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Review: Depeche Mode's latest album Memento Mori is one that has been madly anticipated by fans. The record - which comes on wax and in a lovely embossed sleeve here - centres on the mood of grief after the passing of the band's founding member Andrew "Fletch" Fletcher, this is the first LP by a Depeche Mode made up of only two remaining members: Dave Gahan and Martin Gore. The band's progression in their latest years have heard them move into darker, peakier, sadder and more industrial themes, as they make do with a future-present that wasn't promised to them in the 80s, while drawing on deathly topoi and nodding to Ingmar Bergman.

Review: Like owning a little piece of history with a bonus memoir, The Clash's Combat Rock was - is - the band's best selling album of all time and highest charting in both the US and UK. This was also the last time Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon would record together before the lineup changed, and the track list contains at least two of the outfit's most recognised songs - namely 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go' and 'Rock the Casbah'.

The original version of the LP was less expansive than this special edition released to mark 40 years since the long-player went on sale. The addition of The People's Hall offers fans a chance to relish in no less than 12 extra tracks, including collaborations with the legendary Ranking Roger - 'Rock the Casbah' and 'Red Angel Dragnet' - the iconic late-frontman of The Beat more than ideally suited to the crew's sound.

Review: The third, controversial final album from Seattle's Nirvana should require little to no introduction. Repressed, remastered and redefined again and again, the Steve Albini-produced, mainstream-eschewing swansong has become one of the ugliest left-turns the 90's grunge scene ever spat up, and the subject of much heated internal fan debate over which is the definitive version. Celebrating its 30-year anniversary with a super-deluxe box set, boasting eight LPs made up of additional live performances as well as a myriad of memorabilia from the In Utero era, for the more lackadaisical collectors, there's this single LP gatefold pressing in a premium 'tip-on' sleeve similar to 2021's reissue of Nevermind, which comes with a bonus 10" of b-sides also featured on the monstrous deluxe edition.

Review: Reissued for the first time via Atlantic Records comes the official soundtrack to Twilight: New Moon, the second instalment in the Twilight film franchise, which is in turn based on the novel of the same name. With the OST component of the score again handled by Alexandre Desplat, and its curated remainder selected by music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, New Moon is a compelling fusion of classical filmic orchestral music and brooding emo indie rock: the perfect combo to nail the affective headspace of both Edward and Jacob campers.

Review: Stereolab continue to trawl through their vast back catalogue on the fourth instalment of the Switched On compilation series. This edition, titled Electronically Processed, focuses primarily on rare and hard-to-find tracks (many tucked away on very limited seven-inch singles), with a handful of alternative versions, outtakes and previously unreleased cuts thrown in. Fans will find much to savour across the two-disc set, from Krautrock-tinged Chanson songs (see the rather fine 'Household Names' and Serge Gainsbourg-with-added-funk vibes of 'The Super It'), to more experimental instrumentals from soundtracks, and even the odd dancefloor-ready stomper ('Dimension M2'). In a word: essential.

Review: Superior Viaduct and W.25TH present Diamond Jubilee by Cindy Lee, now available in a deluxe 3xLP format with a collectible poster. Lauded across the board and shortlisted for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize, Diamond Jubilee showcases Patrick Flegel's unique blend of haunting melodies and raw emotion. Crafted over years in studios from Toronto to Montreal, this album delivers timeless reflections on love and longing, backed by sticky hooks and immersive soundscapes that cement Cindy Lee's reputation as a standout in experimental pop.

Review: This 20th Anniversary reissue of the The White Stripes' Elephant will make you roar once more. Jack and Meg White's raw and minimalist garage rock, which they've been making since 1997, is by now a staple of the international rock market identity - and of course, the blinding hits 'Seven Nation Army', 'I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself' and 'The Hardest Button To Button' all feature on their debut here. Celebrating the now cemented legacy of a wholly original duo, this anniversary edition includes a bonus disc of alternative tracks, some of which come in a format of much import, mono. And that's not to mention a string of covers and rarities. It also comes in a deluxe bookback edition, with liner notes by Jack White himself!

Review: The sixth album by American scene/screamo band AFI hears a timely 20th Anniversary reissue here. Hinting at a more gothic direction and an abandonment of their former footings in hardcore punk and horrorpunk, we hear Davey Havok and co. move through fast-paced punk and spitty vocals as ever, harking back to a much earlier time (2003) in which this genre sadly held more weight. Like a high school drama plunged into a nightmarish vampire apocalypse, the blend of sounds here are perfect for a late-night Twilight or Buffy binge - with sad piano interludes interspersed with grungey axe washouts and ruminations on hopelessness and despair.

