Waxahatchee steps out of the storm and into crisp daylight. The stately, open-air Americana backing 'Saint Cloud' may be a well-trodden field, but it's a desire path for a reason: it encourages the listener to slow down and breathe, and focus on the extraordinary songwriting laid bare.

Crutchfield has always written exquisite lyrics for her songs, but never have they been given so much room. The humid air that hangs over the beginning of "Fire" parts instantly as the galloping ... read more

There's a quietness in this album that's utterly captivating. Applying an outside lens to the usual layers of overdubs and harmonies strips away much of the turmoil that bubbles under most of Fleet Foxes' work. I certainly don't agree that it's smaller in scope than its predecessors; sure, the absence of navel-gazing rumination makes 'Shore' a less intensive listening experience than one might expect from the band. But its existence in a liminal space between past and future prompts thorough ... read more

A reminder that finding respite doesn't have to be escapist. Barwick's soundscapes are simple loops, but by densely populating them with choral flora she lets them dazzle in stately glory. Feel free to stroll through at a lesiurely pace - taking time to soak in the rush of the wind, the flocks of bird up high, the rustling grass - and find peace. Increasingly, we approach healing as a privilege, "mindfulness" as a frivolous marketing buzzword made to sell increasingly nebulous ... read more

The folk-rock scene that rose from West London in the late 2000s was mostly completely awful, every bit as graceless and schlocky as the Syco pop these prissy middle-class waifs were supposedly the antithesis to. Laura Marling's 'Alas, I Cannot Swim' is the best from this sorry crop by some distance, albeit mainly because it hints at the makings rather than the arrival of a landmark singer-songwriter.

Entrenched in the twee sonic trappings of its brethren, 'Alas...' flits between breezy ... read more

Each track on 'Mystic Familiar' is a giddy, whooshing race up to the tops of kaleidoscopic hills. Atop these heights the air feels thin, colours run wild, and we desperately try to take it all in before the dizzying heights lead us tumbling back down to the ground. The thrill is undeniable - how much did we miss? What will we find on the next one?

But once you find your footing, the mysticism fizzles out rather quickly; the formula becomes predictable, and before long you're left with only ... read more

I can't help but be struck by a depressing sense of déjà vu when listening to "walking in the snow", the abrasive centrepiece from Run the Jewels' latest. It's easily the cream of the new crop, as Killer Make's scathing verses highlight how desensitised the general public have become to abuse of authority by police officers - "And on the evening news, they feed you fear for free / And you so numb, you watch the cops choke out a man like me / Until my voice goes from ... read more

It certainly sounds like Track 7 of 12. As bouncy and colourful as anyone would expect from a Katy Perry song, yet somehow there's just no joy in this. Maybe it's the boilerplate vocal delivery, maybe it's the lyrics mistaking self-referencing for introspection, maybe it's the great big nothing of a bridge, but nothing clicks like it should. Ho-hum; there's worse stuff on the charts, I suppose.

Recently, I claimed 'how i'm feeling now' would likely stand as the only genuinely great lockdown release. But this five minute meme from a five-year-old TikToker might just be the exception."Emily Montes" has all the hallmark irony of current-year viral content, but it succeeds because Emily Montes herself isn't ironic - again, she is five. The slightly dated pop culture references to Frozen and Roblox are amusing nostalgia-bait for a teen audience, but for her they're genuinely what ... read more

The Weeknd could be an interesting character, but for some reason - either lack of writing talent or lack of commitment - he's woefully underdeveloped. Consequently, the dark and moody 'After Hours' is left to survive on style alone; thankfully, it mostly succeeds.

At its best, The Weeknd's latest is a languid, indulgent mess; sprawled over ice-cold synths, Abel Tesfaye's thin vocals narrate scenes of lucid hedonism and the aching reckonings that follow suit. This duality leads to plenty of ... read more

We've still got an endless amount of music centered around the pandemic to trudge through, no doubt for years to come, but I think few will manage to capture the sheer confusion of those first few weeks of lockdown quite like 'how i'm feeling now'.

