Alternative folk band Bear’s Den and singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery have teamed up on this new EP, and the result is stunning. The accompaniment is relatively stripped back, sticking to gentle piano and guitar melodies with an emotive fiddle solo here an…

As a big Verve fan, I was excited to hear about some new material from Richard Ashcroft. I really enjoy the album’s first track, Lover; the anthemic, Bitter Sweet Symphony-esque strings are brimming with nostalgia and it’s a real feel good song. Unfortuna…

Saint Motel have been ever evolving since their debut in 2009, and Afterglow feels like a culmination - it’s probably no coincidence that this is their first independent album. Sweeping orchestral sounds blend with groovy basslines, catchy indie beats and…

This Nova Scotia trio only formed in late 2024, but they quickly won a following with their no-nonsense rock sound and no-frills energy. Their debut album delivers too with their chutzpah laced melange of 60s garage rock, 70s punk, 80s indie, and 90s powe…

The pop project of Canadian vocalist and composer Katie Stelmanis, this super album sees her trying to mend her broken heart by way of some euro-dance beats and plenty of salty lyrics (“You said I needed my own friends / So I found them / Then you fucked …

The brainchild of Teessider Neil Anthony Patterson, you can get an idea of where his band are coming from by the outfits named-checked on the opener here (‘Mixtape’): The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Big Star. Yep, Funkpark Fugitives are all about big guit…

I loved the debut album from the north-east pair of Amy Thatcher and Francesca Knowles, which pushed accordion and drum music into some very special places, but they’ve upped the ante on this mini-album by adding some electronic flourishes to their deliri…

The debut album from this north-east four-piece is bountiful with treats as they set about indie-pop and alt-rock with plenty of vim and vigour. From ‘No Wires’, which is thrumming with noughties melodic intent, to the twangy ‘Southern Cross’, to the lead…

This Irish singer/songwriter proved she was one of the most interesting artists working today with previous releases such as ‘Ferel Hymns’ (2021) and ‘Acts of Light’ (2023) – both acclaimed instrumental albums. For her latest she’s included vocals, which …

Expectations are lofty for this new release from The Last Dinner Party, after they scooped up two Brits in the year of their debut. Fortunately, they more than deliver with this feast of delicious harmonies, well-crafted hooks, inventive songwriting and j…

Doja Cat has taken yet another sharp turn into new musical territory - while 2023’s Scarlet transformed her bubbly, ‘hot pink’ pop persona into a red, rap-heavy rage, Vie dives into a new, 1980s-inspired lover girl era. It’s a return-to-form of sorts; Sca…

I’ve really been looking forward to the debut album from this north-east pair and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. They’re unashamed fans of smooth 70s sounds (think breezy Laurel Canyon vibes meets yacht rocking musicianship), and the nine tracks here oo…

I was never much of a Little Mix fan, but South Shields’ own JADE immediately caught my attention with her solo music. Debuts from former girl group members can often be a little safe, but JADE has swerved right past this and fully committed to maximalist…

I’ve been a big CMAT fan since her debut, so it’s been great to see the Irish country-pop artist get her flowers lately. In EURO-COUNTRY, her songwriting peaks in a kaleidoscope of emotions that will have you giggling through one song, then tearing up at …

The three lasses from LA who make up Automatic have found much favour with those of us who enjoy minimalistic post-punk and no-wave with dollops of melodic knowhow on top. And – pleased to report – their third album is an absolute doozy, those synthy groo…

Massa Confusa is the moniker of Ally Morton – formerly of the north-east, but now based in Spain – and this, his fourth studio album, is resplendent with post-punk indie anthems that are given plenty of body by some chunky electronica a la early New Order…

Local lass Jade Mia Broadhead has won a following with incendiary singles such as ‘TERF Wars’ (Broadhead is a trans woman) but her debut album is a more personal, less obviously political release. Relationships are examined, past reminisces are raked over…

Teessiders Set Your Sights apply balm to the tattered souls of those of us who are still in love with the pop/punk sounds of the early 2000s (think blink-182, Sum 41 etc). Of course, such stuff lives or dies on the quality of the tunes, and – hooray! – th…

