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’
HTRK
Nostalgia
Reissue on vinyl of post-punk Melbourne trio HTRk's 2004 abrasive mini-album debut release
Vampire Weekend
Father of the Bride
Eclectic and much anticipated fourth album from critically acclaimed New York-based indie group Vampire Weekend
Lunch Lady
Angel
First-rate 80's-influenced new wave/post-punk on debut album from Los Angeles group Lunch Lady
Alice Tambourine Lover
Down Below
Excellent psychedelic blues on comeback sixth album from Bologna duo, Alice Tambourine Lover
Friedrich Sunlight
Sag Es Erst Morgen
Superb Northern Soul-influenced electronica on new single from San Francisco-born but German-based pop artist Friedrich Sunlight
Death and Vanilla
Are You a Dreamer?
Eerie combination of 60’s pop and 80’s electronica from Malmo-based band, Death and Vanilla
Datura4
Blessed is the Boogie
Fantastic potential breakthrough third album from Western Australian psychedelic-blues act Datura4
Carnet de Voyage
Melo Disko
Experimental but compelling vinyl only debut album from avant garde two-piece Carnet de Voyage
Blabbermouth
Horspiel
Bizarrely marvellous concept album from Blabbermouth, the new project of Public Image Limited and the Damned’s Lu Edmonds and the Godfathers’ Mark Roberts
Cranberries
In the End
Poignant final album from the Cranberries which completed after her death proves a sublime testimony to their singer Dolores O'Riordan who died in 2018
Headsticks
Kept in the Dark
Beautifully packaged and versatile debut album from Stoke-on-Trent political folk rockers Headsticks
Phonseca
Between a Dream
Fabulous 80's-influenced electronica on debut album from Phonesca, the project of Bristol-based synth artist Matthew O'Connor
Proper Ornaments
6 Lenins
Fantastic psychedelic-influenced pop on third album from critically acclaimed London indie band the Proper Ornaments
Phonesca
Between a Dream
Fabulous 80's-influenced electronica on debut album from Phonesca, the project of Bristol-based synth artist Matthew O'Connor
Lois
Guns of the Governor
Versatile and diverse second album from Nottingham-based rock and roll-influenced band Lois
Lara Smiles
All for You
Flamboyant and versatile debut album from London-based singer-songwriter Lara Smiles which combines indie and electronica
Christine and the Queens
Chris
Firts-rate, funk-influenced second album from much acclaimed French act Christine and the Queens, the project of experimental musician Héloïse Letissier
Rattle
Sequence
Demanding but compelling second album from Nottingham-based experimental drum and vocal duo Rattle
Lucid Dream
Actualisation
Impres sive Acid House-influenced fourth album from acclaimed Carlisle-based psychedelic rockersthe Lucid Dream
Macy Gray
Ruby
Impressive tenth album from much acclaimed R and B and soul musician Macy Gray, which finds her working with a succession of major pop artists and producers
Afterhere
Addict
Marvellous debut album from Afterhere, the new band of Heaven 17's Glenn Gregory and singer Berenice Scott
Admlithi
Tyrants
Appealing and experimental electronica on new album from enigmatic Scottish bedroom artist Admlithi
Bad Sav
Bad Sav
Addictive alternative rock from Dunedin trio Bad Sav, which is the other band of Death and the Maiden's Lucinda King and Hope Robertson
Death Notes
The Black EP
Fantastic download only EP from Nottingham-bases alternative rock band, the Death Notes.
Rebelution
Free Rein
Polished but laidback sixth album from bestselling and critically acclaimed Californian reggae act Rebolution
Various
Disques Debs International Volume 1: An Island Story
Excellent compilation, the first in a series, of early tracks recorded between 1960-1972 from extraordinary French-Caribbean label Disques Debs International
Death and the Maiden
Wisteria
Melancholic but haunting 1980's-influenced post-punk on second album from Dunedin-based group Death and the Maiden
Aquaserge
Deja-Vous?
Eclectic and experimental live album from critically acclaimed Toulouse avant-garde outfit Aquaserge