This glorious concept album – which celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway – features the warm, rootsy folk of Sam Slatcher. His little vignettes of life on the railway down through the years makes for some real heart-swelli…

Oh, man! This north-east bunch are here to party! Their debut album is spilling over with chunky mega-riffs, feel-good-glam-boogie and stomp-a-long-goodness. It’s all very danceable too – in the manner of Mud’s peerless ‘Tiger Feet’ kind of way – and thei…

The debut album from this London-based singer/songwriter is a real stop-you-in-your-tracks affair, particularly if you’re partial to tremulous folk-rock-pop that flickers with twilight vibes. Clara Mann cites the likes of Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf and Tom …

The Weeknd is no stranger to musical experimentation, and this is perhaps his most sprawling release yet - spanning across genres such as Brazilian funk, synth-pop, soul and electro. It has the recipe of a great The Weeknd album including an impressive ro…

Sharon Van Etten shakes things up on her first album with her new band. Despite being a reinvention, it feels nostalgic: post-punk and gothic motifs run throughout, with synth melodies intertwined with groovy basslines and guitar riffs that wouldn’t feel …

This non-binary rising star has been creating quite a buzz in their native Canada; and they’ve certainly backed up all that interest with a debut album that grabs the Americana template and then does some rather thrilling things with it. They have the mel…

Newcastle indie band Split the Ticket are quickly making a name for themselves, with a debut EP already under their belt, and a strong social following. Their recent gig, which sold out in just two days, proves the strength of the loyal fanbase they’ve bu…

You’ve heard of new wave, but have you heard of no wave? It’s the genre that up-and-coming Irish artist Skinner identifies with and is an avant-garde mix of funk, disco, jazz and noise that was developed in 1970s in response to new wave becoming mainstrea…

In their third decade as a band, Franz Ferdinand have built a noble reputation as a legacy act. They took their time with this sixth album - 7 years to be exact - but this upbeat release presents a polished preservation of what the band has always done we…

Lambrini Girls are aptly named, as the ferocity with which vocalist Phoebe Lunny spits out their lyrics reminds me of when I first tried Lambrini. This white-knuckle ride of a debut is full of distorted baselines and guitar melodies that pair beautifully …

Local favourite (and, hey, national favourite, too) Richard Dawson has been responsible for some of the best moments in recorded sound this century. From his out-there collaboration with Finnish rock band Circle, to the epic 41-minute track that opened hi…

This husband and wife duo from Newcastle are graduates of Newcastle’s Folk and Traditional Music degree and their second album is a real stunner. It’s a concept album of sorts – about how the winter period is necessary, giving the earth a fallow period be…

Multi-instrumentalist Moshe Fisher-Rozenberg has reimagined a music programme used by psychotherapists in the 1970s, in combination with LSD, in a way that feels sonically pleasing, trippy, and very much a balm for your soul. He’s converted the original s…

In 2005, the folk singer Vashti Bunyan released ‘Lookaftering’ – only her second album, 35 years after her debut. It was – and remains – a remarkable comeback record, featuring instrumental contributions from the likes of Joanna Newsom and Devendra Banhar…

This Newcastle four-piece exude a lounge-pop vibe, a lo-fi-jazz feel, a hushed chamber-folk mood, all of which utterly enchants. Their songs unfurl around you like cigarette smoke and you can’t help but fall under their spell. The likes of The Blue Nile, …

Wife and husband duo Anna Miles and Matt Brennan are the movers and groovers behind Beautiful Cosmos, and their debut album is a thing of indie-pop joy. It’s been produced by Field Music, and Beautiful Cosmos’s stuff certainly shares the same kind of subt…

Maisie Marra (or Eve Turnbull to her mam) grew up in Newcastle but is now based in Dublin, and her latest mini-album is a thing of rare beauty. ‘1991’ features only five tracks but each is a work of art. Whole worlds are created in these songs, which comb…

On his eighth album, Bad Bunny has created some of his best music in years as he moves his focus away from appealing to the global masses, and zones in on his Puerto-Rican roots. Blending música jíbara - the country-folk music of Puerto-Rico - with genres…

