Back catalogue: Pop

Review: The latest project of the singer Rebecca Lucy Taylor, who cur her teeth on the Sheffield musioc scene before heading south, sees her continuing to evolve her sharp, emotionally honest brand of pop. This album leans further into lush, layered production while keeping the confessional, anthemic spirit that made her previous work resonate so deeply. Tracks like 'Big Man' explode with bold rhythms and crisp, shimmering synths, pairing vulnerability with fierce, almost theatrical energy. Meanwhile, 'Love Second' rides a smoother, soulful groove, highlighting Taylor's ability to balance playfulness and pain within the same breath. Her vocal performances are even more dynamic here i full of defiant strength one moment and tender intimacy the next. 'Insert Girl' and 'Hard To Love' deliver some of the album's most affecting moments, weaving percussive pop beats with lyrical reflections on identity, expectation and resilience. There's an undeniable polish across A Complicated Woman, but it never feels cold; instead, the production wraps around Taylor's words like a protective armor. Brief but potent interludes and clever lyrical turns keep the album moving with a strong narrative flow. A Complicated Woman feels like both a natural continuation and a bold new chapter for Self Esteem i pop music that's brave, bruised and utterly alive.

Review: Rebecca Lucy Taylor blows stormy second wind our way with A Complicated Woman, her first full-length release as Self Esteem since the critically lauded Prioritise Pleasure. The record finds Taylor, who cut her teeth with Sheffield indie hopefuls The Slow Club, expanding her signature lyrical honesty and emotional intelligence over an increasingly vivid, ambitious landscape, convoking a potent collective of mostly female voices: friends, bandmates, and collaborators Nadine Shah, Moonchild Sanelly, Sue Tompkins, drag queen Meatball and actor Julie Hesmondhalgh all feature. Recalibrating the well-worn trope of female hysteria in indie rock terms, lead single 'Focus Is Power' channels a mantra first scribbled on a sticker in her parents' shed during lockdown into a full-bodied affirmation of self-worth, echoed by a moving choir and a communal performance in its accompanying video.

Review: Pop stans rejoice: here be the third studio album by former YouTube star and queer pop icon Troye Sivan. It's also his first in five years, following his acclaimed 2018 album Bloom and his 2020 EP 'In A Dream'. The album is described as "a celebration of sex, dance, sweat, community, queerness, love and friendship", and was influenced by both popular and avant-garde music styles, as well as Sivan finding increasing freedom in the bombast of dance music in the post-pandemic era. Martin, OzGo and A.G. Cook, among others, are enlisted for production duties, second only to cameos from Charli XCX, Sam Smith and Lorde.

Review: The Saltburn soundtrack, released on red vinyl, is a great collection of tracks that capture the dark, humorous essence of Emerald Fennell's 2023 black comedy. This eclectic mix of songs enhances the film's twisted narrative. Side-1 opens with Bloc Party's 'This Modern Love,' a nod to the film's exploration of complicated relationships. Ladytron's 'Destroy Everything You Touch' and Cold War Kids' 'Hang Me Up To Dry' continue this theme of emotional turmoil. The infectious energy of Mason vs Princess Superstar's 'Perfect (Exceeder)' adds a pulse to the story's underlying tension. Side-2 is highlighted by Sophie Ellis-Bextor's 'Murder on the Dancefloor,' a playful yet sinister track that resonates with the film's dark humor. MGMT's 'Time To Pretend' and The Killers' iconic 'Mr Brightside' reflect the characters' hedonistic pursuits. The inclusion of the twisted 'Have a Cheeky Christmas' by The Cheeky Girls adds a bizarre, yet fitting, touch to this unusual collection. Encapsulates the film's edgy and eccentric atmosphere in the most ideal way.