Laveaux may have set out to rediscover Caribbean roots, but she also underlines how much the islands influenced the early rock'n'roll and soul that emanated from New Orleans ... but with the modernist sheen of France's A.L.B.E.R.T production team. [Apr 2018, p.94]

Bursting with invention, energy and occasionally cheesy synths.[May 2018, p.95]

With smart synths and Young's wry lyricism ensuring a contemporary edge to their retro-leanings, Combat Sports is fizzy fun that won't rot your teeth. [May 2018, p.91]

[The] band's fine third album. [May 2018, p.92]

The sounds here do at times recall territories previously mapped by Brian and RD James, with or without MDMA, but Song For Alpha still makes for an electronic listening album of particular quality. [May 2018, p.93]

An album whose drawn-out grooves spiral seductively like dandelion clocks in the breeze. [May 2018, p.93]

Another star turn for soprano Lavinia Blackwall. [May 2018, p.98]

Many of these 25 short pieces are rich in layered melody and texture, and full of primary coloured sonics. [May 2018, p.94]

A fourth album of brisk Saharan grooves, heavy jamming and trance percussion. [May 2018, p.98]

Ndegeocello's covers album comprises wonderful takes on R&B and soul. [May 2018, p.98]

Second time out, they've all but eradicated the gauzy abstractions, in favour of a cards-on-table, powerpop sound, which, i tandem with impressive melodic directness, should make them on e of 2018's hastiest crossover bands. [May 2018, p.90]

It's a generous and potent fix of Pollard eccentricity. [Apr 2018, p.94]

Good-natured guitar pop from Brighton-via-California by a young all-male quartet with a flair or radio-ready melodies. [Apr 2018, p.96]

Nothing fundamental has changed, the attack is just more scrupulous. ... Hot Snakes' caustic, erudite commentary is more welcome than ever. [Apr 2018, p.88]

Instead of a bona fide entry in either band's catalogue, chalk this up as a Dungen sidebar. [Apr 2018, p.89]

This is an album restless in its search for the new, the sound of White's reinvention in progress, scorching the Earth in anticipation of what might follow. If it misfires on occasion, it's certainly never dull. And if it never quite reaches its destination, it's still quite a ride. [Apr 2018, p.84]

Any sketchiness only adds to the impressionistic atmospheres that the musicians create. [Apr 2018, p.93]

The climax of Tumast is a trance0drone masterpiece that the band would be foolish not to stretch to its limits in concert. Only closer Ma S-Abok suggests there is a comedown side to the Saharan psychedelia. [Apr 2018, p.93]

Politically astute, philosophical and profound, Ty's comeback is a tad too long, but only because he cares. [Apr 2018, p.92]

It's to their credit, though, that this album's uncertain focus works with them, thickening the plot, rather than losing it. [Apr 2018, p.89]

While there is an absorbing, hypnotic quality to droning songs like Twilight Zone, the exceptional thrash of We're Tired Of It offers proof that a few more gear changes would have been welcome. [Apr 2018, p.91]

There's nothing here inviting enough to really convince floating voters, but Editors continue to thrive in their own dark universe. [Apr 2018, p.90]

Miranda's unwieldy new album comes across as showcasing unreconciled viewpoints. [Apr 2018, p.94]

This 18th LP is their finest since '90's Painkiller. [Apr 2018, p.96]

The Decemberists' ace and absorbing eighth album is rather more traditionalist than they're letting on. [Apr 2018, p.88]

Grant sets aside his personal dramas for more absurd theatrical antics. [Apr 2018, p.92]

The Night Sweats' woozy, loose grooves are hypnotising and are perfect accompaniment to Rateliff's gravel-worn rasp. [Apr 2018, p.94]

This promises to be a hard one to beat for fire and fury. Fela would be very proud. [Apr 2018, p.92]