One of my favourite singer-songwriters – who just happens to be based in the north-east – returns with another album that oozes quality. And on ‘Mystery Park’ Williams has opted for a stripped back sonic palette reminiscent of her earlier stuff such as fo…

Alex E.T. is Alexandra Elaine Tapié and she hails from the ever-evolving California new-psych scene. ‘Color of Strange’ is the second album from her and her band and it skitters rather gloriously across everything from dreamy grunge to jangle-rock to West…

Just a year after her sixth album rocketed her to stardom, Sabrina Carpenter is already back with a new release - and for me, the quick turnaround is very telling. For an album with a cover that sparked such controversy, the music really ought to be more …

Wolf Alice’s last album, Blue Weekend, set the bar extremely high for the band, so The Clearing is one of my most anticipated albums this year. The expansive production is a new avenue; they’ve swapped the intimate, rough around the edges feel of previous…

sombr (the musical alias of Shane Boose) is the latest face of the ‘sad boy’ genre, but the 20 year old artist’s debut album showcases much more than the gloomy indie anthems that shot him to viral fame. I Barely Know Her is packed full of addictive bedro…

This bunch of Newcastle desperados are taking no prisoners on their latest, which hits hard from the get-go with a rather delirious melange of garage rock, psych and skate punk. Their big and meaty melodies – which are nicely frazzled in all the right pla…

Reneé Rapp’s unapologetically abrasive personality dominates on BITE ME, which is wildly different to the melancholic ballads of her debut, Snow Angel. She charismatically tells messy stories of queer dating, Hollywood parties and the chaotic life of a ri…

This debut EP from Mancunian quartet Westside Cowboy is a little taste of what promises to be a very exciting addition to the British rock n roll scene. The five tracks are steeped in blissful vocal harmonies, fuzzy guitars and thunderous percussion, spra…

This very fine album features 14 different artists, all of who have appeared at The Globe in Newcastle’s open mic night. And – what do you know! – it’s absolutely outstanding! Hard to pick out a highlight but I loved Annie Enclave’s soaring ‘Next Part’ (w…

cassettes’ latest is a defiantly cohesive selection of demos from 1998-2004. Acoustic and largely unadorned electric guitar feature prominently, but this is no exercise in strum-drum solipsism. Here are shards of brittle poetry, tiny revelations of the ev…

North Shields’ Conor Michael has won audiences over with his energetic live shows – featuring him, his guitar and his loop pedal – but his recorded output is about to receive another leg-up with his fantastic new album. ‘Chase The Day’ would nominally be …

The debut album from this Newcastle-based alt-rock four-piece is an absolute corker, particularly if you enjoy songs that feel a little bit woozy, a little bit off-centre, but nevertheless are thrumming with feisty passion and no little sonic derring do. …

This North-Yorkshire based fella has cornered the market in recent years for music lovers hankering for a bit of sophisticated pop goodness in the manner of Prefab Sprout and The Blue Nile. And, with over 180k streams in the last year, it seems that he’s …

Another One Making Clouds, the very first album from Liverpudlian duo Everything Else, scratches the exact, hazy indie itch that I am a sucker for. The reverb is turned all the way up, with gentle vocals and mournful, jangly guitar melodies providing clar…

Disiniblud is what happens when the worlds of two experimental multi-instrumentalists - Rachika Nayar and Nina Keith - collide. Engaging in a musical practice that prioritises comfort, trust and childlike play, this largely instrumental album juxtaposes d…

This was my first time discovering Ethel Cain (the musical alter ego of Hayden Anhedönia)… and I may have just found a new favourite artist. Her sophomore album is quite the journey, with the final track lasting 15 minutes, but these atmospheric songs req…

There’s been something of a buzz around this Brighton four-piece and they’ve fully justified all that froth with a startling debut album which sets out its stall from the off: “The New Eve is of earth / Granite, ochre, magma, dirt / All the bones in her b…

This debut from San Francisco indie outfit Ryli is a perfect summer listen; sunny melodies, jangly guitars and peppy rhythms combine with frontwoman Yea-Ming Chen’s breezy vocals to create an effervescent sound that belongs by the beach. The band cite The…

