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The Specials: Protest Songs 1924-2012

October 2, 2021 Peter Kimpton
The Specials perform a wide variety of well-chosen covers

The Specials perform a wide variety of well-chosen covers

New album: Uplifting, cleverly chosen and beautifully performed, the great Coventry band return with an album of timeless covers from folk to blues and ska, recorded during lockdown and perfectly reflecting the urgency of the times without being dogmatic

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In albums, folk, indie, ska, traditional, gospel, reggae Tags The Specials, protest, Terry Hall, Lynval Golding, Bob Marley, Leonard Cohen, Talking Heads, Jerry McCain, Frank Zappa, Rod McKuen, Malvina Reynolds
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U-Roy: Solid Gold U-Roy

July 20, 2021 Peter Kimpton
U-Roy - the king of Jamaican toasting

U-Roy - the king of Jamaican toasting

New album: This final album by Ewart Beckford, the veteran pioneer of reggae toasting who died in February this year is fitting collection of classic tracks joined by a variety of guests including Ziggy Marley, Santigold, Shaggy and Mick Jones

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In reggae, rocksteady, dub Tags albums, new releases, U-Roy, Trojan Jamaica, BMG
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Joan Armatrading: Consequences

June 19, 2021 Peter Kimpton
Consequences is Joan Armatrading’s 20th studio album

Consequences is Joan Armatrading’s 20th studio album

New album: Now 70, her voice is as strong as ever, and this 20th studio album in a five-decade career is filled with strong songwriting, more in the style of her 80s pop than 70s folk, but with impressive moments of emotional power

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In albums, folk, pop, reggae, gospel Tags albums, new releases, Joan Armatrading, BMG
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Greentea Peng: Man Made

June 7, 2021 Peter Kimpton
Greentea Peng’s debut LP Man Made

Greentea Peng’s debut LP Man Made

Album review: The debut album by the south Londoner is has woozy, easy, hazy, lazy summer feel, a mix of languid hip hop, reggae, jazz, and soul with a dash of dub, a dribble of drum’n’bass and even psych with a hippie sprinkle

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In albums, dub, experimental, hip hop, jazz, reggae, spoken word, trip-hop, soul Tags albums, new releases, Greentea Peng, Universal Music, AMF
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Tiggs Da Author: Blame It On The Youts

March 17, 2021 Peter Kimpton
Tiggs Da Author’s album covers almost every style under the sun

Tiggs Da Author’s album covers almost every style under the sun

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

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In albums, dub, grime, hip hop, pop, funk, reggae, African Tags albums, new releases, Alacran Records
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Agnes Obel to Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers to Sault: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 2

December 29, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Great albums of 2020: clockwise from top: Agnes Obel, Phoebe Bridgers, Bob Dylan and Sault’s Untitled (Rise)

Great albums of 2020: clockwise from top: Agnes Obel, Phoebe Bridgers, Bob Dylan and Sault’s Untitled (Rise)

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

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, classical, country, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, gospel, grime, grunge, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, musical theatre, poetry, post-punk, pop, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, soul, traditional, soundtracks, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, Marlowe, Khruangbin, Agnes Obel, This Is The Kit, Nadia Reid, Phoebe Bridgers, Tony Allen, Hugh Masekela, Roisin Murphy, Bob Dylan, Run The Jewels, Rina Sawayama, Perfume Genius, Fleet Foxes, BC Camplight, Laura Marling, Lanterns on the Lake, The Cool Greenhouse, Sufjan Stevens, Doves, Låpsley, The Pictish Trail, Saint Saviour, IDLES, Rufus Wainwright, Sault, Michael Kiwanuka, Nick Hakim, Witch 'n' Monk, Wu Fei, Abigail Washburn, Dana Gavanski, Shabaka Hutchings, Daniel Avery, Alessandro Cortini, Pottery, Thurston Moore, Tiña, Working Men's Club, Sun Ra Arkestra, Planet Battagon, Caribou, Tom Misch, Yussef Dayes, The Orielles, A Certain Ratio, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Mr Ben & The Bens, Oneohtrix Point Never, Sorry, Pokey LaFarge, Adrianne Lenker, Jackie Lynn, The Beths, Peter Broderick, Open Mike Eagle, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Hen Oggled, Gorillaz, Black Thought, Bright Eyes, Marie Davidson, International Teachers of Pop, Jarvis Cocker, JARV IS…, NZCA Lines, Margaret Glaspy, Mark Lanegan, Deerhoof, Michael J Sheehy, Caleb Landry Jones, Brigid Dawson and the Mothers Network, Brigid Mae Power, Jehnny Beth, White Denim, The Irrepressibles, Keleketla!, Jockstrap, Hania Rani, bdrmm, Oh Sees
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Fiona Apple to Lianne La Havas to Yves Tumor: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 1