As it turns out, Charli's now-signature style perfectly illustrates the current climate, and her crooked bangers shine in a different light in this new context. In any other year, "pink diamond" would be a manic ode to the dancefloor, ... read more

Underwritten, but even in these throwaway demos her vision is undeniable. The way her vocals glide over the midnight shimmer of "i want war (BUT I NEED PEACE)" is as arresting as any of her best performances, and if nothing else the package as a whole is a strong reminder of what a fabulous vocalist she is. It does, however, feel like a missed opportunity to indicate the direction of her second full-length project; "Solita" still feels like somewhat of an outlier. ... read more

Oh, piss off. Bout as "vibey" as my dog letting one rip. At least he has the decency to feign self-pity when he has the squits rather than claim he's produced ~art~.

Caribou try to add some emotional weight to their cerebral electronics on their sixth album. As a result, 'Suddenly' is much more tender than previous efforts, with songs that center atoning for past transgressions, and moving on together with family from these mistakes.

'Suddenly' never really dives deep into these topics, perhaps because Dan Snaith can't. He's obviously not a great lyricist; there's a greater effort here than in 'Our Love', but he rarely escapes from obvious rhymes like ... read more

Probably the only songwriter in the world who'd claim that 'love isn't cruel.' That optimism is Carly's central appeal in the current pop landscape, but what makes her great is her ability to mine a bevy of conflicting emotions out of a single melody.

Each track is a glitter-bomb of sentiment, but rather than instant sugar-rushes they feel layered and considered. "This Love Isn't Crazy" may be about a chronic lack of communication between partners, but it sounds triumphant as Jepsen ... read more

Definitive proof that Dua Lipa resides far above the current crop of British pop starlets, assuaging any doubts as to her place at the forefront of current pop. Hey, I can admit when I was completely wrong.

I still don't think she's a good writer, mind. If she was, she wouldn't dare pull the 'mad / bad / sad' triplet that makes "Good in Bed" an instant 4/10 at best, nor would she unravel the thrilling intensity of "Physical" in an instant with the piffle that is 'I don't ... read more

It's been quite surprising to see so many turn-of-the-decade Radio 6 acts step back into the limelight with new material over the past year or so. Unfortunately, that pleasant surprise has soon become disappointment when these acts consistently fail to stick the landing; inevitably, these new records have felt like they're trying to play catch-up with how the indie scene has unfurled in their absence, stretching the limits of the sounds that put these bands on the map in the first place to the ... read more

The rest of the album could be 40 minutes of her farting and yelling “FEMINISM” over the top and it’d probably still be AOTY just for this. I’m saying what I mean, and I mean what I say.

Pop connoisseurs rejoice, for on the third year FKA Twigs has risen. Behold her hands and her feet, for it is her herself. See her – but wait! – do not handle her, for a spirit may not have flesh and bones. Music sites, forums, blogs, and Stan Twitter screech-offs have been flooded with praise for Tahliah Barnett’s second full scripture MAGDALENE. Myself, though? I fear I am a doubting Thomas, for the teachings of MAGDALENE are confusing and tenuous to me. But before I repent ... read more

TWICE's music has been pretty static so far in their career. In a situation similar to Girls' Generation at the beginning of the decade, the act's producers have been reluctant to stray whatsoever from their winning formula, even if this attitude prevents further growth. However, starting from November's 'YES or YES', the New Divine Nine™ have been slowly inching towards a more mature image, and 'FEEL SPECIAL' continues this trajectory, with all the expected teething problems.

The title ... read more

Kim Petras wants to be a popstar so, so bad. Really, she’s already succeeded: over the past two years, she’s racked up millions of streams from a dedicated following enamoured by her frothy bubblegum pop. Gearing up for the release of her debut album, though, Petras switched to a much more chart-friendly trap-pop sound – no doubt in an attempt to further her rise to superstardom. But Clarity isn’t quite as compelling a statement as it should be.

On the surface, the era ... read more