Richard Hawley – Further
Now the eighth solo album in 20 years from the 52-year-old Sheffield singer-songwriter is not quite Standing At The Sky's Edge, but contains a very fine mixture of soft croon and louder rock. Of the former, there is the dreamy country drift of Not Lonely, the lovely forlorn love song Emilina Says, and My Little Treasures appears to a be Nat King Cole style ode to pet dogs. It’s all beautiful stuff, particularly Midnight Train. Further, meanwhile, is more of a country croon, but the better ones perhaps come when guitars are turned up and there's an amp buzz and a swagger, such as on Is There a Pill, Galley Girl or Alone. or Off My Mind. Loud or soft, Hawley can still turn it on. Out on BMG.
Richard Hawley - Off My Mind
Madonna – Madame X
One to cherish both for its many moments for cringeworthy awfulness, as Madge’s cheer indomitable spirit to lie down and stop being a pop princess. For example she imagines herself taking on and living the poverty and enslavement of the world (Killers Who Are Partying - as low as anything she's ever done) to that kind of sexy plastic R&B aped from those who aped her, from Britney Spears to Christina Aguilera to Lady Gaga on the song Crave. Donning the eye-patch as either porn madame or some kind of weird pirate in soft focus, and unable to resist doing talk-in intros ad nauseam, perhaps she only really gets away (eventually) with something like decent pop when going down the Latin route with Colombian stud and star Maluma. Out on Live Nation/Interscope/Maverick
Madonna – Medellin
Lee 'Scratch' Perry - Rainford
Talking of old-timers, it's impossible not to love Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, real name Rainford Hugh Perry, now 83 (now that’s longevity, Madge) still appearing on stages to celebrate 50 years of Trojan, with his suitcase to hand for a fast getaway and feathers in his hat and on the mic. So there’s also now this beautifully bonkers album, brought very much together by producer Adrian Sherwood. It feels like far more than a comfortable retrospective of various dub styles, but also brought in a fresh light with technology and mixing, from Let It Rain’s string section to Children of the Light; Makumba Rock’s dubstep, ganja and Upsetters vibes on African Starship. It’s also filled with plenty of commentary on Perry’s favourite topics – vampirism, capitalism and Catholicism (“I kick the Pope in his arse”). Let it rain indeed, with Lee's crazy spirit forever. Out on On-U Sound Records.
Lee 'Scratch Perry – Let It Rain
Skepta – Ignorance Is Bliss
The fifth album from the British hip hop and grime veteran, here addressing fatherhood and other issues, and firing out from the first track, Bullet from a Gun. with flute loops and garage tracks, catchy beats and odd, indecipherable sounds. He won the Mercury prize in 2016 with Konnichiwa, and last year's EP Vicious addressed the American rap market, but this time his focus is more on British styles from What Do You Mean to the throwback failed bank-robber on Greaze Mode. Out on Boy Better Know.
Skepta - Bullet From A Gun
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – And Now For The Whatchamacallit
Like their contemporaries, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard from Melbourne, these psych-rockers from Perth, Australia offer highly energetic, fun and fast-flowing music, rich in complex, constantly changing riffs, and also echo White Denim from Texas. Standout tracks of the 10 here include Social Candy, Keen For Kick Ons? and Bill’s Mandolin, the latter also having a dash of Battles about it too. Quite retro in many ways, but never a dull moment, always humorous, never serious, and filled with impeccable musicianship. Out on Marathon Artists.
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – Bill's Mandolin
Pip Blom – Boat
After last year's EP Paycheck, the Amsterdam sister-brother partnership of Pip and Tender and friends finally release their debut LP of fresh-sounding, post-punk, indie, stuffed with lovely harmonies, youthful energy, and an effervescent innocence alongside playful in-jokes. Pip has something of the Mancunian about her delivery too. Out on Heavenly Recordings.
Pip Blom – Daddy Issues
Sacred Paws - Run Around The Sun
The Glasgow indie rock duo release their follow-up to debut Strike A Match, which won the Scottish album of the year, another beautifully clean, uplifting sound. How Far, for example, has a rolling, sunshine-filled African style to it, a throwback to Bhundu Boys days, while The Conversation is a breezy throb. Out on Rock Action.
Sacred Paws - The Conversation
Yonaka - Don't Wait Til Tomorrow
The Brighton four-piece fronted by Theresa Jarvis, offer a bankable mix of pop and rock with a big sound and chorus combination a sort of Florence and he Machine in overdrive. Certainly catchy, but a little formulaic perhaps. Maybe listening again could wait until tomorrow after all. Out on Atlantic Records.
Yonaka - Don't Wait Til Tomorrow
This week's selection is by The Landlord.
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