December 28, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Lianne La Havas, Fiona Apple and Yves Tumor are among three artists who have released outstanding LPs

Lianne La Havas, Fiona Apple and Yves Tumor are among three artists who have released outstanding LPs

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.

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, classical, country, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grunge, hip hop, indie, jazz, poetry, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, soul, traditional, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, Fontaines D.C., Wesley Gonzalez, Sparks, Wilma Archer, Sudan Archives, Billy Nomates, LYR, Simon Armitage, Moses Boyd, Tunng, Sports Team, Holy Fuck, Cornershop, Porridge Radio, Fiona Apple, Warm Digits, Taylor Swift, The Nightingales, Moses Sumney, Bill Callahan, Julianna Barwick, Yves Tumor, U.S. Girls, Elvis Costello, Wire, Thundercat, Lavinia Blackwall, Nadine Shah, Lianne La Havas
Comment

Album reviews roundup: Elvis Costello, Dizzee Rascal, Sun Ra Arkestra, Eels, Oneohtrix Point Never, Action Bronson, Jim White, Adrianne Lenker, Keaton Henson

November 2, 2020 Peter Kimpton
This week’s very colourful square of album covers is matched by the quality of the music

This week’s very colourful square of album covers is matched by the quality of the music

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

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In country, blues, albums, African, ambient, classical, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, poetry, pop, post-punk, psychedelia, reggae, soul, rocksteady, soundtracks, traditional Tags Songs, albums, new releases, Elvis Costello, Dizzee Rascal, Sun Ra Arkestra, EELS, Oneohtrix Point Never, Action Bronson, Jim White, Adrianne Lenker, Big Thief, Keaton Henson, Concord Records, Island Records, Dirtee Stank, Strut Records, E Works Records, Warp Records, Loma Vista, Loose Music, 4AD, Play It Again Sam
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Album reviews roundup: Doves, The Flaming Lips, Marilyn Manson, Toots and the Maytals, Bróna McVittie, Susanna, Anjimile, Mammal Hands, Richard and Linda Thompson

September 24, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Another artful square of nine notable albums

Another artful square of nine notable albums

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

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, country, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, jazz, poetry, pop, punk, psychedelia, prog-rock, post-punk, reggae, rock, soul, traditional Tags albums, new releases, Songs, Doves, The Flaming Lips, Marilyn Manson, Toots and the Maytals, Bróna McVittie, Susanna, Anjimile, Mammal Hands, Richard and Linda Thompson, Virgin, Bella Union, Loma Vista, Trojan Records, Trojan Jamaica, BMG, Company of Corkbots, Susanna Sonata, Father/Daughter Records, Gondwana Records, UMC, Universal Music
Comment

Album reviews roundup: Bill Callahan, Disclosure, Angel Olsen, My Morning Jacket, Washington, Babe, Terror, Kelly Lee Owens, Afel Bocoum, Floodlights

September 13, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Another nine albums to explore …

