ALBUM REVIEW – THE DELINES: THE SET UP

Willy Vlautin is a master world builder. Over the course of half a dozen albums with The Delines, he has created the equivalent of an intricate portmanteau movie with recurring themes and characters making return appearances. In his other career as an author, his most recent novel ‘The Horse’ was about an old musician riddled […]
There is a strong thread of death running through Quebec duo Bibi Club’s third album. Rather than a self-indulgent, goth teenage wallowing in mortality, it is a heartfelt response to the passing of two loved ones in the past year. It is a recurrent theme throughout ‘Amaro’, many of the eleven songs including variations on […]

ALBUM REVIEW – BIBI CLUB: AMARO

ALBUM REVIEW – THE DREAM MACHINE: FORT PERCH ROCK

The Sixties are back in, and The Dream Machine are navigating the waters on their third album ‘Fort Perch Rock.   New Brighton natives whose evocative lyricism is evident on every release, embody The Beach Boys on this album as insight is given by vocalist Zak McDonnell, “‘Things That Make Us Cry’ is me doing […]
 Hen Ogledd      Discombobulated        Their most complex and emotionally charged record to date, involving meditations on political tumult, personal crisis and mental wellbeing in a world gone mad, yet also their most warmly inclusive and accessible. Charm School                Skadenfreude Ploy EP               Four tracks taking their influence from the underground Louisville scene together with a little […]

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 20 FEBRUARY 2026

ALBUM REVIEW – ALTIN GUN: GARIP

Altın Gün translates from Turkish as “Golden Day.” The Amsterdam-based band provide an impressive example in how to evolve a sound over the course of a career. Starting off as a predominantly Turkish psych groove band on their 2018 debut, ‘On’, they swiftly received recognition for its 2019 follow-up, ‘Gece’, which was nominated in the […]
Stemming from the fair city, Big Sleep are known as heavy hitters when it comes to a live show. Pulling off a show under the m50 to sold out tours. Created by vocalist Rónán Connolly and drummer Matteo Poli before a chance meeting at a rave brought bassist Aiden Gray and guitarist Naiara Clarke LaFuente into […]

ALBUM REVIEW – BIG SLEEP: HOLY SHOW

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 13 FEBRUARY 2026

Momoko Gill    Momoko             Momoko has long been one of the UK electronic and jazz scene’s best-kept secrets. A self-taught drummer, producer, songwriter, and vocalist, she has brought her unique touch to collaborations with Alabaster DePlume, Matthew Herbert, Coby Sey, Tirzah, and Nadeem Din-Gabisi (her musical foil in An Alien Called Harmony). Howling Bells  Strange […]
Picture your honeymoon destination, the sun is setting, you’re drinking something tropical, even a cocktail if you partake. All you need is a soundtrack to make the memories. Welcome to ‘November Scorpio’ by Tiana Major9 Well, as far as instrumentation and the overall sound of the project goes, this could be a perfect soundtrack for […]

ALBUM REVIEW – TIANA MAJOR9 : NOVEMBER SCORPIO

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 6 FEBRUARY 2026Sil

Mandy, Indiana              Urgh      Across ten tracks, Mandy, Indiana interpolate their own unconventional language into a mantra for self-determination and resilience, creating an album that is demanding but rewarding. Ranil y Su Conjunto Tropical                 Galaxia Tropical            Music from the Peruvian Amazon that locals lovingly called “llullampeo” — imaginative, unpredictable, and fabulously unrestrained. His percussionists wove […]
It is curious how some instruments are considered to be earthy and human whereas others are thought of as mechanical. Yamila’s album, ‘Noor’, juxtaposes two instruments that fall into opposing categories. Cello is seen as being rich and emotive in contrast to the mechanical reputation of electronics. This could be partly due to the bodily […]

ALBUM REVIEW – YAMILA: NOOR