Robert Plummer
Prolific Bostonian singer-songwriter Leah Callahan returns with her most confident blend of UK alternative music styles to date. From shoegaze to synth-pop and beyond, she takes a deep dive into her past and ours.
1w
This is soul music in its way, but not the kind that offers a panacea: it’s a brave, warts-and-all depiction of the side of ourselves we don’t always like to see.
2mo
Inklings is their most ambitious project yet, with forays into space-rock, downer-rock and other sub-genres.
2mo
No-one can accuse Tinariwen of not walking it like they talk it: you could take them out of the desert, but you could never take the desert out of them. In an often fickle and fad-obsessed music industry, that integrity is something to treasure. And judging by the vigour and vitality of this latest album, their rugged tales of the Sahara will continue to inspire for many years to come.
3mo
Written in 1974 but unrecorded and unreleased until now, Squeeze’s 16th studio album is both their oldest and their newest work. Its compelling song cycle of a fictional nightclub is more than just a musical path not taken – it’s a late-career shot in the arm for the band.
3mo
Self-proclaimed gypsy punks Gogol Bordello return with their ninth album, a polished amalgam of folk roots and blistering rock.
3mo
Sweary electro-punk veterans Sleaford Mods return with another confrontational take on our woeful zeitgeist.
4mo
From Wakefield to the world, their journey has seen many triumphs and setbacks, yet their boundless energy and their creative drive are fully intact. Not all indie bands can weather the transition from young bucks to elder statesmen, but the Jarman brothers have passed that test with flying colours.
5mo
Strong tunes and impassioned vocal performances never go out of style – and Fragments is an album that’s far more than the sum of its pieces.
7mo
If you want to rediscover a time when dance music still had grit in its oyster, the uncultured pearls of this box set are sure to dazzle your ears.
7mo
As the darkness of Winter draws near, this album cuts deeper than a Halloween novelty: by surrendering to the scream inside, Florence has produced possibly her finest work yet.
7mo
Walsh may have set himself a daunting task, but those who have ears to hear may find that these songs will long endure in their hearts and minds.
7mo
Ultimately, it’s an artfully constructed collection that gives full rein to their varied influences and makes for an enthralling listen.
8mo
Chamber-pop maestro Neil Hannon shows his sombre side on his first standalone studio album of the 2020s. It’s an affecting set of well-orchestrated songs that can bring consolation to the gloomiest hours.
8mo
Since they first emerged in 1981, Chameleons have often been described as the most underrated band of their generation. But now, the release of their fifth studio album could finally bring them the acclaim they deserve.
9mo
There will always be a primal need for people to have their minds assaulted by some heavy rock. And right now, Deftones are the go-to guys for a state-of-the-art smash-and-grab raid on your synapses. Long may they reign.
9mo
A brave record that wears its heart on its sleeve, Moisturizer has a confessional tone that lends authenticity to its lyrics. Musically, too, the album pulls no punches, thanks to a thundering triple-guitar attack and an assured rhythm section. Wet Leg are in the big league now – and on this evidence, they have everything it takes to stay there.
11mo
Older and wiser they may be, but that doesn’t stop them exploring “everyday sexuality” and growing pains.
1y
Sparks have been brothers in art-pop for more than half a century, but their creative wellspring is far from running dry. Although their 28th studio album finds them on a new label, long-time fans will still recognise their inimitable ironic style.
1y
Softening her sound without sacrificing her edge, Billy Nomates takes a great artistic leap forward on her third and best album to date.
1y
New York songstress Suzanne Vega mixes the urban and the spiritual on her 10th studio album, a life-affirming experience that runs the gamut from bliss to dystopia. Robert Plummer buckles up for the flight.
1y
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