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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

Lucky 13 Seed Co. romulan ale

SNACK OF THE WEEK

Baker's Dozen (+) mini donuts

New Albums …

Featured
Kim Gordon - Play Me album.jpeg
Mar 13, 2026
Kim Gordon: Play Me
Mar 13, 2026

New album: Following 2024’s The Collective, the former Sonic Youth frontwoman’s fourth solo LP continues her extraordinary experimental, innovative journey, moving to more melodic beats and shorter tracks with a motorik krautrock-style driven coloured by strange sounds, intense emotions and sharply angled, dark, droll social commentary

Mar 13, 2026
ELIZA - The Darkening Green.jpeg
Mar 11, 2026
ELIZA: The Darkening Green
Mar 11, 2026

New album: The London artist Eliza Caird (formerly under the mainstream pop moniker Eliza Doolittle) returns with more of the cool, slow, sensual, gentle, sophisticated experimental soul-funk style evolving from her 2022 album A Sky Without Stars, here with particularly polished, silky, stripped back grooves and vocals

Mar 11, 2026
Irreparable Parables by Andrew Wasylyk.jpeg
Mar 11, 2026
Andrew Wasylyk: Irreparable Parables
Mar 11, 2026

New album: The Scottish multi-instrumentalist and composer returns with a new selection of soothing, meditative mix of experimental classical and jazz, but this time joined with six different singers represented by the birds on the album artwork

Mar 11, 2026
waterbaby - Memory Be A Blade.jpeg
Mar 10, 2026
waterbaby: Memory Be A Blade
Mar 10, 2026

New album: A delicate, experimental, understated soulful chamber pop debut by the pure-voiced Stockholm-born singer-songwriter (aka Kendra Egerbladh) in 25-minute, eight-track release of lo-fi, lyrically semi-improvised numbers about heartbreak and self-renewal in a world of gorgeous musical sensations

Mar 10, 2026
Joshua Idehen - I Know You're Hurting ....jpeg
Mar 10, 2026
Joshua Idehen: I know you're hurting, everyone is hurting, everyone is trying, you have got to try
Mar 10, 2026

New album: With a strikingly long title, a euphoric and honest full debut LP by the British-born Nigerian poet, spoken word artist and musician based in Sweden, working with his musical partner Ludvig Parment’s sonic layers, packed pacy dance and hip-hop grooves, clever sampling, slower reflections, and articulate expressions of positivity through the ups and downs of grief and hope

Mar 10, 2026
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Mar 10, 2026
Gnarls Barkley: Atlanta
Mar 10, 2026

New album: Finally, after an 18-year gap since their last collaboration in the heady days of the hit Crazy, with the St Elsewhere and The Odd Couple LPs a third and supposedly final album from fabulous singer CeeLo Green and producer and musician aka Brian Burton with a mix of soaring soul, hip-hop, pop and RnB with songs filled with vivid lyrical memories and strong, emotive melodies

Mar 10, 2026
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Mar 9, 2026
Various: HELP(2) - War Child Records
Mar 9, 2026

New album: Not only a timely and topical milestone charity record following the first in 1995 to help bring aid and wide variety of support to children in war zones around he world, but an impressive double-LP array of stellar British and international talent and powerful, poignant 23 songs from Arctic Monkeys to Young Fathers

Mar 9, 2026
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Mar 9, 2026
Bonnie “Prince” Billy: We Are Together Again
Mar 9, 2026

New album: Just over a year after 2025’s The Purple Bird, but from parallel recording sessions and familiar co-musicians, the veteran Louisville-Kentucky singer-songwriter Will Oldham returns with another collection of exquisite, intimate, gently defiant lo-fi folk to troubled times, an ode to community with a beautiful array of acoustic instruments and his poignant, insightful lyrics and delivery

Mar 9, 2026
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Mar 5, 2026
DEADLETTER: Existence Is Bliss
Mar 5, 2026

