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New albums: Clinic, Holly Herndon, Mac Demarco, Viagra Boys, AA Bondy, Jamila Woods, The Mystery Lights, Laurence Pike, Death And Vanilla

May 15, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Clinic: summoning wonderfully woozy images of 1970s showbiz

Clinic: summoning wonderfully woozy images of 1970s showbiz

Wonderfully otherworldly and woozy work is a theme this week, especially from Liverpool’s fabulous Clinic and choral groundbreaking brilliance from Holly Herndon, alongside a variety of other oddities including Mac Demarco

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In albums, ambient, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, punk, rock, soul Tags new releases, albums, Clinic, Holly Herndon, Mac Demarco, Viagra Boys, A.A. Bondy, Jamila Woods, The Mystery Lights, Laurence Pike, Death And Vanilla, Domino Records, 4AD, Mac's Record Label, YEAR0001, Jagjaguwar, Daptone Records, The Leaf Label, Fire Records
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New albums: Vampire Weekend, Drahla, Kedr Livanskiy, Filthy Friends, Big Thief, Rhiannon Giddens, Flamingods, Jesse Mac Cormack

May 8, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Russia’s Kedr Livanskiy

Russia’s Kedr Livanskiy

This week’s selection includes an experimental and expansive double album return from Vampire Weekend, Leeds post-punkers Drahla, Russian underground dance queen Kedr Livanskiy and members of REM and Sleater-Kinney

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In albums, ambient, country, dance music, electronica, folk, garage, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, punk, reggae, rock, soul Tags new releases, albums, Vampire Weekend, Drahla, Kedr Livanskiy, Yana Kedrina, Filthy Friends, Corin Tucker, Sleater-Kinney, Peter Buck, REM, Big Thief, Rhiannon Giddens, Francesco Turrisi, Flamingods, Jesse Mac Cormack, Columbia Records, Captured Tracks, 2MR, Kill Rock Stars, 4AD, Nonesuch Records, Moshi Moshi, Secret City Records
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New albums: Aldous Harding, The Mountain Goats, Kevin Morby, Pete Doherty, Soak, Minyo Crusaders, The Cranberries, Foxygen, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Ezra Collective, King Gizzard, Marina

May 3, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Deliciously eccentric: Aldous Harding

Deliciously eccentric: Aldous Harding

A bumper selection from the past week includes the beautiful voice of Aldous Harding, superb songwriting from Kevin Morby, The Mountain Goats, Pete Doherty’s latest project and an acoustic rock-out from Rodrigo Y Gabriela

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In albums, ambient, blues, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, rock, soul Tags albums, new releases, Aldous Harding, John Parish, The Mountain Goats, John Darnielle, Kevin Morby, Pete Doherty, SOAK, Minyo Crusaders, The Cranberries, Dolores O'Riordan, Foxygen, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Ezra Collective, Femi Koleoso, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Marina, 4AD, Merge Records, Dead Oceans, Strap Originals, Rough Trade, Mais Um, BMG, Jagjaguwar, Enter The Jungle, Flightless Records, Atlantic Records
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New albums: Fat White Family, Kelsey Lu, Loyle Carner, Lizzo, Stealing Sheep, Wand, Jade Bird, Elva

April 23, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Fat White Family – seamless dipped in humorous wooziness

Fat White Family – seamless dipped in humorous wooziness

The Fat White Family return. leading a procession of wonderful musical mischief, while there’s a follow-up from rapper Loyle Carner, debuts from singer-songwriters Kelsey Lu and Lizzo and a whole lot more in this week’s selection

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In albums, ambient, blues, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, punk, rock, soul, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, Fat White Family, Kelsey Lu, Loyle Carner, Lizzo, Melissa Jefferson, Stealing Sheep, Wand, Jade Bird, Elva, Domino Records, Columbia Records, AMF, Nice Life, Atlantic Records, Heavenly Recordings, Drag City, Glassnote Records, Tapete
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New albums: Fontaines D.C., Anderson Paak, Chemical Brothers, Pom Poko, Labrinth, Sia and Diplo (LSD), The Leisure Society, Sun Kil Moon, Stubbleman, Band of Skulls, Eli 'Paperboy' Reed, Bibio

April 17, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Fresh new voice. Dublin’s Fontaines D.C.