Another nine albums to explore …

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

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, punk, psychedelia, reggae, rock, soul, traditional Tags Songs, albums, Bill Callahan, Smog, Disclosure, Angel Olsen, My Morning Jacket, Washington, Babe Terror, Afel Bocoum, Damon Albarn, Kelly Lee Owens, Floodlights, Drag City, Island Records, Jagjaguwar, ATO Records, Glue Moon, Smalltown Supersound, World Circuit, Woo Me!
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Album reviews roundup: Biffy Clyro, Kiesza, James Dean Bradfield, Idris Ackamoor, Nubya Garcia, Oscar Jerome, Burna Boy, Alula Down, Duckwrth

August 29, 2020 Peter Kimpton
The latest nine album releases, freeform jazz order

The latest nine album releases, freeform jazz order

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

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, folk, funk, jazz, indie, pop, poetry, psychedelia, reggae, traditional, soul, grime, rock, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, James Dean Bradfield, Manic Street Preachers, Biffy Clyro, Kiesza, Idris Ackamoor and the Pyramids, Nubya Garcia, Oscar Jerome, Burna Boy, Alula Down, Duckwrth, MontyRay, 14th Floor, Zebra Spirit Tribe, Strut Records, Concord Jazz, Caroline International, Atlantic Records, Bandcamp, Republic
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New albums: Taylor Swift, Jessy Lanza, Shirley Collins, Seasick Steve, Kamaal Williams, Jon Hassell, Courtney Marie Andrews, Dan Michaelson, Mohit

July 29, 2020 Peter Kimpton
This week’s pick of nine …

This week’s pick of nine …

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

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, classical, country, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, hip hop, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, punk, reggae, soul, traditional, rock Tags albums, new releases, Taylor Swift, Jessy Lanza, Shirley Collins, Seasick Steve, Kamaal Williams, Jon Hassell, Courtney Marie Andrews, Dan Michaelson, Mohit, Republic, Hyberdub, Domino Records, Contagious, Black Focus Records, Ndeya, Loose Music, Village Green, DVTT Records
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New albums: Lianne La Havas, JARV IS (Jarvis Cocker), The Pretenders, The Chicks, Ellie Goulding, Sault, Wilma Archer, Protomartyr, Oumou Sangaré

July 21, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Hair today … new album releases in random formation

Hair today … new album releases in random formation

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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In African, albums, ambient, classical, country, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, gospel, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, Lianne La Havas, Jarvis Cocker, JARV IS…, Serafina Steer, The Pretenders, Chrissie Hynde, The Chicks, Dixie Chicks, Sault, Ellie Goulding, Wilma Archer, Sudan Archives, MF DOOM, Protomartyr, Oumou Sangaré, Nonesuch Records, Rough Trade, BMG, Columbia Records, Loma Vista, Forever Living Originals, Polydor, Weird World, Domino Records, Nø Førmat
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New albums: Cornershop, Riz Ahmed, Caroline Rose, U.S. Girls, Honey Harper, Disq, Paul Heaton, Jackie Abbott, Georgia Ruth, Brielle Ansems

March 10, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Cornershop’s new album, England Is A Garden

Cornershop’s new album, England Is A Garden

The latest roundup includes A sian perspectives on Britain in different forms by Cornershop and Riz Ahmed, plus clever collage pop from U.S. Girls, Caroline Rose and punchy indie from Disq

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In albums, ambient, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, pop, post-punk, psychedelia, punk, rock, reggae, soul, traditional, trip-hop Tags new releases, albums, Cornershop, Tjinder Singh, Riz Ahmed, Caroline Rose, U.S. Girls, Honey Harper, Disq, Paul Heaton, Jackie Abbott, The Beautiful South, Georgia Ruth, Brielle Ansems, Ample Play, Mongrel, New West Records, 4AD, ATO Records, Saddle Creek Records, EMI, Bubblewrap Collective, Mosaic Music
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Billie Eilish to FKA twigs to Weyes Blood: favourite albums of 2019 – part 2

