Review: This EP is the first collaborative work by Andrea Belfi and Jules Reidy. Berlin-based and hailing from Italy and Australia respectively, the duo blends compositional precision with improvisational freedom. During a residency at Berlin's Callie's-a 19th-century factory turned arts space-they and engineer Marco Anulli crafted four expansive tracks in which Belfi's masterful drumming interlaces with Reidy's shimmering guitars and electronic textures. The opener layers just-intoned guitar figures over delicate brushwork and climaxes with a synthetic surge and tracks like 'Oben' and 'Alto' explore shifting grooves, propulsive rhythms and dynamic soundscapes.
Review: Reconnecting through their shared musical heritages, Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson present What Did the Blackbird Say To The Crow, a mesmerising collection of fiddle and banjo tunes tied to North Carolina's many oral and digital traditions. After their late mentor Joe Thompson bequeathed them a trove of recordings to work with, the already esteemed, torch-bearing duo breathe new life into 18 handpicked rethinks and honorific originals, some sung, others purely instrumental. Recorded outdoors at sites meaningful to Thompson and Baker, their sessions were joined by the rare, overlapping calls of two cicada broods, unheard together since 1803. Giddens calls it "music made for your community's enjoyment and for dancing."
Review: A true totem of UK folk music, Bert Jansch's Avocet remains one of the finest records the Scottish musician ever committed to tape. The grand scope of the 18-minute title track is worth the price of entry alone, but of course there's so much to savour as Jansch takes us on a tour through some of his favourite avian friends. This is a special commemorative edition of the 1979 album, packaged with six interchangeable cover designs from illustrator Hannah Alice depicting all of the birds Jansch references on the album. There are also three downloadable bonus tracks bundled with the album, which were recorded live in Italy in 1977.
Review: Sarah Jarosz' seventh full-length LP Polaroid Lovers comes to blue and green splatter vinyl, as the complementary edition to the standard LP and CD versions. Jarosz' album captures essences of the most fleeting moments of life, analogous (literally) to the candidness of most moments caught on instant film. Yet the album also finds nearly endless profundity in those moments, mirroring the eternalizing effect that Polaroid pictures have on our perception of time and memory. Despite being made up of snapshots of different romantic experiences lived over a lifetime so far, all songs on the record distill the best of these moments into song, with the singer and multi-instrumentalist effortlessly gliding over each subject as if leafing through the photo book, year by year, reliving each moment in a purely removed way, without its in-the-moment travails.
Review: The seventh full-length from Sarah Jarosz, Polaroid Lovers is an album-long meditation on those strangely ephemeral moments that indelibly shape our lives. "What I love about a Polaroid is that it's capturing something so fleeting, but at the same time it makes that moment last forever," says the Texas-born singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist. Thanks to the rarefied alchemy that infuses all of Jarosz's output - her finely wrought lyricism, ravishing vocal work, virtuosic yet unfettered musicality - Polaroid Lovers performs the much-needed magic of leading us toward a heightened sense of presence, all while casting a lovely spell with her timelessly powerful songs. Produced by Daniel Tashian at the legendary Sound Emporium, Polaroid Lovers took shape as Jarosz recorded live with musicians like guitarist Rob McNelley, Tom Bukovac on guitar and organ, her husband bassist Jeff Picker, and drummer Fred Eltringham, carving out a viscerally potent but resplendent brand of folk-rock.
Review: Trans artist Jasmine.4.t's debut album comes off the back of three remarkable singles released to the world in 2024, all of which are included on this debut released on Phoebe Bridgers' label 'Saddest Factory records'. An album of intimate stories produced by Boy Genius captures the issues Jasmine (Cruickshank) found herself dealing with on her arrival in Manchester following life in her Bristol surroundings became a struggle after her coming out in 2021. The LP is full of soft vocals, soothing guitars and intimate yet celebratory lyrics also features The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, who add some joyous backing vocals to these sweet sometimes dreamlike, beautiful songs. Last year's single 'Elephant' is a powerful and honest song written during the early stages of the singer's transition that was embraced by many listeners proclaiming it one of the best releases of the year. Now the album has arrived it's expected even more people will come to the same conclusion - expect to see a few more songs from this album making the 'best of' lists once 2025 comes to an end.
Review: Cassandra Jenkins solidifies her place among the elite songwriters with My Light, My Destroyer, an album that marks an exciting evolution in her artistry. Drawing comparisons to luminaries like David Berman and Sufjan Stevens, Jenkins delivers precise, evocative songwriting infused with humor and brutal honesty. The album expands on Jenkins' signature style, incorporating field recordings and found sound to create complex sonic landscapes. Jenkins' vocals, reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens and Annie Lennox, are up close and intimate yet subtly confrontational, commanding attention with their power-whisper delivery. Exploring themes of disillusionment and focused observation, tracks like 'Devotion,' 'Delphinium Blue,' and 'Only One' offer poignant reflections on the human experience. Jenkins embraces disillusionment as a process of discovery, celebrating the freedom found in letting go of expectations.
Review: Jim Baron is a well-known DJ, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who co-founded Crazy P and who assumed new alias Jim for solo work back in 2021. His debut album Love Makes Magic is a superb mix of lush harmonic vocals, with funky back beats and a mix of organic brass and electronic synth sounds. It is music based around the work of the guitar but with plenty of sunny but eyed soul and subtle beach vibes that make it a gorgeous listen, especially as the days get longer and the sun that bit warmer.
Review: London Conversation was the debut album from John Martyn which immediately showed what a unique musician he was. It came in 1967 was he was just 19 terras of age and was recorded in glorious mono at Tony Pyke's home studio in Dryburgh Road, Putney, over the course of one afternoon. The album is steeped in the folk tradition with excellent songwriting and lyricism and jazzy instrumentation, sitar and flutes bringing each piece to life. There are beautiful love songs like 'Back To Stay' and standout verses in 'Rolling Home'. His lovely voice and his accomplished guitar skills really stand this one apart, still, all these years later.
Review: Two British pop legends unite for Who Believes in Angels?, a new record spot-checking our faith in divinity. Having connected through a mutual admiration and shared love of music, Elton initially became a fan of Carlile through her effusions of folk, rock and country, which matched the former's megastar's sometimes pained, moving songwriting. Their friendship deepened over the years, with Carlile performing at Elton's annual AIDS Foundation events and joining him on stage for special collaborations. Now blending Elton-led and Brandi-led tracks, the album contains lyrics from longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin alongside Carlile's own contributions, with production by Andrew Watt. This marks Elton's 33rd studio album and Brandi's eighth.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.