New releases on CD & DVD
Album: Gwenno - Utopia
Wednesday, 09 July 2025
Stylistically, Utopia wears multiple faces. Opening cut “London 1757” drifts by like a twig floating upon an unhurried stream. Next, “Dancing on Volcanoes” swings, employs a staccato guitar and suggests a late-Sunday afternoon dance floor. The kind of scene embraced by a post-comedown crowd. Further in, “Ghost of You” has a soul ballad edge; Randy Crawford were her background in Broadcast-inclined, indie-experimenta.
Blu-ray: A Hard Day's Night
Tuesday, 08 July 2025
Andrew Sarris, doyen of auteurist film critics, dubbed A Hard Day’s Night “the Citizen Kane of jukebox musicals”. Wild over-praise, or sly, back-handed compliment?
Album: Olafur Arnalds and Talos - A Dawning
Monday, 07 July 2025
Silken ambience is the name of the game on this set from Icelandic composer-producer Olafur Arnalds and dreampop singer Talos, aka Eoin French, who...
Album: Barry Can't Swim - Loner
Saturday, 05 July 2025
Despite being Mercury nominated, Bazza’s hardly a household name. Nevertheless, his debut album When Will We Land was highly praised by...
Album: Kesha - .
Friday, 04 July 2025
“I’m, like, pop star when I have to pop star, and then I’m, like, naked hippy when I can naked hippy.” So Kesha explained recently on the Jennifer...
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.
To take a subscription now simply click here.
And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?
Album: Claudia Brücken - Night Mirror
The Propaganda singer returns with an album of elegant, varied grown-up pop |
Album: Mocky - Music Will Explain (Choir Music Vol. 1)
Is the Canadian polymath hiding behind his exquisite production and arrangement skill? |
Album: Brìghde Chaimbeul - Sunwise
A singular sonic auteur reshapes traditional Celtic music |
Album: JF Robitaille & Lail Arad - Wild Moves
A set of graceful, wry melancholy from an Anglo-Canadian singer-songwriter duo |
Album: Lorde - Virgin
Sombre self-examination and scratchy cellos fail to ignite on the New Zealander's new LP |
Album: Bruce Springsteen - Tracks II: The Lost Albums
The Boss: Finding joy in imperfections |
Album: BC Camplight - A Sober Conversation
Brian Christinzio exorcises childhood trauma |
Album: Durand and the Indications - Flowers
Languorous neo-soul to chill by |
Album: Yungblud - Idols
Dominic Harrison’s latest disc fails to live up to the hype |
Album: Loyle Carner - Hopefully!
The rapper takes a deep breath with his latest release |
Album: HAIM - I Quit
The Californian trio convincingly continue their ascent to the top of the pop-rock tree |
Blu-ray: Darling
John Schlesinger's Sixties classic now feels problematic, but retains an icky fascination |
Album: Yaya Bey - do it afraid
The continued maturation of Yaya Bey and of modern R&B dazzles and nourishes at every turn |
Album: The Young Gods - Appear Disappear
Swiss electro-rockers unleash a techno-metal monster |
Album: Sam Binga - Sam Binga Presents Club Orthodontics
A thrilling whirlwind tour of bass culture across decades and continents |
Album: Neil Young & the Chrome Hearts - Talkin' to the Trees
Musical titan reflects on his life as he careers towards his 80th birthday |
Album: Mary Halvorson - About Ghosts
Lauded US jazz guitarist strikes a balance between the composed and the improvised |
Album: Marina - Princess of Power
Sixth album from L.A.-based Welsh singer is over-the-top but rife with pop gems |
Album: Mary Chapin Carpenter - Personal History
Distinctive, intimate, perfectly pitched |
Album: Van Morrison - Remembering Now
As he approaches 80, a lush new set has an invigorated Van showing his mystical side |
Album: Pulp - More
The very opposite of past it, this immersive offering is perfectly timed |
Album: Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH
Hardcore, ambient and everything in between |
Album: Little Simz - Lotus
A major hurdle in the UK star's career path proves to be no barrier |
Album: Death In Vegas - Death Mask
Electronic music perennial returns with an hour of deep techno illbience |
The future of Arts Journalism
You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!
We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £49,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d
And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.
latest in today
'We are bowled over!' Thank you for your messages...
