Album review: The Liverpool and Widnes-raised artist returns with a mesmeric and uplifting 11th album that takes a variety of elements - electronica, psychedelia and acid folk morphing into fabulous alternative pop record that really takes flight
Read moreAltin Gün: Yol
Album review: Wonderful third album by the Amsterdam-based Turkish, Dutch, Indonesian and British band who infuse traditional Turkish songbook material with elecro-pop, funk and disco sounds in a way that feels authentic and uplifting
Read moreSG Lewis: Times
Album review: Aiming to capture a full-on mainstream club and disco feel, the British producer’s new LP mixes light funk and soul flavours that very much borrow from the Daft Punk and Chic cookbook
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 moreAaron Frazer: Introducing … – album review
New album: Introducing Song Bar’s first new album review of 2021, appropriately with an excellent debut LP, Aaron Frazer has a high, falsetto voice reminiscent of Smokey Robinson and Curtis Mayfield with notes of 60s and 70s soul and funk
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: Chilly Gonzales, Mark Lanegan, Drive-By Truckers, Marie Davidson, Kacy & Clayton & Marlon Williams, Beethoven, Oh! Gunquit, Puppini Sisters, Dylan Henner
Album reviews roundup: A selection of contrasts – some dark, 2020-slanted Christmas other recent seasonal releases and other recents and earlier releases, from Chilly Gonzales to Mark Lanegan and a Beethoven anniversary piece
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: 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: Future Islands, Black Thought, Public Enemy, Emmy The Great, Sylvan Esso, Hen Ogledd, Kronos Quartet, Blake Scott, Slow Pulp
Album reviews roundup: Hip hop comes up strong this week with Black Thought and a recent Public Enemy release with heavyweight guests, but there’s not shortage of other highly original artists from Future Islands to Sylvan Esso
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Róisín Murphy, Blackpink, Melanie C, Working Men's Club, Hello Forever, The Nude Party, Ailbhe Reddy, Diana Krall, Peter Broderick
Albums reviews roundup: This selection mixes some serious disco and dance grooves with Róisín Murphy, K-pop megaband Blackpink, the return of a Spice Girl, northern electropop from Working Men’s Club and much more
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Sufjan Stevens, IDLES, Diana Jones, A Certain Ratio, Bob Mould, Sad13, Marie Davidson, Deftones, Mildlife
Album reviews roundup: This selection has a particularly political and topical element with the likes of Sufjan Stevens, IDLES, Bob Mould and Diana Jones tackling issues in different styles, as well as other stylish pop and experimental releases
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Fleet Foxes, Sault, Thurston Moore, Alicia Keys, A Swayze and the Ghosts, Native Harrow, Fenne Lily, Matt Berry, Widowspeak
Album reviews roundup: The latest section sees the return of Fleet Foxes in full voice, yet another high quality release by the Sault collective, the ever inventive Thurston Moore, Alicia Keys in collaboration and many more
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: Emily Barker, Throwing Muses, Tricky, Declan McKenna, Hannah Georgas, Soundwalk Collective with Patti Smith, Sarah Davachi, Allison Neale, Richard Norris
Album reviews roundup: This week’s selection mixes deep emotions with philosophy, evolution with the elemental, with a mixture of folk, pop, electronica and indie, and including drone music featuring five ancient church organs
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