Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Word of a sixth album from Big Thief comes with their latest track 'Vampire Empire'. First debuting live on Stephen Colbert's Late Show in March 2023, its lyrics express an inner conflict at "vampire empires", of the tendency for relationships to err towards toxic, parasitical and contingent mindsets and a rallying cry for infinite and unbroken loves. A fixture of their many live shows for at least a good few years now, we're pleased to finally be seeing the official release of this gem.

Review: It's not hard to understand why people so often ignore album release blurb. Sales-y, hyperbolic, and on more than the odd occasion rather poorly written, it's hardly required reading in order to get the most out of the record. That is unless it's Big Thief's 'Two Hands', a collection of music that genuinely makes more sense when you know the back story. For one thing this long form offering is arriving just months after its predecessor, which is always either the sign of a band that don't need big ideas to facilitate rapid-fire output, or a band that have so many big ideas they literally can't stop the momentum. This is a case of the latter. Timescale aside, "Two Hands" genuinely feels as though it was born in the Badlands, epic songs that invoke endless vistas across barren settings in a way that makes you feel as small as you actually are in a global context. Like cosying up in a log cabin away from the chilly endless dark of a desert night.

Review: There's plenty of anticipation around Big Thief's third record U.F.O.F., and we can say with confidence that it delivers on every front. A solid expansion of their last record, Capacity, U.F.O.F. for the most part goes deeper into diverse sonic territories that's emotionally raw and rich, calling to mind Elliott Smith, Joni Mitchell and various other accomplished singer songwriters especially in songs like "Contact" and "Cattails". Elsewhere, "Strange" and "Orange" provide a backing that seems more upbeat on the surface, yet the varied vocal technique of Adrianne Lenker, ranging from a whisper to a vulnerable bellow keeps us firmly captivated. The album really shines through when it reaches for slightly louder soundscapes, best heard on "Terminal Paradise" and "Jenni" (with the latter reminding us of "Washer" by Slint). All in all, U.F.O.F. will be a record that entrances you with its subtle yet haunting charm.

Review: "The album that put Bon Iver on the map is back, this time on limited white vinyl stretched across two LPs. This originally minimal, heartbreaking 9-tracker - that dealt with the shock of Vernon's best friend Heath Ledger's death, among other events - is now rounded off with 5 alternate recordings, 3 of which are stripped-down live takes on the album tracks 'Wash', 'Beth/Rest' and 'Hinnom, TX'. The remaining two come from elsewhere; 'I Can't Make You Love Me' and 'Babys', like the others, were recorded at AIR Studios by Justin Vernon and his bandmate Sean Carey, on grand pianos and vocals only.

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Review: Kim Deal didn't waste any time in making The Breeders a vital force of their own rather than a mere Pixies side-project. By the time their second album Last Splash landed in 1993, they had struck gold with a sharply focused strain of noisy indie rock that was equal parts daring and fun. 'Cannonball' was the universally-adored hit which landed The Breeders in the wider consciousness, but there's so much more to the album than that summery blast of guitar squall. Just fast-forward to 'S.O.S.' and you'll hear a strikingly familiar lick of distorted wail which became a bedrock for a certain UK rave group's biggest hit. This 30th anniversary edition spreads the album out on double vinyl with a bonus red 12" featuring a previously unreleased version of 'Divine Hammer' sung by J Mascis.