New releases last eight weeks: Indie/Alternative

Review: Following the major success of 2018's A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships and 2020's controversial, overly indulgent, ludicrously lengthy yet genuinely brilliant Notes On A Conditional Form, many felt at a loss as to where The 1975 would set their sonic sights next. Shockingly, Matty Healy and co-opted to reign in their artistic scope with Being Funny In A Foreign Language; prioritising instantaneous delivery and poignant pop over swelling instrumental dirges and deep house experiments. Discarding many of their previous outsider influences in favour of delivering an unashamed pop-rock record; the resulting 11-track 40-minute LP is literally half the songs and half the runtime of its predecessor, yet utilises this tighter timeframe to craft some of their most memorable and effective pieces to date. From the sardonic disco-pop of 'Happiness' which channels the 80s, John Carpenter-obsessed aura of their self-titled debut, to the baroque orchestral indie-folk standout 'Part Of The Band' echoing early Vampire Weekend, to the folk-punk balladry of 'Wintering', LP5 from one of the biggest bands in the world is both a simultaneous swing for the fences and an introverted left turn into succinct composition and simpler song structure.