Moonchild Sanelly popped up all over the festival circuit last year, so I had a feeling she had something exciting on the way - she did not disappoint. ‘Full Moon’ is as bold as the chunky blue braids that have become an iconic staple of Sanelly’s image; …

Colombian artist Ela Minus first hovered onto radars with her super-charged 2020 debut release ‘acts of rebellion’, which was something of a techno-pop banger. Her second album sees her pulling some cutting-edge production moves, pushing her electronica i…

Father John Misty is a favourite artist of mine, yet I was underwhelmed on my first listen of ‘Mahashmashana’. Two of the singles released - ‘I Guess Time Makes Fools of Us All’ and ‘Screamland’ - are total knockouts that stand on each end of his musical…

Considering the enormous success of Blackpink, the K-pop girl group where Rosé found fame, releasing a debut album is bound to be more than a little daunting. However, Rosé lands this leap of faith with grace. Her playful, pop-princess energy shines in up…

Anna B Savage describes her new album as “a love letter to a man and to Ireland” and as love letters go this is a doozy. It’s an album imbued with a rare intimacy (it was produced by John ‘Spud’ Murphy, who has worked with Lankum), the folky instrumentati…

Trans woman jasmine.4.t says the title of this, her debut album, is dedicated to the queer friendships that helped save her life when she came out. Queer people represent: “A fresh start, new days which are beautiful and cosmic.” Her album – which takes i…

These US indie-rockers hail from Fernandina Beach in Florida, and, yes, their stuff is imbued with a warming sunny vibe. This – their second album – while still infused with golden-hued melodies, sees them opening up their vulnerable side while not sacrif…

This is the original soundtrack to Robert Eggers’ new, well-received, film ‘Nosferatu’ and it’s been put together by Robin Carolan, who provided such a memorable score for Eggers’ previous film ‘The Northman’. As you might expect, it’s a release that drin…

Pete Kosanovich is an up and coming psych rock artist who has already received plaudits from luminaries such as Dave Davies of The Kinks and Liam Gallagher of Oasis. This mini-album, recorded live at Paper Dress Vintage in Hackney, shows Kosanovich at his…

The New York duo featuring Marilu Donovan (harp) and Adam Markiewicz (violin) straddle sundry worlds that take in drone/electronica, ambient and contemporary classical. This six-track EP – their first release since 2022’s ‘Eyeline’ – sees them paring back…

Seven albums in, Kendrick Lamar still isn’t taking his foot off the gas. Though less rich in narrative than previous releases, Lamar’s wordplay in GNX is razor-sharp, enhanced by his chameleon-like ability to adapt his vocals and add a variety of emotiona…

In case you’re not clued up on mythology, Aquilo is the Roman equivalent for Boreas, the Greek god of north wind. This fifth album from the Lancashire-based duo of the same name feels much like the north wind - it’s light and airy yet powerful; it carries…

The Afrobeats genre has been thriving lately, but Nigeria’s Wizkid may have just delivered the icing on the cake. Striking that perfect balance between laidback and vibrant that I love so much about Afrobeats, Morayo blends traditional elements of the gen…

‘CHROMAKOPIA’ is an eclectic deep-dive into Tyler, The Creator’s psyche, exploring everything from aging, to his relationship with his mother, to white supremacy, to sex via his signature, razor-sharp lyrics and commanding flow. The range of genres and so…

This is Pixie’s eleventh album - an incredible feat in itself, with the band having a second of coming sorts when they reunited in 2020 after 22 years apart. It’s clear to see Pixies have been on quite a journey, though I feel that journey has hit the mid…

My god, Amyl and The Sniffers deliver with this one. There’s plenty of the Aussie rebellion that first demonstrated how they’re keeping modern punk alive - bouncing guitar riffs, groovy bass lines, thunderous percussion and provocative lyrics delivered vi…

The second long-player from Michael Head’s bassist reaches for the stars with a concept album of sorts exploring wide-eyed space exploration via the medium of folk-hop, progressive-psych, and full-bodied melodies. Belle and Sebastian’s Chris Geddes, and a…

The new album from this Welsh powerhouse folk outfit is, sadly, their last, but they’re going out on a real high. The interplay they demonstrate here is truly breathtaking and the twin girl/boy vocals dovetail perfectly with their drive. This is utterly r…