Review: Songs of a Lost World, The Cure's first studio album in 16 years, marks their highly anticipated 14th release. Written and arranged by Robert Smith, who also produced the album with Paul Corkett, it sees the band return to form with Smith's unmistakable vocals and instrumentation, alongside the long serving Simon Gallup on bass, Jason Cooper on drums, Roger O'Donnell on keys and Reeves Gabrels on guitar. Recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, the album's cover art, designed by long-time collaborator Andy Vella, features Janez Pirnat's 1975 sculpture 'Bagatelle'. This limited edition comes pressed on grey marbled 180g vinyl.

Review: Who can argue with them for wanting to repress this beauty? It's quite simply one of the best pop albums of all time. Tracy Chapman's voice is inimitable and she is, frankly, a genius. The timeless yet nostalgic 'Fast Car' is the unmistakable standout here - be teleported back to late-80s Britain (when it was a ubiquitous presence in public spaces) but know that if an emerging artist wrote that today it would still be a number one. Strictly speaking this is a 37th anniversary reissue - but who's counting? The label, with Chapman herself involved, have gone to meticulous steps to ensure it's an audiophile delight: Heavyweight vinyl and sourced from the analog master. The trusty Bernie Grundman, who is one of the best mastering engineers in the world, was the honoured hire in bringing this work of art back to life.

Review: The Pumpkins' sophomore effort, originally released in 1993, remains a masterclass in balancing raw emotion with lush, layered production. Opening with the iconic 'Cherub Rock', the album immediately asserts its originality, blending Billy Corgan's searing guitar work with Butch Vig's pristine production. The track's dynamic shifts and explosive energy still sounds like nothing since. 'Today', with its deceptively upbeat melody and darker lyrical undertones, became a radio and MTV staple, while 'Disarm' showcased the band's range, swapping distortion for orchestral strings and highlighting Corgan's vulnerable songwriting. For longtime fans, 'Mayonnaise' often emerges as the album's hidden gemia track that marries melancholic melodies with cathartic, crashing crescendos. Throughout the album, Jimmy Chamberlin's drumming is nothing short of phenomenal, adding weight and complexity to tracks like 'Geek U.S.A.' and 'Soma'. Siamese Dream still resonates with the same potency, blending anthems of adolescent angst and shimmering beauty. A reissue that reaffirms the album's enduring legacy as a cornerstone of its genre.

Review: The 'Papercuts' Singles Collection 2000-2023 by American rock legends Linkin Park offers a comprehensive journey through the band's evolution over two decades. This anthology captures the essence of their genre-defining sound, showcasing their iconic hits alongside lesser-known gems. From the raw intensity of early tracks like 'One Step Closer' to the introspective depth of later releases such as 'Numb,' each song reflects the band's growth and artistic maturity. With powerful vocals, dynamic instrumentals, and poignant lyrics, LINKIN PARK's music continues to resonate with fans worldwide.

Review: "Anthology" serves as a celebration of The Clean, a band whose influence extends so far beyond their New Zealand home that even if you have never heard of The Clean before, you have surely heard of some of the bands (Pavement, Yo La Tengo, and Superchunk, to name a few) who have been influenced by their unique blend of homemade garage rock, hook-filled melodies and psychedelic experimentalism.

The album is a compilation from across The Clean's legendary career, which began in 1981 and continues today. Merge originally released the two CD "Anthology" in 2003, but now this collection is available on quadruple LP. "Anthology" kicks off with The Clean's call-to-arms debut "Tally Ho!"; the story of the infectious track's $60 recording bill is now legendary. It continues with the early EPs "Boodle Boodle Boodle" and "Great Sounds Great" in their entirety. The hits "Billy Two", "Anything Could Happen", "Beatnik" and "Getting Older", live favorites like "Point That Thing Somewhere Else" and instrumentals "Fish" and "At the Bottom" all serve up memories of the joyous noise that characterized The Clean of that time. These recordings, mostly made by the band with Chris Knox and Doug Hood at the helm of the 4-track, capture the bright, raw sound of a classic garage band.

