It’s been a long wait for their debut album, and Dead! deliver a solid, enjoyable and encouraging experience in ‘The Golden Age Of Not Even Trying’.
Calming, effervescent, sublime and grandiose – ‘All Melody’ is the work of an artist who understands the importance of texture in music like so few else. Nils Frahm not only manages to add to his reputation as one of the best neo-classical minimalists in the world today, but also expands on it.
After a five-year break and having moved from Sub Pop to Drag City, L.A.-based garage-rock duo No Age remind everyone of their talents with fifth album ‘Snares Like A Haircut’.
After a long lay-off, Marmozets’ second album ‘Knowing What You Know Now’ picks up where they left off in terms of energy, but dabbles in more experimental shades this time round.
Django Django’s third album ‘Marble Skies’ is their boldest and most diverse record yet, despite not containing any immediately classic singles.
Politics, righteousness and amazing tunes freighted with force and melody, ‘Dream Wife’ is everything you could possibly want from a debut album.
Re-energised in parts but flat and non-distinct in too many others, ‘Semicircle’ sees The Go! Team attempt to get back to basics.
First Aid Kit’s third album ‘Ruins’ suffers from same-iness, but the Soderberg sisters are in fine vocal form and it’s a comforting, if rarely challenging listen.
Returning with a third album of politically oriented lyrics as sharp as the needling post-punk/funk that backs it, Shopping’s ‘The Official Body’ is another triumph.
Album number four from Tune-Yards is by no means the perfect record, and may in fact be Merrill Garbus’s worst yet, but it has a voice which deserves to be heard.
