New releases on CD & DVD
Album: Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu Plays Mulatu
Monday, 22 September 2025
The tour by the 81-year-old Mulatu Astatke which is currently under way and this album seem to be giving off different messages. Coming to London on 16 and 17 November, it is being marketed as a farewell. Last night's show at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels had lured a full house through being billed as “his very last concert on Belgian soil". Paris’s Salle Pleyel mentions “une grande tournée d’adieu”.
Album: Robert Plant - Saving Grace
Saturday, 20 September 2025
Robert Plant is magnificently well-equipped to shine as a consummate musical survivor: not only has his voice kept its magic, with a range from sensual caress to ecstatic howl, but he’s deeply rooted in timeless music, Scots-Irish and American folk as well as the country blues.
Album: Biffy Clyro - Futique
Friday, 19 September 2025
For the trio of Biffy Clyro, the years since their previous album, 2021’s The Myth Of The Happily After, have provided a valuable lesson in...
Album: NewDad - Altar
Thursday, 18 September 2025
With their second album Altar, the Irish combo NewDad has moved from the love-embittered shoegaze of their 2023 debut Madra toward a worldlier...
Album: The Divine Comedy - Rainy Sunday Afternoon
Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Neil Hannon has been recording and touring as the Divine Comedy since 1989 and has tried a fair few flavours along the way, from chamber pop to...
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Blu-ray: The Sons of Great Bear
DEFA's first 'Red Western': a revisionist take on colonial expansion |
Album: Twenty One Pilots - Breach
Ohio mainstream superstar duo wrap up their 10 year narrative |
Album: Ed Sheeran - Play
A mound of ear displeasure to add to the global superstar's already gigantic stockpile |
Album: Motion City Soundtrack - The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World
A solid return for the emo veterans |
Album: Baxter Dury - Allbarone
The don diversifies into disco |
Album: Yasmine Hamdan - I Remember I Forget بنسى وبتذكر
Paris-based Lebanese electronica stylist reacts to current-day world affairs |
Blu-ray: The Sweeney - Series One
Influential and entertaining 1970s police drama, handsomely restored |
Album: Josh Ritter - I Believe in You, My Honeydew
The alt-country singer's latest isn't consistent but does hit highs |
Album: David Byrne - Who is the Sky?
Born to be weird |
Album: Faithless - Champion Sound
Three decades into their career the perennial dance duo nail a lengthy but likeable set |
Album: Saint Etienne - International
British pop institution’s final communiqué is an unalloyed winner |
Blu-ray: The Graduate
Post #MeToo, can Mike Nichols' second feature still lay claim to Classic Film status? |
Album: Brad Mehldau - Ride into the Sun
A sincere tribute to Elliott Smith |
Album: Sabrina Carpenter - Man's Best Friend
Short but not so sweet |
Album: CMAT - EURO-COUNTRY
The flame-headed chanteuse with the comic touch hits pop perfection |
Album: The Hives - The Hives Forever, Forever The Hives
No power ballads, no acoustic interludes - just speedy rock’n’roll all the way |
Album: Benedicte Maurseth - Mirra
Haunting, intense evocation of Norway’s uplands and its wildlife |
Blu-ray: Finis Terrae
Bleak but compelling semi-documentary, filmed on location in Brittany |
Album: Nova Twins - Parasites & Butterflies
Exciting London duo turn inward and more introspective with their third album while retaining their trademark hybrid sound |
Album: Blood Orange - Essex Honey
A triumph for the artist who doesn't clamour for attention but just keeps growing |
Album: Wolf Alice - Clearing
Ten years from their debut, Wolf Alice once again make magic from the familiar |
Album: Deftones - Private Music
Deftones give us a glimmer of hope, but that's all... |
Album: Eve Adams - American Dust
Taking inspiration from the Californian desert |
Blu-ray: Who Wants to Kill Jessie?
Fast-paced and visually inventive Czech comedy |
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