David Welsh

Planta then provides a passable imitation of themselves, but sadly it’s nowhere near as good as they were.

A mostly harmless exercise in selling records.

A genuine career highlight and a collection that can only get better and better with repeat spins.

Little Dragon clearly weren't broken, so they haven't tried to fix themselves; they have instead filed their art into an incisive point, and with Ritual Union stand at the top of their trade. This is far more than instantly-forgotten ad fodder.

For all the anticipatory acclaim thrown in The Entire City's direction, it is a product of its influences; influences worn proudly throughout an album built on an avant garde foundation of minimalist artistry and stark melancholia.

It’s not that rap has to have a social conscience to be engaging – Big Boi‘s Chico Dusty LP was one of 2010’s best albums – but Rolling Papers falls short on far too many other fronts to justify the hype about its creator.

Wye Oak have in Civilian mastered the trade of a range of subgenres - from post-rock to dream pop - and brought them together in an album, journey and experience that captivates from start to finish.

It would be the easiest thing in the world to dismiss A Year Without Rain as a cynical implementation of fan base exploitation; Gomez is, with regards to a certain demographic, a licence to print money. She also, however, boasts an embarrassment of talents, and those talents are more often than not afforded the space to breathe on a solid pop offering.

Without wishing to unduly gloss over the intermitting albums, Outbursts captures and builds upon the intangible beauty of their debut effort. Turin Brakes are, once again, a must-hear.

A hair-raising eight years after the seminal Melody AM and some four since its successor, The Understanding, Röyksopp have deemed us worthy to enter their world once more. On this electrifying evidence, the wait was more than worth it.