L‘Rain – fata morgana
Caught between illusion and reality, the Brooklyn artist uses her self-doubt to push her songwriting into new, undiscovered territory.
Electronic
Kelela – New Avatar
On her third album, the alt-R&B artist synthesises complex feelings into airy, dimly lit club anthems.
Boards of Canada – Inferno
13 years after the superb Tomorrow’s Harvest, Scottish duo Boards of Canada turn their attention to religion on the apocalyptic Inferno.
Charli XCX – BRAT
On the evidence of BRAT, it’s also justified to say that, right now, Charli XCX is the greatest pop star in the world.
Yves Tumor – Praise a Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)
Praise a Lord... sees Tumor achieving the difficult task of remaining as perplexing as ever while forging a more inviting sound.
Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen
Aided by a number of likeminded producers to help fulfil her vision, Parks comes across as an open book, delivering a lushly atmospheric portrayal of a woman who takes pleasure in living in the moment.
Darkside – Spiral
Darkside’s triumphant return after an eight-year hiatus is an alchemical concoction of beats, textures, sonic flourishes, and melodies that sound like they were recorded in a world that had no precedent.