Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes
Dark Rainbow
Strong and emotional fifth album from Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes which embraces various shades of rock
David Cross Band
Ice Blue Silver Sky
Veteran progressive violinist David Cross leads fresh renditions of his own band’s songs and two King Crimson classics
Smalltown Tigers
Crush On You
Italian trio Smalltown Tigers make their full-length debut and rock in the classic punk way
Rita Braga
Illegal Planet
Fourth album from Portuguese singer Rita Braga is a strange mixture of the past and anticipations of the future.
Rita Braga is a Portuguese singer and multi-instrumentalist. In these songs she has
Meatraffle
Base and Superculture
On their third album, Meatraffle mix various musical influences and the strangest names since the Magic Band with a dash of Marx, in a poprockjazz cocktail.
Death and Vanilla
Flicker
Latest album from Swedish dream pop trio Death and Vanilla ranges from engaging fare to a touch too much vanilla
Declining Winter
Really Early, Really Late
Tenth album from Yorkshire-rooted UK band The Declining Winter who, under aegis of Richard Adams, combine rock, folk, classical, electronica and jazz in beautiful musical mosaics.
Neverland Ranch Davidians
Neverland Ranch Davidians
On their debut, The Neverland Ranch Davidians blend rock and roll, funk and a pinch of psychedelia in a spicy stew
ALIX
Last Dreamer
First album in fifteen years from Italian band ALIX who draw upon past styles of rock to create a satisfying sound for now.
Martin Rev
Les Nymphes
Cocktail of electronica and dance from Suicide’s Martin Rev proves inventive in parts, but disappointing overall.
Anton Barbeau
Stranger
Enjoyably varied blend of pop, rock, psychedelia and Anglophilia from prolific American underground artist Anton Barbeau
Pure Assassins
Questions
Formerly on the drum and bass scene with Calyx, Chris Rush now goes rock with Pure Assassins but doesn’t truly slay
Genius Steals
Nobody Knows Anything
First album in many years from former Adrian Borland sideman Pat Rowles with his new project Genius Steals features pop-rock songs as melodic as they are honest.
Unhappybirthday
Stella Loops
Fifth album from German synth outfit unhappybirthday has sci-fi roots but isn’t quite kosmische.
Flox
Square
Seventh album from Franco-British nu reggae exponent Flox is a soundtrack for Summer
Loop
Sonancy
First album in over thirty years from Loop combines the band’s riff-laden power and psychedelic production enhancement in classic fashion.
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Family
A Song for Me
Expanded and excellent edition of the eclectic Leicester band Family's 1970 third album
Brandy Alexanders
The Brandy Alexanders
Claiming to be a heady brew of psych rock, Canadian band The Brandy Alexanders’ debut dilutes the idea and turns it into something more like pop.
Modern Stars
Psychindustrial
Second album from Italian band Modern Stars which at its best is intriguing mixture of Western drone rock with Indian sitar, dull at its worst.
Ty Segall
Harmonizer
Impressive and exciting mash-up of garage rock and electronica from prolific cult musician Ty Segall.
Various
Straight to the Head: Jogibs Records Presents Knockout Sounds
Mixed bag of styles and quality in this compilation of early reggae from Joe Gibbs, who became one of the music’s pre-eminent producers.
Ulrich Schnauss and Mark Peters
Destiny Waiving
Album of electronica-dominated instrumentals from former Engineers Ulrich Schnauss and Mark Peters is a sleek but disappointing construction.
Lou Barlow
Reason to Live
Fourth solo album from Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh member, folky and lo-fi in style, only partly justifies its existence.
Derev
Leap of Faith
Debut from Canadian progressive band with European and Middle Eastern roots Derev is both musicianly and heartfelt
Kevin Hewick
Never Give Up On a Song
Musically varied tenth album from Leicester singer-songwriter Kevin Hewick proves a strong collection concerned both with connection and its lack
Ja, Panik
Die Gruppe
Intriguing sixth album from Austrian rock band Ja, Panik after several years’ absence, which mixes musical approaches with German and English lyrics.
