Gentler hues are to the fore on the soft strum and harmonies of Teenage Fanclub's "Lonely Night", coming as near as dammit to an indie Crosby, Stills & Nash. They veer from the template just once, on the slow country rock of "Me And Magdalena". [Apr 2026, p.26]

Rest assured it all goes down as easy as a tequila sunrise, though Earthtones could've used more of the adventurous spirit of "So Free," a gorgeously supple eight-minute vamp. [Feb 2018, p.23]

The record as a whole is an energetic, infectious romp through trap, Auto-Tune, West Coast soul and warm balladry. [Feb 2016, p.78]

Plucking samples from wannabe grime MCs and unknown divas and weaving these into his uplifting electronica proves surprisingly moving. [May 2016, p.79]

Death Peak takes you on a journey of sorts. [Jun 2017, p.26]

They're on fine form with the hammered glam-boogie of "Eagle Birds" and the absurdly good-time "Lo/Hi," but underwhelm with the mid-tempo "Walk Across The Water and QOTSA-ish "Shine A Little Light." [Aug 2019, p.26]

The African-influenced essence of the record carries it along with grace but ultimately this is about celebrating the potential of the riff as rhythm. [Aug 2018, p.28]

This lively debut is full of fertile mash-ups. [Nov 2016, p.23]

The graceful arrangements of Owen Pallett and the pristine production of Mark Lawson, both best known for their Arcade Fire connections, ensure that the results are lovely, while the gorgeous purity of Bulat's voice glides elegantly above it all. [Mar 2022, p.25]

The arrangements - as ever - are more Les Misérables than Les Cousins, but her voice and her writing have lost non e of their chandelier sparkle. [Apr 2022, p.26]

Much of the album mediates on Torrini's new status as a mother but does so through some intensely poetic lyrics. [Oct 2013, p.75]

Tempest explores electro-dub and Four Tet-like glitch. [Oct 2012, p.87]

[B.E.D.'s] conversational neo-electroclash ditties are slight but hugely charming. [Jan 2019, p.20]

A confident record that picks up where her recent DJ Kicks set left off. [Sep 2023, p.31]

The jangly, offbeat "Ambulance Chaser" and the pretty, Radiohead-ish acoustic number "Loose Ends" both suggest that Ounsworth has retained some of his old band's arena-filling way with melody. [Apr 2017, p.26]

He shines brightest on the slower material.

The pair's keen rhythmic sense makes even the unusual palatable. [Review of the Year 2023, p.30]

Kelly's craftsmanship ensures Untouchable is a deeply satisfying 32 minutes. [Jun 2017, p.24]

For the most part it's Snarky Puppy at their jazziest, but there's still space for plenty of sweaty funk and prog-rock wigging out. [Nov 2022, p.36]

Their strongest, punchiest batch of songs to date. [Dec 2022, p.36]

The two hours and four tracks of Love In Detroit capture the mood and excitement of a Fela show during this second phase of his career. [Jun 2012, p.93]

On Subculture, The Selecter's dismay at the world is as powerful as ever. [Jul 2015, p.81]

For better or worse, no-one else is making records quite like this. [May 2016, p.82]

Concrete Desert is a seductive set-piece. [Jun 2017, p.24]

Bryant spins vocal somersaults over a deliciously slow-burning, spartan accompaniment, while several Memphis veterans add some Allman-style rock wigouts. [Jun 2020, p.27]

She sings achingly slow, self-loathing, minor-key ballads which would function well with just a clawhammer acoustic guitar accompaniment. But she transforms the rest of them into epic pieces of sludge metal. [Dec 2022, p.36]

Here is Can, warts and all. [Jul 2017, p.49]

Forgiveness Is Yours sometimes becomes too diffuse, hampered by a surplus of bold ideas that do not get all the necessary follow-through. But it Abounds with queasy pleasures all the same. [May 2024, p.32]