We know Deaf Havana are capable of greatness, which makes the overwrought and bland ‘Rituals’ so disappointing and frustrating.
A long-standing omission from the riot-grrl canon has been finally corrected, as early ’90s feminist post-hardcore heroes Little Ugly Girls finally get a full-length album, pieced together from demos.
Now on their fifth album, Spider Bags are still tinkering with their off-kilter mix of punk, indie, country and blues on ‘Someday Everything Will Be Fine’.
Full of swirling, occasionally transcendent arrangements, ‘Living In Extraordinary Times’ proves that, even on their 15th album, James are a still a viable creative force.
Combining Underworld’s pulsing soundscapes and Iggy Pop’s poignant reminiscences, ‘Teatime Dub Encounters’ is an engrossing curio forged by two of independent music’s most characterful artists.
The Internet’s fourth album ‘Hive Mind’ sees each member’s talents are rendered in the service of the others, making for a record that’s at the peak of contemporary R&B.
Picking apart the minutiae of his life with self-deprecating honesty with fifth and final album ‘Bringing The Backline’, Ellis Jones’ project Trust Fund will be sorely missed.
Deafheaven’s fourth album ‘Ordinary Corrupt Human Love’ sees the post-black metal masters blot their copybook for their first time, with an interesting but rather flawed outing.
After the harrowing self-doubt and heartbreak of ‘Dirty Projectors’, David Longstreth emerges into the light of hope and new love on ‘Lamp Lit Prose’.
With greater drama behind the vivid and bright-edged electro-pop, Years & Years’ second album ‘Palo Santo’ is much more compelling than their rather flat debut.