After a brief breakup, the band recorded "Vehicle" in 1989, made in three days and engineered by Alan Moulder (Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, My Bloody Valentine). The sounds of "Vehicle" and the two albums that followed it, "Modern Rock" (1994) and "Unknown Country" (1996), make up the bulk of discs 3 and 4 of the vinyl "Anthology". In addition to selections from these full-length recordings, "Anthology" includes two songs released only on a US 7 inch and two that appeared on a bonus flexidisc with the "Modern Rock" LP.

Review: Loaded, The Velvet Underground's final album featuring Lou Reed, epitomises a perfect rock 'n' roll record. Released in 1970 after their stint with Verve, it marked the band's shift to Atlantic Records under Ahmet Ertegun's directive for a hit-laden album. The absence of founding members John Cale and Maureen Tucker, coupled with Doug Yule's prominent role, shifts the album's dynamic but does not compromise its impact. With standout tracks like 'Sweet Jane' and 'Rock & Roll,' it feels like a greatest hits collection, expertly navigating rock archetypes. This 180-gram 45 RPM double LP reissue by Analogue Productions, pressed at Quality Record Pressings and housed in a tip-on old style gatefold jacket by Stoughton Printing, provides an exquisite listening experience. A certified rock classic and a significant chapter in the Velvets' legacy.

Review: Warner are in the midst of a massive reissue project that sees them remaster some of New Order's biggest tunes from the Abbey Road master tapes. Power Corruption & Lies (Definitive Edition) is one of the bigger ones as it offers up the iconic group's 1983 studio album across 180 gram vinyl, two CDs, two DVDs, and a 48 page book with obi strip. It is a completists dream with unreleased writing session material and the band's 1982 John Peel session, gigs captured live at The Hacienda and Kilkenny, plus all manner of rare photos and new essays to enjoy next to the music.

Review: 25 years after it was originally unveiled, Nine Inch Nails' soundtrack for the video game Quake - a dark and doom-laden first person shoot-'em-up - still sounds surprisingly intense and unsettling. Their decision to write and record the soundtrack was itself pioneering - Quake was one of the first games to seek sounds from a big-name act - while its pitch-black musical blend of fractured electronic sounds, dark ambient sweeps and creepy, largely beat-free soundscapes was undoubtedly ahead of the curve. Remarkably, this meticulously re-mastered vinyl edition marks the first time the soundtrack has been available on anything other than a CD bundled with copies of the game. An undoubted classic of its type.

Review: John Hughes' films are a genre all to themselves - sentimental coming of age flicks that embody 1980s small town America like few others managed. Hughes also knew how to use great pop music of the time to capture a moment in his movies, and so the concept of The John Hughes Mixtapes is an inspired one if you want to feels a sweeping sense of nostalgia for a bygone era. This lavish six-LP boxset features classic tracks from movies such as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty In Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Some Kind Of Wonderful, Planes, Trains And Automobiles, She's Having A Baby, The Great Outdoors and Uncle Buck.

Review: Experimental noise rock outfit Shizuka was formed as the gothic sonic outlet of one Shizuka Miura in 1993. Known for making ghostly dolls to aid her performances, Shizuka's heyday was one of mesmerizing eerieness, with her 1994 'Heavenly Persona' being the emblem of that outlook. With haunting rock instrumentation and screeching meditations on materiality's tension with the incorporeal, this is a distinctly creepy album for those unafraid to (at least temporarily) cross over to the other side.

Review: Thom Yorke and Mark Pritchard revive the collaboration first aired on the latter's 2016 album Unde The Sun, this time across a full album reportedly four years in the (top secret) making. It's a compelling synthesis of Yorke's atmospheric melancholy and Pritchard's textured production. It expores a range of moods, from the uneasy tension of 'A Fake In A Faker's World' to the hypnotic rhythms of 'Back In The Game', while the eerie, spectral qualities of 'This Conversation Is Missing Your Voice' reveal the pair's ability to intertwine experimental soundscapes with a visceral emotional pull. Standout moments include 'Gangsters,' where Pritchard's intricately layered beats mesh with Yorke's haunting vocal delivery, and 'Wandering Genie,' which closes the journey with a strange sense of release. The music takes unexpected turns, not just as a statement of collaboration, but as a reflection of two artists playing with the unknown, pulling their sonic worlds into unexplored spaces. Each track is a feather in the cap of their combined ingenuity, with Yorke's vocal vulnerability and Pritchard's production wizardry in full synergy.

