While Parquet Courts show here that they can tackle lost love brilliantly, some of the more interesting lyrics come from those where they portray the less tangible mental issues that are rife in modern society.

It's a toxic game they play throughout the 30-minute project, without ever garnering the introspection they need until things are too late.

Hawthorne has once again proved himself as a superb purveyor of funky jams that will please the ear and the spirit.

Crab Day is an idiosyncratic and imaginative record, with fresh highlights appearing on every listen.

Whilst SORROW is clearly marked by genius, the scope and weight of this project is so substantial that the individual talent of a virtuoso like Stetson is somewhat buried, stepping back from the centre stage and once again filling the role of collaborator.

The Peace and Truce of Future of the Left is a dark and dynamic listen that's relentless in both its content and its approach, which makes it really quite gripping.

Happily, the quirky musical moments that characterised the London band's 2014 debut Breakfast are sprinkled over Brilliant Sanity, resulting in 11 pleasingly playful songs.

Three albums in, and several world tours under his belt, Bombino's music remains as powerful and vital as the day he first picked up a guitar.

It's a superficial thrill ride but without those evocative moments, that captivating emotional core, it lacks staying power.

The power of Bradley's voice comes not just from the lyrics, but the fact that you can feel the truth of every moment he sings about.

The White Album is a return to a particular state, but it was never going to be a return to form.

It's accessible, creative, and honest- everything art wishes it could be.

This album is earnest and contemplative.

Listeners will likely feel as though they've heard much of this stuff before and, while not of it is bad, that sensation does not exactly make for a compelling listen.

It's hard to decide if what Yeasayer have created with Amen & Goodbye is a case of pop genius, of if the result is a load of over the top, art-rock pretensions. It seems that whether Yeasayer are really the future sailors of experimental indie, still remains to be seen.

Painting Of a Panic Attack, while not their best release musically, may well be their most emotionally mature.

Wells has described Promise as the kind of album that requires patience and time from the listener. But considering how captivating and compelling the music can be, the time is well spent in the end.

Compassion is Lust For Youth's most compact album, with only 8 tracks, and benefits from its trim nature.

What it is, is a nice collection of dark trip-hop pop songs influenced by some great names but without forcing you to remember the name of HÆLOS. A little more substance over style will lead HÆLOS to bigger and better things.

For an album so drenched in sadness, there is a disco for the downhearted lurking beneath its surface.

As Cullen's thought provoking and dark lyricism crawls beneath its music adornment, you must unlock it to really appreciate the contrast.

The Body gracefully don't try to solve the zeitgeist of human suffering one way or the other, but they surely have retained their expert status at describing its pitfalls.

This album might not do anything particularly revolutionary, but as an example of affable, nuanced power-pop, it is hard to beat.

He continues to hold our attention as he makes sense of his own findings on God and race and legacy and perfection.

It's quite simply a thrilling, white-knuckle ride of a record. Its quieter moments are really just momentary respite from a soaring squall of sonic psychedelics.

LNZNDRF might feel a little esoteric to fans of the Devendorfs' back catalogue, but it's a heavyweight enough effort to hopefully ensure that it won't be a one-off.

More Rain is a graceful, though somewhat unrewarding member of that career.

It's the conflict between tension and resolve, the contrast between beauty and ugliness, and the overall uncertainty that makes this such an interesting and enthralling experience, and also one of Porter's most startling and accomplished releases yet.