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
Father John Misty: Mahashmashana review – modern life is still rubbish, yet still beautifully essayed
The singer-songwriter sticks to apocalyptic first principles on his sixth album, couching contemporary chaos in soaring ballads and discofied yacht rock
MJ Lenderman review – songs of solace and goofy poetry from lauded indie darling
The North Carolina musician and his band comfort the crowd with a set of smart, beguiling songs played with skill and camaraderie
Khruangbin review – exquisite dreamy grooves get lost in the ether
Playing latest album A La Sala in full the Houston trio showcase their sophisticated mid-paced melancholy, but their detached vibe diminishes their impact
Shed Seven review – enduring Britpoppers are still going for gold
Despite scoring two No 1 albums this year, the band remain charmingly self-effacing on this 30th anniversary tour
Magdalena Bay review – alien electro-pop adventure could go further
Lead singer Mica Tenenbaum bounces around with huge and winning energy, promising great, dramatic things we never quite reach
Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp: Ventre unique review – artful mischief
The Geneva collective are a blast with their brass-driven rhythms, engaged lyrics and energised delivery
Du Blonde: Sniff More Gritty review – a gleefully self-sufficient affair
The Newcastle musician’s freewheeling, hook-heavy new album is a worthy follow-up to the one-woman wigout of Homecoming
Fievel Is Glauque: Rong Weicknes review – teetering song-towers that never quite topple
Brilliant melodies, poetic lyrics and quick-change time signatures elevate this quirky jazz-pop release to a level all its own
Blossoms review – funky indie-pop singalongs (and a 6ft gorilla) send the crowd wild
Blossomsmania is in full force at this cheery, beery gig, which has something of the atmosphere of an indie Last Night of the Proms
Porridge Radio: Clouds in the Sky They Will Always Be There for Me review – exquisite euphoria through repetition
Emotions run high on the Brighton band’s fourth album as frontwoman Dana Margolin exorcises past relationships
Japandroids: Fate & Alcohol review – Canadian duo’s bittersweet breakup record
Brian King and David Prowse’s guitar-drums combo enjoys one last hurrah with tracks ranging from bluesy epics to rock romcom
The Hard Quartet review – cosmically trippy joy from Stephen Malkmus supergroup
Also featuring Matt Sweeney, Jim White and Emmett Kelly, the quality and variety of songwriting on this self-titled debut album raises it above a stoner jam session
Godspeed You! Black Emperor review – urgent intimations of societal collapse
High drama unspools in thunderous waves from the Canadian cult favourites, but beauty and contemplation can be found amid the tumult
The Cure: Alone review – majestically wreathed in misery and despair
Birds fall from the sky, broken voices call us home and youthful dreams are dashed against the transience of life in the band’s first new song in 16 years