Erlend Apneseth Trio with Maja S.K. Ratkje
Collage
Experimental and adventurous sonic jazz and folk from Norwegian act Erlend Apneseth Trio who have worked on this album with improvising vocalist Maja Ratkje.
Hamish Hawk
Angel Numbers
Diverse but confident new album from rising Scottish singer-songwriter Hamish Hawk who seems destined for major success
Malojian
Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home
Superb 60's-influenced pop on fourth album from Malojian, the project of Northern Irish songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Scullion
Wave Pictures
Look Inside Your Heart
Upbeat second album this year from acclaimed Lonodon-based indie pop outfit the Wave Pictures
Albert Hammond Jr
Momentary Masters
Enjoyable if slight slice of glossy power pop on third album from Strokes guitarist, Albert Hammond Jr
Death
N.E.W.
Rediscovered proto-punk band Death release their first album of new material in nearly forty years
Grey Hairs
Colossal Downer
Impressive early Grunge-influenced debut album from Nottingham-based band, Grey Hairs
Michael Feuerstack
The Forgettable Truth
Slow-paced but atmospheric third album under his own name from Canadian singer-songwriter, Michael Feuerstack
Golden Dogs
3 ½
Energetic but unfocused fourth album from Toronto-based power pop band the Golden Dogs, who have been affected by major line-up changes
Danny Schmidt
Owls
Evocative but flawed seventh album from Texan-based singer-songwriter, Danny Schmidt
Wild Billy Childish and CTMF
Acorn Man
Fabulous garage rock/punk the second with his current band CTMF, from Medway-based cult artist Billy Childish
Gromble
The Gromble EP
Catchy Pavement-inspired pop on debut EP from California-based band, the Gromble
Chills
The BBC Sessions
Excellent retrospective from underrated New Zealand–based indie pop band the Chills, which compiles together three BBC sessions which they recorded for John Peel between 1985 and 1988
Maston
The Opal Collection
Impressive second album, compiled largely from his previous recordings, from psychedelic-influenced Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, Frank Maston
Jim Keaveny
Out of Time
Laidback Dylan-influenced fifth album from Texas-based nsinger-songwriter, Jim Keaveny
Various
God Help the Girl: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Engaging soundtrack to Belle and Sebastian singer Stuart Murdoch’s forthcoming cinema film, which features new versions of songs from his 2009 project of the same name
Sole and DJ Pain 1
Death Drive
Old school and political rap with modern beats on enjoyable album from American rap artist Sole and successful producer DJ Pain 1
Emma Ruth Rundle
Some Heavy Ocean
Atmospheric and dark 90’s-influenced album from Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and Red Sparowes guitarist, Emma Ruth Rundle
Secret Cities
Walk Me Home
Eclectic but intelligent latest album from epic-sounding American outfit, Secret Cities
Mega Emotion
Fake Feelings Ep
Engaging mix of synth-pop and indie rock on tape only debut EP from Bearsuit offshoot, Mega Emotion
Eat Lights Become Lights
Into Forever
Repetitive but enthralling electronica on fourth album from London-based instrumental project, Eat Lights Become Lights
Tony Dekker
Prayer of the Woods
Melancholic and spiritual 70’s-Californian folk-influenced solo album, recorded in an Ontario church, by Canadian singer-songwriter and Great Lakes Swimmers front man, Tony Dekker
American Werewolf Academy
Out of Place All the Time
Unsatisfactory fifth album from Dallas alternative rock band, American Werewolf Academy
Leisure Society
Alone Abroad the Ark
Excellent third album for much acclaimed but still under-the-radar folk pop outfit, the Leisure Society
Mount Moriah
Miracle Temple
Heartfelt and powerful second album from North Carolina-based folk duo, Mount Moriah
Shotgun Jimmie
Everything Everything
Ramshackle, but catchy and endearing seventh solo album from Canadian musician, Shotgun Jimmie
Diamond Rugs
Diamond Rugs
Infectious and enormously enjoyable combination of classic rock influences on debut album from Diamond Rugs, which includes members of Deer Tick, Black Lips, Los Lobos, Dead Confederate and Six Finger Satellite
Pieter Nooten
Haven
Optimistic and warm-sounding double album from Dutch composer Pieter Nooten, which incorporates together elements of prog, electronica and world music
Sugargliders
A Nest with a View 1990-1994
Often brilliant indie pop on retrospective compilation from under-rated Australian duo, the Sugargliders
Monkey Power Trio
Who Cares What the Vultures Want?
