Montreal’s Shapes and Sizes move in a sexily R&B-influenced direction on their third LP.
Pop
Brandon Flowers – Flamingo
Although he ought to know Las Vegas’ streets, the Killers frontman sounds a little lost without his bandmates on his debut solo LP.
Junkboy – Koyo
Making a surprising leap into folk with their latest, Junkboy deliver a happily bucolic set of summery songs.
Kylie – Aphrodite
Upon the release of Kylie Minogue’s eleventh album, one fan writes an open letter about just what Kylie means to her.
Mantler – Monody
Chris A. Cummings, aka Mantler, releases a sleepy fourth album which hides its light under a bushel.
Kele – The Boxer
The Bloc Party frontman’s solo debut is a competent but unspectacular electro effort. A springboard for better things to come?
Firestations – Firestations EP
Appearing from much the same stable as Whole Schebang and Left With Pictures, Firestations are a duo who offer here their own take on soft, relaxing folk-pop.
Fun – Aim and Ignite
Comprising an ex-member each from The Format, Anathallo and Steel Train, fun. offer up a perplexing but confident and entertaining debut record.
Pin Me Down – Pin Me Down
Russell Lissack underlines, rather than breaks, his musical ties to on-hiatus Bloc Party, whilst his collaborator Milena Mepris is unlikely to help him set the world ablaze on “Pin Me Down”.
Woodpigeon – Die Stadt Muzikanten
Mark Hamilton immersed himself in the past to write the songs on “Die Stadt Muzikanten”, but Woodpigeon still point to the future.
Ash – A-Z Vol. 1
Half way through their year of releasing 26 new singles, Ash let us catch up with their progress so far on this impressive compilation of the first 13 songs.
The Middle East – Recordings of the Middle East
Australian folksters The Middle East broke up, reformed, and release this smaller EP version of their debut record.
The Go Find – Everybody Knows It’s Gonna Happen Only Not Tonight
The Go Find are a band who manage to surprise even while they’re being completely unsurprising.
Palm Springs – The Hope That Kills You
Brighton band release their depressingly-titled second album on their own label Random Acts of Vinyl.
Liars – Sisterworld
Does Sisterworld continue Liars proud tradition of innovation within their own parameters? Danny Wadeson investigates…
Clare and the Reasons – Arrow
Clare and the Reasons are back with another orchestral pop album to prove that love songs don’t have to come in the form of ‘80s power ballads. Gina Louise reviews.
