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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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DRINK OF THE WEEK

Constant comment tea

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New Albums …

Featured
Tyler Ballgame - For The First Time Again.jpeg
Jan 30, 2026
Tyler Ballgame: For The First Time, Again
Jan 30, 2026

New album: With that sublime, soaring, soulful voice, and echoes of Roy Orbison, the Rhode Island-raised singer-songwriter’s truly gorgeous debut LP captures all the range of of the love – warmth, longing, tenderness and heartbreak through classy and crafted retro sound of 60s and 70s rock

Jan 30, 2026
Tessa Rose Jackson - The Lighthouse.jpeg
Jan 29, 2026
Tessa Rose Jackson: The Lighthouse
Jan 29, 2026

New album: Beautiful, intricate, understated, poetic and intelligent, this warm, inviting experimental folk by the Dutch-British singer-songwriter is the first LP under her own name, having previously released three as the artist Someone

Jan 29, 2026
Lucinda Williams - World's Gone Wrong.jpeg
Jan 28, 2026
Lucinda Williams: World's Gone Wrong
Jan 28, 2026

New album: The acclaimed veteran country, rock and Americana singer-songwriter and multi-Grammy winner’s latest LP has a title that speaks for itself, but is powerful, angry, defiant and uplifting, and, recorded in Nashville, features guest vocals from Norah Jones, Mavis Staples and Brittney Spencer

Jan 28, 2026
Clotheline From Hell.jpeg
Jan 27, 2026
Clothesline From Hell: Slather On The Honey
Jan 27, 2026

New album: His moniker mischievously named after a wrestling move, a highly impressive, independently-created experimental, psychedelic rock debut the the Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Adam LaFramboise

Jan 27, 2026
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Jan 27, 2026
Dead Dads Club: Dead Dads Club
Jan 27, 2026

New album: Dynamic, passionate, heart-stirring indie rock in this project fronted by Chilli Jesson (formerly bassist of Palma Violets) with songs spurred by the trauma of losing his father 20 years ago, retelling a defiant and difficult aftermath, with sound boosted by producer Carlos O’Connell of Fontaines D.C.

Jan 27, 2026
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Jan 25, 2026
The Paper Kites: If You Go There, I Hope You Find It
Jan 25, 2026

New album: Warm, tender, gently-paced, calmly reflective, beautifully soothing, poetic, melancholic alternative folk and Americana by the band from Melbourne in their seventh LP in 15 years

Jan 25, 2026
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Jan 24, 2026
PVA: No More Like This
Jan 24, 2026

New album: Inventive, alluring, sensual, mysterious, minimalistic electronica, trip-hop and experimental pop by the London trio of Ella Harris, Joshua Baxter and Louis Satchell, in this second album following 2022’s Blush, boosted by the creativity of producer and instrumentalist Kwake Bass

Jan 24, 2026
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Jan 20, 2026
Imarhan: Essam
Jan 20, 2026

New album: A mesmeric fourth LP in a decade by the band from Tamanrasset, Algeria, whose name means ‘the ones I care about’, their Tuareg music mixing guitar riffs, pop melodies and African rhythms, but this time also evolves slightly away from the desert blues rocky, bluesy influence of contemporaries Tinariwen with electronic elements

Jan 20, 2026
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Jan 20, 2026
Courtney Marie Andrews: Valentine
Jan 20, 2026

New album: Emotional, beautiful, stirring, Americana, folk and indie-pop by singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona, in this latest studio LP in of soaring voice, strong melodies, love, vulnerability and heartbreak, longing and bravery

Jan 20, 2026
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Jan 18, 2026
Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore: Tragic Magic
Jan 18, 2026

New album: Delicate, beautiful, ethereal, meditative new work by the two American experimental composers in their first collaborative LP, with gentle understated vocals, classic synth sounds, and rare harps chosen from from the Paris Musée de la Musique Collection

Jan 18, 2026
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Jan 16, 2026
Sleaford Mods: The Demise of Planet X
Jan 16, 2026

New album: The caustic wit of Nottingham’s Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn return with a 13th LP of brilliantly abrasive, dark humoured hip-hop and catchy beats, addressing the rubbish state of the world, as well as local, personal and social irritations through slick nostalgic cultural reference, some expanded sounds, and an eclectic set of guests

Jan 16, 2026
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Jan 14, 2026
SAULT: Chapter 1
Jan 14, 2026

New album: As ever, released suddenly without fanfare or any publicity, the prolific experimental soul, jazz, gospel, funk, psychedelia and disco collective of Cleo Sol, Info (aka Dean Josiah Cover) and co return with a stylish, mysterious LP

Jan 14, 2026
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Jan 14, 2026
The Cribs: Selling A Vibe
Jan 14, 2026

New album: A first LP in five years by the likeable and solid guitar indie-rock Jarman brothers trio from Wakefield, now with their ninth - a catchy, but at times with rueful, bittersweet perspectives on their times in the music business

Jan 14, 2026
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Jan 9, 2026
Dry Cleaning: Secret Love
Jan 9, 2026

New album: This third LP by the London experimental post-punk quartet with the distinctive, spoken, droll delivery of Florence Shaw, is packed with striking, vivid, often non seqitur lyrics capturing life’s surreal mundanities and neuroses with a sound coloured and polished by Cate Le Bon as producer

Jan 9, 2026

new songs …

Featured
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Jan 30, 2026
Song of the Day: Robber Robber - The Sound It Made
Jan 30, 2026

Song of the Day: Striking, dynamic, noisy stop-and-start, stylish experimental post-rock and post-rock by the band from Burlington, Vermont, fronted by Nina Cates, heralding their new album, Two Wheels Move the Soul, out on 3 April via on Fire Talk

Jan 30, 2026
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Jan 29, 2026
Song of the Day: Holly Humberstone - To Love Somebody
Jan 29, 2026

Song of the Day: Shimmeringly catchy and singalong, effervescent Abba-esque and Fleetwood Mac-ish piano and synth pop with an eye-catching, vampiric-themed video by the British singer-songwriter from Grantham, heralding her second album Cruel World out on 10 April via Polydor/Universal.

