Album review: Sprightly, catchy and filled with hooks, the Tanzania-born London singer, producer and musicians full debut has something from many genres, from funk to African, jazz, pop, hip hop, reggae, gospel and soul
Read moreWitch Camp (Ghana): I've Forgotten Now Who I Used To Be
Album review: A unique collection of field recordings of extraordinarily moving and evocative songs performed by women accused of witchcraft, taken from where they have escaped to special safe-haven settlements
Read moreFemi Kuti and Made Kuti: Legacy+
Album review: The son and grandson of the great Fela Kuti join to present a double album of the good stuff, bringing high energy Afrobeat and singing in English with wonderfully strong bursts of universal political and personal affirmation
Read moreMadlib: Sound Ancestors – album review
Album review: A majestic journey into sampled and recreated classic sounds with his own original, eccentric twists, Madlib, aka American rapper, producer and multi-instrumentalist Otis Jackson Jr's newest LP is in turn produced by Four Tet
Read moreEmeka Ogboh: Beyond the Yellow Haze – album review
Album review: The Nigerian sound and installation artist best known for his soundscapes of life in Lagos releases a fascinating LP that combines those sounds with electronica to capture the hustle-and-bustle of that busy city
Read moreAgnes Obel to Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers to Sault: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 2
Albums of 2020 roundup: Out of crisis comes great art. A year of lockdowns, no gigs, alternative sounds, experimentation and surprises. This is the second half of our roundup of favourite albums of 2020. Part 1 was here
Read moreFiona Apple to Lianne La Havas to Yves Tumor: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 1
Albums of 2020 roundup: A year of lockdowns, alternative sounds, experimentation and surprises. This is the first half two roundups of a total over 50 favourite albums of the year that musicians stayed at home. And here’s Part 2.
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, The Avalanches, Nas, Sigur Rós, Caro, Alex Maas, M. Ward, Flohio
Album reviews roundup: From the former Beatle to a country/pop mainstream artist, 2020’s running theme seems inspire isolation, survival, DIY and experimentation. But as this selection shows, there are also many new, innovative artists out there
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Smashing Pumpkins, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Jack Cheshire, Daniel Avery, Ane Brun, The Wytches, Heather Trost, Brandee Younger and Dezron Douglas, Matthew Halsall
Album reviews roundup: Psychedelia, jazz, prog and electronica dominate this week, including a synth album by the Smashing Pumpkins, eastern flavours by King Gizzard, exquisite Norwegian vocals by Ane Grun and a superb debut by Jack Cheshire
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Nick Cave, Cabaret Voltaire, Tayla Parx, Brian Eno, Ana Roxanne, Megan Thee Stallion, Contento, The Cribs, Luke Abbott
Album reviews roundup: Great contrast mark this week’s group of nine, from Nick Cave’s solo concert album to the first Cabaret Voltaire for 26 years, vibrant pop and hip hop from Megan Lee Stallion and Tayla Parx to the beautiful minimalism of Ana Roxanne
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: AC/DC, Marika Hackman, Gillian Welch, Pa Salieu, Benee, Gwenifer Raymond, Katy J Pearson, Molchat Doma, Faten Kanaan
Album reviews roundup: This week’s selection includes a surprise but strong return for the Aussie rockers, three innovative debuts in in hip hop, pop and folk, and an outstanding series of instrumentals by a Welsh guitarist
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Tunng, Olafur Arnalds, Quakers, Kylie, Tiña, Holy Motors, Planet Battagon, Adulkt Life, The Growth Eternal
Album reviews roundup: an exceptionally experimental and original lineup includes Tunng’s special death project, Iceland’s Olafur Arnalds at his most vulnerable, Tiña, the cosmic jazz funk of Planet Battagon, and for balance, some Kylie disco
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Elvis Costello, Dizzee Rascal, Sun Ra Arkestra, Eels, Oneohtrix Point Never, Action Bronson, Jim White, Adrianne Lenker, Keaton Henson
Album reviews roundup: This week’s selection again reflects the times - divided political America to grief and isolation, but also presents an abundance of creativity, wit and musical invention crossing everything from jazz to hip hop
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Bruce Springsteen, Future Utopia, This Is The Kit, Laura Veirs, Matt Berninger, Songhoy Blues, Ela Minus, Sam Brookes, Girlhood
Albums reviews roundup: The latest selection includes a big reunion for the Boss. a mass collaboration via Fraser T Smith, Stormzy and more, exquisite work by This is The Kit, and reflective breakup by Laura Veirs
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Doves, The Flaming Lips, Marilyn Manson, Toots and the Maytals, Bróna McVittie, Susanna, Anjimile, Mammal Hands, Richard and Linda Thompson
Album reviews roundup: A particularly strong lineup includes the return of Doves, The Flaming Lips’ signature sound, a farewell from Toots, a stunning debut from Anjimile, and more beauty and innovation from Mammal Hands, Susanna and Bróna Mcvittie
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Bill Callahan, Disclosure, Angel Olsen, My Morning Jacket, Washington, Babe, Terror, Kelly Lee Owens, Afel Bocoum, Floodlights
Album reviews roundup: This week’s selection includes an exquisite gem from Bill Callahan, clever dance music from Disclosure, a stark reworking of her last album by Angel Olsen, and a second helping of a previous by My Morning Jacket
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Biffy Clyro, Kiesza, James Dean Bradfield, Idris Ackamoor, Nubya Garcia, Oscar Jerome, Burna Boy, Alula Down, Duckwrth
Albums reviews roundup: Jazz and African are foremost in this week’s selection with two sax stars and a guitarist, as well as a tribute to a Chilean poet by the Manic Street Preachers’ frontman, rock by Biffy Clyro and lovely folk by Alula Down
Read moreNew albums: Fontaines D.C., Beyoncé, Alanis Morissette, The Psychedelic Furs, Max Richter, Song Sung, Dominic Fike, Creeper, Romare
This week includes a strong second album by Fontaines D.C., comebacks by The Psychedelic Furs and Alanis Morissette, a Lion King-inspired film-album by Beyoncé, eclectic work by newcomber Dominic Fike and experiment by Max Richter
Read moreNew albums: Taylor Swift, Jessy Lanza, Shirley Collins, Seasick Steve, Kamaal Williams, Jon Hassell, Courtney Marie Andrews, Dan Michaelson, Mohit
Refreshingly alternative releases include the Nashville popstar showing a mellower side, electro eccentricity from Jessy Lanza, unique sounds Jon Hassell and Mohit, and a great comeback from folk legend Shirley Collins
Read moreNew albums: Lianne La Havas, JARV IS (Jarvis Cocker), The Pretenders, The Chicks, Ellie Goulding, Sault, Wilma Archer, Protomartyr, Oumou Sangaré
Latest albums include exquisite soul and gospel with the divine voice of Lianne La Havas and the mystery band Sault, plus mischief from Jarvis Cocker, The Pretenders roll back the years, the return of the (no longer Dixie) Chicks
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