December 31, 2019 Peter Kimpton
FKA twigs

FKA twigs

The second part of this year’s LP favourites again includes several superb female artists. Also check out the first part published yesterday

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, classical, country, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, musical theatre, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, soul, traditional, trip-hop Tags albums, favourites of the year, FKA Twigs, Nilüfer Yanya, Shana Cleveland, Kim Gordon, Lana Del Rey, Slowthai, Tindersticks, Divine Comedy, Gruff Rhys, Ebony Street Band, The Futureheads, Holly Herndon, Dave, Purple Mountains, David Berman, Cate Le Bon, black midi, Fat White Family, Bill Callahan, Snapped Ankles, Warmduscher, Leonard Cohen, Vanishing Twin, Kate Tempest, Weyes Blood, The Comet Is Coming, Clinic, Solange, Billie Eilish, Deerhunter, 4AD, Darkroom, Interscope, Columbia Records, Domino Records, Impulse Records, Sub Pop, Fiction Records, Fire Records, The Leaf Label, Drag City, Rough Trade, Mexican Summer, Neighbourhood Records, Nul Records, OM Swagger Music, City Slang, Method Records, Polydor, Matador Records, Hardly Art, ATO Records, PIAS, Young Turks
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Aldous Harding to Richard Dawson to Michael Kiwanuka: favourite albums of 2019 – part 1

December 30, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Aldous Harding wins the prize for most unusual moves for her song, The Barrel

Aldous Harding wins the prize for most unusual moves for her song, The Barrel

The first part of our selection of the pick of albums from 2019 by Song Bar readers and the Landlord editor, in alphabetical order by title, not a ‘best of’ or countdown. The second part is here.

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, classical, country, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, musical theatre, metal, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip-hop Tags albums, favourites of the year, Richard Dawson, Chali 2na, Krafty Kuts, Angel Olsen, Amyl and the Sniffers, Marika Hackman, Sudan Archives, Edwyn Collins, Pom Poko, Self Esteem, Rebecca Taylor, Lizzo, Julia Jacklin, Beck, Aldous Harding, Fontaines D.C., Minyo Crusaders, WaqWaq Kingdom, Sleaford Mods, Vampire Weekend, Anna Meredith, Shura, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Peter Perrett, Little Simz, Bonnie Prince Billy, Nilüfer Yanya, International Teachers of Pop, Brittany Howard, Alabama Shakes, Michael Kiwanuka, Polydor, Columbia Records, Desolate Spools Records, ATO Records, PIAS, Domino Records, AGE 101, Secretly Canadian, Moshi Moshi, Black Prince Fury, Extreme Eating Records, Phantom Limb, Mais Um, Partisan Records, 4AD, Capitol Records, Transgressive, Nice Life, Atlantic Records, Fiction Records, Bella Union, AED, Stones Throw, EMI, Rough Trade, Jagjaguwar, Manphibian Music
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New albums: The Comet Is Coming, The Who, Carla dal Forno, Ms Banks, Tune-Yards, Nolan Potter's Nightmare Band, Doon Kanda, Stick In The Wheel, Jeremy Walmsley, Various

December 10, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Dan Leavers, Shabaka Hutchings and Max Hallett of The Comet Is Coming

Dan Leavers, Shabaka Hutchings and Max Hallett of The Comet Is Coming

This week’s roundup includes The Comet Is Coming’s second album of 2019, the first by the Who for half a generation, beautiful stark work by Carla Dal Forno as well as Doon Kanda and psyche by Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band

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In albums, ambient, dance music, dub, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, soul, soundtracks, rocksteady, trip-hop, electronica Tags albums, new releases, The Comet Is Coming, The Who, Carla Dal Forno, Ms Banks, tUnE-yArDs, Nolan Potter's Nightmare Band, Doon Kanda, Stick In The Wheel, Jeremy Walmsley, Various, Joe Meek, Impulse Records, Polydor, Kallista Records, Castle Face, From Here, Hyperdub, Cherry Red Records
Comment

New albums: Beck, Leonard Cohen, Coldplay, Allison Moorer, Avalanche Party, WaqWaq Kingdom, Slagheap, Davido, Various

November 27, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Beck to the future?

