Back catalogue: Pop

Review: She might be more well known these days for her open letters to Miley Ray Cyrus or public struggles with mental health, but this So Far The Best of reminds us just why Sinead O'Connor is so famous in the first place. It brings together the very best tunes from her four albums and was originally released in 1997, so of course, includes her ubiquitous and global smash Number 1 'Nothing Compares 2 U' is included, as are earlier singles 'Troy' and 'Mandinka', all of which showcase her fearless style and a rich array of emotions. 'Heroine' and 'Just Like U Said It Would B' are included for the first time having in the past only been available on the US version.

Review: Taeko Ohnuki, known for her cult records from the late 70s and 80s, has seen her reputation soar over the years. Among her standout works is Grey Skies, which, despite its initial commercial challenges, has become a beloved classic. This remastered edition revitalizes the album with its rich blend of classic rock, jazz, pop, and AOR. Featuring a diverse array of instruments-synths, trombones, clarinet, wood blocks, harpsichord, electric organs, and more-Grey Skies delivers a lush and dynamic listening experience, showcasing Ohnuki's intricate and innovative sound.

Review: Taeko Onuki's latest release is a live album pressed up to vinyl and capturing her full performance from Tokyo in November 2023. The show featured a seven-piece band with Hirokazu Ogura on guitar, Masato Suzuki on bass, Takashi Numazawa and Tatsuo Hayashi on drums, Febien Reza Panet on piano, and Toshiyuki Mori and Shohei Amamori on keyboards. This album showcases Onuki's dynamic performance with a talented ensemble and a rich array of sounds from the original multi-tracks. It's a great snapshot of the event as well as being a superb contemporary pop exploration across four sides of vinyl.

Review: Rita Ora recently described her hotly anticipated third album, You & I, as "like my diary of the last few years". Masterminded in collaboration with executive producer Oak Felder and featuring Ora as a credited co-writer throughout, the album has been trailed as loosely chronological musical wander through the highs and lows of relationships and falling in love. Ora is in fine form throughout, singing confidently (and sometimes passionately) atop backing tracks that offer a 21st century synth-pop take on dance music culture - as has been the fashion for a number of years. It also contains a genuine club anthem in the shape of 'Praising You', an inventive, hands-aloft, festival-friendly banger that makes extensive use of Fatboy Slim big beat classic 'Praise You' (for which he gets a 'featured' credit).

Review: Named after dazzle camouflage, an approach to painting naval vessels in ways that would make it difficult for them to be targeted with the naked eye (used extensively in World War I, less so in World War II), OMD's fourth studio album also arrived on Telegraph, an imprint that never existed and was instead a fictitious platform backed by Virgin Records. There's no mistaking the fact this is Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, though, with the tracks here defining the band perfectly.
By that, we mean grand, epic overtures, a strange - at the time, groundbreaking - hybrid of electronic synth stuff with classical, Neo-operatics and rock & roll. It's evocative, immediately captivating and very difficult to make many assumptions about, with techniques such as sampling, looping and layering employed to incredible effect, without overshadowing the song craft itself. Which, it's safe to say, is approaching their artistic peak at this point.

Review: This collaboration album La Comitiva on Bubbles marks a unique partnership between Erlend Oye and the Italian band La Comitiva. Blending indie pop, folk, and electronic elements, it delivers a fresh and innovative sound and new take on pop. Erlend Oye's soulful vocals and reflective lyrics are enriched by La Comitiva's rich instrumentation to create an immersive journey through diverse musical influences and inspirations. From the catchy rhythms of 'Garota' to the dreamy ambiance of 'Fence Me In,' each track offers distinct melodies and storytelling that stay with you. There are emotive vocals and dynamic instrumentation throughout as well as some genre-defying sounds all of which will captivate fans old and new.