Back catalogue: Pop

Review: This six-track EP, crated between the late 'Cloud rap' icon and producer Nedarb Nagrom, is a miraculous refind and repress. The EP originally dropped in 2016 during the early wave of Peep's rise to the broth cream of the etherground emo rap and SoundCloud scene. Peep was still in the thick of lo-fi, punk and emo experimentations, and fellow traveller Nedarb had already been a frequent collaborator. The Katy Perry song referenced in the title is a red herring, as these tracks are original internet artefacts through and through, bearing none of the same pop sensibilities; they're loose and aerated, packing slipshod 808s and drawly hooks from the pink-haired icon.

Review: This record marks a bold return to Lady Gaga's pop roots. It fuses the eclectic energy that first captivated her fans with a new and ever-fearless artistic vision that means she delves into themes of chaos and transformation while celebrating music's ability to unite, provoke and heal. Gaga has said that the album began as a response to her fear of returning to the pop sound her early fans loved. Far from merely nostalgic, Mayhem reinvents her signature style with a kaleidoscopic approach by drawing from her broad musical influences. Gaga compared the creative process to "reassembling a shattered mirror," and has created something beautifully new from the pieces.

Review: Lady Gaga's brand new album Mayhem documents yet another modification in look and feel for today's North Star of pop music: the 'Bad Romance' conquistador has described her latest record as "utter chaos", fusing influences from 90s alt-rock, electro-grunge, Prince and Bowie-esque melodies, funk, French electro-house, and analog synths. Headed up by the lead single 'Disease', Gaga's visually striking yet newly gothicized turn is quite unsettling, offering a fresh "era" in the pop pantomorph's approach, which invites comparisons to Taylor Swift and David Bowie, yet more latexy.

Review: Many critics have dubbed Lady Gaga's Mayhem, the superstar's latest full-length excursion, as a return to her pop roots - not to mention her strongest and most coherent set since breakthrough album Fame. Recorded at Rick Rubin's studio with the help of a crack team of producers, the assembled songs variously draw on synth-pop, EDM style pop-house, gritty industrial funk, the gnarled strut of electroclash and, perhaps more surprisingly, guitar-driven alt-rock. Naturally, Gaga is in fine form throughout, sassily and confidently delivering lyrics that muse on "love, chaos, fame and desire". This Japanese CD edition comes bundled with an art card, stickers and an expansive booklet.

Review: A new compilation which looks to celebrate the unheralded period of hugely successful Isle of Wight pop/funk band Level 42, named that after their cult funk days in the early 80s and their chart-topping victories in the middle and end of the decade. Music on Vinyl helps celebrate their 90s years with this compilation that spans the albums Guaranteed (1991) and Forever Now (1994). Originally released in 2007, this limited edition 2xLP set, pressed on vibrant 180-gram yellow vinyl, highlights the band's unique blend of funk, pop and jazz influences, with a mix of infectious grooves and introspective lyrics. The first side opens with the title track, 'Past Lives', a slick funk-driven number that sets the tone for the compilation, followed by the energetic 'Guaranteed' and the introspective 'Overtime'. Tracks like 'My Father's Shoes' explore deeper emotional landscapes, while 'Forever Now' explores the band's ability to craft smooth, soulful anthems. Side three is a ideal, featuring the infectious 'Model Friend' and the jazzy 'Romance'. Meanwhile, 'One in a Million' is a perfect example of the band's ability to blend pop hooks with sophisticated arrangements. Side four closes the compilation on a high note with 'If You Were Mine', a catchy, uplifting finale. The four-page booklet provides context for this fruitful period in Level 42's career, and the limited yellow vinyl adds an extra layer of collectible charm.

Review: Here, celebrating its 40th anniversary, Level 42's World Machine returns with a special reissue of the 1985 album that launched them to global fame. Departing from their jam-based roots, the band embraced a more structured songwriting process and also set to work producing the album themselves with engineer Julian Mendelsohn. The result was a polished, pop-funk breakthrough led by the hit single 'Something About You' which of course became a Top 10 hit worldwide, including in the U.S. Follow-up singles like the emotive 'Leaving Me Now' and the infectious "'World Machine' cemented the album's success and helped mark a major turning point in the band's career and 80s pop history.

Review: Pop sensation Dua Lipa went through an early-career reinvention by the point of her second album Future Nostalgia, whose title will surely go on to provide much theoretical fodder for the musicologists of 2045. Embracing the now deemed "retro" influences of funk, disco and synthpop (though their redemption as such is contestable, given that there are modern examples of each and every one of these still being made), Lipa worked with a range of producers, including hitmakers like Greg Kurstin, Stuart Price, and Ian Kirkpatrick, to create a femme-forward bannering of almost every pop sound that has "hit" so far. This new 3xLP set further expands on the implied scopic ambition, pulling listeners into a titivated soundscape chock-full of alternate versions and visions.

Review: On Alter Ego, LISA steps into a darker, more experimental space, leaving her pop roots behind while retaining that undeniable vocal presence. 'Shadow of Love' pulls you in with its moody synths and subtle tension, setting the tone for the rest of the release. Each track feels like a new layer of her artistic evolution, exploring soundscapes that are as introspective as they are compelling. It's a clear statement of growth, with LISA working with producers who help refine her sound while giving her the room to experiment.