Beck to the future?

This week’s roundup includes a cosmic return for Beck, a wonderfully droll posthumous release from Leonard Cohen, deeply powerful tragedy from Allison Moorer, and some quirkily catchy work from Japan’s WaqWaq Kingdom

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, dub, folk, funk, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, psychedelia, prog-rock, punk, reggae, rock, soul Tags albums, new releases, Beck, Pharrell Williams, Leonard Cohen, Coldplay, Allison Moorer, Avalanche Party, WaqWaq Kingdom, Slagheap, Davido, Various, Capitol Records, Columbia Records, Autotelic, Thirty Tigers, Polydor, So Knee Records, Phantom Limb, Spurge Recordings, RCA, Soul Jazz Records
Comment

New albums: FKA twigs, Moor Mother, Kele, Girl Ray, Omni, Land of Kush, Mount Eerie, Son Of Town Hall, Bjork remixes

November 14, 2019 Peter Kimpton
FKA twigs

FKA twigs

This week’s roundup is highlighted by extraordinarily alternative female artists - FKA twigs and Moor Mother, as well as a new solo album by Block Party frontman Kele, bringing another political edge

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In African, albums, ambient, country, blues, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, psychedelia, punk, reggae, traditional, soundtracks, soul, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, FKA Twigs, Moor Mother, Kele, Bloc Party, Girl Ray, Land of Kush, Mount Eerie, Phil Everum, Julie Doiron, Son of Town Hall, Björk, Fever Ray, The Knife, Young Turks, Giovanni Records, KOLA Records, !K7, Moshi Moshi, Sub Pop, Omni, Constellation Records, PW Elverum, Sun Records, One Little Indian
Comment

New albums: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Sturgill Simpson, Black String, Girl Band, Serafina Steer, Jarvis Cocker various, Kejaya and Elaha Soroor, Temples, Young MA, Tegan and Sara

October 12, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Nick Cave returns with the hauntingly beautiful album Ghosteen

Nick Cave returns with the hauntingly beautiful album Ghosteen

The latest album roundup includes a new level of beauty from Nick Cave, a new style for Sturgill Simpson, Afghan eclectic music from Kejaya and Elaha Soroor, and scary scratchy postpunk from Ireland’s Girl Band

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In African, albums, ambient, country, blues, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, psychedelia, punk, rock, reggae, soul, traditional Tags new releases, albums, Nick Cave, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Sturgill Simpson, Black String, Girl Band, Serafina Steer, Jarvis Cocker, Elaha Soroor, Kejaya, Temples, Young M.A, Tegan and Sara, Elektra, ACT Records, Rough Trade, Concept Records, Ace Records, Bella Union, ATO Records, 3D, Sire
Comment
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New Albums …

Featured
Dove Ellis - Blizzard.jpeg
Dec 9, 2025
Dove Ellis: Blizzard
Dec 9, 2025

New album: An extraordinarily mature, passionate, poetic, and outstandingly powerful debut by the Manchester-based Galway-born singer-songwriter, whose soaring delivery has instant echoes of Jeff Buckley and lyrics that go above and beyond

Dec 9, 2025
Spíra by Ólöf Arnalds.jpeg
Dec 5, 2025
Ólöf Arnalds: Spíra
Dec 5, 2025

New album: A gorgeous, delicate, ethereal first release in a decade by the Icelandic singer-songwriter, acoustic instruments and her gentle, high, pure voice, all in her native language, caressing this listening experience like pure waters of some slowly trickling glacial stream

Dec 5, 2025
Melody's Echo Chamber - Unclouded.jpeg
Dec 5, 2025
Melody's Echo Chamber: Unclouded
Dec 5, 2025

