Grawlixes – Set Free (Southbound)
Currently Wellington based, the indie folk duo Grawlixes explore romance with a dry wit and a razor-sharp tongue on their debut album, Set Free. Like a hot cuppa-soup laced with arsenic they offer warm comfort and the satisfaction of a slow painful death to all those lovers who dared to spurn us.
Fleet Foxes – Crack-Up (Nonesuch)
After a six-year leave of absence during which time bandleader Robin Pecknold moved to NYC to attend Columbia University, Fleet Foxes have released their third album. But it seems that Pecknold’s studies may have gone to his muse, leaving fans with the sound of one man disappearing up his own liberal arts diploma.
Reb Fountain – Hopeful & Hopeless (Southbound)
As its title suggests, Hopeful/Hopeless is something of a tribute to those we’ve lost and those that remain. ‘Death’ is a common but never mournful theme running through these five beautifully crafted songs. This is also a fitting tribute to one of this country’s most innovative and supportive musicians, Sam Prebble.
Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 1 (Mercury)
Two years after his acclaimed debut solo album, Traveller was released, Nashville maverick Chris Stapleton serves up the first of a two-part follow-up.
Lorde – Melodrama (Universal)
For mainstream music, Lorde’s debut album, Pure Heroine, was a bolt out of the blue. Laced with the precocious ennui that only a 16 year old could possess, it was a cutting critique of pop hedonism. But what made this album truly fascinating was that Pure Heroine was an internationally successful pop album that was purposely […]
Dan Auerbach – Waiting On A Song (Nonesuch)
Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach takes a break from his day job and revels in the musical treasures to be found in his adopted home of Nashville.
Kevin Morby – City Music (Dead Oceans)
Morby follows up last year’s breakthrough album, Singing Saw with a “companion piece”, which can be seen (and heard) as the flip side of the same musical coin.
AJR – The Click (Liberator)
On their new album, The Click, NYC siblings AJR show us what they’ve been up to on those cold winter nights. Stealing from classical, hip-hop, funk and virtually every producer you can name it’s an album of quirky but beautiful instrumentation and charming but bone dry lyrics that subvert modern qualms with the power of […]
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (2CD Anniversary Edition) (Apple)
50 years after it changed the musical landscape forever, The Beatles’ eighth studio album gets a facelift. But does it need one? And how does it hold up after all these years?
Lord Echo – Harmonies (Soundway)
Mike Fabulous’ new album Harmonies – his third under the Lord Echo moniker and part of a 15 year trilogy (Melodies, Curiosities, Harmonies) since signing to esteemed London label Soundway – has been a true labour of love. And it shows.
The Miltones – The Miltones (The Label)
With an ability to write intelligent lyrics and an alluring stage presence The Miltones have, indisputably, earned their chance to release this debut album. Led by vocalist Milly Tabak and guitarist Liam Pratt, the group released their first single Black Dahlia in 2014. The track introduced the bands alternative yet skilfully unique sound, easily attractive […]
Lil Yachty – Teenage Emotions (Motown)
Oh Buoy. Where do I even begin? Lil Yachty, the self-proclaimed ‘King of the Teens’ has been making waves thanks to his mixtape Lil Boat and the effervescently mindless Broccoli one of the biggest hits of 2016. But like a teenager’s hormones, his debut album is all over the place.
alt-J – Relaxer (Infectious)
The idiosyncratic trio that is alt-J stole our hearts and our minds back in 2012 with their incredible album An Awesome Wave, which was deservingly awarded the Mercury Music prize. This was followed by their 2014’s This is All Yours. With hits like Every Other Freckle we were left thinking how on earth they could […]
Paul Weller- A Kind Revolution (Parlophone/Warner Bros)
Continuing to experiment with his craft, Paul Weller’s new album, A Kind Revolution, finds him trying on styles like suit jackets at a tailors, sometimes to mixed results. Some songs recall his work with the Style Council (She Moves Through The Fayre,The Impossible Idea) his previous solo Gospel style tunes (Woo Sé Mama/ The Cranes […]
Benjamin Booker – Witness (ATO)
Following up an acclaimed debut album can be tough on an artist. For Benjamin Booker, a trip to Mexico City helped ease the pressure. The isolation and distance from his home in The States gave him the space and perspective he needed to write the songs found on Witness.
The Pinheads – The Pinheads (Farmer & The Owl)
Despite being a garage-punk outfit, The Pinheads are not a Ramones tribute band, their name is derived from their love of bowling. Their sound, however, does draw from 70s punk along with 60s garage and surf.
Perfume Genius – No Shape (Matador)
In addition to adding his voice to Aldous Harding’s new album, Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius, has just released his latest studio record. And, like Harding, he and producer Blake Mills offer up a raft of sonic surprises.
Nick Hakim – Green Twins (ATO)
Green Twins, Nick Hakim’s debut album, sets up an exciting soundscape to explore. Here he makes a personal stamp of unique vibrancy, backing up his style with soul.
Aldous Harding – Party (Flying Nun/4AD)
Almost three years after the release of her debut album, Aldous Harding sheds the guise of an 18th century English folk singer and, with the help of producer John Parish, begins to find her own, unique voice.
Robyn Hitchcock – Robyn Hitchcock (Yep Roc)
36 years after starting out on his solo career, Robyn Hitchcock has finally gotten around to releasing his self-titled album. Turns out it was well worth the wait.