New album: This second LP by the South Yorkshire/London six-piece expands their post-punk sound palette with a collection of arresting, thrumming songs, often dark and challenging, with richly exploratory lyrics across dystopian and existential questions, yet despite a climate of difficult, shows how gasping for life’s oxygen is essential

Mar 5, 2026
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Mar 5, 2026
Lala Lala: Heaven 2
Mar 5, 2026

New album: Moving from Chicago to New Mexico, Reykjavík, then London and now Los Angeles, the UK-born artist Lillie West’s experimental indie dream pop is a fascinating release about restless escapism while trying to stay where she is

Mar 5, 2026
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Mar 3, 2026
Iron & Wine: Hen's Teeth
Mar 3, 2026

New album: Timeless, poetic, gentle folk-rock in this eighth solo album by the North Carolina multi-instrumentalist and producer Sam Beam, in warm, tender album with a title that suggests the idea of the impossible yet real, and an earthier, darker, more more tactile companion to his Grammy-nominated 2024 album Light Verse

Mar 3, 2026
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Mar 3, 2026
Buck Meek: The Mirror
Mar 3, 2026

New album: The Brooklyn-based Texan guitarist of Big Thief returns with his fourth solo LP filled with tender, thoughtful, beautiful folk-country-rock, a tiny splash of analogue synths, joined by bandmate James Krivchenia as producer, Adrianne Lenker on backing vocals, plus guitarist Adam Brisbin and harp player Mary Lattimore

Mar 3, 2026
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Mar 1, 2026
Mitski: Nothing’s About To Happen To Me
Mar 1, 2026

New album: Following 2023’s acclaimed The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, now an eighth LP of sublime beauty, wit and melancholy and silken vocal tones from the American singer-songwriter, mixing pop, rock, echoes of Laurel Canyon era, and stories and metaphors of love and loss, insecurity, independence and solitude all set at home – and no shortage of cats

Mar 1, 2026
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Mar 1, 2026
Gorillaz: The Mountain
Mar 1, 2026

New album: Released with an art book, new games, and extended videos, a multicultural, multifarious and multilingual return for the collective cartoon pop-hip-hop project led by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, with many intercontinental guest appearances, and a particular Indian musical and visual flavour centred on fictional Himalayan peak as metaphor for life’s journey and illusionary truths

Mar 1, 2026

new songs …

Featured
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Mar 16, 2026
Song of the Day: Jaakko Eino Kalevi - Black Diamond
Mar 16, 2026

Song of the Day: A splendidly rousing eight-minute retro-style electro-pop baroque melodrama by the Finnish artist with the deep, rich voice, one that stylistically and in his own fashion, draws a pentagram between Goblin, Rondo Veneziano, Cerrone, Doris Norton and Lindstrom, out on Domino Records

Mar 16, 2026
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Mar 15, 2026
Song of the Day: Hannah Lew - Sunday
Mar 15, 2026

Song of the Day: An appropriate day to highlight this classy latest single of shimmering 80s-style synth-pop with echoes of OMD, with themes about pain, love and grief from the upcoming debut album by the Richmond, California artist, out on 10 April via Night School Records

Mar 15, 2026
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Mar 14, 2026
Song of the Day: Mei Semones - Tooth Fairy (featuring John Roseboro)
Mar 14, 2026

Song of the Day: A charming cross-genre fusion of bossa nova, jazz, folk and chamber pop sung in English and Japanese by the Brooklyn-based American musician with a tale of losing a tooth on the subway and friendship, from the upcoming album Kurage, out 10 April on Bayonet Records

Mar 14, 2026
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Mar 13, 2026
Song of the Day: Robyn - Blow My Mind
Mar 13, 2026

Song of the Day: Quirky, sensual electro-pop with a dash of Kraftwerk by the acclaimed Swedish singer, songwriter and producer Robin Miriam Carlsson, in this latest from the upcoming album Sexistential out on 27 March via Konichiwa / Young Records

Mar 13, 2026
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Mar 12, 2026
Song of the Day: Lava La Rue - Scratches
Mar 12, 2026