New album: A fourth album, here full of delicious uplifting, dreamily chic, psychedelic soul pop by the French musician Melody Prochet, with bright, upbeat, optimistic numbers and a title lifted from a quote by the acclaimed Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, about achieving equilibrium

Dec 5, 2025
Devotion & The Black Divine by anaiis.jpeg
Dec 2, 2025
anaiis: Devotion & The Black Divine
Dec 2, 2025

New album: Following a summer Song of the Day - Deus Deus, a review of the autumn release and third LP by the London-based French-Senegalese singer-songwriter of resonantly beautiful, dynamic, sensual soul, gospel, R&B and experimental and chamber pop, with themes of new motherhood, uncertainty, religion, self-love and acceptance

Dec 2, 2025
De La Soul - Cabin In The Sky.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
De La Soul: Cabin In The Sky
Nov 26, 2025

New album: The hip-hop veterans return with their first without, yet including the voice of, and a tribute to, founding member Trugoy the Dove, AKA Dave Jolicoeur who passed away in 2023, alongside many hip-hop luminary guests, with trademark playful skits, and all themed around the afterlife

Nov 26, 2025
The Mountain Goats- Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
The Mountain Goats: Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan
Nov 26, 2025

New album: An evocative musical journey of a concept album by the indie-folk band from Claremont, California, fronted by singer-songwriter John Darnielle, based on a dream of his in 2023 about a voyage to a fictional island by the titular captain, charting adventure, wonder and tragedy

Nov 26, 2025
Allie X - Happiness Is Going To Get You.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
Allie X: Happiness Is Going To Get You
Nov 26, 2025

New album: A hugely entertaining, witty, droll, inventive, chamber and synth-pop fourth LP with a goth twist by the charismatic and theatrical Canadian artist Alexandra Hughes, who brings paradox and dark themes through sounds that include string quartet, harpsichord, classical and pure pop piano with killer lyrics

Nov 26, 2025
Tortoise - Touch.jpeg
Nov 25, 2025
Tortoise: Touch
Nov 25, 2025

New album: A welcome return with a cinematic and mesmeric groove-filled first studio LP in nine years, and the eighth over all by the eclectic Chicago post-rock/jazz/krautrock multi-instrumentalists Dan Bitney, John Herndon, Douglas McCombs, John McEntire and Jeff Parker

Nov 25, 2025
What of Our Nature by Haley Heynderickx, Max García Conover.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Haley Heynderickx and Max García Conover: What of Our Nature
Nov 24, 2025

New album: Beautiful, precise, poignant and poetic new folk numbers inspired by the life and music style of Woody Guthrie as the Portland, Oregon and New Yorker, now Portland, Maine-based singer-songwriters bring a delicious duet album, alternating and sharing songs covering a variety of forever topical social issues

Nov 24, 2025
Tranquilizer by Oneohtrix Point Never.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Oneohtrix Point Never: Tranquilizer
Nov 24, 2025

New album: Ambient, otherworldly, cinematic, mesmeric, and at times very odd, the Brooklyn-based electronic artist and producer Daniel Lopatin returns with a new nostalgia-based concept – constructing tracks from lost-then-refound Y2K CDs of 1990s and early 2000s royalty-free sample electronic sounds

Nov 24, 2025
Iona Zajac - Bang.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Iona Zajac: Bang
Nov 24, 2025

New album: A powerful, stirring, passionate and mature debut LP by the 29-year-old Glasgow-based Scottish singer with Polish and Ukrainian heritage who has toured as the new Pogues singer, and whose alternative folk songs capture raw emotions and the experience of modern womanhood, with echoes of PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, Aldous Harding and Lankum

Nov 24, 2025
Austra - Chin Up Buttercup.jpeg
Nov 19, 2025
Austra: Chin Up Buttercup
Nov 19, 2025

