Japanese Breakfast: For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) review – a bit too tasteful
Michelle Zauner addresses big themes on her band’s fourth album, but her sharp writing isn’t best served by wistful arrangements
YHWH Nailgun: 45 Pounds review – a singular spin on funky NYC post-punk
Scene-stealing fills from drummer Sam Pickard send you toppling through the foursome’s thrilling, fresh debut
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barratt: Loose Talk review – Roxy demos remade, remodelled as eerie duets
Veering from the standard heritage-artist playbook, Ferry pairs unearthed demos from across his career with cool narration from Barratt, to beautiful, unsettling effect
Michael Kiwanuka review – big sounds from the quiet maestro
Touring his understated latest album, Small Changes, the Mercury prize-winner amplifies his gossamer grooves with no loss of charm or sophistication
Chappell Roan: The Giver review – saddle up, there’s a new sheriff in town
The midwest princess embraces her roots with a queer country banger about pleasure that toys with the genre’s gender and class cosplay
Clairo review – charming pop-soul from a singer with starpower to spare
Playing material from her wonderful 2024 album Charm against lavish, elegant staging, the US artist has ushered in a confident new era
Courting: Lust for Life, Or: ‘How to Thread the Needle and Come Out the Other Side to Tell the Story’ review – a giant leap forward
The Liverpool foursome’s joyful, floor-filling rock on album No 3 finds a band maturing into greatness
Edwyn Collins: Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation review – the sense of an ending
This rousing, contemplative 10th solo album from the Scottish singer-songwriter has an air of finality
Lady Gaga: Mayhem review – a wholesale rewind to core career values
It’s back to the dancefloor as the US superstar doubles down on what she does best – albeit with one eye on Madonna, Charli xcx, Taylor Swift and more…
Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek: Yarın Yoksa review – a feast of woozy Turkish psych
Fuzzy, hypnotic beats, soulful saz-funk and emotive balladry mark Yıldırım’s powerfully imaginative new music, produced by Leon Michels
Throwing Muses: Moonlight Concessions review – as ever, Kristin Hersh is astonishing
For their 11th album in a nearly 40-year career, the alt-rockers switch focus to acoustic guitars and cello – but their tumultuous tales are still charged with elemental power
The Brand New Heavies review – acid jazzers are as slick and funky as ever
While their hits from their 90s hip heyday are now more likely to be heard on Magic FM’s drive-time slot the band’s punchy melodies can still get the party started
The Darkness review – retro rockers are still in acrobatically high spirits
Fresh from Taylor Swift’s endorsement, Justin Hawkins and his hard-riffing band can still strut and peacock with the best – so it’s a shame about the bad sound mix
Sabrina Carpenter review – brilliantly bonkers innuendo-stuffed delirium
This 1970s variety show complete with title cards, cheesy voiceover and overt sexiness could be Carry On Carpenter, but the star has more in her arsenal than just kooky camp
Jack White review – rock’n’roll showman makes believers of us all
Touring his 2024 solo album No Name in a barnstorming gig, the former White Stripe plays fast and loose with the truth but is absolutely the real deal