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Favourite albums of 2025 - Part Two

December 17, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Part Two favourite albums of 2025 collage

Welcome to the second part of Song Bar favourite albums of 2025. There is also a first part and a third part this week. There is no countdown nor describing these necessarily as “best” albums of the year, but they are chosen by their quality, originality and reader popularity

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In albums, alternative, afrobeat, African, ambient, Americana, art-rock, avant garde, baroque pop, bluegrass, blues, Celtic, chamber pop, classical, country, dance, dance music, disco, drum n bass, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, French, funk, fusion, garage, glam, gospel, goth, grime, grunge, hip hop, hip-hop, indie, industrial, instrumental, jazz, krautrock, lo-fi, lounge, metal, Mexican, musical theatre, new wave, poetry, pop, post-punk, post-rock, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, R&B, reggae, rock, shoegaze, ska, soul, soundtracks, traditional, theatrical, trip-hop, spoken word Tags albums, new albums, favourites of the year, Jacob Alon, These New Puritans, Pulp, Divorce, BC Camplight, Tropical Fuck Storm, The Bug Club, McKinley Dixon, Little Simz, Kathryn Joseph, Richard Dawson, Sparks, Stereolab, Ezra Furman, Deradoorian, Model/Actriz, Emma-Jean Thackray, The Moonlandingz, Self Esteem, Rebekka Karijord, Viagra Boys, Sam Fender, The Nightingales, Hannah Cohen, Yukimi, Island Records, Domino Records, Rough Trade, Gravity Records, Capitol Records, Universal Music, Bella Union, Fire Records, Sub Pop, City Slang, AWAL, Rock Action Records, Transgressive, Transgressive Records, Warp Records, True Panther Sounds, Dirty Hit, Brownswood Recordings, Parlophone, Polydor, Universal Island, Shrimptech Enterprises, Ninja Tune
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Favourite albums of 2025 - Part One

December 16, 2025 Peter Kimpton

First selection of 25 favourite albums in no particular order …

Welcome to the first part of Song Bar favourite albums of 2025. There will also be a second and third part this week. There is no countdown nor describing these necessarily as “best” albums of the year, but they are chosen by their quality, originality and reader popularity

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In African, albums, alternative, Americana, art-rock, avant garde, baroque pop, chamber pop, country, dance, dance music, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, French, funk, fusion, garage, glam, gospel, goth, grunge, hip hop, hip-hop, indie, industrial, jazz, instrumental, krautrock, lo-fi, lounge, new wave, musical theatre, poetry, pop, post-punk, post-rock, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, R&B, reggae, rock, soul, ska, soundtracks, traditional, theatrical, trip-hop, spoken word Tags albums, favourites of the year, Perfume Genius, Benefits, Circuit des Yeux, clipping., Daveed Diggs, Melin Melyn, Doves, Ela Minus, The Weather Station, Jasmine 4.t, Squid, Heartworms, Tunng, C Duncan, FKA Twigs, Anna B Savage, Editrix, Folk Bitch Trio, Matt Maltese, Disiniblud, Emily Breeze, Jessica Winter, Wet Leg, Big Special, Kae Tempest, Duo Ruut, Matador Records, Invada Records, Sub Pop, Blomonj, Kartel Music Group, EMI North, Universal Music, Domino Records, Fat Possum, Saddest Factory Records, Warp Records, Speedy Wunderground, Full Time Hobby, Bella Union, Young Records, Atlantic Records, City Slang, Joyful Noise Recordings, Jagjaguwar, Tonight Matthew, The Orchard, Sugar Shack Records, Lucky Number, Universal Island, So Recordings, Silva Screen Recordings
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Lily Allen: West End Girl

October 29, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Lily Allen: West End Girl

New album: Depression, insecurity, distrust and infidelity are horribly exposed in this darkly candid, visceral first LP in seven years by the outspoken London artist, inspired by the painful evisceration of an open marriage in aftermath of her divorce from her second husband, US actor David Harbour

