Rodrigo y Gabriela - In Between Thoughts…A New World (Album Review)

Rodrigo y Gabriela have now achieved something that many recording artists dream of, by managing to completely own their sound. If you hear duelling Spanish guitar pop playing in a public space, it is almost certainly going to be them.

Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Thursday, 04 May 2023

The National - First Two Pages of Frankenstein (Album Review)

For many years, the National’s sound was defined by the baritone of frontman Matt Berninger. By introducing a phalanx of guest vocalists to complement his recognisable rumble, 2019’s ‘I Am Easy To Find’ delivered a considerable surprise. It’s less surprising, then, that the doors to collaboration remain open on their ninth album ‘First Two Pages of Frankenstein’.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Wednesday, 03 May 2023

Feist - Multitudes (Album Review)

Feist first came to international attention when her pop ballad 1234 was featured on an Apple iPod commercial in 2007. Since then, the Canadian singer-songwriter has released two excellent albums including 2017’s ‘Pleasure’, a record of deft tones and spiritual fullness. Despite the six year break, ‘Multitudes’ picks up the story with finesse.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 02 May 2023

The Mars Volta - Qué Dios Te Maldiga Mí Corazón (Album Review)

Lately, releases by the Mars Volta have arrived like buses, with a 10 year drought of music answered by two bodies of work in the space of seven months. Technically, though, they’re the same album. ‘Qué Dios Te Maldiga Mí Corazón’ is a complete acoustic reimagining of the El Paso duo’s self-titled effort, which was released in September of last year.

Written by: Emma Wilkes | Date: Friday, 28 April 2023

Enter Shikari - A Kiss For The Whole World (Album Review)

Photo: Jamie Waters Enter Shikari are a tough band to pin a label on. Their last album, 2020’s 'Nothing Is True And Everything Is Possible', was worlds away from their debut 'Take To The Skies' in sound and yet there's nobody else out there who could have made either album. ’A Kiss For The Whole World’ continues that inimitable run with another head-spinning foray into drum ‘n’ bass-infused post-hardcore.

Written by: Jack Terry | Date: Thursday, 27 April 2023

Kae Tempest - Nice Idea EP (Album Review)

When Kae Tempest released their fourth album ‘The Line Is A Curve’ last year, it felt like a real lightning-in-a-bottle moment between spoken word and hip-hop. And, after such an accomplished release, you’d expect a quiet period. But when you’re a Mercury-nominated rapper, Ted Hughes Award-winning playwright, Sunday Times bestselling novelist and renowned poet, rest is clearly the last thing on your mind.

Written by: Jack Terry | Date: Wednesday, 26 April 2023

Metallica - 72 Seasons (Album Review)

Photo: Tim Saccenti For Metallica fans who grew up worshipping the band throughout their early ‘80s to mid ‘90s creative peak, it’s almost too easy to dismiss this seemingly derivative 10th studio album based on a few cursory spins. But to rush head first into premature judgement territory with ‘72 Seasons’ might represent a severe mistake.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Tuesday, 25 April 2023

Angel Olsen - Forever Means EP (Album Review)

Photo: Luke Rogers Angel Olsen introduces her latest EP, ‘Forever Means’, over a sultry, sombre piano score. As a saxophone and electronic organ breeze through in the wake of Olsen’s crooning vocals, opening track Nothing’s Free shines. “Here it comes, no way to stop it now,” she sings. 

Written by: Rebecca Llewellyn | Date: Friday, 21 April 2023

The Tallest Man On Earth - Henry St. (Album Review)

Photo: Stephan Vanfleteren Be it his rapid fire finger picking, loquacious vocal delivery or restless stage presence, Kristian Matsson, better known as The Tallest Man On Earth, has always given the impression of someone striding at considerable pace into the future. 

Written by: Craig Howieson | Date: Thursday, 20 April 2023

Jesus Piece - ...So Unknown (Album Review)

Photo: Alexis Jade Gross Jesus Piece blew the doors off with their 2018 debut ‘Only Self’, bringing together elements of industrial, D-beat, and beatdown hardcore with feral energy that’s remained largely unmatched. Five years on they’re on their way to becoming one of the most revered names in the scene and their second album ‘…So Unknown’ will only speed the process along.