Fresh new voice. Dublin’s Fontaines D.C.

Alongside frenetic and fresh punk and postpunk from Fontaines D.C. and Pom Poko, and dance music from Chemical Brothers, this week’s selection also includes a beautiful spread of mellow records from Anderson Paak and others

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In albums, ambient, blues, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, garage, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, punk, reggae, rock, soul Tags Fontaines D.C., albums, new releases, Anderson Paak, Chemical Brothers, Pom Poko, Labrinth, Sia, Diplo, LSD, The Leisure Society, Sun Kil Moon, Stubbleman, Band of Skulls, Eli 'Paperboy' Reed, Bibio, Partisan Records, Aftermath Entertainment, Virgin EMI, Bella Union, Syco, Ego Drain Records, Calvo Verde, Crammed Discs, So Recordings, Yep Roc, Warp Records
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New albums: Weyes Blood, David Bowie, Jess Ribeiro, W.H. Lung, Pozi, Ratso, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Shana Cleveland, Rozi Plain, Priests

April 9, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Natalie Mering aka Weyes Blood

Natalie Mering aka Weyes Blood

Exquisite vocals and electronica and female vocalists decorate this weeks list, from Weyes Blood to Jess Ribeiro and Shana Cleveland, plus sharp postpunk from Pozi, beautiful songs by Ratso with Nick Cave, and rare, early Bowie

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In albums, ambient, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, indie, pop, punk, post-punk, rock, soul, trip-hop Tags Songs, albums, new releases, Weyes Blood, David Bowie, Jess Ribeiro, W.H. Lung, Pozi, Ratso, Nick Cave, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Shana Cleveland, Rozi Plain, Priests, Sub Pop, Barely Dressed Records, Melodic Records, Prah Recordings, Lucky Number, Big Crown Records, Hardly Art, Memphis Industries, Sister Polygon, Parlophone
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New albums: Edwyn Collins, Billie Eilish, White Denim, Beth Gibbons, Unkle, Ohtis, Gerry Cinnamon, Show Me The Body, The Matthew Herbert Big Band

April 3, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Twisted sister: Billie Eilish gets on up with a highly original debut LP

Twisted sister: Billie Eilish gets on up with a highly original debut LP

This week’s selection spans the full range from the quirky pop of Billie Eilish to the triumphant return of Edwyn Collins, masterful prog from White Denim to Beth Gibbons doing Henryk Górecki with a Polish orchestra

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In albums, ambient, classical, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, punk, rock, soul, trip-hop Tags Songs, albums, new releases, Edwyn Collins, Billie Eilish, White Denim, James Petrali, Steve Terebecki, Beth Gibbons, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Henryk Górecki, Portishead, Unkle, James Lavelle, Ellliot Power, Miink, Liela Moss, The Duke Spirit, Mark Lanegan, Dhani Harrison, Editors, Tom Smith, Ohtis, Gerry Cinnamon, Show Me The Body, The Matthew Herbert Big Band, AED, Darkroom, Interscope, Polydor, City Slang, Domino Records, Songs For The Def, Full Time Hobby, Lorna Vista Recordings, Caroline Records, Accidental Records
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New albums: Lambchop, Ibibio Sound Machine, These New Puritans, Lucy Rose, Jenny Lewis, The Hare and Hoofe, Olcay Bahir, Jayda G

March 26, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Ibibio Sound Machine’s Eno Williams

Ibibio Sound Machine’s Eno Williams

This week? New experimentation by Lambchop’s Kurt Wagner, dance-funk from Ibibio Sound Machine, complex melancholy from These New Puritans, hilarious prog rockers Hare and Hoofe, and fabulous female singer-songwriters