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In albums, alternative, garage, hip hop, pop, spoken word Tags Lily Allen, BMG, albums, new albums, new releases
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Favourite Albums of 2024 - Part 2

December 30, 2024 Peter Kimpton

The second part of our favourite albums of 2024

Favourite albums of 2024: Welcome to The Song Bar’s favourite albums of 2024 Part 2. Part 1 can be found here. There’s no such thing as ‘best of’ and everything is subjective, but please dig into this rich seam of originality and quality, and even suggest more of your own

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In albums, African, alternative, Americana, bluegrass, avant garde, country, dance, dance music, disco, drum n bass, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, fusion, garage, glam, grime, gospel, grunge, gypsy, hip hop, hip-hop, indie, industrial, jazz, krautrock, Latin, lounge, new wave, pop, post-punk, post-rock, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, R&B, reggae, rock, shoegaze, ska, soul, spoken word, trip-hop Tags albums, new albums, favourites of the year, new releases, St Vincent, Beth Gibbons, Geordie Greep, Mdou Moctar, Cosmo Sheldrake, William Doyle, Laura Marling, Royel Otis, The Last Dinner Party, Hiatus Kaiyote, Fontaines D.C., Anna Erhard, Naima Bock, Melt-Banana, Jane Weaver, Yard Act, Adrianne Lenker, Beyonce, Erotic Secrets of Pompeii, Gia Ford, Marika Hackman, Primal Scream, Jack Cheshire, Billie Eilish, Paul Molloy
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Favourite albums of 2024 - Part 1

December 30, 2024 Peter Kimpton

This year’s selections include some returning veterans at the top of their game as well as some fabulous newcomers

Favourite albums of 2024: Welcome to The Song Bar’s favourite albums of 2024 Part 1. There’s no such thing as ‘best of’ and everything is subjective, but rich seams of originality and quality are certainly here to be enjoyed. Peruse away …

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In albums, alternative, dance, country, blues, avant garde, dance music, disco, drum n bass, experimental, electronica, folk, fusion, garage, funk, grunge, hip hop, indie, jazz, krautrock, new wave, poetry, pop, post-punk, post-rock, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, R&B, rock, rockabilly, rocksteady, shoegaze, soul Tags albums, new albums, new releases, favourites of the year, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Nick Cave, Julia Holter, Bill Ryder-Jones, Gruff Rhys, Grace Cummings, Future Islands, Jack White, The Smile, Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead, Tom Skinner, Conchúr White, Clairo, Waxahatchee, Clarissa Connelly, Father John Misty, Haley Heynderickx, Tyler The Creator, The Cure, Michael Kiwanuka, Kim Deal, Black Grape, Amyl and the Sniffers, Nilüfer Yanya, English Teacher, Sprints, Lucy Rose, Charli XCX
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The Bug Club: On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System

September 1, 2024 Peter Kimpton

The Bug Club: On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System

New album: A highbrow title heralds mischievously delightful collection of extremely catchy but deliberately silly songs filled with trivial observations in this third indie garage fuzz pop-rock LP by the Welsh trio fronted by Sam Willmett (vocals/guitar) and Tilly Harris (vocals/bass)

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In albums, garage, indie, pop, rock, post-punk Tags The Bug Club, Sub Pop, albums, new albums, new releases
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Favourite albums of 2023 Part 2: Anohni to Blur to Mitski, Ren to Sufjan Stevens

December 29, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Favourite LPs of 2023, Part 2.

Welcome once again to the annual tradition of Song Bar’s favourite album releases of 2023. This is Part 2, and Part 1 was yesterday. There’s no such thing as a chart rundown or ‘best of’ here, and these come in no particular order …