Jan 29, 2026
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Jan 28, 2026
Song of the Day: Nathan Fake - Slow Yamaha
Jan 28, 2026

Song of the Day: Hypnotic electronica with woozy layers of smooth resonance and a lattice of shifting analogue patterns by the British artist from Norfolk, taken from his forthcoming album, Evaporator, out on InFiné Music

Jan 28, 2026
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Jan 27, 2026
Song of the Day: Charlotte Day Wilson - Lean (featuring Saya Gray)
Jan 27, 2026

Song of the Day: Stylish, striking, sensual experimental electro-pop and R&B in this fabulous collaboration between the two Canadian singer/ multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, out on Stone Woman Music/ XL Recordings

Jan 27, 2026
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Jan 26, 2026
Song of the Day: Lime Garden - 23
Jan 26, 2026

Song of the Day: Wonderfully catchy, witty, quirky indie pop about age and adjustment by the Brighton-formed quartet fronted by Chloe Howard, heralding their upcoming album Maybe Not Tonight, out on So Young Records on 10 April

Jan 26, 2026
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Jan 25, 2026
Song of the Day: Madra Salach - The Man Who Seeks Pleasure
Jan 25, 2026

Song of the Day: A powerful, slow-simmering and gradually intensifying, drone-based original folk number about the the flipsides of love and hedonism by the young Irish traditional and alternative folk band, with comparisons to Lankum, from the recently released EP It's a Hell of an Age, out on Canvas Music

Jan 25, 2026
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Jan 24, 2026
Song of the Day: Adult DVD - Real Tree Lee
Jan 24, 2026

Song of the Day: Catchy, witty, energised acid-dance-punk with echoes of Underworld and Snapped Ankles by the dynamic, innovative band from Leeds in a new number about a dodgy character of toxic masculinity and online ignorance, and their first release on signing to Fat Possum

Jan 24, 2026
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Jan 23, 2026
Song of the Day: Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night (for War Child HELP 2 charity album)
Jan 23, 2026

Song of the Day: A simmering, potent, contemplative new track by acclaimed Sheffield band, their first song since 2022’s album The Car, with proceeds benefiting the charity War Child, heralding the upcoming HELP (2) compilation out on 6 March with various contributors

Jan 23, 2026
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Jan 22, 2026
Song of the Day: White Denim - (God Created) Lock and Key
Jan 22, 2026

Song of the Day: The Austin, Texas-formed LA-based rockers return with an infectiously catchy groove fusing rock, funk, dub, soul, and down-dirty blues with some playful self-mythologising and darker themes, heralding 13th album, 13, out on 24 April via Bella Union

Jan 22, 2026
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Jan 21, 2026
Song of the Day: Holy Fuck - Evie
Jan 21, 2026

Song of the Day: The Canadian experimental indie rock and electronica quartet from Toronto return with a pulsating new track of thrumming bass and shimmering keyboards, heralding their forthcoming new album Event Beat, out on 27 March via Satellite Services

Jan 21, 2026
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Jan 20, 2026
Song of the Day: KAVARI - IRON VEINS
Jan 20, 2026

Song of the Day: Exciting, cutting-edge electronica and hardcore dance music by innovative the Birkenhead-born, Glasgow-based artist Cameron Winters (she), with a stylish, striking video, heralding the forthcoming EP, PLAGUE MUSIC, out digitally and on 12-inch vinyl on 6 February via XL Recordings

Jan 20, 2026
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Jan 19, 2026
Song of the Day: A$AP Rocky - Punk Rocky
Jan 19, 2026

Song of the Day: The standout catchy hip-pop/soul/pop track from the New York rapper aka Rakim Athelston Mayers’ (also the husband of Rihanna) recently released album, Don’t Be Dumb, featuring also the voice of Cristoforo Donadi, and out on A$AP Rocky Recordings

Jan 19, 2026

Word of the week

Featured
Zumbador dorado - mango bumblebee Puerto Rico.jpeg
Jan 22, 2026
Word of the week: zumbador
Jan 22, 2026

Word of the week: A wonderfully evocative noun from the Spanish for word buzz, and meaning both a South American hummingbird, a door buzzer, and symbolic of resurrection of the soul in ancient Mexican culture, while also serving as the logo for a tequila brand

Jan 22, 2026
Hamlet ad - Gregor Fisher.jpg
Jan 8, 2026
Word of the week: aspectabund
Jan 8, 2026

Word of the week: This rare adjective describes a highly expressive face or countenance, where emotions and reactions are readily shown through the eyes or mouth

Jan 8, 2026
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Dec 24, 2025
Word of the week: bellonion (or belloneon)
Dec 24, 2025

Word of the week: It sounds like a bulbous, multi-layered peeling vegetable, but this obscure mechanical musical instrument invented in 1812 in Dresden consisted of 24 trumpets and two kettle drums and, designed to mimic the sound of a marching band, might also make your eyes water

Dec 24, 2025
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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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