Shabazz Palaces – Lese Majesty (Sub Pop)
Why you should listen: For an inventive and generally batshit crazy take on hip-hop, look no further than Ishmael Butler and Tendai Maraire of Shabazz Palaces. They take the rulebook of time signatures, song structure and harmony, and then tear it to shreds.
It might not be for you if… You’re perfectly happy with hip-hop in a recognisable format. Like, with choruses you can easily sing along to and whatnot.
What we said: “Lese Majesty lures you into its skewed, wildly inventive world: the woozy beauty of opener Down in Luxor and Ishmael; Sonic MythMap for the Trip Back's bizarre combination of harsh, buzzing electronics and subaquatic atmospherics; the brilliant, disorientating moment where They Come in Gold suddenly shifts from one tempo to another, replacing a mass of spiky vocal snippets with a warped, warm, muted funk sample”, wrote Alexis Petridis, in his lead review for the Guardian. Read Killian Fox’s five-star review from the Observer New review here.
Score: 4/5
Les Ambassadeurs – Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako (Sterns)
Why you should listen: This collection of late 70s recordings pretty much launched Malian afro-pop legend Salif Keïta’s international career. Keïta fronts a young iteration of the Ambassadeurs on a double-album of Manding-tinged, jaunty tunes – some of which are being released here for the first time.
It might not be for you if… You’re looking to the next generation of young artists for your west African world music fix. Hey, there’s still that Noura Mint Seylami record to delve into.
What we said: “Released to coincide with their historic reunion shows, this is an exquisite double-album reminder of the early days of one of Africa's greatest bands,” wrote Robin Denselow, in the Guardian.
Score: 5/5
Knifeworld – The Unravelling (Inside Out)
Why you should listen: Psychedelic metal outfit Knifeworld have recorded and released a prog album that isn’t a wet, elementary exercise in playing 12 minute songs for the hell of it. That’s something to celebrate, isn’t it?
It might not be for you if… You swerve anything that purports to mix elements of metal with pop sensibilities and possible glockenspiel melody lines.
What we said: “…These intuitive oddballs have conjured their own vivid sonic realm on their second album, incorporating everything from elegant pop melodies to squawking, angular metal riffs, all of it rendered in twinkling psychedelic shades and bearing an underlying sense of nightmarish unease”, wrote Dom Lawson, in the Guardian.
Score: 5/5
Jenny Lewis – The Voyager (Warner)
Why you should listen: Since fronting now-disbanded indie group Rilo Kiley, and playing on tour with the Postal Service, Jenny Lewis has battled insomnia to make this album. The sweet-voiced singer and guitarist also found the time to cast celebrity actresses in her video for the record’s lead single (below), so clearly she’s putting some effort into this third solo offering.
It might not be for you if… You don’t like Haim’s achingly upbeat sound – both our critics compared Lewis with the sisterly trio in their reviews.
What we said: “The production is a little clean and sunny, but the nature of her distress is not,” wrote Kitty Empire, in the Observer. Click here for Caroline Sullivan’s three-star review from the Guardian.
Score: 4/5
Alvvays – Alvvays (Transgressive)
Why you should listen: This Canadian five-piece exist somewhere in the space where fuzzy surf-pop and glum post-punk meet. They back sharp lyrics with summery, languid guitars and are worth a try – even with a name written like that.
It might not be for you if… Singer Molly Rankin’s clear-toned drawl would drive you crazy after just a couple of the nine songs that make up this debut.
What we said: “It's whimsical and at times meandering, but has enough to it that it doesn't fall into that most pointless of categories: twee,” wrote Lanre Bakare, in the Guardian.
Score: 3/5
Last week, new releases from Yes and Common fired up some chat below the line. Whether you've got plans to get into one of these albums, or press play on a selection of others, let us know in the comments section here.
