Kathryn Williams // Crown Electric
She sings of being brave enough to be yourself, and of trusting a new partner, all laid over her acoustic guitar, beautiful string parts and occasional brass.
Future of the Left // How to Stop Your Brain in an Accident
The whole album is totally unafraid of pace and on this one, melody is used to highlight, not simplify. Stormin’.
The Fratellis // We Need Medicine
Despite having brief moments that can only be described as ‘nice’, these prove little treatment for the majority of ‘We Need Medicine’.
They Might Be Giants // Nanobots
DEAR GOD it works. Nanobots is just classic TMBG with each song breaking all regular music conventions.
Midlake // Antiphon
‘Antiphon’ takes them back to their roots. They sound more American, more classic and there’s a feeling you’ve known the songs for years. ‘Antiphon’ is a perfect assertion to start with.
Gentleman's Dub Club // FOURtyFOUR
FOURtyFOUR sees Gentleman’s Dub Club going back to old reggae roots with a variety of classical reggae mixed with their trademark dub and 2 tone.
Warpaint // Warpaint
However, they sleepwalk through the majority of the album, meaning listening to it in its entirety makes you feel like you’ve taken a tranque dart to the neck.
I Break Horses // Chiaroscuro
Maria Lindén of I Break Horses can just sprinkle those beats all over my record collection whilst I dance tippy-toed on the layers of reverbed vox, so ethereal I'd actually be floating in mid air.
Wild Beasts // Present Tense
Nice yes, but we find ourselves looking for an “Eat Me. Drink Me” to take the adventure on a different direction.
The Rifles // None The Wiser
If you like your indie mod rock neatly pre-packaged and ready for mass consumption, then you’ll love humming the easy to remember chorus melodies as you strut around Glastonbury ’14 in a straw hat.
Bombay Bicycle Club // So Long, See You Tomorrow
Overdone’ rapidly takes on a Bollywood vibe. This, blurred with the kind of vocals and drumbeats you’d expect, suggest evolution, and not a complete move away from the early days.
Metronomy // Love Letters
Just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s shit. And anyway, this band clearly aren’t like, Rihanna or Bieber or Queen B in their popularity.
Little Dragon // Nabuma Rubberband
Little Dragon are back, so ring the bell: it’s [press] play-time.
Embrace // Embrace
Embrace have succeeded in creating a giant, glittering pot of gold out of loads of ingredients
Brody Dalle // Diploid Love
Brody is back.
The Amazing Snakeheads // Amphetamine Ballads
"Dirty, psychedelic, industrial and undeniably sexy" - Let's get down with The Amazing Snakeheads...
Pixies // Indie Cindy
The incomparable Pixies return after a 21 year dry spell, but was it worth the wait?
Grace Jones // Nightclubbing (Island Records)
Grace Jones eschewed the expectations of her colour by hoovering up the rock, art-pop and new wave palettes like cheap cocaine
Fruitful Earth // Rising Sun (Big Peach Records)
Smoky, classic 70s rock, influenced by bluesy lyrics and pace, with some good ol’ country to boot.
Paolo Nutini // Caustic Love
He’s in complete command of this album, changing the atmosphere from being fun, comfortable and up-beat to being something more slow and mournful.
Horse Party // Cover Your Eyes
A stunningly good debut from lynchpin of the Bury St Edmunds scene.
Tune-Yards // Nikki Nack
Tune-Yards' 3rd album still playful but produced
I Am Your Autopilot // The Stillness of the Sea
It’s more a mismatch of noises that clash together to eventually form a somewhat pleasant sound.
Blitz Kids // The Good Youth
Blitz Kids have succeeded in continuing their roll of high quality albums which I think is safe to say excuses the delay they’ve had in releasing the album.
Raglans – Raglans (Independent Records Ltd)
They already have their own loyal followers drooling at their every move and it’s no wonder as they don’t half knock out a good tune or three.
Flatlands and Garage Flowers // Animals - EP
A sound that’s as crisp and fresh as a sharp frost on a winter’s day as the wind blows in, from over the Shropshire hills.
The Twang // Neontwang
Good build-up, but missed the point
Nobodaddy // Longing for a Flight
They're longing for a flight, we're longing for them to broaden their musical horizons.
François and the Atlas Mountains // Piano Ombre
French-English repetitiveness.
Stanley Brinks and The Wave Pictures // Gin
Go on this musical journey - you'll love it.
Asgeir // In The Silence
The sound is a folky post-rock, sharing roots with Sigur Ros, Of Monsters & Men and Mugison, albeit with a large dose of Talk Talk.
The Rise And Fall Of The Clash // DVD Review
The picture it paints is of a band destined to implode almost from the beginning, due to personality clashes, the pressure of success and opposing ideas of what The Clash should be.
We Are Catchers // We Are Catchers
Musical serenity drenched in happiness.
Caravan Palace // Panic
A great clash between the music scene of now and then.
Basia Bulat // Tall Tall Shadow
Well crafted, well played but ultimately a little too middle of the road to truly excite.
Eagulls // Eagulls Partisan Records
Gothy post-punk is in rude health.
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra // Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light On Every Thing
Seventh album from Constellation's most interesting if challenging band. Hard listening but rewarding.
Skindred // Kill The Power
Skindred are one of those bands who refuse to be pigeonholed and their fifth album is no different. More polished and produced than previous releases, 'Kill The Power' is still full of their signature rasta-metal stylings.
Mogwai // Rave Tapes
Post-rock heroes hit the peaks with their most consistent album yet.
Snowbird // Moon
For full satisfaction, ignore the players and concentrate on the music.
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