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In African, albums, alternative, ambient, Americana, avant garde, bluegrass, blues, classical, country, dance, dance music, disco, drum n bass, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, fusion, garage, gospel, grunge, gypsy, hip hop, hip-hop, indie, jazz, krautrock, musical theatre, new wave, poetry, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, R&B, reggae, rock, rocksteady, shoegaze, ska, soul, spoken word, theatrical, traditional, trip-hop Tags Mokoomba, OutHere Records, Blur, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Parlophone, Palehound, Polyvinyl, El Kempner, Anohni, Rough Trade, PJ Harvey, Partisan Records, Do Nothing, Exact Truth Records, Bonnie Prince Billy, Domino Records, Dot Allison, Any Bell, Corinne Bailey Rae, Black Rainbows Music, Thirty Tigers, CLT DRP, Venn Records, Roisin Murphy, Ninja Tune, DJ Koze, Yussef Dayes, Slowdive, Dead Oceans, Emma Grankvist, Future Classic Records, Danger Mouse, Brian Burton, Jemini The Gifted One, The Pretenders, Mitski, Nitin Sawhney, Warner Bros, Hak Baker, Natacha Atlas, Jazzi Sirius, I Am Roze, The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Polydor, Ren, Ren Gill, The Other Songs, CMAT, Ciara Mary Alice Thompson, AWAL, Goat, Rocket Recordings, Creation Rebel, On-U Sound Records, Adrian Sherwood, Prince Far I, Hania Rani, Gondwana Records, Sufjan Stevens, Asthmatic Kitty, Anjimile, 4AD, Beirut, Zach Condon, Pompeii Records, David Holmes, Raven Violet, Heavenly Recordings, King Creosote, Kenny Anderson, Lol Tolhurst, Budgie, Jacknife Lee, James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem, The Edge, U2, Play It Again Sam, PIAS, FIZZ, Orla Gartland, Dodie, Greta Isaac, Martin Luke Brown, Decca, Black Pumas, ATO Records, Adrian Quesada, Eric Burton, Sofia Kourtesis, Bas Jan, Serafina Steer, Fire Records, Soema Montenegro, Leo Martinelli, Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, Real World, Soweto Gospel Choir, albums, new albums, new releases
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Favourite albums of 2023 Part 1: Anna B Savage to Young Fathers

December 28, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Part 1 selection of 2023 favourite albums

Welcome once again to the annual tradition of Song Bar’s favourite album releases of 2023. This is Part 1, and Part 2 is also out here. There’s no such thing as a chart rundown or ‘best of’ here, and these come in no particular order. This is all about quality and innovation …

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In African, albums, alternative, ambient, Americana, avant garde, blues, classical, country, dance, dance music, disco, electronica, dub, experimental, folk, funk, fusion, garage, gospel, grime, grunge, gypsy, hip hop, hip-hop, indie, jazz, krautrock, metal, new wave, poetry, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, R&B, reggae, rock, rocksteady, shoegaze, ska, soul Tags albums, new albums, new releases, Anna B Savage, Rozi Plain, Caroline Polachek, Young Fathers, Fever Ray, favourites of the year, Technology + Teamwork, Lana Del Rey, Depeche Mode, Lucinda Chua, Boygenius, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, A Certain Ratio, Jen Cloher, Desire Marea, Billie Marten, Feist, Dave Okumu, The Bloodstreams, Jessie Ware, The National, Susanne Sundfør, BC Camplight, Tinariwen, Brix Smith, Sparks, Water From Your Eyes, WITCH, The Extranauts, This Is The Kit, Kate Stables, Hak Baker, Queens of the Stone Age, Sigur Rós, Killer Mike, Ursa Major Moving Group, Geese, LYR, Simon Armitage, Grian Chatten, Dan Carey, Memphis Industries, Perpetual Novice, City Slang, Ninja Tune, Rabid Records, PIAS, Milk! Records, Mute Records, 4AD, Columbia Records, Polydor, Good Way Records, Transgressive Records, Universal Island, Fiction Records, Bella Union, EMI, Desert Daze Sound, Matador Records, Island Records, Asthmatic Kitty, Grit Over Glamour, Wedge Records, Partisan Records, Clue Records, Play It Again Sam, Faith And Industry Records, Loma Vista, Von Dur, BMG, Because Music, Hak Attack Records, AWAL, Rough Trade
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Favourite albums of 2021 - Part 2

December 29, 2021 Peter Kimpton

Favourite selection part 2.

