Horsegirl: Phonetics On and On review – a minimalist indiepop masterpiece
With Cate Le Bon as producer, the Chicago indie trio’s second album is a quantum leap, full of poignant restraint and lyrical clarity
Hamish Hawk review – Jarvis Cocker-esque Scot shows why he’s at the edge of the big time
Also channelling Elvis and Scott Walker, the charismatic singer’s character softens as he moves from bold songs from latest album A Firmer Hand to older tracks
Biig Piig: 11:11 review – long-awaited debut hovers on the edge of clubland
Switching between English and Spanish vocals, Irish singer-songwriter Jess Smyth’s genre-hopping set feels most at home in the quieter moments
The Brian Jonestown Massacre review – psych-rock survivors play it safe
Anton Newcombe and co rummage through the rock history books, but lack the danger and unpredictability their reputation was built on
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy: The Purple Bird review – Will Oldham goes country, but darkly
Recorded in Nashville, the American outlier’s latest is concerned with the state of the nation and more, though there’s mischief in there too
Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory album review – going goth to confront our grim world
Fronting a brand new band, the singer-songwriter dives into the dark side, with confusion and foreboding creeping through 80s moods, big choruses and fine melodies
Mogwai: The Bad Fire review – noise stalwarts’ journey into hell is unexpectedly heavenly
(Rock Action)While old-school fans may lament their softening, the Glasgow band swap rage for refuge as they face personal strife – and their 30th anniversary
Lambrini Girls: Who Let the Dogs Out review – stomps straight to the top of British punk’s table
Championed by Iggy Pop and riot grrrl royalty, the Brighton duo pile on the jagged riffs, scabrous humour and swearing for their politically charged debut
Franz Ferdinand: The Human Fear review – stiffness sets in on stodgy sixth
Alex Kapranos and co are finally acting their age, but have lost their cool in the process
Lauren Mayberry: Vicious Creature review – a solo statement of intent
The Chvrches singer’s debut album skips from punk to pop, wilfully unbothered about current notions of cool
Angel Olsen: Cosmic Waves Vol 1 review – intriguing half compilation, half covers
Five rising artists each perform one of their songs, then the US singer-songwriter covers another one of their tracks in a set of woebegone elegance
Papa M: Ballads of Harry Houdini review – committed to evolution
Cult American musician David Pajo’s latest solo outing reflects his recent troubles but also his restless desire to change things up
The Innocence Mission: Midwinter Swimmers review – lo-fi soft focus on the beauty of everyday life
The married duo’s 13th album was made to evoke ‘the half-remembered singalongs of our 1970s childhoods’, and is full of rich sensory songwriting
MJ Lenderman review – a shooting star from the American south
Showcasing new album Manning Fireworks, the North Carolina indie rising star seals his reputation as a slacker guitar hero who knows exactly what he’s doing
Michael Kiwanuka: Small Changes review – an exquisite return
Five years on from his self-titled Mercury winner, the singer-songwriter scales things down to potent effect