Ricocheting through the wandering quips and rustic palette of Watch My Moves, Vile resists any temptation to curtail his free-roaming private wilderness, doubling down on the ambling strand of songwriting sure to sate seasoned listeners.

For an album which so clearly sells itself as a capital C concept Album, the narrative is indecipherable; each track dropping a handful of new character names, and the final song seems to give up on it completely. Tillman is a fantastic songwriter, and so some of the new material is gold regardless.

It’s the careful balance of lyrical self-awareness and indifference amidst post-punk guitar that keeps you on your toes.

Not quite pop perfection, but it has its moments.

The Regrettes already seem pretty at home in their new soundscape, roaming between stripped-back guitars and fully-fledged pop.

It’s a tried and tested sound but Peck’s perspective feels utterly fresh, and suggests perhaps all of the glitz and camp are actually just Peck being true to himself.

At times, it can feel slightly rushed - with the band seeming understandably eager to quickly follow-up on early hype. ... At it’s best, however, Growing Up is a fantastically multi-dimensional record that presents a shining showcase of four preternaturally talented stars.

An album that often gets consumed into a pleasant fog.

With strong songwriting and stronger melodies throughout, this album is likely a one-off (minor) disappointment, and PUP will equally likely bounce back from it.

Across the record it’s clear that Pillow Queens have truly hit their stride as a band. Leave The Light On strikes the balance between the excitement of an early career and the deliberate precision of seasoned musicians.

Never Let Me Go feels like an astute observation of our current post-pandemic social climate, as if the current global narrative has finally caught up to that of Placebo's internal monologue. And though the realities of that are pretty bloody bleak, at least we've got an excellent album out of it.

A record that belies its debut status, Unlearning bares the strength and complexity of a later career offering, with Walt Disco deftly updating their precursors’ flair from a twenty-first century vantage point, championing the illustrious Scottish post-punk tradition in the process.

A collection that future-proofs Kavinsky’s curation of high-end production, addictive earworms and cinematic scope.

The band demonstrate the excitement bubbling beneath the surface of the UK rock scene, ready to pierce through its thin veil at any moment – Reeling is that moment for The Mysterines, and it’s a debut you won’t forget in a hurry.

McDonald, Thompson, and Hellmrich seem more artistically and energetically in sync than ever, reveling in their opportunities and impressive talents.

Never before has one of her albums been so vulnerable and reserved. ... This album drips with drama, humor, and naturalness, making Warm Chris a sincere take on life.

Real victory comes from delivering something cohesively independent such as MELT MY EYEZ. And as promised we do indeed see the future.

Present Tense stands as another stage in Yumi Zouma’s development in this sense, lapsing at times into dream-wrapped comfort zone while throwing enough curveballs to differentiate from preceding outings.

Sea Girls are taking the torch from guitar-pop pioneers, and telling stories with just as much strength.

Showing off the intricacy – the moodiness and magic – the band are so excellent at creating, and building to the heights promised on earlier tracks, it’s the perfect note to end on. It doesn’t feel quite final, but it feels like an appropriate moment to pause.

Despite these few missteps and pacing issues, ADULT. prove that they can effectively balance their usual techno and synth punk sound with more experimental and spacious beats that progress rather patiently.

Mixing witty lines with insightful meditations on life as a black man, Radical proves himself to be a master of his craft, effortlessly providing both incredible lyrical content and flawless instrumentation from start to finish.

Motomami is the sound of an incredible voice indulging in her pop fantasy and excelling at it, but she makes sure to remind us as often as she can that really, she can do it all.

Anakin often brings an urgency with his flow, each bar breaking with his voice, snapping like a bonfire night firework. It's an effortless relentlessness, ensuring you watch but keeps you cautious enough through fear of getting burned. Those personal touches are truly where Frank shines.

Crash is nothing short of a victory lap. Every bit as effervescent as its pandemic-induced predecessor, how i’m feeling now. ... This is connected and organic; a celebration of hope, love and spontaneity as both her catalogue and the world at large inch closer to some semblance of their old ways.

The Districts have evolved into something bigger and brighter with their fifth release. Turns out Great American Painting is pretty great.

Their ability to collaborate with the likes of Barker, Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, rappers Bun B, Saul Williams & Jasiah, whilst remaining authentically Ho99o9, is what makes SKIN such an exhilarating listen.

A record that uses choral, electronic and orchestral features to embellish Stromae’s creativity, Multitude is crafted to be enjoyed again and again.