There is enough control behind all the madness to ensure that the result remains just the right side of uncompromising.

Yesterday’s Gone is one of the finest debuts you’ll hear for quite some time.

It’s probably the most accessible Soccer Mommy album to date.

For a debut album it's remarkably consistent and confident, and promises great things to come for the future.

This is not the King Push we were led to expect, but it is a quality record in its own right.

The truth of The Sound Of Yourself is that it is a sometimes confused collection of songs, almost as though it were two albums co-existing in one space. ... However, the quality across the board in these compositions is consistent and the sound of McCaughan in this kind of form is always a delight.

It’s universally accessible, and it’s the kind of pop that has the potential to dominate the charts and win over hearts during festival slots.

Poignant, lush and beautifully played, this is another predictably wonderful record from The Antlers.

The Dream Of Delphi is another starkly beautiful missive from one of our most consistent artists.

Raffertie’s talent as a producer has never been in question. Sleep Of Reason has been a long time coming, but these 13 pieces of fractured soul represent a supreme triumph.

ny quibbles are minor here though, for Devotion is a truly impressive debut album from yet another talented British singer.

A brightly uplifting record.

It is a testament to Eminem’s enduring talent that the album never feels laboured or even slightly dated. Instead, it is a perfect reflection of the world of Marshall Mathers in 2013.

Most of the tracks here could have emerged at almost any point between the late 60s and now, but when you're confronted by the sheer bittersweet enthusiasm that van Pelt manages to squeeze into each one, it would be a little unfair to draw up a family tree.

It feels engaged and defiant, but perhaps more inward looking than the inevitably direct political feeling behind Albala.

While there are a couple of misfires (Broken Algorithms is as messy as its title would suggest), this is generally a fine return to form from one of the country’s most treasured bands.

If the sound of Beyoncé‘s similarly sonically adventurous Renaissance whetted your appetite for challenging, demanding soul, then Sudan Archives’ latest could be just what you’re looking for.

With the band straying very little from the original templates, the main surprises come when they have to change styles to fit the songs.

Ultimately it's an incredibly rewarding listen, even if the self-observing anxiety that's writ large throughout means it doesn't quite reach the lofty heights to which its creators have bravely aspired.

The consistency and linear aspect of Bloom ensures it is, as the band recommend, best experienced as an whole.

In the end, then, it's as if Austra are old hands; Feel It Break could be them overcoming difficult second album syndrome with aplomb. Goodness only knows where they can go from here; such peaks represented the end of the road for The Organ.

Thankfully, McCartney appears to be grasping the nettle and squeezing the most out of life and his apparently never-ending songbook. A definite thumbs up.

Sacred Paws strike a match by igniting the themes and musicality of their record, and the result is hugely satisfying. There is something ballsy and defiant in the simplicity of the duo’s approach and directness.

It's a rootsy album that is delivered faithfully and respectfully, but one where the strong, clear voice of its author cuts through powerfully.

On closer inspection and at a suitably stupid volume, however, Preparations rocks and lurches in grand fashion.

It Is What It Is sparkles with inventive songwriting, chunky production and pervasive good vibes, a worthwhile addition to any R&B or jazz fan’s collection.

As with all Björk albums there’s a lot to unpack and it requires several listens before it all begins to fall into place but, once done, there’s a case to be made for this possibly being the best Björk album (and certainly the most animated) since 2011’s Biophilia certainly in terms of breadth, aesthetic and overall engagement.

The flipside to this slightly dark streak that permeates the album with its huge drum pulses and malfunctioning circuitry, is the gentle subtlety at work.