Mind-expanding stuff. [May 2017, p.106]

An intriguing, undeniable gem. [Dec 2017, p.92]

Here, his eloquent trumpet is framed by musical backdrops that range from noir-esque alt-rock to ambient soundscapes and jittery hip-hop beats. [Feb 2018, p.93]

The 35-track odyssey serpentines on an exotic carpet of plangent electric and acoustic guitar sounds through whimsical, sub-Basement Tapes Americana, languorous, Grateful Dead-like psych-folk and hallucinogenic, Lennon-esque-pop. [Jan 2018, p.92]

This feels like Hermansen's most charming and wide-ranging collection yet. [Jan 2018, p.96]

A journey, then, one exploring the psyche of a man and his relationship with the world. [Jan 2018, p.90]

Soulful, questioning, and the perfect introduction to Smith's unique, illuminative jazz. [Feb 2018, p.99]

Their narrative of cosmic self-realisation may be a touch familiar, but overall Electric Eye are mightily far-sighted. [Jan 2018, p.92]

Studded with sardonic, Pavement-y wit. [Dec 2017, p.96]

For the most part, this is soothing, circular psychedelia with added depth, warmth and texture. [Feb 2018, p.93]

These six albums attest to the depth of Fela discography, and to the diversity of his message. [Feb 2018, p.104]

Cloying, ultimately fascinating. [Feb 2018, p.99]

Thile's creations rarely boast a singalong factor, but deliver on terms of sheer musicality. [Feb 2018, p.98]

[A] collection of pithy two-minute lo-fi soundtracks. [Feb 2018, p.97]

All told: a mighty uplifting wheeze. [Feb 2018, p.97]

Van sounds relaxed and perfectly at ease. [Feb 2018, p.93]

Despite the recruitment drive, it's another curious case of history repeating itself: N.E.R.D setting their phasers to stun, but only intermittently finding the target. [Feb 2018, p.91]

This is groundling rock at its finest. [Dec 2017, p.103]

This handsome 3-CD box contains both concerts in their entirety for the first time. [Jan 2017, p.104]

The kind of space-occupying Krautrock klang that suddenly fills you with the urge to set up an underground magazine and get the brown rice ready for dinner. [Jan 2018, p.88]

Promise Of The Real--ie, Willie Nelson’s son Lukas et al--prove superb foils for this sludge guitar god/master melody maker, hence the harmony-rich chorus of Already Great sounds exactly that immediately, and the horn-bolstered power-chords of resistance anthem Children Of Destiny are just breathtaking.

Anthropocene is rich with stark beauty and wry smiles hidden among Oren's observations of "billboard signs touring God's designs," and "the Bible belt taking to itself all night on the FM waves." [Jan 2018, p.90]

Tunes abound, performances are slick, and all 13 songs boast a hook or two. [Jan 2018, p.88]

Dan Auerbach takes Finley further away from his church-and-porch roots with a brief to present the artist as a classic all-rounder and on 10 songs written by Auerbach, John Prince and Nick Lowe, he proves himself just that. [Jan 2018, p.89]

Although the quality dips dramatically on Samir & Abboud's bland, overworked Games and Gharbi Sadock & George Garzia's sickly slap-bass odyssey Lala Tibiki, both prove rare exceptions. [Jan 2018, p.102]

It's more of what we know, which should suit Metallica heads just fine. [Dec 2017, p.105]

A sprinkling of more angular, dissonant tracks, like the clanging Eastern Stack, may sail a little too close to his soi-disant "jazz that nobody asked for" for some tastes. [Jan 2018, p.96]

Glowing collection of covers. [Jan 2018, p.88]