This Turkish singer, songwriter and composer has won a huge audience outside of her home country and with little wonder. She combines traditional Anatolian pop and folk influences with a real sense of grandeur that – even if you can’t understand the lyric…

Keyboard player, composer and producer Jessica Lauren has worked with all manner of legendary names – such as Jean Carne and Tom Browne – but she actually recorded ‘Film’ in 1997. It’s now been remastered and it remains a remarkable listen combining modal…

Durham’s Lowfeye – featuring Carol Nichol and Alan Rowland – wrap all their elements, including indie rock and melodic guitar-pop, into a widescreen aesthetic that is utterly compelling. They also do Lee Hazelwood/Nancy Sinatra like 60s pop (‘Valley Of Th…

This second album from Irish avant-garde punk artist Meryl Streek is a beautiful yet harrowing examination of social inequality in Ireland. It’s filled with politically-charged rage, delivered via the searing passion of Streek’s vocals and his slam poetry…

I was lucky enough to hear some of these songs live when I went to see The Cure two years ago, which gives you an idea of the time and care that has gone into crafting their first release in 16 years. ‘Songs Of a Lost World’ is one of few albums worth suc…

An Unthanks album – featuring classic Christmas and winter songs, as well as a scattering of new compositions – was always going to work and so it does, quite magnificently. They capture the shifting moods of the season including joy, reflectiveness and m…

This explosive new release from Spanish artist Metrika, in collaboration with producer and DJ D.Basto, is all thundering trap beats, distorted vocals and razor-sharp lyrics. The up-and-coming rapper’s take on modern hip-hop is full of bold and unapologeti…

Neo-soul singer Leon Bridges’ has created a musical scrapbook of sorts. With a distinctly 1970s influence running throughout, Bridges pulls from genres such as folk, pop, funk and jazz to create 13 songs that each offer something different. Charged with n…

FINNEAS is most known for being Billie Eilish’s brother, with whom he has frequently written, produced and performed music with, but what you should know him for is his incredible songwriting abilities. ‘For Cryin’ Out Loud’, though less experimental than…

‘Blind Faith’ marks the very welcome return of this Mercury nominated Irish singer/songwriter. Her last album was the very brilliant ‘Bones + Longing’ album of 2014, and her latest is another release designed to get you right there. Featuring tender guita…

North-east band Quarterlight are fronted by Gary Chaplin, who local aficionados will know as he’s a founder member of local punk heroes Penetration. And he – and the fluid collective of musicians who make up the rest of the band – are on sterling form her…

Huge melodies simply teem out of this Teesside fella and on his new album he’s packing plenty. His sophisticated pop songs have a gorgeous 80s vibe (I’m talking the sumptuous end of the 80s – Black, The Kane Gang, Everything But The Girl) and on his lates…

The third album from this Canada-born, London-based singer/songwriter is teeming with good stuff particularly if you’re a fan of louche decadence. Tracks bubble up out of the ether, her dreamy vocals adding to the vibe, in a deft show of insouciance that …

‘Cutouts’ is The Smile’s second album in just nine months, so they’d be perhaps forgiven if it didn’t quite hit the same mark as January’s ‘Wall Of Eyes’, which came out to much critical acclaim. On the contrary, I may even prefer this third release from …

Nina Nesbitt’s fourth album is her best yet, and one of my favourites of the year. It’s a beautiful folk-pop record, with gentle acoustic guitar and piano melodies and light, airy vocals that evoke the ethereal mountain scene on its cover. Inspired by her…

Sunderland’s finest return with a new album and suddenly the winter months don’t seem quite so bleak. It’s a release that is packing delights wherever you look, with those delights slowly revealing themselves to you with each new listen. The band have mas…

This one was a nostalgic listen for me, as Falling In Reverse were one of the bands that caused me to fall in love with rock music back in my early teens. Their first album in seven years, it’s clear to see that the band have used this time to hone their …

‘Short n’ Sweet’ has seen Carpenter rise to astronomical heights seemingly out of nowhere, despite this being her fifth album. She has definitely found her sweet spot as an artist - fun, flirty pop anthems charged with a wicked, at times filthy, sense of …