Review: RECOMMENDED
There's always been an air of mystery about The The. Look through the band's history, which stretches wayyyyy back to the late-1970s, and the list of collaborators alone is enough to convince you they've been making moves in the right places for many, many years, striving to innovate and carve out their own space in the unarguably busy post punk landscape.

Everything Matt Johnson touches seems to turn to gold. Albeit a particularly scuzzy gold that exists solely in the darkest rooms of the least kept venues. Even on this accolade - a group getting a spot at The Royal Albert Hall is no mean feat - there's a sense of yellow-hued street lights and rain falling on concrete. But this is combined with a poetic element that's up there with the finest literary Romantics, and a commentary that will tell you all there is to tell.

Review: Many a music lover will have gone through a rebellious teenage rock phase, and if so there is a good chance that for a short period at least they were well into Linkin Park. The stadium-sized rockers were a seminal act in the naughties and their ground-breaking second album Meterora was released in March 2003. It now gets a special 20th-anniversary reissue and comes with global hit singles such as 'Somewhere I Belong', 'Faint' and 'Numb' all of which have the big energy riffs the band became known for. This 4 x 12" bumper pack comes with some extra rare and unreleased material.

Review: Kick, the sixth and best-selling 1987 studio album by Australian band INXS, solidified the band's place in music history with its unmistakable sound. This six x platinum-selling album features four U.S. Top 10 singles, including the chart-topping 'Need You Tonight.' Mastered by Ryan K. Smith from an EQ'd Dolby tape copy and pressed at Quality Record Pressings, this 180-gram 45 RPM double LP promises unparalleled sound quality. Pressing 'Kick' at 45 RPM across two LPs significantly enhances the album's audio fidelity. The 45 RPM format allows for wider grooves and more space for the stylus to track the record's intricate details, resulting in a richer, fuller sound. This format minimizes distortion and improves the high-frequency response, delivering clearer vocals, more defined instruments, and a dynamic range that closely replicates the original studio recordings. The result is a listening experience that reveals nuances and depth previously unheard on standard 33 1/3 RPM records.

Album highlights include 'New Sensation', with its infectious guitar riff and vibrant energy, this track is a quintessential INXS anthem that captures the band's blend of rock and dance elements. 'Never Tear Us Apart' is the albums main ballad, featuring Michael Hutchence's emotive vocals and the band's ability to craft songs with deep emotional resonance. The orchestral arrangement adds a layer of sophistication and timelessness. 'Devil Inside', driven by a pulsating bassline and Hutchence's sultry performance, this song epitomizes the band's fusion of rock and funk, creating an irresistibly dark and alluring atmosphere. The album's No. 1 hit, 'Need You Tonight,' features a memorable hook and a seductive rhythm that made it a staple of 1980s pop-rock. The album has plenty of lesser known songs to explore and enjoy as well like the vibrant and catchy 'Calling All Nations'. Produced by Chris Thomas, 'Kick' successfully fused the funk and soul influences of INXS's earlier work with mainstream rock appeal. This reissue by Analogue Productions, with its meticulous mastering and high-quality pressing, ensures that Kick can be experienced in all its glory. Whether revisiting this classic or discovering it for the first time, listeners will appreciate the enhanced audio fidelity and the timeless appeal of INXS's greatest album.

Review: An album that requires little to no introduction, Definitely Maybe was and still is the fastest-ever selling debut in the UK on release, while it's legacy and influence continues to be felt and reappear in sonic corners across the globe. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with a deluxe 4xLP reissue, this version comes complete with the album's 2014 remaster, boasting some of their most timeless anthems such as 'Shakermaker', 'Live Forever' and 'Supersonic', as well as the never-before-released and previously discarded original recording sessions from Monnow Valley along with outtakes from Sawmills Studios in Cornwall. While the recording process for Oasis' seminal debut have become the stuff of mired Britpop lore, now fans can finally set their own ears to the controversial, incongruent Dave Batchelor takes, and assess the damage - or delight - for themselves.

