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Mark William Lewis: Mark William Lewis review – A24’s first musical signing’s cinematic south London scenes

Haunting harmonica and poetic banality add to the Londoner’s spookily sonorous baritone to create a hypnotically familiar yet ineffably fresh album

Ed Sheeran: Play review – subcontinental sounds and shards of darkness – but still unmistakably him

Despite embracing Indian and Persian sounds, Sheeran’s eighth album goes back to basics after two records of muted melancholy – albeit with some surprising undercurrents

Belinda Carlisle review – gleeful veteran lassoes devoted audience with ageless hits

Rattling through her 80s hits the singer is clearly revelling in the nostalgia – in a showcase that makes her a strong candidate for the Glastonbury legends slot

Justin Bieber: Swag II review – more filler with an occasional pop killer

Part two of Bieber’s seventh album adds very little: it’s largely bland pop with glimpses of quality thanks to a buzzy supporting cast including Dijon and Bakar

Jade: That’s Showbiz Baby! review – former Little Mix star thrives in chaos on an idiosyncratic debut

Jade Thirlwall offers a wild ride through electroclash, Eurovision drama and emotive synth-pop – albeit one she can’t quite maintain for a whole album

Lewis Capaldi review – an emotional return to the spotlight for pop’s most heart-on-sleeve star

The singer announces he is thrilled to begin his first tour since taking time off for his mental health, but is visibly nervous and at one moment breaks into tears

Suede: Antidepressants review – edgy post-punk proves reunited Britpoppers remain on the up

Great 10th albums are rare – but that is exactly what the band’s killer riffs, eerie atmosphere and midlife reflections achieve

Big Thief: Double Infinity review – folk-rock perfection will restore your faith in humanity

Classic melodies, spring water acoustics and pared-back poeticism about living in the moment fill Adrianne Lenker and co’s latest with life

David Byrne: Who Is the Sky? review – great songs, if you can withstand the wacky jokes and miaowing

His last album was criticised for being too upbeat during Trump 1.0 but became a phenomenal live show, and the Talking Heads frontman remains sunny – almost to a fault

End of the Road review – from industrial rackets to pristine folk, festivals don’t get more varied or vital

Full of warmth despite the rain, highs include Mexico City experimentalists Titanic and Vermont songwriter Lily Seabird’s gorgeously open-hearted voice

Gorillaz review – after 25 years, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s cartoon band are still riveting and relevant

Dressed like a vicar, Albarn leads his band – joined by a choir, a string quartet, De La Soul and more – in renewing Demon Days’ downbeat drama

AG Cook review – the hyperpop auteur delivers a thrilling Brooklyn show

Brooklyn Paramount, New YorkThe super-producer, whose big name collaborators include Charli xcx and Beyoncé, goes maximalist for a euphoric, high-energy Friday-night triumph

Addison Rae review – pop’s newest A-lister has the stagecraft of a veteran

Once a viral TikTok dancer, Rae has only performed live a handful of times, but is remarkably assured as her voice glides across pounding club-ready beats

Sabrina Carpenter: Man’s Best Friend review – smut and stunning craft from pop’s best in show

​The controversy-courting star is in perfect alignment with producer Jack Antonoff, on detailed and utterly delightful tracks that make her previous hit album seem rudimentary in comparison

Cmat: Euro-Country review – deeply relatable, gloriously catchy Celtic pop from a true one-off

Who else could combine soul, yodelling, Jamie Oliver and Calpol into such charming songs about the messy modern psyche? Only Europe’s best new breakout star

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← Older posts
  • Sarah Connolly/Joseph Middleton: The World Feels Dusty album review – powerful narrations spanning Ella Fitzgerald to Emily Dickinson
  • Tosca review – punchy new Puccini rises above the ‘Shame on you’ Russian soprano protests
  • Cerys Hafana: Angel review – tracing the life cycle with the Welsh triple harp
  • Mark William Lewis: Mark William Lewis review – A24’s first musical signing’s cinematic south London scenes
  • Ed Sheeran: Play review – subcontinental sounds and shards of darkness – but still unmistakably him
  • The Kanneh-Masons: River of Music album review – a fond familial affair
  • Belinda Carlisle review – gleeful veteran lassoes devoted audience with ageless hits
  • Vienna Philharmonic/ Welser-Möst review – mighty ensemble strike gold with Bruckner
  • Justin Bieber: Swag II review – more filler with an occasional pop killer
  • Jade: That’s Showbiz Baby! review – former Little Mix star thrives in chaos on an idiosyncratic debut
  • Chineke! Orchestra/Heyward review – kaleidoscopic concert combines energy and complexity
  • Lewis Capaldi review – an emotional return to the spotlight for pop’s most heart-on-sleeve star
  • Patrick Wolf review – a moon-lit marvel lights up the Minack theatre
  • Suede: Antidepressants review – edgy post-punk proves reunited Britpoppers remain on the up
  • L’heure espagnole/The Bear review – Scottish opera pairs Ravel with Walton in pacy pantomimic staging
  • Sacred Lodge: Ambam review – heady, hypnotic beats inspired by the hollers of Equatorial Guinea
  • Big Thief: Double Infinity review – folk-rock perfection will restore your faith in humanity
  • Nielsen: Clarinet Concerto; Helios; Symphony No 5 album review – suavity and elegance from Gardner’s Bergen Phil
  • Mozart: Six String Quintets album review – deep understanding of these under-appreciated works
  • David Byrne: Who Is the Sky? review – great songs, if you can withstand the wacky jokes and miaowing
  • BBCSO/Adès review – Adès held the orchestra as if under a spell
  • Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District review – semi-staged Shostakovich is vivid and claustrophobic
  • End of the Road review – from industrial rackets to pristine folk, festivals don’t get more varied or vital
  • Norwegian Chamber Orch/ Kuusisto/Barruk review – Proms first as Ume Sámi songs take centre stage
  • Gorillaz review – after 25 years, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s cartoon band are still riveting and relevant
  • Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/ Martín review – soloist and players gather strength after protesters disrupt Prom
  • AG Cook review – the hyperpop auteur delivers a thrilling Brooklyn show
  • Addison Rae review – pop’s newest A-lister has the stagecraft of a veteran
  • Sabrina Carpenter: Man’s Best Friend review – smut and stunning craft from pop’s best in show
  • Cmat: Euro-Country review – deeply relatable, gloriously catchy Celtic pop from a true one-off

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