Fantastic lo-fi punk on latest release from the Monkey Power Trio, who have got together for one afternoon a year for the last sixteen years to record an EP
Joy Division
Plus Minus: Singles 1976-1980
Faultlessly packaged and presented vinyl only Joy Division box set, which is only nevertheless for the hardcore fan
Hauschka
Foreign Landscapes
Restless-sounding concept album about travelling and cities on latest album from Hauschka, the project of experimental pianist Volker Bertelmann
Snowblink
Long Live
Fantastic indie/folk-pop on latest album from experimental Canadian collective, Snowblink
Jon Hopkins
'Monsters' Original Soundtrack
Forceful electronica on soundtrack album to independent hit film from London-based composer, Jon Hopkins
Bruce Springsteen
The Promise
Excellent and frequently surprising collection of previously unreleased material from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, recorded in 1978 at the time of his classic 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' album
Her Name is Calla
The Quiet Lamb
Daramatic and ambitous second album from epic-toned Leicester-based band, Her Name is Calla
Various
All Those Times We Spent Together: A Tribute to the Television Personalitie
Admirable Television Personalities tribute album from Canadian label The Beautiful Music, the third in a series of ten that it planning to release
Hjaltalin
Terminal
Innovative and uniquely original second album from cinematic Iceland group, Hjaltalín
Syllable Section
Linear Views
Abrupt-sounding art rock on debut album from experimental Chicago-based group, the Syllable Section
Dios
We Are Dios
Superb home recorded third album from Californian modern psychedelic outfit, Dios
Television Personalities
A Memory is Better Than Nothing
Staggeringly good latest album from the Television Personalities, which despite the band and front man Dan Treacy's long history of bad luck, proves surprisingly optimistic and also possibly the group's best album to date
Pavement
Quarantine the Past:The Best of Pavement
Fine compilation from the influential Pavement, which provides a wonderful taster for the reformed group's forthcoming ATP and summer shows
T-Model Ford
The Ladies Man
Sprightly-sounding blues on new album from T-Model Ford, who was in his 70s before he started playing music
Wu-Tang
Wu-Tang: Return Of The Wu And Friends
Fantastic compilation of rarities and remixes from much praised hip-hop act, Wu-Tang Clan
Yeasayer
Odd Blood
Fabulous combination of pop and experimentalism on second album from mushc acclaimed Brroklyn-based band, Yeasayer
Trent Miller and the Skeleton Jive
Cerberus
Gothic-in-tone Americana on first-rate debut album from London-based act, Trent Miller and the Skeleton Jive
Glass Ghost
Idol Omen
Eccentric electronica on brief, but intriguing debut album from New York two piece, Glass Ghost
Yo La Tengo
Popular Songs
Consistently inventive twelfth album from Yo la Tengo, who twenty five years into their career maintain both their energy and also their creative edge
Pere Ubu
Long Live Pere Ubu
Menacing and visceral combination of punk energy and drama, comedy and art on latest album from Pere Ubu, which takes direct inspiration from the absurdist play 'Bring Me the Head of Ubu Roi'
Billy Childish
Archive From 1959 - The Billy Childish Story
Admirable career-spanning double CD compilation from eccentric Chatham-based musical outsider, Billy Childish, released to celebrate his 50th birthday
Wavves
Wavves
Loud and fuzzy melodic electronic pop, all recorded through a computer, on highly promising debut album from Wavves, the moniker for San Diego-based musician, Nathan Williams
Passion Pit
Manners
Infectious and childishly euphoric debut album from Boston-based debut album, who have taken the synth sound of the 80s and then up-dated it with immense style
Deerhunter
Rainwater Cassette Exchange
Dynamic and ethereal latest EP from prolific Atlanta-based lo-fi band Deerhunter
Dan Deacon
Bromst
Hyperactive, but surprisingly spiritual-sounding electronica on new album from consstantly inventive Baltimore-based art pop artist, Dan Deacon
Bearsuit
Muscle Belt
Bouncing indie pop on new download only single from the ever brilliant Bearsuit
Grave Architects
Highway Be True/Love TBC
Pleasant enough, but indistinctive country from self-appointed Coen Brothers of Rock, Nottingham group the Grave Architects
Bear Lake
Places on the Side
Self-conscious, but versatile Americana on promising second album from critically praised Detroit-based group, Bear Lake
Kindness Kind
The Kindness Kind
Solid indie pop on new mini-album from Seattle-based arty rockers, the Kindness Kind
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
The Century of Self
Consistently strong sixth album from …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead whose recent departure from a major to an independent label has given them a new found freedom
Passion Pit
Chunk of Change
Convincing debut UK EP from much hyped Boston-based electronica group Passion Pit who have they’ve mixed dance, indie, pop, psychedelia and even a hint of hip hop with superb effect.