Herds
Falling Wide Awake
Epic and diverse second album from acclaimed Nottingham-based band Herds, who were previously known as The Amber Herd
Cult Figures
Between Us and Heaven
Excellent post-punk on third album from Midlands-formed band Cult Figures
Chris Hludzik
The Sky's The Limit
Impressive first release in three years on new EP from Pennsylvanian solo artist Chris Hludzik
Sands
The World's So Cruel
Eclectic indie rock and pop on debut album from Sands, the project of London-born multi-instrumentalist Andrew Sands
French Boutik
Ce Je Ne Sais Quoi
Intriguing combination of French and English original tracks and covers on third album by American-Anglo-French act French Boutik
Bamboos
This Is How You Do It
Excellent funk and soul-driven latest album from acclaimed Australian nine-piece band, The Bamboos
Apollo Suns
Departures
Appealing mix of jazz, rock and psychedelia on fourth album from Canadian nine-piece instrumental collective Apollo Suns
Cairo
Nemesis
Long-awaited and thought-challenging second album from alternative rock band Cairo
Hannah Aldridge
Dream of America
Dark but impressive fourth album from classically-trained country artist Hannah Aldridge
Scenius
Life is a Thing
Exciting synth pop on second album from UK/French duo Scenius who look like they have a promising future
Bitter Moon and After 5.08
Berliner Kinder
Ambient and dreamy synth pop on collaborative album recorded in Berlin between European duos Bitter Moon and After 5.08
Beady Belle
Nothing But The Truth
SAblime ninth album from Nowegian singer-songwriter and musician Beady Belle
British IBM
Friday Night at the Twitch Bar
Polished and humorous fourth album from Cambridge indie trio The British IBM which took its genesis from a series of acoustic streams they started during lockdown
Scenius
High Low
Excellent electronica on distinctive new single from French-UK duo Scenius
Piaggio Soul Combination and Lakeetra Knowles
Soultimate
Stunning Northern Soul-influenced album from Italian mods The Piaggio Soul Combination and Arkansas-based singer Lakeetra Knowles
Oneiros Way
The Dawn is Near
Experimental and distinctive electronica on debut album from Milan-based duo Oneiros Way
Aeon Station
Observatory
Harmonic and thought-provoking debut album from Aeon Station, the solo project of ex-Wrens' member Kevin Whelan which was fourteen years in the making
Freya Beer
Beast
First-rate debut album from alternative and Gothic rock-influenced West London singer-songwriter Freya Beer
Vapors of Morphine
Fear and Fantasy
Haunting and original post-rock on latest album from Morphine offshoot, Vapors of Morphine
Grouse
Interpolate
Atmospheric and cinematic fourth album of electronic ambience for Grouse, the project of Dublin-based musician Ronan Carroll
Blancmange
Commercial Break
1980s synth-pop progenitors Blancmange maintain their highly prolific release rate with a solid new addition to their discography
Various
Generation Blitz
Highly impressive compilation that pays homage to ground-breaking early 1980s club Blitz which created the New Romantic movement
Chills
Scatterbrain
Reflective and thought-provoking seventh album from influential Dunedin indie act The Chills
Gregario
Nomads on Hold
Impressive debut album from Gregario, the new piano-based project of Luxembourg musician David André which finds him moving in a new direction
Amusement Parks On Fire
An Archaea
Excellent fourth album and first in ten years From Nottingham-based shoegazing outfit Amusement Parks On Fire
Seasurfer
Zombies
Fantastic new album which comes with an extra mini-album from German shoegazing band Seasurfer
Sorbet
This Was Paradise
Thought-inspiring combination of electronica and acoustic instrumentation on debut album from Sorbet, the project of Irish producer Chris W. Ryan, which reflects on climate change
Hiatus
Distancer
Superb electroniica on fifth album from Hiatus, the project of London-based Cyrus Shahrad, which is partially influenced by his Iranian homeland
McKenzie FIX
Pandora's Box
Over-polished but eclectic debut album from the McKenzie FIX, the new project of acclaimed Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter Ewan McKenzie
Conny Frischauf
Die Drift
First-rate synth pop which combines modern and vintage sounds on debut album from Viennese electronic artist Conny Frischauf
Rats on Rafts
