Bat For Lashes
The Bride
DON'T be put off by Natasha Khan – aka the ethereal Bat For Lashes – calling The Bride a "concept" album. The soundtrack for what will become a full-length feature film (at some point), it tells the story of a bride whose groom is killed on his way to the church. The rest, in typical Khan fashion, is tragic and haunting, the loss and pain stacked up in delicate layers of spectral music that borders on the ceremonial. Never Forgive The Angels softly lulls, I Will Love Again beats with hope, strings pushing back against the grief in the songs around it. And even if you listen to no other fragment of the record than Joe's Dream, it'd be worth it. Hymn-like, it rises and falls, looped with whispers and Khan's voice slicing through to the bone. Beautifully wrought.
FOUR STARS
Ella Walker
Michele Stodart
Pieces
FOUR years have passed since The Magic Numbers' Michele Stodart released her first solo album, Wide-Eyed Crossing. With her second instalment, Pieces, she's likely to leave her listeners teary-eyed. Combining sweeping melodies with poignant narrative, Stodart flaunts her qualities as a musician and a storyteller. "Taking the blame for what wasn't the case/I keep changing myself for you" she sings on When Is It Over?, a song that covers the struggles of an ended abusive relationship. Just Anyone Won't Do is another tender tale of how a long, loving relationship ends in grief ("The silence is all that you share/When you wake up and she's no longer there"). Pieces is an emotion-drenched, blues and folk hybrid, delivered with angst and honesty. Embellished with an ornate string arrangement, it's proof that good things do come to those who wait.
THREE STARS
Jared Tinslay
Blink-182
California
BLINK-182 define a new age for pop punk with their latest release California. The addition of vocalist Matt Skiba, after founder member Tom DeLonge's departure, has provided a catalyst for Blink to take their foot off the break and push the band to unexplored heights. The 16 songs as a collective verge on progressive pop punk while the band maintain their roots in adolescent debauchery. The lyrical content from Skiba and fellow singer, Mark Hoppus continues to be fuelled by the angst of youth which has created catchy anthems for a new generation to hold onto, as seen in the title track California and Los Angeles. It appears that Blink are finally back with an ambitiously destructive cry for a party that will keep you listening over and over.
FOUR STARS
Lewis Matthews
Shura
Nothing's Real
THERE is no shortage of female singer/songwriters doing the 80s synth pop sound these days, so to stand out, you've got to have something special. Shura emerged in 2014 with first single Touch, which garnered her first taste of positive attention. That year ended with a nomination on the longlist of the BBC Sound Of 2015 poll, so her debut has been a while in coming and although some of the songs – such as Indecision, 2Shy and White Light – have been in the public consciousness for some time, they sound as fresh as newer tracks. Shura captures the fragility of love dying and never having had the chance to blossom. The title track is 80s Eurodisco while What's It Gonna Be? bounces along like Cyndi Lauper circa 1983. This comes across as a labour of love and is packed with heart and melodies.
FOUR STARS
Lisa Allen
Biffy Clyro
Ellipsis
BIFFY Clyro's new album, Ellipsis is far from their best work. It's an album full of decent pop-rock tunes that ambles along pleasantly enough, but without presenting anything unusual or unexpected. Luckily for Biffy Clyro the ace up their sleeve will always be lead singer Simon Neil, one of the few vocalists out there capable of singing in a discernable accent. His throaty Scottish notes raise otherwise average songs to a higher plain, so that they beg for a second listen. Epic opener Wolves Of Winter is a catchy anthem ready for the inevitable stadium tour, while among the ballads Re-arrange stands out. This is not an album people will be talking about in 10 years time, but fans of Biffy, or indeed the Scottish accent, will find much to admire here.
THREE STARS
Sam Priddy
Air
Twentyears
NICOLAS Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel of French electronic pop duo Air mark their bronze anniversary with this double CD collection. The first disc sticks to the hits and shows how far and wide they've strayed within the electronica genre. There's the electropop of Sexy Boy and Kelly Watch The Stars, the comedown folk of All I Need, the creepy voyeurism of the string swept lounge ballad Playground Love, the prog-epic Don't Be Light and the space rock silliness of Alpha Beta Gaga. The second disc will be of more interest to Air completists with its collection of rarities and there are some gems here. Jarvis Cocker and Charlotte Gainsbourg make counting sexy in the Duelist, while Francoise Hardy adds her honeyed vocals to the beautiful Au Fond Du Reve Dore. A collection as essential as the Air you breathe.
FOUR STARS
Mark Edwards
