Soundtracking stellar deeps has become one of electronica's most overworked cliches, but in the easy intimacy audible in this encounter, these Ambienaut vets make it sound like a piece of cake. [#247, p.59]

Nostalgialator is exhilarating, eschewing rhetorical rap fury in favour of a satirical masqued ball of capitalist obsessions. [#246, p.52]

Breezy, disorientated, unhurried, its content seeks an instant surface rapport through a bold display of clips and cuts. [#245, p.69]

Very rewarding, although Blueberry Boat is perhaps too heavy a tome, lyrically, to be quite the right starting place for those new to the group. [#249, p.55]

[Forster] leans perilously close to airbrushed AOR when left too much to his own devices, but mostly the intoxicating richness and unashamed opulence of their epic space rock wins through. [#247, p.70]

Musically and lyrically, A Ghost Is Born is translucent, weightless, supernatural, capable of drifting back and forth across rock'n'roll's state lines at will. [#246, p.61]

This can be thrilling, unnerving and just occasionally tiresome. [#245, p.53]

The emphasis this time around is on poppier melodies, but for all its attention to song form, Sonic Nurse feels more like a collection of exercises than a cohesive album. [#244, p.63]

Voyeurs of the disintegration of the human condition will be able to gorge on vicarious thrills to their black heart's content. [#246, p.62]

There probably isn't a track here you won't be hearing in some club, park or block party throughout the summer, so you might as well start now. [#245, p.51]

It feels rough and raw and sketchy. [#245, p.69]

Laced with a shot of self-doubt that has it coming on almost like an electroclash Exile On Main Street. [#244, p.69]

The best stuff views the world through the sunkissed psychedelic lens of Brazilian psych-troupe Os Mutantes; the lesser material just sounds like lite Brian Wilson. [#243, p.59]

Pleasantly ear friendly and leaves no unpleasant odour or lingering aftertaste. [#243, p.74]

The Kadanes have created a collection of songs of which they can be proud. [#246, p.62]

Kesto could have been improved with some judicious edits; but when they are at the top of their game, these Finns are undeniably great. [#244, p.59]

As a political manifesto, Rawar Style is somewhat vague, yet The Eternals' impulsive, improvising music has anger, zeal and humour in its very DNA. [#245, p.56]

Sadly their rather airless space rock doesn't really lift off beyond a certain Ambient politeness. [#244, p.66]

It's carefully constructed music that makes few demands but rewards close attention. [#244, p.69]

Banhart mixes a relaxed bearing and a tense vocal delivery in a fascinating manner. [#245, p.51]

The album glows white-hot with fury and energy, familiar yet fresh. [#243, p.66]

A dull, clunky, unjustifiably smug AOR rock album: no more, no less. [#243, p.71]

A streamlined combination of motorik rhythms, electronic textures and tuneful choruses. [#242, p.72]

Although there are no new dimensions here,... this still feels like musical fresh mint. [#242, p.67]

A rewarding new departure. [#242, p.72]

Beautifully performed, but otherwise unadventurous. [#243, p.69]

There's at once a sense that Venice is weightier and more purposeful than its predecessor. [#243, p.56]

Ten is forever on the point of falling apart but somehow doesn't. [#241, p.55]