Written by: Will Marshall | Date: Wednesday, 19 April 2023

DMA's - How Many Dreams? (Album Review)

Photo: Reuben Bastienne-Lewis In recent years, DMA’s have become one of Australia’s best exports, with their strand of indie-rock winning them sufficient acclaim to warrant touring slots alongside both Gallagher brothers and Arctic Monkeys. They’ve also achieved relatively high billing at Reading and Leeds on their way to becoming an arena draw in their own right.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Tuesday, 18 April 2023

Heather Woods Broderick - Labyrinth (Album Review)

For too long Heather Woods Broderick’s name has been best known as a footnote on the work of others. Yes, she has played and toured with Sharon Van Etten, Damien Jurado and Beth Orton, but these experiences speak only to her brilliance as a musician. Her capability as a songwriter is often overlooked, despite being plain to hear for anyone who has spent time with her back catalogue.

Written by: Craig Howieson | Date: Monday, 17 April 2023

Billie Marten - Drop Cherries (Album Review)

Photo: Katie Silvester Billie Marten arrives at her fourth album knowing precisely who she is creatively. ‘Drop Cherries’ is a record befitting its name, with syrupy romantic notions placed delicately among her trademark acoustic indie-folk. 

Written by: Rebecca Llewellyn | Date: Friday, 14 April 2023

Yaeji - With a Hammer (Album Review)

Photo: Dasom Han ‘With a Hammer’ is the debut album from Yaeji, following on from her 2020 mixtape ‘What We Drew 우리가 그려왔던’. It finds the DJ, producer and singer in a period of creative rage, with tracks that snarl, blip and penetrate. The results are sometimes arresting and sometimes a bit meh, but they all pave the way for late night dirty dancing in Brooklyn.

Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Thursday, 13 April 2023

Mudhoney - Plastic Eternity (Album Review)

Although they were inevitably tied into the brief grunge explosion of the early ‘90s, through a combination of geography and face-melting fuzz, Mudhoney have carved out a respectably long and varied career.

Written by: Tom Morgan | Date: Tuesday, 11 April 2023

Bury Tomorrow - The Seventh Sun (Album Review)

Photo: Nic Bezzinae Line-up changes always cause some consternation and Bury Tomorrow proved to be no exception after announcing the departure of guitarist-vocalist Jason Cameron in 2021. ‘The Seventh Sun’ is their first new music since then, and it serves as a declaration of intent and a resolute refusal to be cowed.

Written by: Will Marshall | Date: Friday, 07 April 2023

Boygenius - The Record (Album Review)

Photo: Harrison Whitford Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus—both together as Boygenius and apart as solo artists—already command fervent love from fans who have bordered on frenzied in the past. Their music is deserving of such respect, but when approaching their first full length as a group it’s easy to wonder what they might be able to offer to surpass what has come before.

Written by: Craig Howieson | Date: Thursday, 06 April 2023

City and Colour - The Love Still Held Me Near (Album Review)

Photo: Vanessa Heins Death is a cruel aspect of life. The loss of an elder tends to be easier to stomach—we can attempt to rationalise the hole we have been left with. “It was their time,” we say. But when we lose a peer or a friend there are no platitudes with which to wrap ourselves in. The grief cuts deeper, not only because of the cruelty that accompanies a premature departure, but also because it focuses our minds on our own mortality.

Written by: Craig Howieson | Date: Wednesday, 05 April 2023

The New Pornographers - Continue as a Guest (Album Review)

Yet again, like so many works currently being wheeled out, the New Pornographers’ ninth studio album was shaped by the pandemic. Bearing traits of isolation and the unsettling restrictions of being limited to seeing just a handful of people within your bubble, ‘Continue as a Guest’ was mostly moulded at a distance. 

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Tuesday, 04 April 2023

The Hold Steady - The Price of Progress (Album Review)

Photo: Shervin Lainez "It's hard to make friends when your job is so demanding." You can almost hear the lump in Craig Finn's throat as he delivers this line during Sixers, a standout on The Hold Steady’s ninth album ‘The Price of Progress’. 

Written by: Craig Howieson | Date: Monday, 03 April 2023