Favourite albums of 2021 – Part 2: Welcome the second instalment, following Part 1, which can be found here. A huge number of excellent releases, of which again this is just a selection many of which were written during, and about lockdown, but also saw many outstanding voices emerge as well as innovative sounds developed

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In African, albums, ambient, Americana, avant garde, blues, country, dance, dance music, disco, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, fusion, garage, gospel, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, poetry, pop, post-punk, psychedelia, punk, R&B, reggae, rock, shoegaze, rocksteady, ska, soul, spoken word, traditional, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, Self Esteem, Joy Crookes, She Drew The Gun, Kit Sebastian, audiobooks, David Wrench, Evangeline Ling, Hamish Hawk, Spencer Cullum's Coin Collection, Spencer Cullum, Liz Lawrence, KUNZITE, Ballaké Sissoko, Low, Amyl and the Sniffers, Little Simz, Lingua Ignota, Desire Marea, Yola, Billie Eilish, Joel Culpepper, L'Rain, Kojaque, Lucy Dacus, Hiatus Kaiyote, LoneLady, Japanese Breakfast, Lord Huron, black midi, Dave, LUMP, Laura Marling, Mike Lindsay, Nick Cave, Warren Elllis, Lana Del Rey, Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars, Anderson Paak, IDLES, Penelope Isles, Marta Del Grandi, Eris Drew, Gustaf
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Favourite albums of 2021 - Part 1

December 27, 2021 Peter Kimpton

Take your pick. Are your favourites here? Also check out Part 2 coming soon.

Favourite albums of 2021, part 1: Another difficult year for everyone, but from soul and jazz, electro-pop the experimental and avant-garde, an outstanding one for music releases, perhaps in part because out of diversity comes great art. Also feel free to explore Part 2, which is now available to view here.

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In African, albums, Americana, avant garde, blues, country, dance, dance music, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, fusion, garage, gospel, grime, grunge, gypsy, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, poetry, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, R&B, reggae, rock, rocksteady, shoegaze, ska, soul, spoken word, soundtracks, theatrical, traditional, trip-hop Tags albums, favourites of the year, Mdou Moctar, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Marten, Sons of Kemet, Kojey Radical, St Vincent, Squid, Tony Allen, Paul Weller, The Coral, Art D'Ecco, Rhiannon Giddens, Field Music, Floating Points, For Those I Love, David Balfe, tUnE-yArDs, Gazelle Twin, NYX, Ghana, Valerie June, Jane Weaver, Arab Strap, Aidan Moffat, Malcolm Middleton, The Weather Station, Anna B Savage, Albertine Sarges, Celeste, Arlo Parks, Pearl Charles, Madlib, Sleaford Mods, James Yorkston, Cassandra Jenkins, Lael Neale, Bell Orchestre, Altin Gün, Du Blonde, Pharaoh Sanders, Dry Cleaning
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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
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Album 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

December 2, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Nine more albums to investigate …

Nine more albums to investigate …

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

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, indie, jazz, poetry, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, rock, soul, traditional Tags albums, new releases, Smashing Pumpkins, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Jack Cheshire, Daniel Avery, Ane Brun, The Wytches, Heather Trost, Brandee Younger, Dezron Douglas, Matthew Halsall, Sumerian, KGLW, Bandcamp, Phantasy Sound, Balloon Ranger Recordings, International Anthem Co, Third Man Records, Cable Code Records, Gondwana Records
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Album reviews roundup: Róisín Murphy, Blackpink, Melanie C, Working Men's Club, Hello Forever, The Nude Party, Ailbhe Reddy, Diana Krall, Peter Broderick

October 7, 2020 Peter Kimpton
The latest celebrity square of innovation, commercial and creativity …

