New album: Smooth, enjoyable, engaging, approachable funky pop by the 28-year-old Californian with a variety of influences with a summery, catchy, carefree-feel collection on this second LP
Read moreRemi Wolf: Big Ideas
Remi Wolf: Big Ideas
Liv.e: PAST FUTUR.e
Liv.e: PAST FUTUR.e
New album: Released back in May, a wonderfully wonky short album of electronica and experimental post-punk by the Dallas artist, aka Hailee Olivia Williams, with a clever, menacing, witty delivery over a suite of strange squelchy keyboard sounds
Read moreBerwyn: Who Am I
Berwyn: Who Am I
New album: A candid, uncompromising, starkly personal and powerful rap-folk-R&B LP by the Trinidad-born 28-year-old east Londoner Berwyn Du Bois, who among other emotions, captures his experiences of Britain’s hostile environment immigration policy since arriving in the UK aged 9 in 2005
Read moreLiam Bailey: Zero Grace / Heavy Soul (with Blundetto)
Liam Bailey: Zero Grace
New albums: A two-for-one by the talented Nottingham singer-songwriter and guitarist with releases in February and and also this month, the former a fabulous zamrock-influenced psychedelic-reggae fusion LP, the latter with Parisian dub musician Blundetto aka Max Guiget
Read moreBrijean: Macro
Brijean: Macro
New album: A magical, serene, dreamily sophisticated and witty psych-pop, lounge and dancefloor new creation by the LA duo of percussionist/singer-songwriter Brijean Murphy (Mitski, Poolside, and Toro y Moi) and multi-instrumentalist/producer Doug Stuart
Read moreClairo: Charm
Clairo: Charm
New album: Deliciously understated, intimate, warm folk-pop with a strong Laurel Canyon flavour by the Boston, Mass. artist Claire Cottrill with songs about different sides of charm, platonically, romantically, but also not knowing how long it will last
Read moreKOKOKO!: BUTU
KOKOKO!: BUTU
New album: The brilliant band from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo return with an LP inspired by the vibrant nightlife of that city, the titled translated as ‘the night’ in Lingala language, featuring rawer, more electronic sounds and the commanding lead of vocalist Makara Bianko
Read moreFEET: Make It Up
FEET: Make It Up
New album: Fun, catchy, melodious, energetic, clever, mischievous clean-cut indie pop by the London five-piece with their second LP and consistent with debut What’s Inside Is More Than Just Ham
Read moreRedd Kross: Redd Kross
Redd Kross: Redd Kross
New album: The veteran pop-punk brothers Jeff and Steve McDonald from Hawkthorne, California, return with an energetic, lengthy self-titled release drawing on half a century of rock influences, from the Who to the Beatles, Byrds to US hardcore with vigour, but also self-deprecatory humour
Read moreKiasmos: II
Kiasmos: II
New album: A decade after their acclaimed debut, the award-winning duo of Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds and Faroese musician Janus Rasmussen return with an emotive, uplifting release of inspired, transportive electronica
Read moreKasabian: Happenings
Kasabian: Happenings
New album: This eighth LP from the Leicester rockers and second since guitarist Serge Pizzorno took over on vocals from the sacked Tom Meighan edges closer to pop, disco as much as the more distinct psychedelia, but is full of punchy, catchy tunes
Read moreDirty Three: Love Changes Everything
Dirty Three: Love Changes Everything
New album: A first LP for 12 years by the Australian experimental trio of Nick Cave right-hand man Warren Ellis, Mick Turner and Jim White with mesmeric distortions and synthesized loops of guitar, drums, piano, percussion and violin
Read moreAaron Frazer: Into The Blue
Aaron Frazer: Into The Blue
New album: Timelessly smooth, top-quality soul by the Baltimore-born high-voiced singer and former co-lead and drummer for Indiana’s Durand Jones & the Indications, in this second solo LP.
Read moreMabe Fratti: Sentir Que No Sables
Mabe Fratti: Sentir Que No Sables
New album: An entrancing, rather magical and unique fourth LP of experimental avant-garde electro-acoustic work by the 32-year-old Guatemalan cellist based in Mexico City who creatively distorts her instrument alongside her haunting vocals
Read moreLupe Fiasco: Samurai
Lupe Fiasco: Samurai
New album: A fluid, nimble, articulate playfully smooth ninth short, snappy LP by the American rapper and record producer with a title inspired by the late Amy Winehouse comparing rap battles to Samurai word weapons in a meta release about the joy of his genre
Read moreHiatus Kaiyote: Love Heart Cheat Code
Hiatus Kaiyote: Love Heart Cheat Code
New album: Flourishes of rippling piano, harp, guitars, woodwind and the high, dynamic voice of Nai Palm open this sunny, fluidly effervescent new LP by the brilliant Australian experimental jazz/funk prog, soul and R&B band stretching their unique sound and musicianship
Read moreLOMA: How Will I Live Without A Body?
LOMA: How Will I Live Without A Body?
New album: Slow, sensual, powerful, haunting, affecting, poetic and utterly gorgeous third LP by the Austin trio of Emily Cross (Cross Record), Jonathan Meiburg (Shearwater) and Dan Duszynski, which includes poetic collaborations from Laurie Anderson’s AI model
Read moreCharli XCX: BRAT
Charli XCX: BRAT
New album: The Essex-raised, hugely successful star Charlotte Emma Aitchison’s sixth album is a far more nuanced than her last, 2022’s Crash, still embracing mainstream pop and dance, but also with ironic twists, sleazy fun, humour, and a dirtier, more underground sound of her more experimental past
Read moreLola Young: This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway
Lola Young: This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway
New album: A set of catchy, cutting lyrical diatribes against disappointing exes punctuates this eclectic, clever, darkly ironic release of pop and other styles, in a second LP by the south London Brit School graduate with a strong powerful voice
Read moreBeen Stellar: Scream From New York, NY
Been Stellar: Scream From New York, NY
New album: A dynamic, stormy-guitar postpunk debut by the New York quintet in an LP filled with landmark references of that famous city, but also given a texture and edge under the production guidance of by London’s brilliant Dan Carey
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