A wonderfully maximalist distillation of everything in this genre until now. A skilful collage of aural textures that traverses more genres and artists than I know – Hyperpop, ambient,…Arca, Aphex Twin, Sophie, Grimes,…I can all hear bits and pieces of it in this album. Love the art direction for the album too – perfectly crowded, […]
Came across CMAT via TikTok on a post about the Celtic Tigers and have been slowly making my way back through her albums while eagerly anticipating her new album with singles “Euro Country”, “Take A Sexy Picture Of Me” and “Running/Planning”. This is probably unfair but for me, CMAT exists very near in the spectrum […]
My initial thoughts are of the contrast between music made early in an artist’s career versus later on. I feel the compulsion with older artists, is to over stuff a composition with ideas rather than to explore a few and just let them breathe. This is most apparent for me with someone like Björk, and […]
I’ve always struggled to enjoy Lorde’s music because I think the lyrics that make it special are usually secondary to me in music. However something about this album – maybe the very good marketing – has me giving it more time than I would normally. Doesn’t hurt that I organically came to the lead single […]
Energetic and soulful. A perfect compliment to looking out the window of a fast moving train.
Only a track and a half through this very blunt album but I already love its unapologetic dumbness.
The only reason I’m aware of Kiasmos is via their support act Juno Mamba for an upcoming gig. I begrudgingly listened to this album but am glad for it. It is obviously adjacent in style and genre to Juno Mamba’s ambient music but is more pristine. In many moments, this plinky, icicle like sound paired […]
Beautiful, optimistic, futuristic, ethnic, ambient, instrumental electronic music. On repeat from start to finish, on loop.
Hyper engineered pop – sounds good but feels largely generic and featureless? Several songs do well to make Tate look like a crazy, messy woman that you wouldn’t want to have a long term relationship with. She also seems to spend a decent amount of time on her knees. So I guess I can really […]
What is just as surprising as me enjoying this sort of album is the vulnerability that sits alongside the expected swagger. Have no idea how I came to it, but I enjoyed the ridiculously lewd lyrics. Notable tracks
I’m imagine Sophie and Crystal Castles playing in an abandoned British council estate. I really wanted to like this album based purely on the incredibly nasty cover artwork (live earthworms inside a woman’s mouth) but it didn’t click with me. Possibly required a few more listens to grow on me. Notable tracks
Clearly I was a prude when I was listening to this because I found the innuendo and triteness on this album cringy and embarrassing. I know very little about Gomez’s life but her image – my impression of her – is quite innocent. In this regard, I could almost forgive the album of its under […]
This is such an erudite starting concept for an album, that I feel smarter just listening to it. Great ballads that feel really reflective of Rob who introduced me to it. Tracks on repeat Pretty much everything on this album but particular highlights are
Returned to this album after waking up day with one of the melodies in my head. The album artwork, lyrics and arrangements are perfectly evocative of the depression era and exist is such a weird space – I don’t really know what genre I’m listening to and I love it. Dirty cups, burnt soup, clattering […]
I didn’t realise I needed this until I heard it. Love the interpolation of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” on Birth4000 and the accompanying album visuals. Tracks on repeat
80s music made now. Took a few listens for me to get into it, but the obvious Kraftwork and Depeche Mode (and others) homages were compelling hooks. Some very naff lyrics but I guess that’s true to the style. Tracks on repeat
Sonically, a return to Gaga’s original pop sound with occasional Prince, Blondie and 70s disco detours. Visually, Hellraiser crossed with a Nazi pride rally. There were some days when I woke up with a track in my head Tracks on repeat
Possibly have not given this album enough time to grow on me, but a slight disappointment when considered against the title single
Catchy and raw lyrics with some standout singles
Love the lyrics and the style that ranges from Lana Del Rey to Taylor Swift on a good day
Thoroughly enjoying this all female band with the swagger and theatrics of Queen. Love the imagery in their lyrics too
Very easy listening, with lyrics that resonate with me at this point in my life
A great segue from Jungle. Equally funky and soulful. Have been absolutely hammering this album
Really funky stuff. Woke up with some of the songs in my head which is always great
A very accomplished and confident album with 2000s pop call backs. However I just couldn’t get into it despite repeated listens
I have been absolutely flogging this album. Very personal themes but still that great retro pop vibe. Sad boppers
Retro trance vibes with amazing cover artwork by David Rudnick. WOW
It always feels like too much hard work to get into a Róisin Murphy album. Bad memories of her gig
An eclectic album that is unexpected for me from a former pop star. Despite their bluntness, some lyrical gems that are like life maxims
So many incredible singles that tug at nostalgia. The last third is possibly a little weak but doesn’t detract from the incredible career of this band
I didn’t like this album to begin with despite academically knowing it was very well made. However, the disco was infectious and I woke up with some of these tunes playing in my head. So funky
Rambling, but strangely compelling. Really enjoyed the drumming on some of these tracks. Catchy and alternative. Another incredible trans artist
Strangely boring? Might be better listened to on headphones but not super excited about giving it repeat listens
Crystalline and ethereal contrasting with blunt and heavy. Beautiful. Hope to see him play live one day
Can appreciate that this was very ground breaking at the time of release, but this lacks vitality that would make this interesting to listen to now
So glad he is producing music again – a partial return to form
Anodyne and sleepy. The lyrics are kinda silly and the instrumentation does very little to mask this fact. Urgh – I ended up revisiting this album not realising I’d already previously listened and reviewed it… – A very promising lead single (“Nothing Left To Lose”) but the album progressively reveals to me what has possibly […]
Probably the first Gorillaz album I’ve enjoyed in a while. First two thirds is great, the last third not so much
Enjoyable and relatable but kinda background music. Possibly because I was work stressing
Some stand out tracks, but the after taste for me was boredom despite the very obvious Oneohtrix Point Never production signatures
Loving the slow tempo and depressing lyrics about life after the pandemic
Probably the closest I’ve come to enjoying a Bjork album since Vespertine. Lyrically interesting, but again the arrangement is too intentionally oblique
Very raw, very personal album that was able to let go of some of the intense music theory in service of some more typical melodies
Deep bass, thick and mellow vibes. Makes me sleepy but in a good way
An uneven album that gets worse on repeated listens. Some very good singles, but also some really cringy songs