After the success of Wet Leg’s debut, moisturizer is one of 2025’s most highly-anticipated albums - and it delivers. Although you won’t find any hits of the same magnitude as ‘Wet Dream’ and ‘Chaise Longue’, you will find an expansion of their sound and a…

New York City’s Lathe of Heaven are named after a novel by sci-fi author Ursula K. le Guin and their latest album has been envisioned as a collection of sci-fi short stories – deeply influenced and lyrically driven by themes of anti-colonialism, diversity…

Toronto’s Debby Friday won all kinds of plaudits with her 2023 debut album ‘Good Luck’, which drew comparisons with everyone from Santigold to Massive Attack. For her second album she certainly hasn’t rested on her laurels, hitting us up with an exhilarat…

The collaborative project of Rachika Nayar + Nina Keith (who describe their kinship as coming from some “inner-child sisterhood place”) really sees them pushing envelopes. Nayar won huge praise for her 2022 album ‘Heaven Come Crashing’ (a distinct fusion …

This is the eleventh studio album from this acclaimed Canadian singer/songwriter (her second since she retired her Oh Susanna persona) and she remains one of the most intimate and evocative purveyors of folky Americana around. From rousing country and ped…

Cam’s irresistible blend of country and pop – with its focus on gritty, honest and empowering narratives – has seen her much in demand, working with everyone from Sam Smith to Miley Cyrus to Beyoncé (she contributes songs to the ‘Cowboy Carter’ album). Bu…

Formed in North Carolina in 1979, The Spongetones are one of the quintessential US power-pop outfits and draw heavily from 1960s British invasion bands such as The Beatles, The Hollies and The Searchers. Their new album features mostly live stuff with cla…

The viral cover of Lorde’s Virgin, which features an X-ray of her pelvis, promised that this would be an album in which she lays herself bare - and it’s this vulnerable yet simultaneously powerful songwriting that allows Virgin to shine. The electronic pr…

Kesha practically invented the messy party girl pop persona, but despite being a 2010s icon, . is her first independent album after years of legal battles with abusive producer Dr Luke. It’s pleasing to see that trademark elements of her music - modulated…

There’s a trend of Latin artists getting in touch with their roots this year; first, Bad Bunny celebrated Puerto Rico in January’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, and now KAROL G has arrived with this stunning tribute to Latin Music and the performers that shaped t…

Moron-o-Phonics hail from Gateshead, and if the council could harness the sheer energy that the band generate, then they’d be able to power the whole town. For make no mistake, this trio are rabble-rousers par excellence, surfing high on a wave of garage …

There’s been a lot of build up to Miley Cyrus’ latest album: given the huge success of 2023’s ‘Flowers’, she had big shoes to fill. She’s even created a film about this new release, which describes itself as a ‘pop opera’. However, ‘Something Beautiful’ i…

Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tash Sultana is nothing if not experimental, and this latest release is a compact capsule of their musical creativity at its best. While their last EP ‘Sugar’ was very much a pop record, ‘Return to th…

Rival Consoles (aka UK producer Ryan West) has been one of the go-to movers and groovers when it comes to electronica, since the late 00s at least, and this – his ninth studio album – features some of his best work. It deftly straddles that line between f…

Newcastle’s Isolated Community deal in synths, found sounds, “things with strings”, field recordings, and other aural odds and sods (emphasis on the odd). Their latest album is simply wonderful, particularly if you enjoy being whisked off to windswept pla…

Whitley Bay’s Carmen Curran has been gigging around the north-east since 2020 and this – her crowdfunded album – is an absolute joy. From the sweet strummy pop sound of ‘Rain Comes Down’ (a jaunty tune belying its title), to the glorious and country-tinge…

This EP features a clutch of songs apiece from local bands The Upside and Penguins Per Second. The Upside’s frothy ditties are upbeat bops that fuse ska and funk in very agreeable ways and when they belt out the words, “When you’re living in Bensham” they…

This five-track mixtape from this Finnish-via-Mexico artist is toting good stuff around every corner. It also marks her poppiest release yet. ‘GUM’ is replete with the kind of infectious beats that The Weeknd is so adept at, while ‘El Dolor Es Lento’ feat…