Black Pistol Fire
Look Alive
Canadian duo Black Pistol Fire offer impassioned and energetic rock with some subtle twists and turns
Gary Lucas
The Essential Gary Lucas
Wide-ranging retrospective on eclectic career of guitarist Gary Lucas reflects his roles as Gods and Monsters band leader and adventurous collaborator with such as Jeff Buckley and Captain Beefheart
James Williamson and Deniz Tek
Two to One
Stooges guitarist James Williamson and Radio Birdman frontman Deniz Tek team up to make solid rock
Izzy and the Black Trees
Trust No One
Varied and strong debut from Polish rock band Izzy and the Black Trees
Idles
Ultra Mono
Third incisive barrage from critically acclaimed Bristol band IDLES
Professor and the Madman
Séance
Fourth album from US/UK punk rock veterans draws on 1960’s and 70’s influences to create entertaining but ultimately lightweight album
Hermetic Delight
F.A. Cult
Debut album from French band Hermetic Delight who try to merge rock and pop, and at their best produce deep pleasure
Cosse
Nothing Belongs to Anything
Strong debut EP from French post-rock and noise purveyors Cosse
Ist Ist
Architecture
Strong debut album from post-punk Mancunians Ist Ist, who while they have Joy Division in their DNA reveal themselves to be no clones
Bobby Lees
Skin Suit
Lust for life garage rock with the engine running, on Jon Spencer-produced debut from New York’s The Bobby Lees.
SAVAK
Rotting Teeth in the Horse’s Mouth
Outstanding fourth album in five years from melodic Brooklyn indie supergroup SAVAK who have hardcore roots
Andrew Hawkey
Long Story Short
Veteran Cornish singer-songwriter Andrew Hawkey's reflections of where he’s been and where the world is going on his fourth album
Audra
Dear Tired Friends
Impressive fourth album from Arizona-based post-punk group Audra, their first in a decade
Richard James Simpson
Deep Dream
Richard James Simpson
Deep Dream
Second solo album from American musician Richard James Simpson who mixes soundscapes with energetic rock but rarely unites them
Filthy Friends
Emerald Valley
Passionate second album from Oregon-based Filthy Friends counts the cost of human and environmental exploitation
FTR
Manners
French rock band’ FTR’s second album mixes melody, noise and strong rhythms to sometimes formidable effect
Hedvig Mollestad Trio
Smells Funny
Norwegian group Hedvig Mollestad Trio skilfully blend jazz and rock in music that reaches the head before the heart
Coldharbourstores
Vesta
Third album from British dream-pop quartet Coldharbourstores has light and warmth but doesn’t fully catch fire
Matthew Sweet
Blue Sky on Mars/In Reverse
Reissued brace of underrated late 90's albums by American singer and guitarist Matthew Sweet offers both power and pop
Stuart Anthony and Larry Beckett
Love and Trial
Often moving collaboration in which Larry Beckett, famed co-writer of songs with Tim Buckley, recites both ancient and modern words while Stuart Anthony composes and sings them on this
Moon Relay
IMI
Second album of experimental rock from Norwaegian outfit Moon Relay is repetitive yet compelling
Art Theefe
Dig Deep
Disappointing debut album from Oxford-based trio Art Theefe mixes rock, country and folk with more art than heart
Grand Blue Heron
Come Again
Powerful and fiercely performed second album from energetic Belgian rockers Grand Blue Heron
Tekstu TV-666
Aidettu Tulevaisuus
Debut from Finnish six-piece rock band Teksti-TV 666 which is a more than promising start
Sharon Gal
The Garden of Earthly Delight
Prolific sound artist Sharon Gel's latest album which yields some strange but appealing fruit
Brackish
Firm but Fair
Third album from Bristol band the Brackish shows melodic sense and musicians who listen to each other
Scottish Enlightenment
Potato Flower
Thoughtful songs with tough heart on second album from Scottish post-rock band the Scottish Enlightenment
Laish
Time Elastic
Mildly impressive second album from Laish that in the end is too mild-mannered for its own good
Buffalo Tom
Quiet And Peace
Reflective ninth album from Boston alternative rock band Buffalo Tom which shows they can still rouse their original energy
Zombie Picnic
Rise of a New Ideology
Self-styled ‘post-rock progressive’ band from Ireland Zombie Picnic who offer echoes more than originality, although well-played
Cold Spells
The Cold Spells
Folk at heart but with psychedelic hints, the Cold Spells’ first album works a fitful magic.
Modulus III
Modulus III
Improvised music from post-jazz electronica Bristol trio Modulus III which makes little impression
Miniatures
Jessamines
Excellent new album from New Zealand duo Miniatures whose music creatively echoes the Cocteau Twins