Ishmael Ensemble: A State of Flow review – Bristol native’s classy, clubby astral meld
Combining genres from jazz to minimalism with a great city’s musical heritage, without resorting to pastiche, is no mean feat
UNKLE review – James Lavelle’s rock-star neediness stifles
The Mo’Wax founder remains a peerless talent-hunter, but his desire to be in the spotlight gets in the way of his own show
Cybotron review – a gloriously disreputable hi-tech rave
Detroit techno maverick Juan Atkins and his reshaped 1980s group turn the concert hall into the dancefloor in their first gig ever
Robyn review – soars to new levels of dance-pop perfection
The Swedish singer commands the 10,000-strong crowd with a perfectly pitched set ranging from club anthems to her heartbreaking new classics
Stubbleman: Mountains and Plains review – a low-key charmer
(Crammed Discs)
WH Lung: Incidental Music review – dynamic synth-pop hums with life
Manchester trio’s debut morphs insistent rhythmic themes, building and releasing tension in nervy ecstasy - it’s modern psychedelia maximised
Hot Chip review – house humanists are still ready for the floor
Returning with new material ahead of their sixth album, the electronic eccentrics remain as colourful as their patchwork jackets
Re-Textured festival review – perfect dive into the pitch-black underground
This new festival brought together artists on the periphery of club culture, from Lee Gamble’s impressionistic rave to Alva Noto’s exquisite sound design
The Matthew Herbert Brexit Big Band: The State Between Us review – spacious political elegy
Herbert’s mournful album aims to portray Britain in relation to the EU – yet it lacks focus
Jayda G: Significant Changes review – inclusive manifesto for dancefloors – and oceans
The DJ’s Chicago house grooves are warmly contagious, steered by her fizzy vocal ad-libs
Stephen Malkmus: Groove Denied review – stark, forbidding soundscapes
With a couple of honourable exceptions – specifically his self-titled 2001 solo debut and last year’s excellent Sparkle Hard – Stephen Malkmus has too often during his post-Pavement career found himself bogged down in amorphous, sub-Grateful Dead jams. Indeed, Frank … Continue reading
The Cinematic Orchestra: To Believe review – soundscape originators’ accomplished return
The sound of TCO’s tasteful electronica has become ubiquitous. This new album isn’t experimental or idiosyncratic enough to stand out
Karen O & Danger Mouse: Lux Prima review – complex and lingering
The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s frontwoman shines beyond her signature yelp on this cinematic, subtle album