The latest celebrity square of innovation, commercial and creativity …

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

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In albums, ambient, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, psychedelia, punk, rock, soul, traditional, prog-rock Tags albums, new releases, Roisin Murphy, Blackpink, Melanie C, Working Men's Club, Hello Forever, The Nude Party, Ailbhe Reddy, Diana Krall, Peter Broderick, Skint, BMG, YG Entertainment, Red Girl Media, Heavenly Recordings, Rough Trade, North West Records, Friends of the Family, Verve Records, Erased Tapes
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Album reviews roundup: Sufjan Stevens, IDLES, Diana Jones, A Certain Ratio, Bob Mould, Sad13, Marie Davidson, Deftones, Mildlife

October 5, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Another square of nine great new albums

Another square of nine great new albums

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

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In albums, ambient, country, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grunge, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, rock, soul, traditional Tags albums, new releases, Sufjan Stevens, IDLES, Diana Jones, Steve Earle, Richard Thompson, Peggy Seeger, A Certain Ratio, Bob Mould, Sad13, Sadie Dupuis, Speedy Ortiz, Marie Davidson, Deftones, Mildlife, Asthmatic Kitty, Partisan Records, Proper Records, Mute Records, Merge Records, Wax Nine, Ninja Tune, Reprise Records, Heavenly Recordings
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Album reviews roundup: Fleet Foxes, Sault, Thurston Moore, Alicia Keys, A Swayze and the Ghosts, Native Harrow, Fenne Lily, Matt Berry, Widowspeak

September 27, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Another nine great albums square up

Another nine great albums square up

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

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In albums, ambient, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, post-punk, psychedelia, punk, rock, soul, garage, pop, jazz Tags albums, new releases, Songs, Fleet Foxes, Robin Pecknold, Sault, Thurston Moore, Deb Googe, Steve Shelley, Alicia Keys, Sampha, Jill Scott, A Swayze and the Ghosts, Native Harrow, Fenne Lily, Matt Berry, Widowspeak, ANTI Records, Forever Living Originals, Daydream Library, RCA, Ivy League, Loose Music, Loose Records, Dead Oceans, Acid Jazz, Captured Tracks
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Album reviews roundup: Emily Barker, Throwing Muses, Tricky, Declan McKenna, Hannah Georgas, Soundwalk Collective with Patti Smith, Sarah Davachi, Allison Neale, Richard Norris

September 16, 2020 Peter Kimpton
The latest mesmeric musical nine

The latest mesmeric musical nine

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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In albums, ambient, blues, classical, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grunge, hip hop, indie, jazz, poetry, pop, post-punk, psychedelia, rock, soul, traditional, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, Emily Barker, Throwing Muses, Tricky, Declan McKenna, Hannah Georgas, Aaron Desner, Soundwalk Collective, Patti Smith, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Anoushka Shankar, Sarah Davachi, Allison Neale, Richard Norris, Bishi Bhattacharya, Everyone Sang, Fire Records, Columbia Records, Brassland, Arts and Crafts, False Idols, Bella Union, Warp Records, Late Music, Ubuntu Music, Group Mind
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New albums: Marlowe, Leila Moss, Gillian Welch, Victoria Monét, Another Sky, Video Age, Willie J Healey, Washed Out, Tkay Maidza

August 18, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Nine more albums to enjoy …

Nine more albums to enjoy …

The latest selection includes another solo album from The Duke Spirit singer, hip hop follow-up from the Marlowe duo, beautiful fragments from Gillian Welch, a work of ethereal beauty from Another Sky, and 80s pop from Video Age

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In albums, ambient, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, rock, soul, trip-hop, traditional Tags new releases, albums, Marlowe, Liela Moss, The Duke Spirit, Video Age, Another Sky, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Victoria Monét, Willie J Healey, Washed Out, Tkay Maidza, Mello Music Group, Bella Union, Winspear Records, Fiction Records, Acony, Tribe Records, Yala! Records, Sub Pop, 4AD
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New albums: Fontaines D.C., Beyoncé, Alanis Morissette, The Psychedelic Furs, Max Richter, Song Sung, Dominic Fike, Creeper, Romare

August 6, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Comebacks and newcomers …

Comebacks and newcomers …

This week includes a strong second album by Fontaines D.C., comebacks by The Psychedelic Furs and Alanis Morissette, a Lion King-inspired film-album by Beyoncé, eclectic work by newcomber Dominic Fike and experiment by Max Richter

