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Album reviews roundup: Future Islands, Black Thought, Public Enemy, Emmy The Great, Sylvan Esso, Hen Ogledd, Kronos Quartet, Blake Scott, Slow Pulp

October 12, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Nine more albums of note

Nine more albums of note

Album reviews roundup: Hip hop comes up strong this week with Black Thought and a recent Public Enemy release with heavyweight guests, but there’s not shortage of other highly original artists from Future Islands to Sylvan Esso

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In albums, classical, blues, country, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, poetry, pop, post-punk, punk, psychedelia, prog-rock, rock, traditional, soundtracks Tags albums, new releases, Future Islands, Black Thought, The Roots, Pusha T, Killer Mike, Public Enemy, Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Cypress Hill, George Clinton, Beastie Boys, Mike D, Ad-Rock, Run-DMC, Rapsody, Emmy The Great, Sylvan Esso, Hen Oggled, Richard Dawson, Kronos Quartet, Pete Seeger, Lee Knight, Blake Scott, The Peep Tempel, Slow Pulp, 4AD, Republica, Def Jam, Bella Union, Loma Vista, Domino Records, Smithsonian Folkways, Wing Sing Records, Winspear Records
Comment

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: Phoebe Bridgers, Norah Jones, Neil Young, Chloe x Halle, Jockstrap, Jonah Yano, Noveller, Article 54, Bessie Jones

June 23, 2020 Peter Kimpton
This week’s picture puzzle starts with Phoebe Bridgers, top right

This week’s picture puzzle starts with Phoebe Bridgers, top right

This week’s selection includes albums of marvellous melancholy and mellowness from Phoebe Bridgers and Norah Jones, topical disco, genre-benders Jockstrap and older material newly released from Neil Young and Bessie Jones

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In albums, ambient, blues, dance music, country, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, soul, soundtracks, traditional, gospel Tags albums, new releases, Phoebe Bridgers, Norah Jones, Neil Young, Chloe x Halle, Jonah Yano, Noveller, Article 54, Rhodri Marsden, Jockstrap, Bessie Jones, Dead Oceans, Virgin, Warner Bros, Parkwood Entertainment, Columbia Records, Innovative Leisure, Bandcamp, Warp Records, Alan Lomax Archive
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New albums: Bob Dylan, Jehnny Beth, Wesley Gonzalez, White Denim, Drab City, Larkin Poe, Orlando Weeks, GoGo Penguin, Blanco White

June 17, 2020 Peter Kimpton
This week’s album picks, beginnig with GoGo Penguin (top right)

This week’s album picks, beginnig with GoGo Penguin (top right)

One of the best from Bob in years leads out this week’s team of releases, alongside some outstanding work from former lead singers from other bands, including from Savages, The Macabees and Let’s Wrestle, among others

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In albums, ambient, blues, classical, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, rock, soul, soundtracks Tags albums, new releases, Bob Dylan, Jehnny Beth, Wesley Gonzalez, White Denim, Drab City, Larkin Poe, Orlando Weeks, GoGo Penguin, Blanco White, Columbia Records, 20L07 Music, Moshi Moshi, Radio Milk Records, Bella Union, Tricki-Woo Records, PIAS, Blue Note, Yucatan Records
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New albums: Lady Gaga, Deerhoof, The Cool Greenhouse, Nicole Atkins, Coriky, Blake Mills, Caleb Landry Jones, PINS, Choir Boy, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

June 3, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Match the covers to the artists …

Match the covers to the artists …

This week’s selection includes Lady Gaga throwing in the full pop kitchen sink, an apocalyptic concept from Deerfhoof, a witty debut by The Cool Greenhouse, plus Nicole Atkins, Blake Mills, PINS and more

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In albums, ambient, blues, classical, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, rock, soul, traditional, soundtracks Tags new releases, albums, Lady Gaga, Deerhoof, The Cool Greenhouse, Nicole Atkins, Coriky, Blake Mills, Caleb Landry Jones, PINS, Choir Boy, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Streamline, Interscope, Joyful Noise Recordings, Bandcamp, Melodic Records, Single Lock Records, Dischord, New Deal, Sacred Bones Records, Dais Records, Flightless Records
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New albums: BC Camplight, Ezra Furman, Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes, Hazel English, Lucinda Williams, Santrofi, Lennon Stella, Kirsty Merryn, Sneakbo, Joe Hisaishi, Pole

