Crafting a solid set of songs that hold their own among break-out singles is no mean feat, but the Sydney trio have pulled it off--in the main, at least.

The album’s production works against it, however. Beyond proficient, it's so clean and glossy your attention slides off the album. You long for a little grit and texture to really bring the music alive.

‘C O S M’ is the first dramatic reduction in pace, but proves to be only temporary respite, as the album’s second half builds to a glorious finale. Hopkins remains in ascension, and no one is on his level right now.

Seven deeply moving songs teetering deliciously on the brink of collapse. It was a long time in the making, but now, at the age of 27, Minus feels alarmingly close to the album Blumberg was always supposed to write.

Though it might be lacking in the amount of quintessential indie floorfillers that we’ve come accustomed to with Peace, Kindness Is The New Rock And Roll shows progression.

Their most confident and assured release filled with the promise of things to come. One for you wicked souls out there.

Cinematic in scope and delicately constructed, the album grows from warm, organic techno (‘Persona’) through ambient electronica (‘Dreamer’s Wake’) to the insistent synths, drums and drones of ‘Hidden’. Lovely stuff.

Worthy of comparison to the late career stylings of Björk, Plunkett’s vocals often steal the limelight but, make no mistake, this album is considerably more than the sum of any individual part.

This year’s Pinned is its well-made product that checks all the boxes, successfully imitating the late ‘80s feel--the highest compliment in this line of work.

There’s still plenty to admire here, especially Gracie’s emotionally raw, brittle vocals and despite the record’s shortcomings, this remains a solid, entertaining debut from an exciting new talent.

With funky guitars riffs and breezy melodies, Monáe's latest effort manages to resemble a throwback and tribute to the Purple One yet avoids feeling too nostalgic.

It feels like a career-straddling greatest hits collection in which all the ‘hits’ are brand new.

While the comedown is expertly managed, one begins to pine for the glossier touches which Molleson clearly excels at. Nonetheless, it’s an album brimming with vigour and ideas from start to finish, and likely set to be one of the UK’s most engaging debuts this year.

The joyfully raucous Forth Wanderers bears testament to just how well the distance formula is working.

On first listen, it’s hard to ignore a sense of inconsistency and feeling that something’s lacking from its second half. That said, come the second time listening you start to stop questioning the diversity and simply celebrate the fact they’ve got the repertoire, and guts, to mix everything up and make it work.

The highlights on this project are the glimpses of musical experimentation, but unfortunately the album doesn’t have enough of these to really shine.

Recorded with Berlin-based chamber orchestra s t a r g a z e, their sound is simultaneously laid bare and enriched by its cinematic qualities.

The album’s first half sees Taye relish the experimental nature that first drew him to the scene, and to its defining Teklife cohort. When it works, it’s weird - but it definitely works. ... The latter half of the record serves a more straightforward (if such a thing is possible) footwork rinse-out. And it sings.

It’s a bit less frenetic than previous material, but across ten songs Thomas leaves his unmistakeable sonic signature with auteur-like precision.

The Doom-helmed ‘Lil Mufukuz’ and Phat Kat’s ‘Bubble Up’ show the Dabrye-plus-MC chemistry at its best, but if there was ever a criticism of the previous entries in this trilogy, it was that Dabrye struggled when it came to trimming the tracklist. ... The same is unfortunately the case here too.

Apollonia is for fans of Jamie xx, Tame Impala, and SBTRKT, and all its elements have been combined and thoughtfully arranged in a way that makes sense. A solid debut for Garden City Movement.

Though it often overstays its welcome, with a handful of tracks pushing beyond the 15-minute mark, Twin Fantasy is an ideal starting point for any latent Will Toledo fan.

That the new Daphne & Celeste album is not just good, but great may seem absurd, but that’s the only way to describe it. It’s full of moments of sublime pop genius, thrilling electronica, unexpected warmth, DGAF attitude and good humour.

Taylor’s brilliantly bonkers pop odyssey certainly lives up to its title and ultimately, is an impressive, if uneven addition to his already stellar discography.

It seems as if Novelist made the album he wanted to make, despite the external pressures, and gave us a project which is sonically, socio-politically and unapologetically grime.

For the most part, regrettably, Geography only showcases a producer out of his depth behind the mic.

Though it is far too early to start talking about this as one of their finest records, I have no doubt that 'Firepower' could slip through a wormhole in time to stand in the mighty presence of 'British Steel' and 'Screaming For Vengeance' and feel no shame.

Kali has created a lucid dreamscape where you can be whatever you want to be, self-venerated and free. Isolation is an escapist escapade of the highest order.