nils frahm music for animals review

Balmorhea : The Wind

A more classical leaning set of music from the Texas duo, bound by the story of Saint Caesarius.

The Armed Ultrapop

The Armed – ULTRAPOP

A stunning fusion of metal and hardcore’s ferocity with huge pop hooks.

wet leg review

Dry Cleaning : New Long Leg

As strong a lockdown post-punk debut as you’re likely to hear all year.

arooj aftab vijay iyer love in exile review

Vijay Iyer/Linda May Han Oh/Tyshawn Sorey : UnEasy

The acclaimed pianist assembles a new trio and delivers a strong set of music, his most accessible in recent years.

woods strange to explain deluxe edition review

Flock of Dimes : Head of Roses

Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak delivers a more intensely personal work that showcases the spectrum of her songwriting.

aborted maniacult review

Cannibal Corpse : Violence Unimagined

The death metal stalwarts deliver a no-frills, all riffs album that kicks ass.

anna von hausswolff live at montreux jazz festival review

Godspeed You! Black Emperor : G_d’s Pee AT STATE’S END!

The Canadian post-rock collective deliver a loose and apocalyptic score.

wake thought form descent review

Wode – Burn in Many Mirrors

The UK black metal outfit deliver their best album after a slightly longer break, finding a sense of fun in overbearing darkness.

Youth Code King Yosef Skeleton Key review

Youth Code & King Yosef : A Skeleton Key in the Doors of Depression

The collaboration between the two industrial artists is an emotional exorcism.

bob vylan presents the price of life review

slowthai : TYRON

A messy album about the yins and yangs of life.

revelators sound system revelators review

Matthew E. White & Lonnie Holley : Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection

The collaboration between the artist/poet and songwriter/label head creates something funkier than the sum of its parts.

backxwash i lie here buried with my rings and dresses review

Manslaughter 777 : World Vision Perfect Harmony

Members of The Body and MSC merge darkness and danceability on their collaborative debut.

arooj aftab vijay iyer love in exile review

Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra : Promises

The electronic mastermind and spiritual jazz legend collaborate for a spacious and graceful, continuous set of music.

harvey sutherland boy review

STR4TA : Aspects

A throwback to ’80s British funk sounds with a live, loose sensibility.

best albums of the 2020s - Armand Hammer

Armand Hammer – Haram

The hip-hop duo’s new full-length collaboration with The Alchemist feels like a shock to the system.

dead cross ii review

Tomahawk : Tonic Immobility

The Mike Patton-fronted band’s first album in eight years is a satisfying set of heavy rock.

Xiu Xiu Oh No review

Xiu Xiu : OH NO

I’m not going to persuade you to listen to this new Xiu Xiu album. At…

dodos grizzly peak review

The Antlers : Green to Gold

The group’s first album in seven years is their most autumnal and serene.

Ben Howard Collections from the Whiteout review

Ben Howard : Collections from the Whiteout

The singer/songwriter’s fourth album reveals he’s come a long distance from his charming debut.

best songs of 2021 serpentwithfeet

serpentwithfeet – Deacon

A revelation of sincerity and a big-hearted embrace of love.