April 30, 2020 Peter Kimpton
BC Camplight

BC Camplight

This week’s roundup includes the finest yet from humorously dark BC Camplight, the Sex Education soudntrack by Ezra Furman, transcendant pop from Hazel English and a gorgeous compilation by the Studio Ghibili composer Joe Hisaishi

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, classical, country, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, punk, rock, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, BC Camplight, Ezra Furman, Tom Misch, Yussef Dayes, Hazel English, Lucinda Williams, Santrofi, Lennon Stella, Kirsty Merryn, Sneakbo, Joe Hisaishi, Pole, Bella Union, Beyond The Groove, Marathon Artists, Highway 20 Records, Outhere, Insanity Records, Island Records, Warp Records, Decca Gold, Decca, UMG Japan, Mute Records
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Aldous Harding to Richard Dawson to Michael Kiwanuka: favourite albums of 2019 – part 1

December 30, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Aldous Harding wins the prize for most unusual moves for her song, The Barrel

Aldous Harding wins the prize for most unusual moves for her song, The Barrel

The first part of our selection of the pick of albums from 2019 by Song Bar readers and the Landlord editor, in alphabetical order by title, not a ‘best of’ or countdown. The second part is here.

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, classical, country, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, musical theatre, metal, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip-hop Tags albums, favourites of the year, Richard Dawson, Chali 2na, Krafty Kuts, Angel Olsen, Amyl and the Sniffers, Marika Hackman, Sudan Archives, Edwyn Collins, Pom Poko, Self Esteem, Rebecca Taylor, Lizzo, Julia Jacklin, Beck, Aldous Harding, Fontaines D.C., Minyo Crusaders, WaqWaq Kingdom, Sleaford Mods, Vampire Weekend, Anna Meredith, Shura, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Peter Perrett, Little Simz, Bonnie Prince Billy, Nilüfer Yanya, International Teachers of Pop, Brittany Howard, Alabama Shakes, Michael Kiwanuka, Polydor, Columbia Records, Desolate Spools Records, ATO Records, PIAS, Domino Records, AGE 101, Secretly Canadian, Moshi Moshi, Black Prince Fury, Extreme Eating Records, Phantom Limb, Mais Um, Partisan Records, 4AD, Capitol Records, Transgressive, Nice Life, Atlantic Records, Fiction Records, Bella Union, AED, Stones Throw, EMI, Rough Trade, Jagjaguwar, Manphibian Music
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New albums: Stormzy, Free Nationals (Anderson .Paak), St Vincent/Kraviz, U-Bahn, Arlo Parks, Burial, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Daniel Lopatin

December 28, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Stormzy

Stormzy

The final roundup of new albums of 2019 includes UK grime king Stormzy’s second LP, Anderson .Paak’s backing band, a St Vincent remix, a Burial compilation, and refreshing indie electronica from Melbourne in the form of U-Bahn

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In albums, ambient, dub, electronica, experimental, funk, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelia, punk, rock, soul, soundtracks Tags albums, new releases, Stormzy, Free Nationals, Anderson Paak, U-Bahn, Arlo Parks, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Daniel Lopatin, Oneohtrix Point Never, St Vincent, Kraviz, Burial, #Merky, Atlantic Records, Empire, OBE, Melodic Records, Future Folklore Records, Beatnik Creative, Castle Face, Warp Records, Loma Vista, Hyperdub
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New albums: The Comet Is Coming, The Who, Carla dal Forno, Ms Banks, Tune-Yards, Nolan Potter's Nightmare Band, Doon Kanda, Stick In The Wheel, Jeremy Walmsley, Various

December 10, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Dan Leavers, Shabaka Hutchings and Max Hallett of The Comet Is Coming

Dan Leavers, Shabaka Hutchings and Max Hallett of The Comet Is Coming

This week’s roundup includes The Comet Is Coming’s second album of 2019, the first by the Who for half a generation, beautiful stark work by Carla Dal Forno as well as Doon Kanda and psyche by Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band

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In albums, ambient, dance music, dub, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, soul, soundtracks, rocksteady, trip-hop, electronica Tags albums, new releases, The Comet Is Coming, The Who, Carla Dal Forno, Ms Banks, tUnE-yArDs, Nolan Potter's Nightmare Band, Doon Kanda, Stick In The Wheel, Jeremy Walmsley, Various, Joe Meek, Impulse Records, Polydor, Kallista Records, Castle Face, From Here, Hyperdub, Cherry Red Records
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New albums: FKA twigs, Moor Mother, Kele, Girl Ray, Omni, Land of Kush, Mount Eerie, Son Of Town Hall, Bjork remixes

