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 moreBiig Piig: Bubblegum
Debut album: Slick, clever, catchy and quirky, this electro-pop mixtape by the Irish artist Jessica Smyth, who has also released songs in Spanish, brims with breathy pomp and superbly tight production
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 moreLadytron: Time's Arrow
New album: With a title inspired by a Martin Amis novel, another cleverly crafted, catchy seventh retro synth-pop LP by the Liverpool-formed quartet, rich in influences from Kraftwerk and krautrock to Gary Numan and Stereolab
Read moreLeila Moss: Internal Working Model
New album: Passionate, powerful, eloquent, elegant and reflective, filled with beautiful musical texture, the former Duke Spirit singer’s third solo album ponders themes over society’s potential empathy against self-seeking global economics, and includes guests Gary Newman and Jehnny Beth
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 moreFujiya & Miyagi: Slight Variations
New album: Crisp, clean, refined, witty, cleverly pared-back electro-pop by the Brighton band of two decades and fronted by David Best with this very fine LP released in late September
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 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 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 moreAcid Klaus - Step On My Travelator: The Imagined Career Trajectory of Superstar DJ and Dance Pop Producer, Melvin Harris
New album: Acieeed! Packed with cleverly crafted bangers and a mischievously daft long title, wonderfully retro, yet fresh and chemically inspiring dance electronica in this project by Sheffield’s Adrian Flanagan and Dean Honer, known also for International Teachers Of Pop, Moonlandingz and Eccentronic Research Council
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
Read moreGold Panda: The Work
New album: A first album for six years by the London electronic artist Derwin Dicker, and it’s a welcome return with a distinctively lovely palette of twinkling sounds, loops and textures, with Japanese and other influences
Read moreFenella / Jane Weaver: The Metallic Index
New album: The acclaimed Liverpool-born experimental electronic artist joins forces again with Peter Philipson and Raz Ullah with an enthralling range of shimmering vintage equipment sounds and spectral vocalisations telling the story of Stella Cranshaw, the so-called paranormal ‘electric girl’ in 1920s London
Read morePlaid - Feorm Falorx
New album: A joyously nostalgic, beautiful and uplifting 11th album by the London cult electronica and dance duo of Andy Turner and Ed Handley based on a theme of a fictitious festival, Feorm, “an intergalactic shindig held on the planet Falorx”
Read moreThe Cool Greenhouse: Sod's Toastie
New album: An excellent second LP by the wittily droll wordsmith Tom Greenhouse and band, bringing oodles of hilarious, oddball short stories and killer lines about the absurdity of life, backed by strangely wonderful post-punk and electronica
Read moreChristine and the Queens: Redcar Les Adorables Étoiles (prologue)
New album: Grand and theatrical, with oodles of 80s synth sounds and a big dash of Grace Jones and David Bowie-sytyle glamour, Héloïse Letissier returns with his (recently confirmed as a trans man) flamboyant, poetic third LP
Read morePhoenix: Alpha Zulu
New album: A return to form in their 20-year career for the quirky, groovy French pop quartet of singer Thomas Mars guitarist brothers Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz and bassist Deck D’Arcy, in this seventh album, this time recorded in the Louvre no less
Read moreDaniel Avery: Ultra Truth
New album: The Bournemouth electronic musician and producer’s latest LP is an intense journey of tender piano to drone, rave, hardcore, ambient and many interweaving textures, drawing in from influences such as Aphex Twin, David Lynch, to My Bloody Valentine
Read moreHorse Lords: Comradely Objects
New album: Mesmeric fifth album by the Baltimore-formed quartet of polyrhythmic avant-garde rock, jazz, prog, also drawing on Appalachian, bluegrass, krautrock, African, post-punk and alternative tuning systems that pull you into their brilliant and beguiling world
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