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, classical, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, post-punk, poetry, pop, psychedelia, punk, rock, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, Fontaines D.C., Beyonce, Alanis Morissette, The Psychedelic Furs, Max RIchter, Song Sung, David Holmes, Dominic Fike, Creeper, Romare, Partisan Records, Disney+, RCA, Cooking Vinyl, Decca, Night Time Stories, Columbia Records, Roadrunner Records, Ninja Tune
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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 …

Featured
Olivia Rodrigo - You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.jpeg
June 16, 2026
Olivia Rodrigo: you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love
June 16, 2026

New album: The 23-year-old American singer-songwriter, actress, and evidently big fan of The Cure returns with consummately crafted, smart, witty pop and indie rock, featuring an appearance by Robert Smith, and charting the arc of a romantic relationship from unbridled joy to bitter aftermath in her third LP

June 16, 2026
Bingo! by La Sécurité.jpeg
June 15, 2026
La Sécurité: Bingo!
June 15, 2026

New album: Fabulously fun, vibrant, feisty, catchy, wittily droll post-punk, new wave and art-punk in this pacy, vivacious sophomore LP by the Montréal collective with themes from mental health, dysfunctional relationships, food to enjoyable elderly activities, with styles reminiscent of The B-52s and Devo

June 15, 2026
So Help Me God by Kelsey Lu.jpeg
June 13, 2026
Kelsey Lu: So Help Me God
June 13, 2026

New album: Luxuriant, ethereal, dramatic and passionate experimental and chamber dream pop by the American singer-songwriter and cellist, with their second LP, seven years since 2019 debut Blood, with guests including Sampha, Kamasi Washington, Kim Gordon, and co-producer Jack Antonoff

June 13, 2026
Cry Baby by Vince Staples.jpeg
June 10, 2026
Vince Staples: Cry Baby
June 10, 2026

New album: The Compton/ Long Beach, Californian rapper returns with a potent, punchy, overtly political rock-hip hop seventh LP that heavily critiques American society and power, racism, police violence, gun culture, media and the music industry, largely accompanied by a tight, riff-heavy electric guitars, bass and drums

June 10, 2026
Liz Lawrence - Vespers.jpeg
June 9, 2026
Liz Lawrence: Vespers
June 9, 2026

New album: More acoustic, stripped back and lo-fi than her previous four albums, yet with deeply powerful and moving songwriting and performance, the British artist’s latest is suffused with grief, reflection and devotion for the premature loss of her sister Jessie, capturing life and death, poetically expressing devotion and reflection

June 9, 2026
Neon Summer Skin by Bedouine.jpeg
June 9, 2026
Bedouine: Neon Summer Skin
June 9, 2026

New album: A serenely beautiful, but also nostalgically sorrowful fourth LP by American singer-songwriter Azniv Korkejian who has Armenian-Syrian heritage, with songs about displacement and identity, very mindful of Middle Eastern conflicts, atrocities and her family history, while broadening her sound into the lush mould of 1970s Carole King and Laurel Canyon

June 9, 2026
Spatial, No Problem. by Lee %22Scratch%22 Perry & Mouse on Mars.jpeg
June 8, 2026
Lee "Scratch" Perry and Mouse on Mars: Spatial, No Problem
June 8, 2026

New album: This wondrously eclectic and entertaining final official album project by the legendary Jamaican producer and artist, made before his passing in 2021, is a collaboration with the German electronic duo Jan St. Werner and Andi Toma, mixing reggae, krautrock, ambient, dub, jazz, New Orleans brass and more, alongside Perry’s distinctive voice

June 8, 2026
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June 7, 2026
Jalen Ngonda: Doctrine of Love
June 7, 2026

New album: Following his acclaimed 2023 debut Come Around And Love Me, the American UK-based impressive soul singer’s second LP is another classy collection of beautifully uplifting, sublime Northern soul and Motown-era love songs

June 7, 2026
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June 7, 2026
Death Cab For Cutie: I Built You A Tower
June 7, 2026