November 14, 2019 Peter Kimpton
FKA twigs

FKA twigs

This week’s roundup is highlighted by extraordinarily alternative female artists - FKA twigs and Moor Mother, as well as a new solo album by Block Party frontman Kele, bringing another political edge

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In African, albums, ambient, country, blues, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, grime, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, psychedelia, punk, reggae, traditional, soundtracks, soul, trip-hop Tags albums, new releases, FKA Twigs, Moor Mother, Kele, Bloc Party, Girl Ray, Land of Kush, Mount Eerie, Phil Everum, Julie Doiron, Son of Town Hall, Björk, Fever Ray, The Knife, Young Turks, Giovanni Records, KOLA Records, !K7, Moshi Moshi, Sub Pop, Omni, Constellation Records, PW Elverum, Sun Records, One Little Indian
Comment

New albums: Ty Segall, Francis Lung, Mabel, Clairo, Föllakzoid, Cross Record, Nérija, Native Harrow, Haiku Salut, Tyler Childers, Teskey Brothers, Mick Trouble

August 7, 2019 Peter Kimpton
New art … Ty Segall

New art … Ty Segall

A bumper selection includes a lauded 13th album by the Californian rocker, Mancunian musician Francis Lung, Mabel the daughter of Neneh Cherry, and a project for a new electronica soundtrack to a Buster Keaton film

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In albums, ambient, blues, classical, country, dance music, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, garage, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, post-punk, pop, punk, reggae, rock, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags albums, new releases, Ty Segall, Francis Lung, Tom McClung, Mabel, Neneh Cherry, Clairo, Föllakzoid, Cross Record, Nérija, Native Harrow, Haiku Salut, Tyler Childers, The Teskey Brothers, Mick Trouble, Drag City, Memphis Industries, Polydor, Fader Label, Sacred Bones Records, Ba Da Bing! Records, Domino Records, Different Time Records, Secret Name Records, RCA, Decca, Emotional Response, Rough Trade
Comment

New albums: black midi, Hot Chip, Mark Ronson, Prince, The Raconteurs, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Black Pumas, Luedji Luna, Merz, Bedouine, Hatchie, Titus Andronicus, Divino Niño, Bad Breeding

June 25, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Knockout stuff: black midi

Knockout stuff: black midi

This week’s huge selection includes the buzzy experimentalists black midi, rave pop from Hot Chip, funk from Georgia Anne Mulgrow, beautiful folk by Bedouine, soul from Black Pumas, and original versions from the Prince vault

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In African, albums, ambient, blues, dance music, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, pop, post-punk, punk, reggae, rock, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags new releases, albums, black midi, Hot Chip, Mark Ronson, Miley Cyrus, Lykke Li, Prince, The Raconteurs, Jack White, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Black Pumas, Luedji Luna, Merz, Bedouine, Hatchie, Titus Andronicus, Divino Niño, Bad Breeding, Rough Trade, Domino Records, Mello Music Group, ATO Records, Stems Records, Dampfzentrale, Laraaji, Ismaily, Third Man Records, Spacebomb Records, Heavenly Recordings, Merge Records, Columbia Records, Winspear Records, One Little Indian, Warner Bros, Tidal Records
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New albums: The Good, The Bad & The Queen, The Wave Pictures, Anderson .Paak, D.U.D.S, Vera Sola, Grapetooth, Bagpuss

November 27, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Vera Sola, from the video for The Colony, from her debut album, Shades

Vera Sola, from the video for The Colony, from her debut album, Shades

The first of two roundups this week of album releases from the past month includes Damon Albarn reuniting with old friends, an upbeat Wave Pictures, the brilliant DUDS. Anderson Paak, and a debut by Vera Sola

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In albums, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, post-punk, pop, rock, soul, ambient, classical, blues, electronica, soundtracks Tags Songs, albums, new releases, The Good The Bad & The Queen, Damon Albarn, Paul Simenon, Simon Tong, Tony Allen, The Wave Pictures, DUDS, Vera Sola, Anderson Paak, Q-Tip, Dr Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Grapetooth, Sandra Kerr, John Faulkner, Bagpuss, television themes, Oliver Postgate
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New albums: Jon Spencer, Marianne Faithfull, Liars, Bill Ryder-Jones, Though Gang (David Lynch), audiobooks, Charles Mingus, Two Medicine, Dead Can Dance, Molly Nilsson, Pip Blom

