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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: 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: Rufus Wainwright, Julianna Barwick, The Streets, Donna Missal, Mr Ben & The Bens, The Beths, NZCA Lines, SoKo, Mulatu Astatke & Black Jesus Experience

July 14, 2020 Peter Kimpton
This week’s big nine

This week’s big nine

This week’s selection includes classic Rufus Wainwright, a return for Mike Skinner collaborating on each Streets song, powerful ambience from Julianna Barwick and a selection of eccentric, eclectic pop releases

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In African, albums, ambient, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, gospel, grunge, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, rock, soul, traditional, trip-hop Tags new releases, albums, Rufus Wainwright, Julianna Barwick, The Streets, Mike Skinner, Donna Missal, Mr Ben & The Bens, The Beths, Soko, NZCA Lines, Mulatu Astatke, Black Jesus Experience, BMG, Ninja Tune, Island Records, Harvest Records, Bella Union, Carpark Records, Memphis Industries, Because, Because Babycat, Agogo Records
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New Albums …

Featured
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Nov 17, 2025
Picture Parlour: The Parlour
Nov 17, 2025

New album: Following last year’s EP Face in the Picture, a fabulously stylish, smart, swaggering glam-rock-pop debut LP by the Manchester-formed, London-based band fronted by the impressively raspy, gritty, vibratro delivery of Liverpudlian vocalist and guitarist Katherine Parlour and distinctive riffs from North Yorkshire-born guitar Ella Risi

Nov 17, 2025
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Nov 16, 2025
FKA twigs: EUSEXUA Afterglow
Nov 16, 2025

New album: Springing from her much lauded third LP Eusexua, out in January this year, and following a hugely successful and spectacular tour, the innovative British experimental pop artist, dancer and producer extends her palette of ethereal, otherworldly and sensual creations in this new, more carnal, harder, beat-filled parallel release

Nov 16, 2025

new songs …

Featured
The Lemon Twigs - I've Got A Broken Heart.jpeg
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
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Dec 1, 2025
Song of the Day: Sailor Honeymoon - Armchair
Dec 1, 2025

Song of the Day: Catchy, punchy, fuzz-guitar indie rock with a droll lyrical delivery and some echoes of Wet Leg come in this new single by the trio from Seoul, South Korea, out on Good Good Records

Dec 1, 2025
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Nov 30, 2025
Song of the Day: Ellie O'Neill - Bohemia
Nov 30, 2025

Song of the Day: A beautiful, poetic finger-picking debut folk single with a mystical, distantly stormy twist by the Dublin-based Irish singer-songwriter from County Meath, out now on St Itch Records

Nov 30, 2025
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Nov 29, 2025
Song of the Day: Danalogue - Sonic Hypnosis
Nov 29, 2025

Song of the Day: A full flavour of future-past with mesmeric, euphoric retro acid house and electronica in this new single by Daniel Leavers, producer and the founding member of The Comet Is Coming and Soccer96, out now on Castles In Space

Nov 29, 2025
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Nov 28, 2025
Song of the Day: Cardinals - Barbed Wire
Nov 28, 2025

Song of the Day: Another striking, passionate, punchy, catchy single by the Irish postpunk/indie-folk-rock band from Cork, heralding their upcoming debut album, Masquerade, out on 13 February via So Young Records

Nov 28, 2025
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Nov 27, 2025
Song of the Day: Frank Popp Ensemble (with Paul Weller) - Right Before My Eyes
Nov 27, 2025

Song of the Day: A strong, soaring, emotive, soulful release by the German artist co-written by British singer and former Jam frontman who here sings and plays guitar, the lyrics about witnessing the increasing injustices and demise of the world, out on Unique Records / Schubert Music Europe

Nov 27, 2025
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Nov 26, 2025
Song of the Day: Tessa Rose Jackson - Fear Bangs The Drum
Nov 26, 2025

Song of the Day: Using a musical metaphor, beautiful, crisply rhythmical, soaring piano and atmospheric indie-pop-folk about facing your fears by the Dutch/British singer-songwriter, heralding her forthcoming new album The Lighthouse, out on 23 January 2026 on Tiny Tiger Records

Nov 26, 2025
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Nov 25, 2025
Song of the Day: Melanie Baker - Sad Clown
Nov 25, 2025

Song of the Day: Catchy, candid, cathartic indie-grunge-pop by the British singer-songwriter from Cumbria in a melancholy but oddly uplifting emotional work-through of depression, love and exhaustion, out now on TAMBOURHINOCEROS

Nov 25, 2025
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Nov 24, 2025
Song of the Day: Holly Humberstone - Die Happy
Nov 24, 2025

Song of the Day: Luxuriant, breathy, femme-fatale dream pop with a dark, southern gothic, Lana del Rey-inspired, live-fast-die-young theme, and stylish video by the 25-year-old British singer-songwriter from Grantham, out on Polydor/Universal

Nov 24, 2025
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Nov 23, 2025
Song of the Day: These New Puritans - The Other Side
Nov 23, 2025

Song of the Day: A delicate, tender, and unusually minimalist single, their first since this year’s acclaimed album Crooked Wing, by the Southend-on-Sea-born Barnett twins, here with Jack on improvised piano and George on drums and a soprano register wordless vocal, out on Domino Records

Nov 23, 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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