Throwing down a persuasive gauntlet, opener Undying Love For Humanity is all breezy percussion, percolating synths, chiming vibraphones and complex, wordless backing vocal arrangements--a sunny, tropicalia-like setting for Sadier's typically liquid delivery of lyrics. [Apr 2017, p.97]

It's Flynn's warmest outing so far. [Apr 2017, p.98]

Lovely. [Apr 2017, p.96]

A familiar narrative, perhaps, but rendered with uniquely mordant wit. [Apr 2017, p.91]

It's been a long journey, but Spiral Stairs has finally found his voice. [Apr 2017, p.90]

Finn is still writing wordy story songs, but the breathing space elevates those words. [Apr 2017, p.97]

This disc is bloated with anti-matter sing-alongs to savour. [Apr 2017, p.98]

Much of With You Tonight lacks vim and will likely have vacated your memory by tomorrow. [Mar 2017, p.90]

Halfway through, 39-year-old Jose James undergoes an astonishing transformation via the infectiously funky, Pharrell-esque, dance cuts Live Your Life, and Ladies Man, where he convincingly morphs onto a get-down disco dude. [Mar 2017, p.92]

The street-wise intellect certainly lets his slightly off-pitched voice do most of the heavy-lifting over the stuttering spacey synthetics, phased keys and warped Rhodes of B-Roc's atmospheric production. [Apr 2017, p.95]

The lyrics tackle domestic violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and proceeds go to charity--but if all you care about is the sound it's still terrific. [Apr 2017, p.98]

When Crisci does expansive, with the six-minute Ode To The Pleiades, the tremor is sizeable, its rattlesnake beats sinking into jazz piano riffs and iridescent synth pads, [Apr 2017, p.97]

In Mind is an altogether lovely album that quietly demand to be heard. [Apr 2017, p.91]

The increasingly salty bite of Oberst's lyrics is only sharpened by the homely warmth of Salutations' arrangements. [Apr 2017, p.97]

Mayall and his ace band revive songs by Bettye Crutcher, Jimmy Rogers and Jerry Lynn Williams alongside Piquant original material. [Mar 2017, p.96]

The uncompromising Condition is extremely attractive. [Apr 2017, p.93]

[Navita] charts her course through destruction, indifference and the city sounds: doo wop, Lou Reed-y R&R, even indie rock. It's not until she stares clear-eyed at those closest to her that the way is clear: she's to honor her Latin and Caribbean roots in story and sound. [Apr 2017, p.96]

The main feeling it provokes is sincere admiration at a job well done, but a raised pulse, unfortunately, is something Spoon can't craft from scratch. [Apr 2017, p.96]

The results are a triumph. Scott interprets everything in a manner that touches heart-strings. [Mar 2017, p.98]

Big, warm music that doesn't shout loud, yet makes itself heard. [Apr 2017, p.97]

Song-for-song Damage And Joy is the most rewarding Jesus And Mary Chain album since their prime. [Apr 2017, p.92]

It's something of a revelation. [Apr 2017, p.97]

The only musical shift is Bete Morcelee, which isn't grunge but zippy punk; the rest reprise Marry's trademark conjoining of equally joyous Afro-pop and Anglo-phonic guitar-pop. [Apr 2017, p.95]

Adam Lee Miller and Nicola Kuperus have used a familiar creative trope--the artist in residence... Fittingly, Nitzer Ebb's Douglas J. McCarthy, whose own dislocated, radical electronica feels like an overt influence. [Apr 2017, p.97]

She's clearly not afraid to prolong the exquisite agony and, selfishly, you hope Macve never cheers up. [Apr 2017, p.98]

A lively fusion of politically conscious Afro-beat electro pop. [Apr 2017, p.99]

Emotionally speaking, however, Merritt has recreated an inner life that sound agonisingly real. [Apr 2017, p.94]

Blow by blow, it all adds up to Depeche Mode's best album in years. [Apr 2017, p.95]