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In albums, ambient, classical, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, funk, folk, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, punk, soul Tags albums, new releases, Lambchop, Kurt Wagner, Ibibio Sound Machine, These New Puritans, Lucy Rose, Jenny Lewis, The Hare and Hoofe, Olcay Bahir, Jayda G, City Slang, Merge Records, Infectious Records, Communion Records, Warner Bros, Arc Music, Ninja Tune
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New albums: Karen O & Danger Mouse, Cinematic Orchestra, Stephen Malkmus, Nilüfer Yanya, Uranium Club, Chai, Kathryn Tickell, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Low Life, Dwight Trible

March 19, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Stylish and cinematic: Karen O and Danger Mouse

Stylish and cinematic: Karen O and Danger Mouse

This week’s selection includes a collaboration between the Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer and Danger Mouse, plus The Cinematic Orchestra, Stephen Malkmus going electronic, and original sounding pop from Nilüfer Yanya

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In albums, ambient, blues, electronica, dance music, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, punk, rock, soul Tags albums, new releases, Karen O, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Danger Mouse, The Cinematic Orchestra, Stephen Malkmus, Nilüfer Yanya, Uranium Club, Chai, Kathryn Tickell, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Low Life, Dwight Trible, BMG, ATO Records, PIAS, Static Shock, Fashionable Idiots Records, Heavenly Recordings, Ninja Tune, Domino Records, Resilient Records, Alter Records, A Recordings, Gearbox Records
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New albums: Solange, Dave, Foals, Townes Van Zandt, Flight of the Conchords, Stella Donnelly, Money For Rope, Test Dept, Nick Waterhouse, The Coathangers, Phillipi and Rodrigo, Bilge Pump

March 12, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Dave. Articulate, analytical, angry, honest.

Dave. Articulate, analytical, angry, honest.

A selection of great contrasts and innovations includes a debut from the British rapper, experimental work from Solange, rare and unreleased material from folk legend Townes Van Zandt, and the return of industrial artists Test Dept

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In albums, ambient, blues, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, punk, rock, soul Tags new releases, albums, Dave, Solange, Beyonce, Foals, Townes Van Zandt, Flight of the Conchords, Stella Donnelly, Money For Rope, Test Dept, Nick Waterhouse, The Coathangers, Phillipi and Rodrigo, Bilge Pump, Neighbourhood Records, Columbia Records, Warner Bros, Fat Possum, Secretly Canadian, Sub Pop, Cheersquad Records and Tapes, One Little Indian, Innovative Leisure, Suicide Squeeze, Deewee, Gringo Records
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New albums: Snapped Ankles, Royal Trux, Self Esteem, The Comet Is Coming, Alice Phoebe Lou, Our Native Daughters, Hand Habits, Hejira, Robert Forster, Teen, Durand Jones, Japanese House

March 6, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Snapped Ankles

Snapped Ankles

This week’s selection roundup includes a raucous return for Royal Trux after 19 years and Robert Forster’s second in a decade, plus a chorus of of beautiful vocalists from Self Esteem to Alice Phoebe Lou and a whole lot more

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In albums, ambient, blues, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, punk, rock, soul Tags Songs, albums, new releases, Royal Trux, Self Esteem, Rebecca Taylor, Slow Club, The Comet Is Coming, Alice Phoebe Lou, Our Native Daughters, Hand Habits, Hejira, Robert Forster, Teen, Durand Jones and the Indications, The Japanese House, Fiction Records, Impulse Records, Smithsonian Folkways, Fat Possum, Saddle Creek Records, Lima Limo Records, Tapete, Carpark Records, Dead Oceans, Dirty Hit, Snapped Ankles, Hawkwind
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New albums: Sleaford Mods, Julia Jacklin, Yola, Little Simz, The Unthanks, Du Blonde, Desperate Journalist, Teeth of the Sea, James Yorkston, Tullycraft, Spellling, Drenge, Moto Vamp, Le Superhomard

February 27, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Sleaford Mods whip it up with Policy Cream and more songs from their new album

Sleaford Mods whip it up with Policy Cream and more songs from their new album

A mammoth selection of new releases across many genres includes the Notts duo Sleaford Mods, Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin, rapper LIttle Simz, and exquisite settings by The Unthanks

