Review: On its digital release earlier in the year, Celeste's debut album rocketed to the top of the album charts, thus making her the first British female artist to see her first set get to number one for over five years. Finally available on vinyl in a "deluxe edition" that boasts a couple of bonus tracks and an accompanying booklet, Not Your Muse remains a classy and inspired debut, with Celeste's smoky, timeless vocals fitting producer Jamie Hartman's accompanying backing tracks - a mixture of pared-back folk sounds, lavishly orchestrated easy listening, synth-laden power-pop and fuzzy, retro soul-influenced numbers - like a particularly comfortable glove.
Review: Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Cole, Blair Cowan, Lawrence Donegan, Neil Clark and Stephen Irvine - were formed in Glasgow in 1982, where Buxton-born singer-songwriter Cole was studying Philosophy and English at the University. A paragon of 'well-read pop music', this might be considered an form of art pop, being the debut that cemented Cole's intellectual reputation, and perhaps a prototype of the popular 'softboy' trope from the early 80s. Crisp soft proto-indie rock and haunting, near gothic synths underlie hits such as 'Forest Fire', sure to rouse emotions even in the coldest and most book-shy of listeners.
Review: This live album captures the raw energy and emotional depth of a legendary goth band's performance, showcasing their latest work in its full, unfiltered glory to an intimate crowd (albeit with a massive global streaming audience). Debuting the entire new album for the first time to an eager London crowd, the band delivers a powerful, immersive experience. Tracks like 'Alone' and 'End Song' stand out as some of the most hauntingly beautiful and intense pieces in the band's catalogue, with the live setting amplifying their emotional weight. The band's iconic sound, a blend of atmospheric melancholy and brooding intensity, resonates deeply, drawing the audience into every note and lyric. The live rendition of these songs adds a new layer, with the crowd's energy and the band's commanding performance elevating the material. Since its release, the accompanying live album has been met with widespread acclaim, charting in the top five across numerous countries, proving that the band's impact remains as potent as ever.
Review: Songs Of A Lost World is Robert Smith and co's first studio record since 2008. In the lead-up to the release, the band dropped cryptic social media hints, mailed postcards revealing the album's title and release date, and even placed a poster at the pub where they played their first show in Crawley. Recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, this album is the band's 14th, featuring the core lineup of Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, Roger O'Donnell, and Reeves Gabrels. Smith, together with producer Paul Corkett, oversaw the arrangements, while long-time collaborator Andy Vella designed the album's artwork, which showcases Janez Pirnat's 1975 sculpture Bagatelle. Smith has stressed that identifying the opening and closing songs is crucial for the album's development. A record that digs deep into darker, more personal themes, echoing the intensity of their earlier work, the release also includes two live tracks, 'And Nothing Is Forever' and 'I Can Never Say Goodbye', from their Shows Of A Lost World tour.
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