New album: Uniquely striking, experimental space-trip hip-hop, jazz, funk, electronica and Afrofuturism by the Seattle combo of Ishmael Butler, aka Palaceer Lazaro (formerly Butterfly in the 90s trio Digable Planets) and multi-instrumentalist Tendai "Baba" Maraire
Read moreBoeckner: Boeckner!
New album: The Canadian indie-rock veteran of Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs, Divine Fits, Operators, Atlas Strategic and more releases his first solo LP, a scintillating synth-sheen, autobiographical sci-fi cityscape of alt-pop with shades of early 80s Bowie
Read moreJ Mascis: What Do We Do Now
New album: Like Neil Young, a fine wine or a classic car, the Dinosaur Jr frontman returns with another (his fifth) solo LP, with melodies of ever maturing, timeless quality, rich in guitar, piano and that distinctive, emotive, croaky voice
Read moreCHAI: CHAI
New album: Cheeky, squeaky, funky, refreshingly fun, but also full of clever irony and a feminist flavour , the Japanese girl pop quartet return their fourth, and self-titled LP, a follow-up to last 2021’s WINK, with a retro synth-pop style
Read moreHannah Jadagu: Aperture
Debut album: A hugely promising and mature debut LP by the 20-year-old Texas-born, New York-based singer-songwriter, mixing intimate soul and R&B with dream-pop, low-key indie and gentle touches of psychedelia
Read moreLael Neale: Star Eaters Delight
New album: The American singer-songwriter returns with a third album of ethereal alternative folk-pop, inspired by moving from the bright lights of LA to the calm of the family Virginia farm and polarities of country-city, humanity-technology, solitude- relationship
Read moreQuasi: Breaking the Balls of History
New album: A welcome return with clever, punchy, alternative indie and a wry look at the world, from the Portland, Oregon indie duo of Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss, in their 10th album, and first for a decade
Read moreWeyes Blood: And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
New album: A sublime, 70s California-style, Karen Carpenter-evoking, melancholy new work by Natalie Mering, her fifth LP overall, and first since the acclaimed Titanic Rising of 2019, one that’s “feeling around in the dark for meaning in a time of instability and irrevocable change”
Read moreBuilt To Spill: When The Wind Forgets Your Name
New album: A welcome return from the veteran (since ‘93) Idaho rock band fronted by Doug Martsch, their first since the the 2020 album of Daniel Johnston covers, back with a set of powerful, mature, stirring rich guitar nine songs
Read moreBret McKenzie: Songs Without Jokes
New album: A solo release by half of Flight Of The Conchords presents a challenge to escape the comedy schtick, but the New Zealander manages tuneful seriousness, particularly on eco themes, by echoing Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson and Dory Previn with mix of 70s piano pop, showtunes and jazz styles
Read moreRolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Endless Rooms
New album: Sprightly, fresh, wistful and reflective guitar-rich indie by the Melbourne band in this LP put together in stolen moments in between 2020 lockdowns and wildfires at a mud-brick house in the bush capturing the spirit of the lakeside location punctuated by field recordings of rain, fire, birds, and wind
Read moreFather John Misty: Chloë and the Next 20th Century
New album: Lavishly orchestrated, marrying the ironic and the romantic, filled with stories and profound lines, Josh Tillman’s theatrical fifth LP is perhaps his finest yet, a fusion of the cinematic, jazz, swing, country, and folk-pop
Read moreAeon Station: Observatory
New album: Beautiful debut full LP by the solo moniker of The Wrens' Kevin Whelan with contributions from his band mates, these lockdown-inspired, highly emotive songs take the long view, filled with recriminations, guilt, but also hope for the future
Read moreShannon Lay: Geist
New album: As shown by the single Rare To Wake, profiled earlier this year, this fifth solo album by the LA singer-songwriter brings beautifully written songs performed with acoustic restraint, rich vocal harmonies and maturity
Read moreLow: Hey What
New album: The follow-up to 2018’s acclaimed, revolutionary Double Negative is another mesmerising work of brilliant sound distortions and beautiful vocals by Minnesota couple Mimi Parker and Alan Sparhawk
Read moreCHAI: WINK
Album review: Cheeky, squeaky and quirky pop from the Japanese quartet of Mana, Kana, Yuuki, and Yuna from following their previous LPs Punk and Pink which were much more, punk, Wink has a theme of feeling uninhibited and free
Read moreChad VanGaalen: World's Most Stressed Out Gardener
Album review: An inventively eclectic homegrown release of tasty psychedelia, krautrock and folk by the Calgary songwriter and eccentric animator who uses a huge variety of instruments including his own invented lithophone
Read moreLael Neale: Acquainted With Night
Album review: The folk-pop singer’s charming, melancholy LP has a rather beautiful ghostly, disembodied quality, lacking only old ‘78 vinyl crackles, but delicately gorgeous with her clear, distinctive voice, guitar and Omnichord accompaniment
Read moreKiwi Jr.: Cooler Returns – new album
New album: Clever, wry, satirical, topical, inventive upbeat indie by the Toronto quartet with their second album following Soccer Money, who have echoes of Pavement and The Modern Lovers, but with added vim and vigour, keyboards and harmonica
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Bright Eyes, The Killers, International Teachers of Pop, The Lemon Twigs, X, Dan Croll, Bully, Andrew McCormack, Chuck Prophet
Albums reviews roundup: Our latest selection includes a couple of comebacks from Bright Eyes and US punk legends X, plus Sheffield’s wonderful International Teachers of Pop, a mainstream Killers and the talented Lemon Twigs brothers
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