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In albums, ambient, blues, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, punk, rock, soul, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, Sleaford Mods, Andrew Fearns, Jason Williamson, Julia Jacklin, Yola, Little Simz, Teeth of the Sea, The Unthanks, Maxine Peake, Emily Brontë, Du Blonde, Beth Jeans Houghton, James Yorkston, Desperate Journalist, Tullycraft, Spellling, Chrystia Cabral, Drenge, Moto Vamp, Le Superhomard, Various, Extreme Eating Records, Transgressive, Nonesuch Records, AGE 101, Rocket Recordings, Rabble Rouser, Moshi Moshi, Domino Records, Fierce Panda, Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records, Sacred Bones Records, Infectious Records, Elefant, Cherry Red Records
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New albums: Chaka Khan, Ladytron, Piroshka, Methyl Ethel, Cass McCombs, Stats, Czarface and Ghostface Killah, Bis, Homeshake

February 18, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Back in business: Glasgow’s Bis

Back in business: Glasgow’s Bis

Alongside full funk and pop from Prince’s great friend Chaka, experimental, indie and electronica dominate this week’s roundup, including Australia’s Methyl Ethel and long due return from Glasgow’s catchy popsters Bis

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In albums, ambient, dance music, electronica, experimental, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, post-punk, punk, rock Tags new releases, albums, Piroshka, Lush, Moose, Elastica, Chaka Khan, Methyl Ethel, Cass McCombs, Stats, Ladytron, Czarface, Ghostface Killah, Wu-Tang Clan, Bis, Homeshake, Bella Union, Diary Records, Island Records, 4AD, ANTI Records, Memphis Industries, !K7, Silver Age, Last Night From Glasgow, Sinderlyn
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New albums: International Teachers of Pop, Yak, LCD Soundsystem, Elder Island, Mercury Rev (& various), Flat Worms, Jessica Pratt, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Panda Bear, Lemonheads

February 11, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Listen and learn: Adrian, Leonore and Dean from International Teachers of Pop

Listen and learn: Adrian, Leonore and Dean from International Teachers of Pop

Electronic pop from the International Teacher and Elder Island, Yak’s long -awaited indie, covers by Mercury Rev and Lemonheads, slow beauty by Jessica Pratt and lo-fi live studio recordings by LCD Soundsystem are among this week’s bumper roundup

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In albums, dance music, electronica, folk, funk, indie, post-punk, pop, rock, soul Tags Songs, albums, new releases, International Teachers of Pop, Yak, LCD Soundsystem, Elder Island, Mercury Rev, Susanne Sundfør, Margo Price, Bobbie Gentry, Beth Orton, Hope Sandoval, Lucinda Williams, Flat Worms, Jessica Pratt, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Panda Bear, Lemonheads, Evan Dando, Desolate Spools Records, Third Man Records, Bella Union, Columbia Records, God? Records, City Slang, CTI, Domino Records, Fire Records
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New albums: Beirut, The Specials, Ian Brown, Rustin Man, Tiny Ruins, Unloved, The Cool Greenhouse, Angel Bat Dawid, Cherry Glazerr

February 4, 2019 Peter Kimpton
The Specials are in their 40th anniversary, but how does the new album shape up?

The Specials are in their 40th anniversary, but how does the new album shape up?

Brass beauty from Beirut, a 40th anniversary album from The Specials. and a new solo album from the Stone Roses frontman are among this week’s roundup of releases that are various experimental, rock, electronica and more

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In ambient, classical, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, punk, rock, soul Tags Songs, new releases, albums, Beirut, Zach Condon, The Specials, Terry Hall, Ian Brown, The Stone Roses, Rustin Man, Paul Webb, Talk Talk, Unloved, David Holmes, Tiny Ruins, Hollie Fullbrook, The Cool Greenhouse, Tom Greenhouse, Angel Bat Dawid, Cherry Glazerr, 4AD, UMC, Virgin EMI, Domino Records, Heavenly Recordings, Marathon Records, Hidden Bay Records, International Anthem Co, Secretly Canadian
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New albums: Toy, Swervedriver, Better Oblivion Community Center (Conor Oberst & Phoebe Bridgers), DAWN, Rat Boy, Sunflower Bean, Mike Krol

