The information exchange attains a near perfect equilibrium between sanctified melody and distress signals. [Oct 2021, p.91]

McLaughlin's inner creative fire is till burning brightly on Liberation Time. [Sep 2021, p.78]

An expansive, summery jazz-funk crossover that lives and dies on its monster grooves. [Aug 2021, p.85]

The Beach Boys vault, though, is full of Dennis tracks, and Feel Flows makes a great showcase for that Wilson's unlikely gifts, and the inconsistent strategies that bedevilled the band. [Sep 2021, p.90]

It's essentially a particularly dark MSP bravely attempting to go a bit ABBA, failing miserably but in the process creating a skewed but alluring new pop persona. ... A hit. [Oct 2021, p.97]

The playing is dappled, unostentatious, the mood often disarmingly pretty. [Jul 2021, p.85]

More moments of delicate beauty than before. [Aug 2021, p.90]

Music that is dizzying beautiful, but never precious. [Oct 2021, p.88]

City Pressure, the military-industrial complex, social injustice, ganja and plague/lockdown frustration are soundtracked by city-sized industrial noise and merciless rhythm. [Oct 2021, p.88]

The Old Fabled River deals only in wistful enchantment, with four, typically bardic, otherworldly Roberts originals augmented by traditional ballads and a brace of Norwegian hymnals, achingly emoted by saxophonist Marthe Lea. [Aug 2021, p.88]

These songs aren't quite the blast of fresh air needed after months of dreaming about new horizons, but as you'd expect from Damon And Naomi, they're a beautifully curated analogue. [Oct 2021, p.96]

Jackson is in magnificent voice throughout. [Oct 2021, p.88]

See-saws between manic joy and depressive darkness but never loses its sense of wit, grace or noise-dipped tunefulness. [Oct 2021, p.96]

The result is a warmly autumnal, subtly adventurous set. [Oct 2021, p.90]

When Robert Smith guests on the strident How Not to Drown it's a perfect retro storm. Yet the opening Asking For A Friend has a very 2021 clatter, while Violent Delights evokes a sugar-free Ellie Goulding. [Oct 2021, p.98]

The only unsatisfactory element of The Ballad of Dood & Juanita is that it's too short. [Oct 2021, p.92]

Wainwright's fifth LP has artistry galore. [Sep 2021, p.78]

In the main, conjure strange, eerie atmospheres filled with ghostly spirits like those inhabiting the recordings of Del Shannon and Joe Meek. [Oct 2021, p.95]

Not quite up to par with the last three indie label releases, but he set the bar high. [Oct 2021, p.93]

Achieved what they wanted: Mariah Carey scaling dramatic peaks on Somewhat loved (There You Go Breakin' My Heart); Babyface recrowned the king of quiet storm on He Don't Know Nothin' Bout It, and Usher, the love doctor, all breathy and hot on Do It Yourself. [Oct 2021, p.95]

Their enthusiasm for the project is palpable and if their joyful noise turns just one listener onto the original, it's job done. [Sep 2021, p.82]

The free-est, fun-est, most psychedelic Villagers record so far. [Sep 2021, p.76]

More cohesive and less Britpop than 2018's Brickbat. More trenchant too. [Aug 2021, p.87]

Highly polished, rootsy but gentle rocking with some big hooks, even if the quality wavers a little over 15 tracks. [Sep 2021, p.88]

Bristling with hooks, this thoroughly enjoyable set deserves to be spilling out of open windows wherever it's summer. [Sep 2021, p.81]

Shine[s] a light on forgotten corners of the influential '70s label's past. [Jun 2021, p.94]

Sinner Get Ready spotlights the itinerant Californian's magnetic vocals by removing harsh textures, reflecting her move to rural Pennsylvania with a majestic palette of choral polyphony, crashing percussion and traditional porch and church sounds. [Sep 2021, p.86]

With its 10 tracks and 24-minute running time, this unexpected sequel--its sleeve nodding playfully to Dr Dre's 2001-might look like a small-scale musical property, but once inside, it's a mansion. [Sep 2021, p.84]