Review: Los Angeles trio Acetone were one of the most quietly influential bands of the 1990s, blending elements of country, folk, and psychedelic rock into a unique sound that was all their own. Fans of Duster, Mazzy Star or Slint - but for whom a lilting country twang is also a necessary ingredient in the listening pie - will be sated. 1992-2001 collects the band's entire discography, including their legendary album If You Only Knew, which has been out of print for years. Sensitive, plodding and occupying only the haziest of backwaters of memory for most, highlights from this eerie LITA throwback include the tracks 'Germs' and 'Midnight Cowboy'. But all the tracks do the job, to be honest.

Review: Demon Music's new Suede compilation spans the band's whole career and is presented no fewer than six sales of vinyl. The band's first era ran from 1993 to 2002 and took in five monstrously successful albums including their Mercury music prize-winning self-titled debut. Fans will argue the Dog Man Star follow up in 1994 was even better, and it sure was another commercial success, with the hit-packed Coming Up in 1996 another big one. Tracks from all these and more as well as some favourite B-sides and non-album tracks also make the cut.

Review: Dune: Part Two has been met by rave reviews form both critics and cinema goers and there is no doubt that yet another epic soundtrack from Hans Zimmer has helped contribute to that acclaim. His work is another masterpiece that perfectly complements the epic saga's grandeur. Building upon the thematic motifs established in the first installment, Zimmer's score transports listeners to the vast, mystical world of Arrakis. With its sweeping orchestral arrangements and haunting electronic textures, the music evokes a sense of awe and intrigue and Zimmer's mastery of cinematic storytelling shines through every note as he captures the emotional depth and complexity of Frank Herbert's universe. From the thunderous percussion of battle sequences to the haunting melodies of desert landscapes, this is a sci-fi soundtrack essential.

Review: Xmal Deutschland commemorate their influential 4AD years (1983-1984) with a brand new release, literally presenting us with Gift. The collection celebrates the band's profound impact on British audiences in the early 80s, marked by a unique and half-devised lyrical language, as well as a magnetic feminine mystique commandeered by the women in the group. Their breakthrough support slot with Cocteau Twins accompanied the first two albums to come out via 4AD, which grabbed audiences by the collective ear with a painter's stroke of hard-graded darkwave and goth. Gift brims with a penumbral presence, while the titular "gift" is intended as pharmakon, both a present and a poison; Xmal's music is appropriately contradictory and complex, skating thin ices of beauty and elusivity. This limited-edition 3xLP boxset includes Abbey Road remasters of their albums Fetisch and Tocsin, along with tracks from related releases like Incubus Succubus II and Qual, packaged with striking artwork and a photo booklet. The magic of Xmal Deutschland lingers like radiation and has an indelible half-life.

Review: We've been treated to reissues of everything else from PJ Harvey's spectacular catalogue, so it's only right we get a chance to savour the deeper cuts that shape out the persona of the high priestess of alternative rock. Gathering together an exhaustive 59 B sides, demos and previously unreleased tracks, this six-LP box set takes us into the heart of Polly Jean's writing process, showing the raw power in the songwriting when it's just her voice and an overdriven guitar, and showing us the broader possibilities of songs which didn't make the cut for the studio albums. This is a true treasure of music getting the authoritative release she deserves.

Review: The second volume of the Live Drugs series from The War on Drugs continues to display their exceptional live performances, featuring performances from their global tours over the past few years. The 2xLP set, pressed on 140g vinyl, is housed in a tip-on style gatefold jacket with two pockets and a four panel 24x24 poster, ensuring a premium presentation for fans. This release, titled Live Drugs Again, builds on the success of the 2020 Live Drugs album, offering 11 carefully curated live tracks. The War on Drugs, led by Adam Granduciel, has garnered acclaim for their atmospheric blend of indie rock and heartland rock, marked by lush arrangements and introspective lyrics. Their live shows are celebrated for their expansive sound and emotional depth, reflecting the band's ability to transform studio material into dynamic, immersive experiences and with such a rich discography to draw on, this collection is highly anticipated, especially after that first amazing edition.

Review: Stone Temple Pilots' 1992 album, Core, is a classic of alternative rock that is characterized by heavy guitars, catchy melodies, and Scott Weiland's distinctive vocals. The album's standout track is 'Plush,' a power ballad that showcases Weiland's soaring vocals and the band's knack for writing memorable hooks. Other highlights include 'Sex Type Thing,' a driving rocker with a catchy chorus, and 'Wicked Garden,' an up-tempo song that shows the Weiland at his more aggressive best. Reaching number three on the Billboard 200 chart, Core is an essential album for fans of 90s alternative rock.