A collection created purely for dancing to, a millennial disco that leaves the troubles of the world outside its spiky bubble. [Apr 2022, p.86]

Cheatahs create melodic miasmas of space marimba, psych pop and crystalline drones, while lyrically teleporting around the globe.

The Besnard Lakes might test the listener’s patience at times, but their commendable commitment to monumental scale and ambition often results in something thrillingly beautiful.

This alt.bluegrass band remain in a field of their own, dragging old-times instrumentation into fresh relevance.

A whole album at 100 mph needs skill at the wheel not to start sounding slow, and for all the sensation of manic burn-out, every track has disciplined intricacy, using hairpin turns and jolting tape-slices to sculpt the gush of drums and feedback into prog-garage shape.

Earle's narrative is compellingly singular, and the musical variety feeding his fiery and thoughtful tunes well measured. [May 2013, p.85]

It won't change the world, but The No-Hit Wonder makes it a nicer place to live in. [Sep 2014, p.91]

There’s much that rocks here, and rocks deep on this four-string feast with multiple dishes.

Songhoy Blues bring a joyful defiance to Music In Exile that transcends the language barrier.

Lowery's man-child playfulness feels overly mannered at times, but the album settles down in its latter half. [Sep 2014, p.91]

Where classic and post rock meet experimentalism, the brooding soundscapes portrayed by the theme of LA's dark underbelly is one of 2023's most inventive surprises. [Jan 2024, p.80]

A rather fine rock record indeed.

After all this time, Pixies can still surprise and intrigue. [Oct 2022, p.72]

With Parker’s voice haloed in reverb, some of it sounds great, especially eight-minute epic Let It Happen and the gorgeous ’Cause I’m A Man. But quite what his regular audience will make of this change in direction is another matter entirely.

It's relaxed, and effective at that. [Sep 2014, p.92]

Disturbed are back, and they’re on top form.

The results, from the likes of Billy Gibbons, Joe Walsh, Joe Bonamassa, Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, are impressive. But ultimately you don’t learn as much about Johnny himself as you would from listening to the originals of the 17 tracks presented here. [May 2022, p.85]

The Day's War is full to the brim with dramatic, radio-friendly anthems. [Sep 2014, p.93]

It's on those spiritual slowies that this crew rakes the biggest steps to creating the 21st-century southern masterpiece they are obviously capable of. [Mar 2015, p.94]

Disc one's the gold. [Jan 2024, p.87]

Things get rough and rocky in places. .... But the soft centres of Davina McCall and U And Me At Home keep Moisturizer a light and vivifying lotion. [Aug 2025, p.73]

Ultimately, there's little on offer to snare a neutral. For the zealot, however, new heights of melody and assurance await. [Sep 2014, p.93]

While Mental Illness doesn’t stray too far from the beaten path, it does offer something new for seasoned Mann watchers.

Hynde's fire is undimmed as she tackles love's drug-like addiction, tears up a roughshod storm on the rockers and delves into surf-guitar reggae on Lightning Man. [Jun 2020, p.88]

Devotees of blues-rock and the trio’s past glories will relish taking a spin in their new model.

The Million Masks Of God is way less heavy going than a concept album centred on explorations of faith and existence inspired by the death of a parent has any right to be. [Jun 2021, p.79]

This is tender and meditative music that contemplates the complex tapestry of existence.

Time may have dulled some of their digital dexterity but their enthusiasm is undimmed, as is their ear for what makes a good Fairport song.