January 29, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Dawn Richard - spreading her musical wings

Dawn Richard - spreading her musical wings

From an experimental album by New Orleans artist DAWN to a collaboration between Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers, as well as a return by 90s shoegazers Swervedriver, this week’s roundup has plenty of surprises

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In albums, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, funk, hip hop, indie, pop, post-punk, punk, reggae, rock, soul Tags albums, new releases, Toy, Swervedriver, Better Oblivion Community Center, Conor Oberst, Phoebe Bridgers, DAWN, Rat Boy, Sunflower Bean, Mike Krol, Tough Love, Rock Action Records, Dead Oceans, Local Action Records, Parlophone, Lucky Number, Merge Records
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New albums: Toro y Moi, The Twilight Sad, Steve Mason, Steve Gunn, James Blake, Juliana Hatfield, Lost Under Heaven, Be Svendsen

January 18, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Quirky, funky and colourful: freelance Tory y Moi

Quirky, funky and colourful: freelance Tory y Moi

Our latest roundup of new releases includes an emotional return for The Twilight Sad and Steve Gunn, catchy quirkiness from Toro Y Moi, solid alt-rock from Juliana Hatfield, cosmic pop from Steve Mason, and dire warnings from Lost Under Heaven

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In albums, ambient, blues, dance music, electronica, experimental, funk, garage, hip hop, indie, pop, post-punk, punk, rock, soul, trip-hop Tags Songs, albums, new releases, Toro y Moi, The Twilight Sad, Steve Mason, Steve Gunn, James Blake, Juliana Hatfield, Lost Under Heaven, Be Svendsen, The Beta Band, Scott Hutchison, Carpark Records, Rock Action Records, Double Six, Domino Records, Matador Records, Polydor, American Laundromat, Mute Records, Music For Dreams
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New albums: Deerhunter, Sharon Van Etten, You Tell Me, Jeffrey Lewis, Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, Tallies, The Silver Field

January 11, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Deerhunter

Deerhunter

Getting ahead with the forthcoming releases over mid-January, melancholy, dystopian beauty is a predominant trend from Deerhunter, Sharon Van Etten, You Tell Me and more, with a dash of joy from Jeffrey Lewis covering The Fall

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In albums, ambient, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, rock Tags new releases, albums, Deerhunter, Bradley Cox, Sharon Van Etten, You Tell Me, Peter Brewis, Field Music, Jeffrey Lewis, Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, Tallies, The Silver Field, Coral Rose, 4AD, Jagjaguwar, Memphis Industries, Rough Trade, Sonic Cathedral, Kanine, Fear of Missing Out Records, O Genesis
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Gazelle Twin to Villagers: favourite albums of 2018 – part 2

December 30, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Gazelle Twin - aka Elizabeth Bernholz, pushing the musical boundaries on Brexit Britain, past and present, with her extraordinary album Pastoral

Gazelle Twin - aka Elizabeth Bernholz, pushing the musical boundaries on Brexit Britain, past and present, with her extraordinary album Pastoral

The second part of our roundup of outstanding albums of 2018, in alphabetical order by title, marked by a number of great debuts from young bands, as well as more established artists releasing their best work to date

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In albums, ambient, blues, classical, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, punk, reggae, rock, soul, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, Marlowe, L'Orange, Solemn Brigham, Mattiel, Hookworms, Go-Kart Mozart, Lawrence, Creep Show, John Grant, Stephen Mallinder, Cabbage, Cabaret Voltaire, Field Music, Gazelle Twin, White Denim, The Nightingales, Farao, Ólafur Arnalds, Ought, First Aid Kit, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Orielles, Jon Hopkins, Thee Oh Sees, Shame, Tunng, Jon Spencer, Courtney Barnett, Villagers, Suede, Josh T Pearson, Arctic Monkeys, Ezra Furman, Sunflower Bean, Wax Chattels, Parquet Courts, Jeffrey Lewis, Olivia Chaney, Hen Oggled, Richard Dawson, Domino Records
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Anna Calvi to Idles: favourite albums of 2018 – part 1

