The only bad part about listening to Tom Krell’s beguiling, ethereal second album is being harshly snapped out of that dreamlike enchantment by the noisy, inevitable trappings of the modern day.
How To Dress Well – Total Loss
Erik Thompson
Antony and the Johnsons – Cut the World
As long as Antony Hegarty keeps letting us in to his consistently astonishing creative endeavours, those moments of adulation will hopefully continue to lift him up much in the same way that he elevates his listeners.
Seams – Tourist/Sleeper
Captivating and exhilarating, Seams’ double EP release proves worth the wait.
Paul Banks – Julian Plenti Lives… EP
An eclectic collection that will raise more questions than it answers.
Beachwood Sparks – The Tarnished Gold
Another tasteful addition to the band’s dignified catalogue with a collection of songs that enhance rather than tarnish their small but stately legacy.
Exitmusic – Passage
A bold, revealing album that stands as a self-assured sonic announcement of Palladino and Church’s grand arrival on the modern music scene.
Here We Go Magic – A Different Ship
Nigel Godrich’s carefully measured and studied arrangements imbue the band’s new material with a maturity and self-assurance to match their growing ambition.
Zammuto – Zammuto
Nick Zammuto draws back the creative curtain on this new project, replacing the reticent artsiness of the Books with genuine, unvarnished emotion of Zammuto for the continuation of his imaginative musical story.
Poliça – Give You The Ghost
Raw emotions colour much of the Minneapolis quartet’s stellar debut record, giving voice to an anguish as well as the resolve to move forward musically and personally.
Ty Segall and White Fence – Hair
Hair is the self-assured work of two people who were clearly having a fantastic time jamming together, and that conviviality between Ty Segall and Tim Presley, combined with their obvious musical talents, makes this record a stellar achievement in the burgeoning careers of both artists.
Battles – Dross Glop
This uneven collection might occasionally complement the experimental source material, but it was never going to be much of a substitute for the ingenious musical stylings of Battles themselves.
Herzog – Cartoon Violence
A catchy but combustible album of uneasy sentiments with a frantic schizophrenic feel: perfect for these unsettled, tempestuous times.