New releases last eight weeks: All genres

Review: Pink Elephant is Arcade Fire's first album since 2022's We, and it serves as a compact and cathartic return that is defined by its sense of reflection and emotional recalibration. It has been co-produced by Daniel Lanois and leans into intimate textures and moving drums with standout tracks like 'Year of the Snake' and 'Ride or Die', evoking both earnest self-examination and communal uplift. Elsewhere, there is the hypnotic 'Circle of Trust' and haunting title track, which showcase the band's ability to mix grandeur with vulnerability and means that this is a work that again cements Arcade Fire's reputation as one of indie's finest.

Review: On her ambitious ninth album, American pop queen Miley Cyrus delivers a genre-spanning collection that highlights her desire to constantly evolve and challenge convention. Something Beautiful blends soulful ballads, shimmering 80s pop and dancefloor-ready anthems, all pop which are anchored by her unmistakable, raspy vocals. From the emotionally rich title track to the high-energy sparkle of 'Every Girl You've Ever Loved,' the album brims with dynamic songwriting and bold sonic choices. While its conceptual aspirations sometimes feel abstract, the music is polished, confident and often euphoric. With strong collaborations, vivid production and a clear love for performance, the record reaffirms Cyrus as a fearless pop innovator exploring new emotional terrain.

Review: Ghostface came out swinging on Supreme Clientele, his second solo LP; with wild, free-associative flair - he was by then a standout MC even amid Wu-Tang's crowded barracks. Now. a decorated verbal bombardier, he earned the Killah badge with this one: built in close collaboration with RZA, who ammunised the record's beats while conscripting JuJu, The Hitmen, and Hassan on versal lookout duties, the album lands like a continuous reel of grainy street cinema, warped soul loops, and cryptic one-liners. Written largely after a trip to Africa and through a stint at New York prison Rikers Island, the album steps away from mafioso cliches and fixation on brands, folding in a looser, more surreal energy. Singles 'Apollo Kids' and 'Cherchez La Ghost' cut the ears with raw, slice-thru charm, but it's deep cuts like 'Nutmeg' that cement it as of the sharpest solo turns in the Wu-Tang catalogue.

Review: To mark its 15th anniversary, Hurts' debut album Happiness receives a long-awaited vinyl release as a rather special limited-edition picture disc. The synth-pop duo's breakthrough was originally released in 2010 and is revisited in full here with all the hits, featuring such as 'Better Than Love,' 'Wonderful Life' and 'Stay.' This debut vinyl pressing adds further value with a side of deluxe edition highlights including the festive fan favourite 'All I Want For Christmas Is New Year's Day' and Arthur Baker's remix of 'Wonderful Life.' It's a sleek and nostalgic listen that reminds of the moody glamour and melodic punch of Hurts' defining debut.

Review: It's been a while since we've heard from high-end hip-hop helmers PartyNextDoor and Drake. The two superstars usually work together to make ethereal stopovers on otherwise damn hard rap records, especially by the latter former Young Money megastar. Though the pair have never worked on a full-length album together before, Some Sexy Songs 4 U tots up to the third in an unsaid series of Drake collab albums, following ones between 21 Savage and Future. Dealing in themes of sexual jealousy and ongoing personal feuds - especially amid tumultuous fallouts between the larger private-jet-bound artist and various smaller up-and-comers such as Ice Spice - the record offers a stylistic range on an wide trap smorgasbord, working in Mexican rock samples and alt-rock progressions.

Review: More than half a century after its original release, Pink Floyd At Pompeii: MCMLXXII has returned to cinemas. Shot in 1971 at the haunting amphitheatre ruins of Pompeii, the film captured the band in their pre-DSOTM phase, during which time they were moving away from their originally overt psychedelia and space rock ventures and packing their work with a denser thematic and political verve. The DVD edition represents live versions of 'Echoes' and 'A Saucerful of Secrets', among other ashen, ruinous greats, in newly restored clarity - and that's not to mention its accompanying, behind-the-scenes studio footage of an early DSOTM studio session. This is a full 90-minute cut scanned in 4K from rediscovered 35mm negatives, with Steven Wilson providing a lush new audio mix in Dolby Atmos and 5.1.

