Girl Ray: Prestige review – indie trio head back to the disco
Blending new wave and hi-NRG influences, Prestige plays as a fun-loving homage to the queer dance-pop culture of 1970s and 80s New York
Mac DeMarco review – an atypical celebration of an atypical album
Moving on from his sad-clown antics with a beguiling set of instrumentals and fan faves, strung together by Tom Waitsy banter, DeMarco is a magnetic performer
Blur: The Ballad of Darren review – middle-age regrets voiced in gorgeous tunes
Nostalgic melancholy fills Blur’s ninth studio release, a courageous album that shows the band have something germane to say about getting old
PJ Harvey: I Inside the Old Year Dying review – challenging yet fascinating
The singer-songwriter’s 10th album, based on her 2022 verse novel, isn’t her most accessible, but there are standout moments
Pulp review – a triumphant, full-tilt return from Jarvis Cocker and co
A hit-heavy set reminds us how the Sheffield masters earned their place in British pop culture – with plenty of sleaze and sonic adventure thrown in
Anohni and the Johnsons: My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross review – intense emotion and captivating soul
The New York singer’s voice will make you shiver as it soars over simple guitar, bass and drums on her most approachable album since the mid-00s
Jamie T review – rollicking homecoming for indie journeyman
The singer-songwriter’s kitchen-sink vignettes and pint-sloshing anthems defined 00s indie mischief. Almost 20 years on he shows that none of that lairy charm has worn off
Japanese Breakfast review – a two-way high-wire act
Korean-American songwriter – and bestselling author – Michelle Zauner revels in an expansive set of dreampop and electronica laced with heartbreak and joy
PJ Harvey: I Inside the Old Year Dying review – a disquieting escape into the wilds of Dorset
Enigmatic and occasionally disturbing, the songwriter adapts her own book of poetry into a rough-edged LP full of potency and atmosphere
Kurt Vile and the Violators review – solid gold stoner rock
Philadelphia’s psych-rock stalwart delivers warm tributes to friends, family and mentors during a many-layered evening of soothing conversational gems
RVG: Brain Worms review – delicious absurdity from one of our most underrated songwriters
With tracks about turning into a sea creature and going insane online, the Melbourne post-punk band captures a very contemporary existential crisis
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds: Council Skies review – not enough irresistible everyman anthems
The ex-Oasis man’s new album has hints of psychedelia and Easy Now is great but there aren’t enough big galumphing choruses to bellow into the night
Pulp review – reunited Britpop oddballs thrill a new generation
Ably led by the ultimate disco dad in Jarvis Cocker, mass sing-songs blended with darker moments to prove Pulp can still do reunions with panache
Water From Your Eyes: Everyone’s Crushed review – style-hopping indie duo find focus in chaos
Across seven years and several albums this band has been evolving its scattershot sonic collage, and here it feels like they’ve finally found their sound
Blur: The Narcissist review – a band finally at ease with themselves
The first single from upcoming album The Ballad of Darren chugs along to a motorik beat, rising to an anthemic chorus that seems to be reflecting on the band’s career path