Driven by industrial drum hits and crunchy synthesizers, Lorde explores gender and its meaning to her personally in an incredibly poignant way.

Having gone to see "The Phoenician Scheme" earlier this week, I was struck by how King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard seem to be at a similar point in their career as Wes Anderson. Both the director and the band are indie darlings producing colorful works of art. Both became known for their unusual and unique approach for their craft. And both have a dedicated fanbase who are eternally split on which of their works is the definitive 'masterpiece': a sign of both ... read more

Little Simz' hurt takes on many forms on her latest album, "Lotus". There's a punk rage eminating from her resentment, which fuels energetic highlights such as 'Thief' or 'Flood', yet it is balanced with a reflective composure flowing from her grief, which is most tangible on 'Lonely' and 'Blue'. Much of the rest of the album lies on the spectrum between these two emotional states, making for a deeply moving postmortem on the breaking ... read more

Magic is real and this album is the proof. "Magic, Alive!" touches on themes of death and remembrence, yet simultaneously it is probably the most 'alive' album I've heard this year: vibrant production, melodic flows, and poetic writing all come together to create this utterly entranching experience, which captures the touch of sunshine in sonic form in the most beautiful manner.

Invigorating songwriting coupled with incredible production. I do wish some of the song names were thought through a little more. How am I going to recommend a song named 'Dudu'?

On of the year's most welcome surprises. The passion and talent shining through on "Egotrip" is undeniable, and I can't wait to see where John Michel and Anthony James go from here.

Compared to their 2022 debut, caroline's sophmore album is somewhat lacking in stand-outs such as 'Dark blue', yet makes up for it with a more cohesive tracklist. In terms of ambiance, however, the band has made no compromises: echoing vocal melodies, soft string plucks, and erratic drums all combine to form impressionistic folk songs that call to mind hazy memories of sweet summers long past. No matter how avant-garde "caroline 2" gets, that warmth remains: a soft ... read more

If this is truly the end of Swans as we know it, then it is a fitting one. “Birthing”, both as an album and as a title, encapsulates the core essence of these past six albums beautifully. This is art for the unborn, for the unmade. These are towering monuments of sound rising up out of the primordial chaos. These are chords forged in nebulas. These are unholy rhythms born of flames. This, like The Seer, like To Be Kind, like The Glowing Man is an endless cycle of spiritual ... read more

A friend recommended me this artist based on a live performance he saw and I understand the appeal. The textured layers of synths, the atmospheric linear builds, and the whole retro urbanist branding all work together wonderfully. I can almost see the future city of the past when I close my eyes while listening to this.

The most exciting aspect of this new crossover EP between Flume and JPEGMAFIA is the whole 'behind-the-scenes' feel of it, which is most present on 'Track 1'. Because of this, however, "We Live In A Society" really is nothing more than a publicised record of a studio session, offering little in terms of actual substance.

Writhing in the mud along the banks of the Acheron, which is slithering down through the black valleys between the lifeless mountains of far-off Idaho, Alexander Kent cries out in anguish as he once again burns under the unforgiving gaze of almighty God. It is a scream I did not think I would hear again, after the death of Sprain, yet it comes to me now, echoing through the gorges. It is a scream unlike any other, full of anguish, despair, and loathing, and unashamed in its shamefulness. Yet I ... read more

In many ways, "The Scholars" manages to strike a perfect balance between past and future. This is most obviously true in this album's sound and structure. The band has arguably done rock operas before, "Twin Fantasy" being the most obvious example, yet they have never stuck so closely to the traditional idea of a rock opera as they have on this album. It's the most anthemic they've ever sounded, for one, as well as the most bright and bold. As a whole I ... read more

Model/Actriz continue to stand out in the field of industrial rock, even more so on Pirouette than they did on Dogsbody, thanks to the vulnerability at the core of their music. The openness with which the band approaches themes of queer longing and the anxieties that come intertwined with this desire grants Pirouette a sense of delicacy even at its loudest, shrillest highs. This is not an album that is solely focused on purposeless noise: it is about love, and what we force ourselves to become ... read more

Disgustingly funny and in tune with internet culture, whilst also bringing the best dirty rhythms modern post-punk has to offer. It’s a Viagra Boys album, alright!

YEEHAW! Welcome to the apocalypse baby!

Short, simple, sweet bliss.

[85 -> 90]

It's no wonder therefore that I kept getting reminded of the movie "Inside Llewyn Davis" as I was listening to Cameron Winter's debut album. Squint and "Heavy Metal" looks like a nostalgic tribute to the New York folk scene of the early 1960's, with its warm vintage sound shining through the frost. What sets this album apart, however, is its vulnerability, which is felt in every pained lyric Winter croons.

The Orchestra (For Now) noticeably took heavy inspiration from their contemporaries in the Windmill scene (most notably from Black Country, New Road), yet their talent is undeniable. This debut EP from the band therefore shows enough promise to get me excited about how they’ll develop their sound further.

It took a little while to get into “Forever is a Feeling”, but ultimately I couldn’t help but get charmed by all of Lucy Dacus’ indieisms once again.

[80 -> 85]

Best headache of my life!!!