Sturgill Simpson is undeniably at his best when melancholy: 'Jupiter's Faerie' is a masterclass in soft, reserved country music, while jollier cuts such as 'Scooter Blues' ultimately fall flat

Wafia's debut LP 'Promised Land' is a strikingly confusing body of work: while songs such as 'Background' and 'Big Thoughts' blissfully showcase her ability to blend summery indie instrumentation with pop and R&B influences, others verge on unlistenable, and the album as a whole never settles

Musically, Death By Unga Bunga have got the formula right: ferocious percussion, guitar riffs that could set strings alight and cohesive instrumentation across ten exhilarating tracks. However, the true potential of 'Raw Muscular Power' is unfortunately undermined by low-effort, often tacky lyricism

Jojo Orme's debut album as Heartworms is a masterclass in darkwave gothic rock. 'Extraordinary Things', in particular, is one of the best songs of the year so far, bringing vocals that are both angelic and operatic set to an oppressive, synth-infused backing track, while 'Warplane' is where the most obvious example of alternative dance influences come to the fore

horsegiirL's latest EP provides a fun dose of bubblegum bass and future house, and is definitely one to annoy the NEIGHbours with

With some seriously impressive guest appearances, Young Franco brings a much-needed touch of optimism and celebration flecked by sunshine to these dark winter months. Though it loses momentum towards its end, 'it's Franky baby!' is a satisfying blend of summery house and jazz, with hip-hop and jungle influences coming to the forefront at times

Central Cee really walked himself into an innumerable amount of puns with an album name like 'CAN'T RUSH GREATNESS'. If Cench truly believes that greatness can't be rushed, though, there must be something truly exceptional in the pipeline: this banal excuse for a debut album, on the other hand, marks a significant step down from the previous mixtapes that launched him to stardom and helped bring UK drill to the wider world. The album comes with its highlights, namely ... read more

It truly is amazing how many influences come into play across the tracklist of 'EUSEXUA': 'Perfect Stranger' is the pinnacle of dance-pop euphoria, 'Drums of Death' glitches with IDM flair, 'Room of Fools' vocally channels Björk, 'Sticky' offers a moment of vulnerability in the middle of the dancefloor before propelling the listener back into the action. The beginning of 'Keep It, Hold It' effortlessly emulates Kate Bush at her ... read more

'Tidal Memory Exo', aside from having one of the best artworks of the decade, is a highly experimental electro-industrial album which manages to innovate yet flow seamlessly and cohesively at the same time. It cements Iglooghost as one of the most exciting, inventive artists around, and simultaneously thrills its listeners from start to finish with flecks of drill and hints of hyperpop

While it may not be as experimental or ground-breaking as her previous work, 'CAPRISONGS' stands out in twigs' discography as a marker of her brief dip into the mainstream. Enlisting stars such as The Weeknd and Jorja Smith from more traditional routes of R&B, the mixtape offers listeners an alternative version of twigs influenced by dancehall and hip-hop, consequently providing a satisfying listening experience and continuing the UK artist's extraordinary evolution

It remains incredibly impressive that King Gizzard manage, one way or another, to succeed in every genre they attempt to leave their mark on: having conquered psych pop, jazz fusion and stoner metal, they now try their hand at blues rock, introducing a southern tinge to their 26-album discography with notable flair and vocal performances that rank among their best

Genre-bending, angular and oblique, the UK trio's latest album provides experimentation aplenty, leaning mostly towards math rock while slanting towards electronic elements and demonstrating a complete rejection of tradition and convention

Jasmine’s voice may not be conventionally beautiful, but the raw emotion that her vocals and lyricism demonstrate gives these songs a striking quality, demanding the listener’s attention and urging them to focus on what she has to say. ‘Woman’ is a staggering, heart-wrenching exhibition of the transgender mind, while 'Roan' serves as a gorgeous ode to her romantic partner that is simultaneously uplifting and devastating. Throughout the album, the three members ... read more

Lola Young's strength lies in creating songs that are simultaneously intricate and simplistically, effortlessly catchy, providing the perfect concoction for the singer-songwriter to showcase her ruggedly powerful voice. With the popularity of 'Messy' and her feature on Tyler, the Creator's 'Like Him', it wouldn't be surprising if the South Londoner becomes the next big UK popstar: her lyricism is refreshingly straight-talking, avoiding conventional ... read more

At times, it seems that Holter reaches a Björk or Kate Bush-esque experimentation, hinting at genuine innovation, yet this is hindered by songs such as 'Meyou' which appear directionless and stunt the album as a whole

The beauty of 'The Past Is Still Alive' is that it displays a social, cultural and political awareness that most other alt-country and Americana music would shy away from: an awareness that in turn enables Alynda Segarra's intense vulnerability and piercing commentary

If Banshee ditched the over-used otherworldly persona and the cliché animalistic metaphors, she would truly be onto something here. 'I'm a never forgive kinda girl' relies upon neither, and is consequently the obvious highlight of 'FABLES': it's just a shame that most other tracks are shrouded in so much ethereality that they lose any real meaning, consistency and coherence, with attempted enigma and ambiguity overshadowing their genuinely interesting ... read more

With their debut, Lambrini Girls have presented us with the first high-quality LP of 2025. The only problem with 'Who Let The Dogs Out' is that the Brighton feminist garage punk group occasionally exit the realm of socio-political commentary, running the risk of superficiality through cringe-worthy lyricism and statements that keep the album from true greatness by coming across as faux pas. However, across the album highlights abound: closer 'Cuntology 101' is expletive, ... read more

'Stanley' is the obvious highlight on Schmidt's debut album, truly reaching the pinnacle of alt-pop. Other tracks are hampered by strange production choices and discordant elements: opener 'XOXO' and the album's title track never reach their potential as a result of unnecessary autotune, 'Nic' attempts modernity and reliability through odd contemporary references, 'Proton Electron Photon' is an interlude which stalls the album's pace and ... read more

'Preacher's Daughter' was one of the best albums of 2022: a flawless, multi-faceted, narrative-based debut introducing Hayden Anhedönia to the world. On 'Perverts', the Tallahassee native goes darker and gloomier, abandoning all traces of the arena-ready indie rock hinted at by 'American Teenager' in favour of persistently droning ambience which takes the experimental, instrumental side of her debut to new levels. It works very well, but it's hard ... read more