‘Ants From Up There’ is an impressive second album from Black Country, New Road, if perhaps less immediate and more ephemeral than their debut.
The meteoric ascent of Leeds’ own Yard Act culminates in ‘The Overload’, a fine example of sprechsegang post-punk but one that doesn’t forget the human touch.
Joey Batey may be mostly known by the public for his role as Jaskier in Netflix’s ‘The Witcher’ along with his contributions to the show’s soundtracks for season one and two (and has Jaskier become the Continent’s Taylor Swift in season two?). However, some people may not be aware that alongside his career as an actor, Joey is in the alt-folk band The Amazing Devil.
‘Thirstier’ is a dazzlingly executed power move into the mainstream for Mackenzie Scott’s TORRES project.
Bringing out different textures in her sound, Billie Eilish’s songwriting and production is as sharp as ever on second album ‘Happier Than Ever’.
Nandi Rose Plunkett sounds more strident and confident on her latest Half Waif album ‘Mythopoetics’.
Compelling and empathetic storytelling is key to ‘We’re All Alone In This Together’, which sees Dave exploring identity and belonging more closely.
With their third album ‘Forest Of Your Problems’, Snapped Ankles successfully meld bitterness with danceability.
Surprisingly effective country-influenced duets from Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie and Savages’ Jehnny Beth on ‘Utopian Ashes’.
‘The Golden Casket’ represents a partial rediscovery of Modest Mouse’s (and Isaac Brock’s) identity after the debacle of ‘Strangers To Ourselves’.
