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Rahim Redcar: Hopecore review – former Christine and the Queens artist plays to his fanbase

There are flashes of brilliance in this roughly-hewn album, but also flaws hidden by production flourishes. It’s intriguing but not wholly enjoyable

Moby review – full of teenage energy on first tour in over a decade

With songs either maximalist or stripped back, there’s not much subtlety during this 25th anniversary tour for the once-ubiquitous Play – but there are some head-rush thrills

Jamie xx: In Waves review – bright, blissful bangers for 3am on big speakers

Filled with guest stars from his xx bandmates to Robyn, this long-gestating second solo album picks up where In Colour left off, and deepens its dancefloor devotion

The Weeknd: Dancing in the Flames review – another apocalyptic romance, and another surefire hit

Abel Tesfaye revisits his usual theme of nihilistic love and his beloved palette of 80s synths, but it’s melodically solid and there are some tweaks to the formula

Caribou review – small-scale sweaty return showcases potent pivot to pop

Playing mostly new material from upcoming album Honey, this mainstream club fare is given huge personality by Dan Snaith’s croon and yearning songcraft

Fred Again: Ten Days review – pop house with unfulfilled pretensions

An album of lofty intentions and muttered musings from the dance artist de jour is saved by a gift for a nagging hook and uplifting melody

Nala Sinephro: Endlessness review – cosmic jazz musician’s cycle-of-life meditation

The harpist-composer follows her remarkable debut with 10 lush, spacey electro-acoustic tracks featuring guests such as Nubya Garcia

Supersonic festival review – an awesome windmill of noise and connection

This festival of heavier sounds from the fringes was a blast, from chilling Gazelle Twin to Daisy Rickman’s Krautrock-folk, noise icons Melt-Banana and locals Flesh Creep

Laurie Anderson: Amelia review – return flight with aviation pioneer is a long haul

The US musician’s reboot of a 2000 work about Amelia Earhart is frustratingly slow to take off

Jon Hopkins: Ritual review – cosmic catharsis lacks lift-off

Originally written for an installation with mind-altering intentions, the producer’s seventh album is occasionally engaging but dissolves into drift

Rally festival review – thrilling blend of cult DJs and indie darlings

Mount Kimbie’s electro-acoustic jams capture the ethos of this celebration of the boundary pushing that included sets from Two Shell, Nilüfer Yanya and bar italia

Bizhiki: Unbound review – commanding Native American songcraft

Powwow singing from Joe Rainey and Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings blends with electronic production on a spirited album that reframes a rich cultural tradition

Kiasmos: II review – will have you crying tears of joy on the dancefloor

The Icelandic-Faroese duo follow their 2014 cult debut with a second album of meticulous, majestic, simply beautiful electronic music

Sam Morton: Daffodils & Dirt review – actor’s intoxicating trip-hop debut

Oscar nominee Samantha Morton teams up with label exec Richard Russell for an unnerving, dreamy album inspired by childhood trauma

Charli XCX: Brat review – insecurity-obliterating anthems by pop’s most human superstar

Beyond the sleaze, grinding bass and it-girl in-jokes, the British visionary’s sixth album is a masterpiece that understands how a hard persona can offer protection

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  • Sinfonia of London – weapons-grade energy and contagious dynamism
  • 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

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