New album: The legendary Lawrence of Felt, Denim, and more recently Go-Kart Mozart, rebrands the latter with a new name and trolley-load of perky, cheeky, catchy sometimes pub-style electro-pop tunes roughly themed around the joys and mini-tragedies of retail therapy
Read moreDave Rowntree: Radio Songs
New album: A thematic, intimate, clever, thoughtful debut solo LP by the amusing and affable Blur drummer, decorated with shimmering synth sounds, sampled radio sounds, gentle percussion and gentle but arresting vocals
Read moreGuided By Voices: La La Land
New album: Following 2022’s Tremblers And Goggles By Rank and compilation Scalping The Guru, another strong new LP of strident, passionate, original alternative rock by the Ohio indie band decorated by the utterly unpredictable lyricism of frontman Robert Pollard
Read moreRian Treanor and Ocen James: Saccades
New album: A wonderfully original, vibrant collaboration between the Rotherham electronica experimentalist/producer and the Acholi fiddle player, inspired by a residency in Kampala and building on 2020’s album File Under UK Metaplasm
Read moreThe Murder Capital: Gigi's Recovery
New album: Passionate, visceral and powerful, the new Dublin band’s follow-up to 2019’s When I Have Fears builds on their promise, aswirl with stark emotion, packed with strong perspectives and carefully hewn sounds in a journey of introspection, self-analysis and defiance
Read moreJohn Cale: Mercy
New album: Slow, ghostly, challenging, droning, uniquely experimental, this is the 80-year-old former Velvet Underground member’s first original album since 2012, now with guests including Weyes Blood, Sylvan Esso, Fat White Family and Animal Collective
Read moreRozi Plain: Prize
New album: Beautifully textured, gentle, sensitive, understated, mysterious, stripped-back alternative folk by the English singer-songwriter, also joined by colleagues from This Is The Kit, saxophonist Alabaster DePlume and harpist Serafina Steer
Read moreThe Nightingales: The Last Laugh
New album: The very best ‘til last for 2022? Quite possibly, with this absolute belter from Robert Lloyd, Fliss Kitson and co, this October release packed with superbly Beefheart-esque, stompy, infinite wit, riff and rhythm change
Read moreALASKALASKA: Still Life
New album: Released in October, some tastily original, intelligent, minimalist, atmospheric experimental electro-pop by the south London duo of Lucinda Duarte-Holman and Fraser Rieley in this sophomore LP to follow up 2019’s The Dots
Read moreSantigold: Spirituals
New album: Inspired by African-American folk and gospel, this powerful, feverishly intense, emotional fourth LP released in September by the singer-songwriter brings an electric mix of punk, hip-hop, funk, afrobeat, electro-pop, and reggae wrapped in rage, anxiety and reflection
Read moreMakaya McCraven: In These Times
New album: An intricately beautiful and mesmeric fusion of polyrhythm and melody by the Paris-born, Chicago-based percussionist and composer, bringing together cosmic jazz, hip-hop breakbeats, funk, classical and African influences on this sublime fourth album, released back in September
Read moreVarious: Perú Selvático - Sonic Expedition into the Peruvian Amazon 1972-1986
New album: An excellently colourful 36th compilation release by the Samy Ben Redjeb’s label Analog Africa features a wonderful sprinking of Amazonian cumbia - timbale rhythms, driven by spidery, treble-damaged guitar lines, and drenched in bright splashes of organ
Read moreLet's Eat Grandma: Two Ribbons
New album: Released back in April, an enthralling, experimental, emotional electro-pop perspective of the last three turbulent years by the Norwich duo Jenny Hollingworth and Rosa Walton, produced by David Wrench
Read moreMaja Lena: Pluto
New album: Beautiful alternative folk-pop by Marianne Parrish, formerly of alt-folk band Low Chimes, with an arresting range of textures and sounds and her dynamic voice inspired by the natural world
Read moreStick In The Wheel: Endurance Soundly Caged
New album: The east London punk-folk band’s latest, more of an EP, brings fresh new arrangements of past releases with a vibrant live take, recorded at the renowned Eastcote Studios
Read moreLeftfield: This Is What We Do
New album: A clever banger of a mesmeric LP, just the fourth in three decades return from the highly influential dance electronica maestro Neil Barnes including guest appearances by Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC and poet Lemn Sissay
Read moreGaye Su Akyol: Anadolu Ejderi
New album: The Istanbul singer’s fourth album is an alluring fusion of Turkish folk and pop rhythms and instruments with psych-rock riffing with a spicier flavour, her seductive voice delivering heartbreak love stories and dark anthems of dissidence
Read moreLous and the Yakuza: Iota
New album: After her hard-hitting 2020 trap, pop and Congolese beats debut, Gore, the Belgian-Congolese rapper, singer, model and artist Marie-Pierra Kakoma returns with a dreamy, smooth eclectic mix of rap, pop, and electronica
Read moreRichard Dawson: The Ruby Cord
New album: Poetic, vivid, and original, the third in an great trilogy after the medieval-themed Peasant (2017), and 2019’s state-of-nation first-person narrative 2020, the remarkable Newcastle experimental folk artist’s newest LP is set in the post-human future
Read moreDJ Yoda: Prom Nite
New album: A clever, inventive fusion of modern and retro , London DJ and producer Duncan Beiny’s new project captures heartbreak 50s American doo-wop song samples with live performers through soul, hip hop, harp, strings, and guest vocals from House Gospel Choir, Lily James, Homeboy Sandman, Jamie Cullum and Beardyman
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