Back catalogue: Pop

Review: Bjork and Rosalia team up for the limited marble vinyl edition 12" double-sider, 'Oral', now coming packed with a stunning remix by Olof Dreijer from The Knife. The record is described by its releasers OLI as not just a single release but a "call to arms", with 100% of the profits being funnelled directly to AEGIS, the Icelandic charity dedicated to eradicating intensive fish farming in the country. 'Oral' itself is now a staple of the latest incarnation of Bjork's ever-mutant career, consummating her and Rosalia's recent rapport; a sabre-wielding, purblind aesthetic - befitting also of another of Bjork's collaborative contemporaries, Arca - fits seamlessly with the elegiac reggaeton of the song. Dreijer's remix is rabid and wonky by comparison, its draggy, morphemic rhythms belying Bjork and Rosalia's equally wetted vocals, producing a wacky litany of faunal electronics and whizzing FX.

Review: Rag'n'Bone Man, born Rory Charles Graham, is "embracing joy and balance in his life" as he releases his new album What Do You Believe In?. Known for his gravelly blues vocals, the British singer gained global recognition with his 2016 debut Human, which went platinum four times in the UK and multi-platinum in 27 other countries. Now, supported by family and newfound confidence, Rag'n'Bone Man's latest work blends personal growth with vibrant hooks and takes fans on an uplifting musical journey with title track setting the tone in superb fashion.

Review: Rahim Redcar, who you man know was formerly of cultured pop greats Christine and the Queens, embarks on a solo journey here with Hopecore, an album born from raw emotion and unwavering faith in authentic self-expression that comes in nice blue vinyl. Crafted through tears, determination, and a deep spiritual connection, Hopecore embraces music's vast, untamed energy and Redcar's vision is uncompromised throughout which means he allows no external influence to alter his intentions. The album is both a call to the flesh and a prayer for justice and freedom and one that does a fine job of reflecting his pursuit of absolute artistic truth.

Review: Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65 offers a fascinating glimpse into Lou Reed's early work as a hired songwriter before his iconic days with the Velvet Underground. Released by Light in the Attic Records, this 25-song anthology captures the raw beginnings of Reed's journey in music. The double vinyl format showcases Reed's ability to navigate a range of styles, from the surf-infused doo-wop of the Hollywoods' 'Teardrop In The Sand' to the gritty garage-rock of the Roughnecks' 'You're Driving Me Insane.' This collection not only features Reed's contributions to Pickwick Records, a label known for its budget sound-alike recordings, but also includes the pivotal track 'The Ostrich,' a song that would eventually lead Reed to meet John Cale, laying the groundwork for the Velvet Underground. The anthology also highlights Reed's first collaboration with Cale on 'Why Don't You Smile,' which was later covered by Spiritualized. With detailed liner notes from Richie Unterberger and an essay by Lenny Kaye, this double vinyl release offers a deeper understanding of the roots of Reed's legendary career.

Review: Barbadian singer Rihanna's Rated R album marked a bold departure from her earlier pop-centric sound and saw her head into a darker, edgier side. Released in the aftermath of her highly publicised personal struggles, the newly reissued album blends rock, hip-hop and pop with haunting and aggressive undertones. Tracks like 'Russian Roulette' and 'Hard' reflect her emotional vulnerability and resilience, while 'Rude Boy' offers a more playful, upbeat vibe. Rihanna's vocal delivery is powerful and raw as you would expect given the context and effectively conveys the album's themes of empowerment, defiance, and introspection. Rated R is a daring and transformative work that highlights Rihanna's talents and is well worth copping for your collection.

Review: Romy Madley Croft continues to explore her solo career - as seems to be the inevitable prophesied path of of The xx member trifecta - with Mid Air. Collabs with Fred Again and Beverly Glenn-Copeland here thematically match Romy's implicit vision: to exploring the ever-thinning dividing line between heartfelt rave music and sounds for personal, teary-eyed catharsis moments. Edging ever-more into a more party-pop direction (contrastion to her prior projects' enduring indie tinge), Romy gets far trancier with things on the likes of 'Strong' and 'The Sea', even verging on Eurodance in short bursts. Other moments of downtime further express the many angles of Romy's personal ecstasy, citing the project as a dedication to queer clubbing and a mitigation of loneliness.