New album: This fifth studio LP as Austra by the Canadian classically trained vocalist and composer Katie Stelmanis brings beautiful electronica-pop and dance music, and has a bittersweet ironic title – a caustically witty reference to societal pressure to keep smiling despite a devastating breakup

Nov 19, 2025
Mavis Staples - Sad and Beautiful World.jpeg
Nov 18, 2025
Mavis Staples: Sad and Beautiful World
Nov 18, 2025

New album: A timelessly classy release by the veteran soul, blues and gospel singer and social activist from the Staples Singers, in a release of wonderfully moving and poignant cover versions, beautifully interpreting works by artists including Tom Waits, Curtis Mayfield, Leonard Cohen, and Gillian Welch

Nov 18, 2025
Stella Donnelly - Love and Fortune 2.jpeg
Nov 18, 2025
Stella Donnelly: Love and Fortune
Nov 18, 2025

New album: Finely crafted, stripped back musical simplicity combined with complex melancholic emotions mark out this beautiful, poetic, and deeply personal third folk-pop LP by the Australian singer-songwriter reflecting on the past and present

Nov 18, 2025

new songs …

Featured
Courtney Marie Andrews - Valentine.jpeg
Dec 15, 2025
Song of the Day: Courtney Marie Andrews - Little Picture Of A Butterfly
Dec 15, 2025

Song of the Day: Beautiful, delicate, fluttering, eclectic, heartbreak folk and Americana by the singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona, heralding her forthcoming new album, Valentine, out on 16 January via Loose Future

Dec 15, 2025
Peter Perrett - Proud To Be Self-Hating.jpeg
Dec 12, 2025
Song of the Day: Peter Perrett - PROUD TO BE SELF-HATING (irony and provocation)
Dec 12, 2025

Song of the Day: The veteran British artist, originally frontman of The Only Ones, and now with three solo albums, who actually has Jewish heritage, releases a gently powerful, nuanced, pro-Palestine acoustic number as a response to ongoing genocide by the Israeli government, out on Domino Records

Dec 12, 2025
Maddie Ashman - Jaded.jpeg
Dec 11, 2025
Song of the Day: Maddie Ashman - Jaded
Dec 11, 2025

Song of the Day: Magical, delicate, eclectic, intricate, experimental microtonal music by the London musician and singer, released alongside a longer track, In Autumn My Heart Breaks

Dec 11, 2025
Ye Vagabonds.jpeg
Dec 10, 2025
Song of the Day: Ye Vagabonds - The Flood
Dec 10, 2025

Song of the Day: Wonderfully warm, rich, lively fiddle-driven Irish folk by the award-winning band fronted by Carlow brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn with a heartbreaking number about the housing crisis, heralding their upcoming new album, All Tied Together, out on Rough Trade’s River Lea Recordings on 30 January

Dec 10, 2025
DBA! band.jpeg
Dec 9, 2025
Song of the Day: DBA! A Poet And A Clown
Dec 9, 2025

Song of the Day: Catchy fuzz-guitar indie rock with a swagger by the Liverpool-formed trio of Sam Warren, James Lindberg and Joshua Grant in a song described as “a confessional story of desire tangled with religious guilt”

Dec 9, 2025
Puma Blue - Croak Dream.jpeg
Dec 8, 2025
Song of the Day: Puma Blue - Croak Dream
Dec 8, 2025

Song of the Day: A dark, esoteric, mysterious and stylish title track with a hint of Radiohead and playing with the idea of knowing your future death, from the experimental indie/goth/ambient London artist Jacob Allen’s forthcoming album out on 6 February via Play It Again Sam

Dec 8, 2025
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Dec 7, 2025
Song of the Day: ELIZA - Anyone Else
Dec 7, 2025

Song of the Day: Stripped-back, bluesy, fuzzy funk with slight echoes of Prince and alt-R&B are conjured up in this love song by the London-based singer-songwriter Eliza Caird, her first single for two years, now off the mainstream and out on Log Off Records