Region code: 2

Review: This historic 1972 performance film marked a definitive evolution of Pink Floyd's artistic vision, and is possibly the moment they first truly escaped the more ephemeral pop of the Syd Barrett era and started to become the prog giants that would go on to dominate the 70s both culturally and commercially. The haunting imagery of Pompeii combined with an expertly remixed sound design by Steven Wilson turns this film from a mere document of the past into a multi-sensory experience. Meticulously remastered, each note of 'On The Run' and 'Us and Them' hang with crystalline clarity in the surround mix and the shifts between searing intensity and quiet reflectionifrom the thunderous opening of 'Echoes' to the fragility of 'Mademoiselle Nobs' - are rendered in remarkable detail. It's a profound exploration of Pink Floyd's creative process, capturing the band at a pivotal moment as they craft the sonic landscapes that would later define The Dark Side of the Moon. This release ensures that the film's timeless allure is as potent today as it was over fifty years ago, inviting a new generation to experience the alchemy between image, sound and performance.

Region code: B

Review: The newly re-mastered release of Pink Floyd's legendary Pompeii performance from 1972 - released as a film initially and recorded without an audience - immerses the listener in the eerie grandeur of the ancient Roman amphitheatre. Steven Wilson, in charge of reworking the audio, breathes fresh life into the familiar, giving tracks like 'Echoes Part 1' and 'Careful With That Axe, Eugene' a heightened sense of space and detail. The alternate take of 'Careful With That Axe, Eugene' and the unedited 'A Saucerful of Secrets' show the band's ever-evolving approach at this most productive stage in their career. A raw, expansive reflection of Pink Floyd's creative journey as they morphed from psychedelic garage stars to prog rock giants.

Review: Addison Rae's debut album has been long-awaited by fans and is finally here via Columbia Records and marking the bold step into full-fledged pop stardom many have expected for a while. Featuring previous fan-favourite singles like 'Diet Pepsi,' 'Aquamarine' and 'High Fashion,' the album showcases Rae's evolution from viral sensation to polished pop artist. It was co-written and produced with Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjard, and pairs bright, glossy production with playful, high-glam energy that is sure to cut through all summer long from festal stages to car radios. The latest single 'Headphones On' embodies the album's confident tone - it's fun, flirty and unmistakably self-assured. A surprisingly self-aware debut full of chart-ready appeal.

Review: Serving as follow up to 2023's acclaimed breakout third full-length Take Me Back To Eden, London's elusive, masked progressive metal mystics Sleep Token return with Even In Arcadia. Renowned for their genre-fluid melding of djent, metalcore, post-rock with further leftfield elements of post-classical, hip-hop, trap and indie-pop, the project led by the enigmatic Vessel has seen a massive expansion in popularity since the release of their last album. Set to headline Download 2025 before embarking on their first US Arena Tour, their newest endeavour promises to maximise all of their sonic abandon and outdo their own blueprint in the process, with lead single 'Emergence' starting life as a piano ballad before morphing into an ambi-trap groove metal anthem until fading with a lush, jazzy saxophone and piano finish. No doubt, this will be one of the highest selling/streaming/controversial/debated/talked about metal-centric titles to be released this year.

Review: This soundtrack delves deep into the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone, offering an immersive experience of the American funk legends' groundbreaking music and the complexities that shaped their journey. The collection takes listeners through the band's rise to fame, highlighting their timeless funk and soul hits, while also reflecting on the unseen burdens faced by Black artists in America. Notable tracks like 'Sing A Simple Song (Alternate Mix)' and 'Underdog' offer fresh takes on familiar classics, giving fans new perspectives on songs that have long been anthems. There are also remixes, such as J.PERIOD's edits of 'Dance To The Music' and 'Everyday People,' which breathe new energy into the band's beloved sound. The collection also features rare versions of tracks like 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)' and 'Family Affair,' adding to the richness of Sly's musical legacy. By incorporating interviews and insights from figures like Andre 3000, D'Angelo, and George Clinton, the soundtrack elevates the music, providing a context that goes beyond just the sound. It's a poignant reminder of the depth of Sly & The Family Stone's influence, revealing how their music continues to resonate with generations.

Review: To mark its 30th anniversary, Take That's iconic 1995 album Nobody Else gets the deluxe treatment with its first-ever vinyl release. Packed with beloved pop-hits of the era like 'Sure,' 'Back for Good' and 'Never Forget,' this reissue brings new life to a classic 90s gem by including exclusive extras such as the rare Japanese bonus track 'All That Matters to Me,' electrifying live recordings from the 1995 Nobody Else Tour, and a brand-new remix of 'Hanging Onto Your Love' by Howard Donald, who later went on to DJ in his own right. It makes for a nostalgic yet updated celebration of a defining era in British pop.