Song of the Day: The latest single by the London singer-songwriter is punchy, powerful psychedelic rock number with tearing riffs and lyrics about damage from troubled relationship, abuse and self-harm, from the forthcoming EP Do You Know Everything?, out on BMG

Mar 12, 2026
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Mar 11, 2026
Song of the Day: Alewya - City of Symbols (featuring eejebee)
Mar 11, 2026

Song of the Day: A stylish fusion of electronica, soul, hip hop and Ethiopian rhythmic influences centring on themes of heritage, family by London singer, songwriter, producer and multidisciplinary artist, with drums from eejebee and guitar from Vraell, heralding from the forthcoming new debut Zero out 22 June via LDN Records / Because Music

Mar 11, 2026
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Mar 10, 2026
Song of the Day: Huarinami - Carried Away
Mar 10, 2026

Song of the Day: Explosive, stylish, gritty, restless indie-psychedelic punk with angular, angry guitars, driving bass and wonderfully arresting vocals by Pauline Janier (aka Cody Pepper) fronting the French London-based four-piece in this single fuelled by the frustration of big-city life, and heralding their sophomore EP Nothing Happens, due for release on 6 June

Mar 10, 2026
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Mar 9, 2026
Song of the Day: Avalon Emerson & The Charm - Written into Changes
Mar 9, 2026

Song of the Day: Following the singles Eden and Jupiter and Mars, another stylish, experimental indie synth-pop release by the New York artist with the title track of upcoming second Charm moniker album, out on 20 March via Dead Oceans

Mar 9, 2026
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Mar 8, 2026
Song of the Day: Aldous Harding - One Stop
Mar 8, 2026

Song of the Day: An enigmatic, oddly stylish, stripped back, piano-based new experimental folk single by the New Zealand singer-songwriter, namechecking John Cale, and from her upcoming album Train on the Island out May 8 via 4AD

Mar 8, 2026
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Mar 7, 2026
Song of the Day: Max Winter, Asha Lorenz & Rael - Candlelight
Mar 7, 2026

Song of the Day: A dark, stylish, striking fusion of hip-hop, trip-hop, spoken word, and jazz by the London-based rapper and friends, and the the first single from the collaborative mixtape Like the season!, out on Secret Friend

Mar 7, 2026
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Mar 6, 2026
Song of the Day: SPRINTS - Trickle Down
Mar 6, 2026

Song of the Day: The feisty, ferociously fun Dublin post-punk band return with a punchy, on-point angry new number about the flawed economic term, watching systems fail in slow motion, housing crisis, rising costs, culture wars, climate collapse, and frustratingly being told to stay patient while everything burns

Mar 6, 2026
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Mar 5, 2026
Song of the Day: Jordan Rakei & Tom McFarland - Easy to Love
Mar 5, 2026

Song of the Day: Elevating, soaring soul with the high vocals of the New Zealand-Australian singer and songwriter joined by one half the British band Jungle, heralding the collaborative EP Between Us, out on 24 April on Fontana Records / Universal Music

Mar 5, 2026

Word of the week

Featured
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Mar 12, 2026
Word of the week: wallfish
Mar 12, 2026

Word of the week: It sounds like the singing finned picture ornament Big Mouth Billy Bass that became popular in the late 1990s, but this is a much older noun, derived in Somerset, England, pertains to the climbing gastropod that can slowly climb up any surface

Mar 12, 2026
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Feb 25, 2026
Word of the week: xiphias
Feb 25, 2026

Word of the week: Get the point? This is the scientific name for the swordfish, in full Xiphias gladius (from the Greek and Latin for sword), that extraordinary sea creature with the long, pointy bill. But what of it in song?

Feb 25, 2026
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Feb 12, 2026
Word of the week: yanggeum
Feb 12, 2026

Word of the week: A form or hammered dulcimer, this traditional Korean instrument, with a flat and trapezoidal shape, has seven sets of four metal strings hit by thin bamboo stick

Feb 12, 2026
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
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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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