Excerpts from Chapter 3: The Mind Runs a Net of Rabbit Paths
Unusual but brilliant psych pop on long-awaited third album from Rotterdam-based group Rats On Rafts
RVDS
Moods and Dances 2021
Flawed but promising electronica on new album from Hamburg-based DJ RVDS
Scenius
Enough Fears
First-rate debut album from 80's-inspired French/British electronica hybrid Scenius
IAMTHESHADOW
Pitchblack
Dark and sinister but compelling 80's-influenced third album from Portugese trio IAMTHESHADOW
Green Child
Shimmering Basset
Impressive electropop recorded on vintage synths on second album from the Green Child which promises much for the future
Plants and Animals
The Jungle
Eclectic and eccentric alternative rock on fifth album from Montreal-based trio, Plants and Animals
Unhappybirthday
Mondchateau
Fine 80’s-influenced synth pop on fourth album from German electronic trio Unhappybirthday
Various
Musik Music Musique
Essential and insightful three CD box set focusing on the groundbreaking year in synth pop of 1980 from Cherry Red
Aksak Maboul
Figures
Eclectic and unclassifiable new double album after thirty years away from avant-garde Belgian group Aksak Maboul
Love Songs
Nicht Nicht
Improvisational electronica and experimentalism on impressive debut album from Hamburg trio Love Songs
Various
Roots, Rock, Reggae
Superb late 1970's reggae compilation re-released on double CD by Cherry Red with extra tracks
Nick Corbin
Sweet Escape
First-rate Northern Soul-influenced debut solo album from former New Street Adventure frontman Nick Corbin
Warm Digits
Flight of Ideas
Thought-provoking electronic space rock on fourth album from Newcastle/Manchester-based multi-instrumentalists Warm Digits
Flat Worms
Antarctica
Powerful punk on third album from Los Angeles band Flat Worms which provides hope despite these difficult times
John Foxx And The Maths
Howl
Fantastic fifth album from experimental electronica act John Foxx and the Maths, which finds Foxx reuniting with his former Ultravox bandmate Robin Simon
Proper Ornaments
Mission Bells
Excellent second album in nine months from London-based electronic pop outfit the Proper Ornaments
Blancmange
Mindset
Fabulous twelfth album from synth pioneers Blancmange which returns to their early poppy 80's heyday
Little Hands of Asphalt
Half Empty
Classic pop on third album and first in almost a decade from the Little Hands of Asphalt, the project of Sjur Lyseid who is a Norwegian-based singer-songwriter and musician
Extradition Order
American Prometheus
Unusual but brilliant combination of Northern Soul, psychedelia and indie from London-based band Extradition Order on concept album about Robert J. Oppenheimer, who developed the first atomic bomb
Islet
Eyelet
Hypnotic and exhilarating pop on long-awaited album from experimental and promising Welsh trio Islet
King Solomon Hicks
Harlem
Stunning album from 24-year old blues guitarist and vocalist King Solomon Hicks on which he pays tribute to his Harlem upbringing
British IBM
Play the Game
Fabulous third album from Cambridge outfit the British IBM, who return to their indie roots in powerful form
Black Marble
Bigger Than Life
Fantastic 80's-influenced synth pop on third album from Black Marble, the project of American musician Chris Stewart
Deliluh
Beneath the Floors
Addictive and original art punk in second album this year from Toronto-based outfit Deliluh
Twang
If Confronted Just Go Mad
Fabulous fifth album from acclaimed indie guitar band the Twang which finds them moving in a new direction
Various
Kinshasa 1978: Originals and Reconstructions 1978
Excellent double album which contains previously-unreleased recordings originally recorded in 1978 of four influential World Music bands from Kinshasa in the Congo in Africa.
Various
Go Mod
Marvellous double vinyl compilation of classic 60's Mod recordings on the always excellent Charly Records
Fader
In Shadow
Haunting and experimental synthpop on second album from duo Fader, the side project of Blancmange’s Neil Arthur
Circuit3
The Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing
Excellent second album of late 70's/80's-influenced synthpop from Circuit3, the project of Irish musician Peter Fitzpatrick
Fenella
Feherlofia
Ambient soundtrack from Fenella, the new project of electronic composer Jane Weaver, which is a re-imagined soundtrack to 1981 cult animation film ‘Fehérlófia’