German electro poppers making a play for the festival crowds. [July 2011, p. 102]

Nicks co-produces with Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard. [July 2011, p. 102]

The Errant Charm lacks the edge needed to be more than a counter-cultural accessory. [July 2011, p. 102]

Radical tech rockers' microshift to the center ground. [July 2011, p. 100]

Specialists in Transatlantica hone their songcraft. [July 2011, p. 100]

Bon Iver's musical palette is a far broader, full blown band affair. [Jul 2011, p.98]

Ultimately, in a sea of indentikit singer-songwriters, Sproule's willingness to push just a little bit further counts far more in her favour than against it. [Jun 2011, p. 102]

A convincing musical narrative for young life in the UK today. [May 2011, p.104]

They fare best on delicate, forlorn ballads like Walk The Backstairs Quiet and Epping Forest--tales of suburban longing which are brave enough to include some quite splendid guitar solos. [Jun 2011, p100]

It's still high camp stuff, but Wolf's world suddenly seems like a more welcoming place. [Jun 2011, p.97]

Sure, there is a handful of magic that could cause significant flame damage to a dancefloor somewhere, but, beyond that, Jessica 6's toil to sculpt killer from filler is an endeavour that only occasionally pays off.

Toronto punk sextet's third LP is an epic soundtrack. [July 2011, p. 104]

["2012 (Bury Our Heads)" is] a brief downer and nestled among a clutch of songs that demonstrate how far the band has come since their 2003 debut. [May 2011, p.107]

They scrunch together Animal Collective-style off-kilter tech pop, new wave, ghetto bass and even twisted tango. [Jun 2011, p.97]

Bella Hardy takes a bold leap of faith on her third album, devoted entirely to a rich songwriting talent only hinted at on her previous two. [Jun 2011, p.103]

Unsurprisingly, these aren't in the same league as the Sun stdio classics, but these alternate and usually starker versions do allow us intimate seats at the creation of standards. [Jun 2011, p.114]

Alegrias bends gems from his Byzantine catalogue into new shapes. [Jun 2011, p.97]

It's the quality of the material--not just the three vocal takes each by Jack White and Norah Jones, but also the supple and atmospheric instrumental interludes-- that elevates Rome beyond Pastiche and into the realm of cinematic enchantment. [May 2011, p.105]

Sounding this simple is not always easy and for fans of pop with depth, Pete & The Pirates are a treat. [Jun 2011, p.100]

While her impressively expansive band needs little bidding to cut loose, Carthy's lush vocals, and cryptic lyrics keep you on your toes. [Jun 2011, p.103]

Given the right mood and lighting, it is almost magical; in stark sunshine, less so. [Jun 2011, p.100]

Fans will love the touching, piano-led title track, replete with the great man's Jack Russell terrier Gizmo barking at the end, while Stand Amazed finds Martyn at his rural front door, marveling at "the panoply of beauty" before him. [Jun 2011, p.103]

The results are as rich and organic as electronica gets. [Jun 2011, p.97]

Acquaint yourself with this successor to 2009's Notes From The Treehouse and it doesn't take long to see what Bella Union honcho Simon Raymonde saw Laurent-Marke. [May 2011, p.112]

There are few moments where Director's Cut offers anything close to a bold deconstruction. [Jun 2011, p.95]

Their polemic backed-up by their abundant charms, not least the plentiful guitar heroics of frontman Rick Rizzo, evoking both the lyricism of Neil Young and the artful amp abuse of Sonic Youth in their thrilling scree. [Jun 2011, p.106]

Finely etched narratives telltales of aging wunderkinds and tragic figures, the deeds of those famed and flawed, while the music moves in manifold directions, from powerpop to scuzz rock to alt country. [Jun 2011, p.106]

Coffey's new solo album is split 50/50 between space-funk rock guitar features and more grounded tracks as he becomes the servant of singers on five of the 11 tracks here. [Jun 2011, p.106]