New album: Elegantly expressed emotional turmoil unfolds across 11 cleverly crafted songs in this 11th album by the Seattle indie rock band fronted by Ben Gibbard and produced by the brilliant John Congleton around a metaphor for post-marriage grief

June 7, 2026
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June 6, 2026
Zoh Amba: Eyes Full
June 6, 2026

New album: The NY-scene free jazz saxophonist forms an indie-folk-country-rock-muddy-blues trio with fabulously strong results in this passionate, raw, free-flowing debut as guitarist-singer-songwriter, lyrics themed around their original hometown of Kingsport, Tennessee, and coloured by Appalachian roots

June 6, 2026
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June 5, 2026
ear: Rumspringa
June 5, 2026

New album: Minimalistic, introverted, nuanced quirky laptop experimental electronica by the New York duo Jonah Paz and Yaelle Avtan, following last year’s debut The Most Dear and the Future, this one named after a a rite of passage for Amish adolescents translated as "running around" in Pennsylvania German

June 5, 2026
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June 3, 2026
Greg Mendez: Beauty Land
June 3, 2026

New album: A gently ironic title, but no doubting beauty of the sound, reminiscent of the late, great Elliott Smith, this new gem of a lo-fi LP is full of mildly tragic, sensitive, thoughtful 14 short numbers by the Philadelphia high falsetto singer-songwriter

June 3, 2026
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June 3, 2026
Iceage: For Love of Grace & The Hereafter
June 3, 2026

New album: A stylishly ramshackle, brilliantly brash’n’breezy punk-shoegaze feral sixth studio LP, streamlining sounds from 50s rock’n’roll through to early 00s indie by the Copenhagen band fronted by Elias Rønnenfelt, successfully fulfilling their aim on this to be “immediate, urgent, raw and fast” across themes of romantic devotion with violent chaos and nihilism

June 3, 2026
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June 2, 2026
Boards of Canada: Inferno
June 2, 2026

New album: Scotland’s hugely influential electronic experimental sibling duo Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin return 13 years after their last LP, Tomorrow’s Harvest, with an epic 18-track collection that dissects the psychology of religion with distorted vocal samples and cut-ups across landscapes of dystopian synth textures and beats

June 2, 2026

new songs …

Featured
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June 16, 2026
Song of the Day: Surusinghe - FRIED
June 16, 2026

Song of the Day: A mesmeric, eclectic opening track by the Naarm/Melbourne-raised, London-based electronic artist, DJ and producer aka Suze Gurusinghe, from her recently released EP, Cutting Thread, out on Dh2

June 16, 2026
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June 15, 2026
Song of the Day: L'Rain - Soulless Cycle
June 15, 2026

Song of the Day: A whoosh of thunderous, mesmeric alternative rock marks this striking new single by the Brooklyn experimental composer, musician, artist and singer Taja Cheek, heralding her upcoming fourth album Fata Morgana, out on 14 August via Mexican Summer

June 15, 2026
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June 14, 2026
Song of the Day: Fenne Lily - Uh Huh
June 14, 2026

Song of the Day: Beautiful, banjo accompanied, reflective wistful indie folk-pop by the the Brooklyn-based British singer-songwriter with this first single heralding her upcoming fourth album, Win Win, out on 23 October via Nettwerk Music

June 14, 2026
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June 13, 2026
Song of the Day: Interpol - See Out Loud
June 13, 2026

Song of the Day: Pulsating indie rock by the seasoned New York band fronted by singer Paul Banks and guitarist Daniel Kessler, heralding their upcoming eighth album This Mirror Weighs a Ton, out on 28 August, and newly signed to Partisan Records

June 13, 2026
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June 12, 2026
Song of the Day: Jack White - Dollar Bill
June 12, 2026

Song of the Day: The White Stripes man returns with a blistering, bluesy rock guitar, Led Zeppelin-ish single, heralding his upcoming seventh solo album, Frozen Charlotte, out on 10 July via Third Man Records

