Vince Staples - Vince Staples
4-5 Stars
More of a glance into the sketchbook of Vince Staples, than main-stage-at-Coachella.
9th July 2021
Reviews
IDLES, Dry Cleaning and local boys Shame stand out at the inaugural Wide Awake
A sense of joy is palpable as the sun beats down on South London.
9th July 2021
Slam Dunk cements punk’s community spirit
The throngs of merch-clad fans pouring through the gates is immediate testament to its impact on the scene.
9th July 2021
Half Waif - Mythopoetics
4-5 Stars
Both more freeing and deeply personal.
8th July 2021
Tkay Maidza - Last Year Was Weird Vol. 3
4 Stars
You get the sense that she’s just flexing her muscles — she never feels stretched beyond her comfort zone.
8th July 2021
The Goon Sax - Mirror II
4 Stars
A sense of an increasingly assured outfit emerges.
8th July 2021
Muck Spreader - Abysmal
4 Stars
A complex and fascinating listen.
8th July 2021
DZ Deathrays - Positive Rising: Part 2
3-5 Stars
The Aussies want you to know they haven’t given up hope.
8th July 2021
Rejjie Snow - Baw Baw Black Sheep
3 Stars
Ultimately, it just doesn’t quite work.
8th July 2021
Inhaler - It Won’t Always Be Like This
2-5 Stars
The one point there is a spark here is a case of too little too late.
8th July 2021
Squid, Stoller Hall, Manchester
What went down when the feverish five-piece’s distanced UK tour hit the north.
6th July 2021
Laura Mvula - Pink Noise
5 Stars
A career-defining return that most artists can only dream of; pure synth-pop ecstasy.
1st July 2021
Master Peace - Public Display Of Affection
4-5 Stars
A flawless meeting of intention and execution.
1st July 2021
Bobby Gillespie and Jehnny Beth - Utopian Ashes
4 Stars
A set which takes its cues from the laws of straight-up rock, country and a pinch of Motown.
1st July 2021
The Go! Team - Get Up Sequences Part One
3 Stars
It’s comforting to know their defiant experimentalism remains undiminished.
1st July 2021
Ten Tonnes - So Long
3-5 Stars
A short but sweet collection of breezier-than-thou perky indie pop.
1st July 2021
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes and Creeper head up an emotional Download Pilot
A weekend of pure euphoria, a showcase of the incredible talent in British rock and metal in 2021, and a chance to feel hopeful at the prospect of a future without social distancing or masks.
28th June 2021
Tyler, The Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost
4 Stars
Gleefully throwing a ton of ideas at the wall and finding that nearly all of them stick.
25th June 2021
Doja Cat - Planet Her
3-5 Stars
Whether the record’s legacy will hold past the next trend cycle is not quite written in the stars.
25th June 2021
Lucy Dacus - Home Video
4-5 Stars
A musical representation of the intricate jigsaw of life.
24th June 2021
Phobophobes - Modern Medicine
4 Stars
More than just also-rans, Phobophobes deserve their own time in the sun.
24th June 2021
Kojaque - Town’s Dead
4 Stars
Dripping with humour, personality and cinematic storytelling, ‘Town’s Dead’ is all you could ever want in a debut.
24th June 2021
Faye Webster - I Know I’m Funny haha
4 Stars
She knows she’s funny, but we think she’s pretty smart.
24th June 2021
Robbing Millions - Holidays Inside
4 Stars
A smartly paced, highly impressive listen that manages to exceed the sum of its parts.
24th June 2021
Featuring Yard Act, Death Cab For Cutie, Graham Coxon, Maisie Peters and more.