Alex G: Beach Music review – lo-fi bedroom pop with lots of charm
Amid a glut of revivalist alt-rock and lo-fi indie, Alex G’s lush new album really stands out
The Lemonheads review – Dando junks old habits in glittering homage to back catalogue
Without the drugs, and supported by the youthful enthusiasm of bassist Jen Turner, Evan Dando gives his hit parade the care it deserves – and brings lumps to throats
Girl Band review – the last rave before the apocalypse
The Irish avant-rock act make a visceral, wall-shaking, ear-flattening noise – and they make it fun
Sleaford Mods review – the most compelling live act in music right now
Despite the minimal stagecraft, Jason Williamson’s charisma and intensity make all other frontmen look like posers
Mercury Rev: The Light in You review – life in the old dogs yet
Jonathan Donahue and co’s first album in seven years starts off in familiar territory but saves the best until last
Ought: Sun Coming Down review – intense, engrossing alt-rock
While their influences can be heard clearly, there’s something about Ought’s alt-rock sound that makes them deeply compelling
Protomartyr: The Agent Intellect review – epic, dirgy portrait of gravelly malaise
The band’s third album explores darker, more personal material than ever before – to truly affecting effect.
Swim Deep: Mothers review – baggy indie kids embrace psych-pop
Birmingham’s baggydelic Swim Deep get a bit weirder – and more interesting – on their playful second album
Kurt Vile: b’lieve i’m goin down review – terrific slow-burner from US charmer
Kurt Vile’s sixth album kicks off with one of his best songs yet, and contains plenty of pleasures that really cut deep
Pinkshinyultrablast review – thunderous dynamism from Russian shoegazers
Frontwoman Lyubov Soloveva’s chiffony, choirgirl voice whisks you out of your surroundings and plonks you down on a passing nebula
Beirut review – back to brass to tingle spines
Balkan mariachi days behind him, musical nomad Zach Condon brings horns and happiness to his band’s new pop direction
Ainslie Wills: Oh The Gold review – intricate and strikingly technical pop
The Melbourne singer-songwriter returns with a collection of pop songs that is understated, unconventional and highly evocative
New Order: Music Complete review – fresh, danceable album with intriguing diversions
New Order’s first proper album in a decade finds them sounding fresher than they have in a long time
Torres review – the friendly buzz of catharsis
Mackenzie Scott, AKA Torres, delivers indignant songs observed from life with a raw and forceful energy on stage – plus a winning personality
Wolf Alice review – retro indie kids refuse to be pigeonholed
From sultry shoegaze to ethereal English folk, via grunge and krautrock grooves, the enigmatic foursome bring floor-filling thrills to a whole new generation