco – This Old Dog
Kasabian – For Crying Out Loud
The Leicester lads have never been short of making a noise about anything, and in these troubled times, the title suggests a collection of angry protest songs. And yet songwriter Serge Pizzorno has remarked: “It’s an album full of hope, at a time when there's not a lot going around.” Held back from last week to avoid a clash with Gorillaz’s album, on the evidence of You’re In Love With a Psycho, featuring a One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest parody video, accessible, defiantly humorous, singalong indie might describe it better.
Kasabian – You’re In Love With A Psycho
This week's selection is by Michael Moloney, aka llamalpaca from the vinyl-only record and design store, Chameleon, with additions by The Landlord.
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This is only a selection, not a catalogue of releases. Feel free to recommend more and comment below.