Review: It feels like Romy's debut album has been a long time coming, but it's absolutely worth the wait. Stepping to one side of the imposing shadow of her band The xx, the world-famous singer-songwriter has taken her time to deliver something sincere and vulnerable which opens up her world and celebrates the places she's found sanctuary. Having worked extensively with production wonder boy Fred Again, writing for other artists, the two finally funnelled their creative chemistry into songs for Romy which now result in a perfect nugget of pop-club with aeons of space for all the feelings to swirl. It's immediate and catchy, but elegant in equal measure, and certain to lodge Romy in the pantheon of modern pop titans for sensitive souls.

Review: Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalia is back with her third studio album and one that is a hugely conceptual and experimental affair. She herself describes it as "her most personal and confessional album" and that is embodied by the lead single, 'Saoko', which celebrates transformation and change. It is an album of pop leaning, reggeaton inspired sounds and plenty of nods to dembow, champeta, flamenco, bachata, hip-hop and piano melodies. The artist's own fierceness and unapologetically brave attitude helps make this the force that it is.

Review: Rosalia's third album, Motomami, boldly blurs the lines between classical and contemporary music with humor and confidence. Spanning diverse genres like dembow, reggaeton, and electro, Rosalia effortlessly navigates through experimentation while paying homage to her influences. The album's eclectic production and Rosalia's pristine soprano voice shine across tracks like 'Saoko' and 'Candy,' where emotional depth meets musical innovation. MotomamiI's exploration of themes like love, faith, and empowerment showcases Rosalia's evolution as an artist. With references to cultural icons and unexpected collaborations, Rosalia asserts her artistic autonomy and global impact.

Review: This special Vampirehollie Edition of Rose's self-titled album is an enchanting reimagining of the original work infused with a hauntingly ethereal touch that amplifies the dreamlike atmosphere. Blending delicate vocals with rich, melancholic instrumentation, tracks like 'Toxic Till The End' and 'Stay A Little Longer' marry the sentimental and stirring vocal tones with accessible melodies. The album effortlessly balances moments of emotional pain and intersection with haunting pop and atmospheric soundscapes.

Review: Here at Juno HQ, we are great believers in the idea that you cannot have guilty pleasures when it comes to music. If you like something, you like it, and you should own that. Still, that didn't stop Sean Rowley from serving up a bumper collection of what he thinks to be sounds you might enjoy but not what to shout about from the rock canon. He first did so two decades ago and so here comes this 20th anniversary edition on double vinyl with umpteen catchy, feel good and singalong classics from the likes of Captain & Tennille, Electric Light Orchestra, Andy Fairweather-Low and many more.

Review: Swedish pop rock duo Roxette were one of the country's breakout acts in the genre. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of their third album 'Joyride', Rhino Records have seen to a due repress in a plethora of formats, including single LP, 4xLP, and even a limited orange marble vinyl version. Remembering the proto-balearic ballad-belters' monumental rise to number 1 on the Billboard 100 chart in May 1991, this album initially sold more than 11 million copies, setting a record previously not achieved by any other Scandinavian act. This version, however, also adds a whopping 35 new and unreleased bonus tracks; check out the night-riding, cutthroat bit that is 'Hotblooded', which was initially intended to take the place of 'Joyride' as the album's lead single.

Review: RYUSENKEI, the city pop group led by Cunimondo Takiguchi, returns as a unit fronted by new singer Sincere as an official member. New album Illusions comes hot on the heels of Sincere's addition, forming their first release on the Alfa Music label. Formerly known as Kanji, the newly reformed all-caps name RYUSENKEI likewise heralds this change in sound and membership. Led by such mega-smooth city pop shoulder-shakers as 'Super Generation' and 'Tricot', Illusions is an album full of optical night-driven fantasies, fixated on the city of Tokyo as a romantic vision; a dream from which we do not wish to wake.