Dec 7, 2025
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Dec 6, 2025
Song of the Day: Tiga (featuring Fcukers) - Silk Scarf
Dec 6, 2025

Song of the Day: A fun, sensual, quirkily oddball electronica dance single with a slick, fetish-flirtatious ode to a favourite smooth material by the Montreal musician (Tiga James Sontag) joined here with vocals by the New York band (Shanny Wise and Jackson Walker Lewis), and heralding Tiga’s upcoming album Hotlife, out in April on Secret City Records

Dec 6, 2025
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Dec 5, 2025
Song of the Day: Flea - A Plea
Dec 5, 2025

Song of the Day: A striking, powerful new single by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers bassist (aka Michael Balzary), who brings a fusion of jazz and spoken word with a fabulous band on an impassioned number about the state of the US in a culture of hatred, social and political tensions, out now on Nonesuch Records

Dec 5, 2025
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Dec 4, 2025
Song of the Day: The Lemon Twigs - I've Got A Broken Heart
Dec 4, 2025

Song of the Day: Despite the title, this new double-A single (with Friday I’m Gonna Love You) has a wonderfully uplifting guitar-jangling beauty, with echoes of The Byrds and Stone Roses, but is of course the brilliant 60s and 70s retro sound of the Long Island brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario, out on Captured Tracks

Dec 4, 2025
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Dec 3, 2025
Song of the Day: Alewya - Night Drive (featuring Dagmawit Ameha)
Dec 3, 2025

Song of the Day: A sensual, stylish, dreamy electro-pop single by the striking British singer-songwriter, producer, multidisciplinary artist and model Alewya Demmisse, musically influenced by her rich Ethiopian-Egyptian heritage and early childhood upbringings in Saudi Arabia and Sudan

Dec 3, 2025
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Dec 2, 2025
Song of the Day: Radio Free Alice - Rule 31
Dec 2, 2025

Song of the Day: Stirring, passionate indie postpunk by the band based in Melbourne, Australia, with echoes of The Cure’s core sound, new wave, and 90s indie-rock influences, and out on Double Drummer

Dec 2, 2025

Word of the week

Featured
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Dec 4, 2025
Word of the week: crapulence
Dec 4, 2025

Word of the week: A term that may apply regularly during Xmas party season, from the from the Latin crapula, in turn from the Greek kraipálē meaning "drunkenness" or "headache" pertains to sickness symptoms caused by excess in eating or drinking, or general intemperance and overindulgence

Dec 4, 2025
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Nov 20, 2025
Word of the week: discalceate
Nov 20, 2025

Word of the week: A rarely used, but often practised verb, especially when arriving home, it means to take off your shoes, but is also a slightly more common adjective meaning barefoot or unshod, particularly for certain religious orders that wear sandals instead of shoes. But in what context does this come up in song?

Nov 20, 2025
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Nov 6, 2025
Word of the week: erythrophyll
Nov 6, 2025

Word of the week: A seasonally topical word relating to the the red pigment of tree leaves, fruits and flowers, that appears particularly when changing in autumn, as opposed to the green effect of chlorophyll, from the Greek erythros for red, and phyll for leaves. But what of songs about this?

Nov 6, 2025
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Oct 22, 2025
Word of the week: fennec
Oct 22, 2025

Word of the week: It’s a small pale-fawn nocturnal fox with unusually large, highly sensitive ears, that inhabits from African and Arab deserts areas from Western Sahara and Mauritania to the Sinai Peninsula. But has it ever been seen in a song?

Oct 22, 2025
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Oct 9, 2025
Word of the week: gongoozler
Oct 9, 2025

Word of the week: A fabulous old English slang term for someone who tends to stand or sit for long periods staring at the passing of boats on canals, sometimes with a derogatory or at least ironic use for someone who is useless or lazy. But what of songs about this activity and culture?

Oct 9, 2025
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