November 3, 2018 Peter Kimpton
From the album cover of Titles With The Word Fountain, by Liars

From the album cover of Titles With The Word Fountain, by Liars

Jon Spencer’s explosive solo to Marianne Faithfull’s gentle honesty, Bill Ryder-Jones love songs to music by the film director David Lynch, this week’s album roundup embraces a wealth of experimentation and styles

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In albums, ambient, blues, classical, dance music, electronica, experimental, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, rock, soul, soundtracks Tags new releases, albums, Jon Spencer, Marianne Faithfull, Liars, Bill Ryder-Jones, Thought Gang, David Lynch, Angelo Badalamenti, audiobooks, David Wrench, Evangeline Ling, Charles Mingus, Two Medicine, Paul Alexander, Midlake, Dead Can Dance, Molly Nilsson, Pip Blom, In The Red, BMG, Mute Records, Domino Records, Sacred Bones Records, Heavenly Recordings, BBE, Bella Union, PIAS, Dark Associations, Night School, Persona Non Grata
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New albums: Thom Yorke, Julia Holter, Ty Segall, Pill, Soap&Skin, Value Void, Gypsyfingers

October 26, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Still from the 2018 remake of Suspiria, music by Thom Yorke

Still from the 2018 remake of Suspiria, music by Thom Yorke

Otherworldly is recurring theme in this week’s releases, including Thom Yorke’s soundrack to the Suspiria remake, Julia Holter and Soap&Skin, plus pithy postpunk from Pill, and reinterpretations by Ty Segall

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In albums, ambient, classical, country, dance music, experimental, electronica, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, pop, post-punk, punk, rock, soundtracks, trip-hop, soul Tags new releases, albums, film, film soundtracks, Thom Yorke, Julia Holter, Ty Segall, Pill, Soap&Skin, Anja Plaschg, Value Void, Gypsyfingers, XL Recordings, Domino Records, Mexican Summer, PIAS, Tough Love, In The Red
Comment

New albums: Chvches, Tracyanne & Danny, Wooden Shjips, Lindi Ortega, A$AP Rocky, Agnes Obel & Various

May 29, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Heads up for Wooden Shjips

Heads up for Wooden Shjips

Synth-pop from the Scottish trio, a new collaboration featuring Camera Obscura’s singer, psych-rock from Wooden Shjips, filmic country from Lindi Ortega, braggadocio from Rocky A$AP, and a great new Late Night Tales

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In albums, country, dance music, electronica, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, pop, post-punk, rock, soul, jazz, soundtracks Tags songs, new releases, albums, Chvches, Lauren Mayberry, Glassnote Records, Virgin, Tracyanne & Danny, Tracyanne Campbell, Camera Obscura, Danny Coughlan, Crybaby, Edwyn Collins, Merge Records, Lindi Ortega, Quentin Tarantino, Wooden Shjips, Ripley Johnson, Thrill Jockey, A$AP Rocky, Skepta, Stormzy, Frank Ocean, Snoop Dogg, Moby, Agnes Obel, Ennio Morricone, Can, Yello, Ray Davies, Lee Hazlewood, Nora Dean, The Roger Webb Sound
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New Albums …

Featured
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
Iona Zajac - Bang.jpeg
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
Austra - Chin Up Buttercup.jpeg
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
Mavis Staples - Sad and Beautiful World.jpeg
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
Stella Donnelly - Love and Fortune 2.jpeg
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
picture-parlour-the-parlour-album.jpeg
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

new songs …

Featured
Flea - A Plea.jpeg
Dec 5, 2025
Song of the Day: Flea - A Plea
Dec 5, 2025

Song of the Day: A striking, powerful new single by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers bassist (aka Michael Balzary), who brings a fusion of jazz and spoken word with a fabulous band on an impassioned number about the state of the US in a culture of hatred, social and political tensions, out now on Nonesuch Records

Dec 5, 2025
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
Alewya - Night Drive.jpeg
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
Rule 31 Single Artwork.jpg
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
Sailor Honeymoon - Armchair.jpeg
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
Ellie O'Neill.jpeg
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
Danalogue.jpeg
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
Cardinals band.jpeg
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
Frank-Popp-Ensemble and Paul Weller.jpeg
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
Tessa Rose Jackson - Fear Bangs The Drum 2.jpeg
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
Melanie Baker - Sad Clown.jpeg
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
Holly Humberstone - Die Happy.jpeg
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

Word of the week

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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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