tue 18/02/2025

New releases on CD & DVD

Blu-ray: Golem

Graham Rickson

In Jewish folklore, a golem is an inanimate clay figure, brought to life when a magic word is placed inside its mouth. Piotr Szulkin’s dark 1979 film debut makes reference both to this legend and to Gustav Meyrink’s unsettling 1914 novel, moving the action forward from the latter’s fin-de-siècle Prague to a geographically non-specific dystopian future.

Album: Tim Hecker - Shards

Joe Muggs

The question of personality in abstract and ambient music has always been a fascinating one. Without conventional signifiers of expressiveness, and especially in the age of AI, it’s easy for people to think “a computer could have done that”. Indeed, there’ve been plenty of musicians from Brian Eno levels of prominence on down who have played with this, using algorithmic generation, anonymity and so forth as part of the project.

Album: Park Jiha - All Living Things

Mark Kidel

Park Jiha is a super-talented and gloriously inspired Korean multi-instrumentalist. Her new album follows Philos (2018) and The Gleam (2022) and...

Album: Rizzle Kicks - Competition Is For Losers

Ibi Keita

After more than 10 years away, Rizzle Kicks are finally back, and it feels long overdue. Their music was a huge part of my childhood –...

Album: Fantastic Twins - Suite of Rooms

Joe Muggs

This album is SHORT. At 27 minutes and just five tracks, one might wonder why Julienne Dessagne (this is a solo act) didn’t call it an EP. But maybe...

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Album: Manic Street Preachers - Critical Thinking

Thomas H Green

Lots of words but not so many catchy songs

Blu-ray: High and Low

Graham Rickson

Akira Kurosawa’s multi-layered Japanese noir, brilliantly plotted

Album: Squid - Cowards

Thomas H Green

South-coast five-piece continue their fitful journey into rock experimentalism

Album: Rats on Rafts - Deep Below

Kieron Tyler

The spirit of The Cure rematerialises in the Netherlands

Album: Hifi Sean & David McAlmont - Twilight

Guy Oddy

Indie veterans burrow deeper into their new electronica-flavoured guise

Album: Biig Piig - 11:11

Joe Muggs

Pop so slick it slides right by you... until you start paying attention

Blu-ray: Stray Dog

Nick Hasted

Kurosawa's post-war Tokyo noir gleans societal guilt as a cop hunts his purloined pistol

Album: Inhaler - Open Wide

Tom Carr

Dublin indie rock quartet expand and adapt their sound

Album: Guided By Voices - Universe Room

Ellie Roberts

Unique soundscapes and a dynamic approach with clear standout tracks

Album: The Weeknd - Hurry Up Tomorrow

Thomas H Green

The Canadian superstar's latest is mopey and overlong but has its moments

Album: Cymande - Renascence

Joe Muggs

A brave and mostly brilliant attempt to revive half-century-old magic

Album: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - The Purple Bird

Guy Oddy

Will Oldham exudes suitably laidback vibes from deep in the heart of Nashville

Album: Gary Kemp - This Destination

Kathryn Reilly

The master songwriter can't help but write a catchy tune

Album: Ludovico Einaudi - The Summer Portraits

Sebastian Scotney

Long summer holidays remembered

Album: FKA Twigs - Eusexua

Katie Colombus

A transformative electronic journey across diverse sonic and emotional landscapes

Album: Tunng - Love You All Over Again

Joe Muggs

Tunng go full circle after 20 years of dreams and conjuration

Blu-ray: Mikey and Nicky

John Carvill

Elaine May's edgy 1976 crime drama deglamorises the gangster archetype

Album: Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis & Karine Polwart - Looking For the Thread 

Liz Thomson

It's only January but this is an album of the year

Album: Larkin Poe - Bloom

Tim Cumming

Heavy blues-rock riffery guides the Lovell sisters’ introspective new songs

Album: Kele - The Singing Winds Pt. 3

Joe Muggs

The road less travelled has led to a fantastically focused creative identity

Album: The Weather Station - Humanhood

Kieron Tyler

Canadian singer-songwriter makes sense of a period of crisis

Album: Ethel Cain - Perverts

Ibi Keita

Cain’s new album is a far cry from her debut - and much more painful

Album: Moonchild Sanelly - Full Moon

Thomas H Green

The rising South African sex'n'beats whirlwind is on ripe dancefloor-friendly form

Album: Lambrini Girls - Who Let the Dogs Out

Guy Oddy

Politically-savvy hardcore punk rock with a Riot Grrrl flavour

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