December 29, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Dystopia depicted: Gruff Rhys’s album Babelsberg

Dystopia depicted: Gruff Rhys’s album Babelsberg

The first part of our annual roundup of notable albums includes several great debuts by young bands, plus work that reflects dystopian political turmoil, gender issues and growing human relationship with technology

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In albums, blues, country, classical, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, punk, reggae, rock, soul Tags albums, new releases, BEAK, The Breeders, Franz Ferdinand, David Byrne, Julia Holter, Gruff Rhys, Jack White, Paul Steel, Young Fathers, Aphex Twin, Czarface, MF DOOM, Joan As Policewoman, Mastersystem, Scott Hutchison, Frightened Rabbit, Low, Trembling Bells, Whyte Horses, The Beths, Goat Girl, Father John Misty, Kamasi Washington, Drinks, Cate Le Bon, Bodega, Teleman, Kathryn Joseph, Anna Calvi, IDLES, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Gwenno, LUMP, Laura Marling, Mike Lindsay, Django Django, BC Camplight, Dream Wife
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New Albums …

Featured
Favourite Albums of 2025 - Part 3.jpeg
Dec 18, 2025
Favourite albums of 2025 - Part Three
Dec 18, 2025

Welcome to the third and final part of Song Bar favourite albums of 2025. There is also Part One, and Part Two. 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

Dec 18, 2025
Favourite albums of 2025 - Part Two.jpeg
Dec 17, 2025
Favourite albums of 2025 - Part Two
Dec 17, 2025

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

Dec 17, 2025
Favourite albums of 2025 - Part 1 updated.jpg
Dec 16, 2025
Favourite albums of 2025 - Part One
Dec 16, 2025

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

Dec 16, 2025
Juliana Hatfield.jpeg
Dec 16, 2025
Juliana Hatfield: Lightning Might Strike
Dec 16, 2025

New album: Personal upheaval, grief, powerlessness, trauma, sudden change inform the title and colour the lyrics of this latest LP by the seasoned Boston indie artist but her songs are packed with brutally honest, candid, concise reflections and warm, catchy, stirring riffs and melodies

Dec 16, 2025
Dove Ellis - Blizzard.jpeg
Dec 9, 2025
Dove Ellis: Blizzard
Dec 9, 2025

New album: An extraordinarily mature, passionate, poetic, and outstandingly powerful debut by the Manchester-based Galway-born singer-songwriter, whose soaring delivery has instant echoes of Jeff Buckley and lyrics that go above and beyond

Dec 9, 2025
Spíra by Ólöf Arnalds.jpeg
Dec 5, 2025
Ólöf Arnalds: Spíra
Dec 5, 2025

New album: A gorgeous, delicate, ethereal first release in a decade by the Icelandic singer-songwriter, acoustic instruments and her gentle, high, pure voice, all in her native language, caressing this listening experience like pure waters of some slowly trickling glacial stream

Dec 5, 2025
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

new songs …

Featured
Deadletter - To The Brim.jpeg
Dec 19, 2025
Song of the Day: DEADLETTER - To The Brim
Dec 19, 2025

Song of the Day: A moody, mysterious minute-long intro with gentle bursts of brass and woodwind veils what becomes a punchy new lead single by the Leeds post-punk band heralding their second LP - Existence is Bliss out on 27 February via SO Recordings

Dec 19, 2025
Greentea Peng - Prisoners Round.jpeg
Dec 18, 2025
Song of the Day: Greentea Peng - Prisoners Round
Dec 18, 2025

Song of the Day: Following March 2025’s acclaimed album, Tell Dem It’s Sunny, the south-east London artist (aka Aria Wells) returns with another smoky, dark, track with hues of blues, dub and soul and Portishead-esque trip-hop, focusing on the trappings and challenges of modern life

Dec 18, 2025
Kaitlyn Aurela Smith - I Miss The Way You Swim.jpg
Dec 17, 2025
Song of the Day: Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - I Miss the Way You Swim
Dec 17, 2025