June 12, 2026
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June 11, 2026
Song of the Day: Sylvan Esso - Hot Slob
June 11, 2026

Song of the Day: A proudly messy, rowdy, pointed and punchy new indie rock single embracing the spirit and chaos of living in the glitch by the North Carolina duo of Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, here featuring Jenn Wasner and TJ Maiani and out on Psychic Hotline

June 11, 2026
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June 10, 2026
Song of the Day: Rodrigo y Gabriela - Monster
June 10, 2026

Song of the Day: The hugely popular and Grammy-winning Mexico City-raised guitar duo return with a dextrously brilliant new single mixing acoustic and rock styles, heralding their new upcoming new album OurHome out 18 September via ATO Records

June 10, 2026
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June 9, 2026
Song of the Day: JJerome87 - Mr. Alligator
June 9, 2026

Song of the Day: A bluesy, smooth, luxuriantly produced Americana number about a dubious authority figure by the British songwriter and musician Joe Newman, frontman of the Mercury winning band alt-J, in this latest single from his debut solo album, The Canyon, out on 26 June via Mushroom Music/ Virgin

June 9, 2026
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June 8, 2026
Song of the Day: Baalti & Lapgan - Romance / Ipa Ma
June 8, 2026

Song of the Day: Vibrant, rhythmic, experimental electronica and dance music sampling Bollywood, Bengali disco, Hindustani classical and Gujarati folk by the NY-based pair Jaiveer Singh, Mihir Chauhan, joined by producer Gaurav Nagpa, from their recent album, Threads, out on Azal/FADER

June 8, 2026
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June 7, 2026
Song of the Day: Margaret Glaspy - Michigan
June 7, 2026

Song of the Day: A beautiful finger-picked acoustic single by New York-based Californian singer-songwriter about escaping the big city post breakup, heralding her upcoming album I Am Both out on 7 August via ATO

June 7, 2026
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June 6, 2026
Song of the Day: LA Priest - Into The Sky
June 6, 2026

Song of the Day: High-octane electronica and euphoric, dance music by the eccentric, eclectic US artist Sam Eastgate with his first music for two years, and a highly entertaining video, out on Domino Records

June 6, 2026
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June 5, 2026
Song of the Day: Ibeyi - Aset / Offerings
June 5, 2026

Song of the Day: A pair of sensual, soulfully vivid new singles partly sung in Spanish, and the first new music for four years from the French-Cuban twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz, heralding their upcoming fourth album, Offering, out on 26 June via AWAL Recordings

June 5, 2026

Word of the week

Featured
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June 11, 2026
Word of the week: phialiform
June 11, 2026

Word of the week: This rare but oddly beautiful rare adjective means "saucer-shaped" or having the form of a small, shallow cup or vessel, from the Latin root phiala (a shallow bowl or phial) and the suffix -iform, meaning shape

June 11, 2026
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June 4, 2026
Word of the week: quamoclit
June 4, 2026

Word of the week: Also known as cypress vine, cardinal creeper, cardinal vine, star glory, star of Bethlehem or hummingbird vine, this striking climbing flower, Ipomoea quamoclit, is native tropical regions of the Americas and has a distinctive trumpet with five-point star-shaped petals

June 4, 2026
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May 21, 2026
Word of the week: riqq
May 21, 2026

Word of the week: An appropriately onomatopoeic noun for name for Middle Eastern tambourine, able to produce a range of percussive sounds, and commonly heard in traditional Egyptian, Arab, Greek and Turkish music

May 21, 2026
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May 7, 2026
Word of the week: salpinx
May 7, 2026

Word of the week: This very imposing, loud, resonant noun is an ancient Greek, trumpet-like instrument used as a tactical signal on the battle field, as well as to signal the beginnings of gatherings, or of races in sport

May 7, 2026
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April 23, 2026
Word of the week: throstle
April 23, 2026

Word of the week: An archaic, evocative noun with two connected meanings, originally for the song thrush, then later a textiles industrial frame for spinning, twisting and winding machine for cotton, wool, and other fibres simultaneously

April 23, 2026
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