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 moreLittle Simz: No Thank You
New album: Released without fanfare like those of the collective Sault’s recent five (with producer also Inflo involved here), a fierce, sharp, set songs, particularly about mental health issues, race and music industry evils by the brilliant London rapper
Read moreHudson Mohawke: Cry Sugar
New album: A vibrantly energised otherworld, an innovative concoction of experimental electronica, trash-pop to classical, gospel, 70s soul, house and more by the prolific LA-based Glaswegian DJ and producer Ross Birchard in his fourth LP and first for seven years
Read moreMoor Mother: Jazz Codes
New album: A mesmeric new album that began as poetry book by the American artist Camae Ayewa mixing jazz, blues, soul, hip-hop and spoken word in her own form of Black Quantum Futurism group, her multi-artform fusion of black history ontology
Read moreNova Twins: Supernova
New album: After their pre-lockdown debut, Who Are the Girls?, the London duo of lead vocalist and guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South return with a blisteringly exciting hybrid of punk, heavy rock/metal, hip hop, pop and R&B
Read moreRosalía: Motomami
New album: Entrancing third LP by the 29-year-old Catalonian star singer with a voice of huge range, mixing flamenco with reggaeton, hip hop, R&B and lush pop, feminism and food, heartbreak, the staccato with the smooth, and influences from MIA to Niña Pastori and José Mercé
Read moreThe Weeknd: Dawn FM
New album: Canada’s hugely successful R&B and darkwave artist Abel Makkonen Tesfaye’s new LP is a form of concept - light-themed afterlife through the prism of a fictional radio station that generates inventive smooth and clever 80s-style synth pop and disco
Read moreDave: We're All Alone In This Together
New album: Second LP by the much lauded Mercury-winning David Omoregie for his first, Psychodrama, shows his talent for diversity of rap styles through social commentary and relationship themes, comprising R&B, Afrobeat, gospel, electronica and piano-led melancholy
Read moreAdrian Younge - The American Negro
Album review: Weighty but vital, the composer’s spoken-word and soulful album of 26 tracks about the history of racism in America is profound, passionate, powerful and current, as well as harking back to the spirit of Gil Scott-Heron and Marvin Gaye
Read moreNew albums: The Strokes, Laura Marling, Jackie Lynn, Pokey LaFarge, Flat Worms, Margaret Glaspy, Irma Vep, Hailu Mergia, Denzel Curry + Kenny Beats, DJ Python
Strong new LPs from The Strokes and Laura Marling reflect signs of the times, while eclectic records from Jackie Lynn and Pokey LaFarge, and excellent postpunk from Flat Worms and Irma Vep are also among this week’s 10 picks
Read moreNew albums: Yves Tumor, Thundercat, Pigs x 7, Everything Is Recorded, Yaeji, Minor Science, Anna Burch, Ren Harvieu, Tops, M Ward
An opulent selection of funk and electronica innovation comes from Yves Tumor and Thundercat, along with Korean artist Yaeji and Berlin’s Minor Science, plus massive metal of Pigs x 7 and beautiful indie and pop by Anna Burch and Ren Harvieu
Read moreNew albums: Childish Gambino, Låpsley, Roger and Brian Eno, Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela, Morrissey, Baxter Dury, Jessie Reyez, J Balvin, Matthew Tavares and Leland Whitty, Xoros
Among this week’s selection is new experimental hip hop by the artist also known as Donald Glover, singer-songwriter Lapsley, Brian Eno collaborating with brother Roger and another duo of two African jazz greats
Read moreNew albums: Algiers, Halsey, Courteeners, Eminem, Mura Masa, Mac Miller, Keeley Forsyth, Alice Boman, Bill Fay, Bombay Bicycle Club, Pinegrove, Whyte Horses (with John Grant), Ivor Cutler tribute
A mixture of dark and light, hope and hopelessness decorate this week’s huge roundup of releases across many genres, including oddities and eccentricities, passions and playfulness from Emimen to Ivor Cutler, Halsey to Keeley Forsyth
Read moreNew albums: The The, John Carpenter, Wu-Tang Clan, Destroyer, Lucinda Williams, The White Stripes, The Smiths
Something of a throwback week of new and old: releases from The The, Destroyer and Wu-Tang Clan, plus compilations and box sets of The White Stripes John Peel sessions, John Carpenter film music and a Smiths classic
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