The National – Rome (4AD) (13th Floor Album Review)
The National are no strangers to the release of live material. ROME is preceded by a record store day release of Boxer Live in Brussels, the intentionally average sounding, direct to cassette recording Juicy Sonic Magic and 6 volumes of Cherry Tree live recordings released through their fan club.
Search For Yeti – Dark So Soon (13th Floor Album Review)
Search For Yeti has honed a fresh take on Aotearoa indie-rock with their new album, Dark So Soon. Te Whanganui a Tara three-piece have crafted an album that is highly enjoyable on initial listen, yet sparks the curiosity to hit repeat and go deeper into the rich instrumentation, triumphant melodies and emotional lyricism.
Little Feat – Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (50th Anniversary Edition) (Warner/Rhino)
With this expanded 50th Anniversary of the band’s fourth studio album, let us pause and reflect on Little Feat, possibly the most under-rated band in rock history.
Michael Kiwanuka – Small Changes (Polydor)
Michael Kiwanuka, a British singer-songwriter born in London to Ugandan parents, has steadily evolved his musical style since his 2012 debut, Home Again. Initially recognised for his retro-soul sound, Kiwanuka expanded his artistic horizons with Love & Hate in 2016, collaborating with producers Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and Inflo (Dean Josiah Cover).
Wiri Donna – In My Chambers (13th Floor EP Review)
Wiri Donna is the musical project of Bianca Bailey, an artist from Wellington, whose sound has evolved from indie-folk beginnings into a powerful, indie-rock juggernaut.
Can’t Seem To Come Down –The American Sounds Of 1968 – Various Artists (Grapefruit)
While 1967 brought us the Summer Of Love, 1968 turned out to be something else entirely. And to prove it, here are 79 tracks spread over three CDs…over 4 hours of mind-blowing rock & roll that point to the future while plundering the past.
Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens – American Railroad (Nonesuch)
American Railroad is a compelling album by the Silkroad Ensemble, under the artistic direction of Rhiannon Giddens. Produced by Giddens alongside Jody Elff , who also engineers the album, and Kaoru Watanabe, who also contributes flute and percussion.
Joni Mitchell Archives – Volume 4 Highlights The Asylum Years (1976-1980) (Rhino/Warner)
Volume 4 of Joni Mitchell’s Archive Series is with us, covering the years 1976-1980 and here are the Highlights, collected on 4 vinyl discs.
Fazerdaze – Soft Power (Buttrfly Records) (13th Floor Album Review)
With Soft Power, Fazerdaze Amelia Murray re-emerges with a bolder, darker sound that captures the intensity and clarity found in self-reflection and growth, as well as listening to, and absorbing War on Drugs and The Cure.
Johnny Delaware – Para Llevar (Normaltown/New West) (13th Floor Album Review)
At a time of year when big, year-end releases are scrambling for your attention comes a small, but perfectly-formed album from one Johnny Delaware.
Talk Talk It’s My Life” 40th Anniversary Half-Speed Master (Parlophone)
Talk Talk is a band whose reputation has grown exponentially over the past 30 years thanks in part to the genre-busting album Spirit Of Eden and the tragic death of main-man Mark Hollis in 2019.
Moana & The Tribe – Ono (Black Pearl) (13th Floor Album Review)
This is a diverse and utterly elevating collection from Moana & The Tribe. Moana Maniapoto is the kuini/queen of creating joyous sounds in a landscape of struggle for indigenous voice and inclusion. In this collection, ONO offers six richly-layered and sonically engaging collaborations that are a tacit encouragement to learn more about the traditions they […]
The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World (Polydor/Fiction) (13th Floor Album Review)
After 16 years, The Cure finally release their 14th studio album. Songs Of A Lost World finds Robert Smith contemplating death, loneliness, aging and alienation. So what’s new?
Reassessing The Dead: From The Mars Hotel (13th Floor Reissue Review)
With the recent death of Phil Lesh, bassist for The Grateful Dead and a 50th Anniversary deluxe edition of their album, From The Mars Hotel just released, I reluctantly revisit the Dead.
Laura Marling – Patterns In Repeat (Chrysalis/Partisan)
Patterns in Repeat is the eighth album from Laura Marling, following her 2008 debut, Alas, I Cannot Swim. From the outset, her poetic lyrics, distinctive voice, and folk-inspired sound have drawn comparisons to Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. Over the years, her sound has evolved, blending complex and, at times, dark folk with experimental touches, […]
Iain Matthews – How Much Is Enough (Sunset Blvd): 13th Floor Album Review
Since first gaining recognition as part of the English folk rock group Fairport Convention in the 1960s, Iain Matthews has had a varied career, releasing numerous albums that blend folk, country, and pop influences. Now living in the Netherlands, Matthews continues to perform but keeps a relatively low profile. His new album, How Much Is […]
Mousey – The Dreams Of Our Mothers’ Mothers! (Winegum) 13th Floor Album Review
The dictionary says someone mousy is ‘shy, timid, quiet’. But, as this Mousey (Sarena Close) has revealed, there’s more to the name. It references the girl in the opening lines of Bowie’s Life on Mars. And here in her third long-player, Dreams of Our Mothers’ Mothers! there are ch-ch-ch- changes for one of the most […]
Jon Toogood – Last of the Lonely Gods (Warner NZ) 13th Floor Album Review
In 2014, Shihad released FVEY, a raging record addressing social justice issues that were deeply etched in its loud tracks. Now, right on a decade later, front man Jon Toogood offers a very different, and solo, song cycle.
Dawes – Oh Brother (Dead Ringers) 13th Floor Album Review
Dawes has long been celebrated for their ability to weave timeless Americana with modern experimentation—a skill they continue to refine on their ninth studio album, Oh Brother.
Mindy Smith – Quiet Town (Compass) 13th Floor Album Review
Mindy Smith’s Quiet Town is a reflective and personal album shaped by her Christian upbringing. Known for blending Americana, folk, and country, Smith’s work often revolves around themes of faith, love, and resilience.