Song of the Day: Beautiful modular synths and intermingling orchestral sounds ripple in this work by the American composer, performer and producer in a piece shaped by loss of someone loved, taken from an upcoming instrumental album Thoughts On The Future, out on Nettwerk Music

Dec 17, 2025
The Paper Kites - If You Go There.jpeg
Dec 16, 2025
Song of the Day: The Paper Kites - Change Of The Wind
Dec 16, 2025

Song of the Day: A beautiful, reflective number by the alternative folk-rock band from Melbourne fronted by Sam Bentley, heralding their seventh studio album If You Go There, I Hope You Find It, out on 23 January via Nettwerk Music Group

Dec 16, 2025
Courtney Marie Andrews - Valentine.jpeg
Dec 15, 2025
Song of the Day: Courtney Marie Andrews - Little Picture Of A Butterfly
Dec 15, 2025

Song of the Day: Beautiful, delicate, fluttering, eclectic, heartbreak folk and Americana by the singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona, heralding her forthcoming new album, Valentine, out on 16 January via Loose Future

Dec 15, 2025
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Dec 12, 2025
Song of the Day: Peter Perrett - PROUD TO BE SELF-HATING (irony and provocation)
Dec 12, 2025

Song of the Day: The veteran British artist, originally frontman of The Only Ones, and now with three solo albums, who actually has Jewish heritage, releases a gently powerful, nuanced, pro-Palestine acoustic number as a response to ongoing genocide by the Israeli government, out on Domino Records

Dec 12, 2025
Maddie Ashman - Jaded.jpeg
Dec 11, 2025
Song of the Day: Maddie Ashman - Jaded
Dec 11, 2025

Song of the Day: Magical, delicate, eclectic, intricate, experimental microtonal music by the London musician and singer, released alongside a longer track, In Autumn My Heart Breaks

Dec 11, 2025
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Dec 10, 2025
Song of the Day: Ye Vagabonds - The Flood
Dec 10, 2025

Song of the Day: Wonderfully warm, rich, lively fiddle-driven Irish folk by the award-winning band fronted by Carlow brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn with a heartbreaking number about the housing crisis, heralding their upcoming new album, All Tied Together, out on Rough Trade’s River Lea Recordings on 30 January

Dec 10, 2025
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Dec 9, 2025
Song of the Day: DBA! A Poet And A Clown
Dec 9, 2025

Song of the Day: Catchy fuzz-guitar indie rock with a swagger by the Liverpool-formed trio of Sam Warren, James Lindberg and Joshua Grant in a song described as “a confessional story of desire tangled with religious guilt”

Dec 9, 2025
Puma Blue - Croak Dream.jpeg
Dec 8, 2025
Song of the Day: Puma Blue - Croak Dream
Dec 8, 2025

Song of the Day: A dark, esoteric, mysterious and stylish title track with a hint of Radiohead and playing with the idea of knowing your future death, from the experimental indie/goth/ambient London artist Jacob Allen’s forthcoming album out on 6 February via Play It Again Sam

Dec 8, 2025
ELIZA - Anyone Else.jpeg
Dec 7, 2025
Song of the Day: ELIZA - Anyone Else
Dec 7, 2025

Song of the Day: Stripped-back, bluesy, fuzzy funk with slight echoes of Prince and alt-R&B are conjured up in this love song by the London-based singer-songwriter Eliza Caird, her first single for two years, now off the mainstream and out on Log Off Records

Dec 7, 2025
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Dec 6, 2025
Song of the Day: Tiga (featuring Fcukers) - Silk Scarf
Dec 6, 2025

Song of the Day: A fun, sensual, quirkily oddball electronica dance single with a slick, fetish-flirtatious ode to a favourite smooth material by the Montreal musician (Tiga James Sontag) joined here with vocals by the New York band (Shanny Wise and Jackson Walker Lewis), and heralding Tiga’s upcoming album Hotlife, out in April on Secret City Records

Dec 6, 2025

Word of the week

Featured
Hangover.jpeg
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
autumn-red-leaves.jpeg
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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