Lorde- Solar Power

Lorde's third album, Solar Power, is an album that grows in quiet stature with every listen, new nuggets of wisdom making their way to the surface, peeking through its beautiful instrumentation that weaves a stunning, leafy tapestry.

Few artists strike gold on every record they create but, for the third time in a row, Lorde has done it again, crafting yet another world-beater.

And yes, I know what you’re thinking - did I buy this album simply for the cover? well- No I didnt! Having enjoyed Pure Heroine Lorde’s first album immensely.

Otis Gibbs-Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth

Otis Gibbs is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, and podcaster who has independently self-released records outside the traditional record industry. Born in Wanamaker Indiana now living in East Nashville, Otis Gibbs is a man in search of an honest experience. Gibbs is often referred to as a folk artist, but that is a simplistic way to describe a man who has planted over 7,000 trees, slept in hobo jungles, walked with nomadic shepherds in Romania, was a fifth grade yo-yo champion and once wrestled a bear (and lost). Otis has played countless, theatres, festivals, bars and house concerts and has managed to carve out a living, while remaining happily independent. Much of his work concentrates on the world ignored by pop culture. Sometimes forgotten,obsolete, or simply marginalised, it is a world that doesnt fit into a twenty-second sound bite, or talking point. Otis has spent the last fifteen years traveling across America and abroad documenting this world, and has a story to share about each stop along the way. Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth was coined by his father who inspired much of this album "He rode a Harley Davidson chopper, sang along to Jerry Lee Lewis records and took absolutely no shit from anyone."

Paul

Mandolin Orange -Blindfaller

Mandolin Orange—the duo of Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz—possess serious musical chops, being excellent singers and instrumentalists (Marlin on mandolin, banjo and guitar; Frantz on violin and guitar). They are joined by a select group of friends to comprise a full ensemble for the record, which mixes folk, bluegrass, country and pop in a variety of ways.

The music on Blindfaller is mostly traditional country, folk and stringband played by people who are steeped in those traditions and have put in the thousands of hours of practice necessary to make virtuosity sound entirely natural and effortless. Marlin’s and Frantz’s voices carry the melody true and blend beautifully in harmony. The tunes occasionally offer subtle dashes of complex and jazzy touches, but they fit in so naturally you barely notice them.

Heilung -Futha

I’m going to preface this review by saying that I love Heilung. I loved their last album. I love their imagery. But, I’ll try to be unbiased in my review of “Futha“. Who am I kidding? I’m as giddy as a schoolgirl on her first date with the captain of the football team. Excitement aside, Heilung are a tough band to review because you either know what to expect from them, or you’re one of the uninitiated. If you’re part of the latter group, Heilung play traditional Northern European music drawing inspiration from the Iron and Viking ages. So, there’s singing, chanting, and lots of drums. On their new album, “Futha”, Heilung expand their sound by using loopers and other forms of technological wizardry.

“Futha” starts with a short spoken-word piece; another aspect of Heilung I love is Faust’s vocals. Note: He’s not the dude from Emperor. The song then shifts to a trancy, repetitive vocal and drum section. An impressive aspect of Heilung’s music is that they can repeat a single vocal line almost ad nauseam, and yet it’s not boring. I have a really short attention span, so they’re definitely conjuring some ancestral magic here. Other highlights on “Futha” are “Norupo“, “Traust“, and “Svanrand“. The latter is heavy as f**k. The female vocals here counter the low-end drums and work to expand the soundscape. This is an important point – Heilung are all about layers. If Heilung’s music doesn’t appear on the next season of Vikings, I’ll be writing the producers a sternly worded email. “Futha” is another very good Heilung album. Get it or may Fenrir tear your beans from your body.

Noel Gallaghers- High Flying Birds -Back the Way We Came

How do you follow the success of an era-defining band? It’s been ten years since Noel Gallagher first attempted to answer that question – launching his post-Oasis career with the release of his debut album with his High Flying Bird. Now, a decade later – following three chart-topping LPs, and album sales in their millions –  he's decided that a little celebrating is in order.

For a man as famously self-assured as Gallagher, it’s no major surprise that he’s taking the Greatest Hits route now, with an 18-track project curated and compiled entirely by himself. But as the mine of material on Back The Way We Came Vol. 1 attests, there's plenty to celebrate. He's rising to the occasion, too – kitting out new tracks ‘Flying On The Ground’ and ‘We’re On Our Way Now’ with lush arrangements and rich backing vocals.

Spanning years and genres, Back The Way We Came offers a fascinating overview of the evolution of Gallagher as a songwriter over the last decade. From 2011's self-titled debut album, which contained tracks originally penned for Oasis, to the disco-pop approach of 2019's 'Black Star Dancing', he retains a wildly unwavering trust in his vision. Instead of re-recording ‘Dead In The Water’ for the project, as he originally intended, he embraces the raw authenticity of the sole radio-session recording, performed live at RTÉ 2FM's studio. Previously released as a bonus track on Who Built The Moon?, 'Dead In The Water' is a highlight of the compilation – showcasing the vulnerability behind the bravado that has always marked Gallagher as a captivating talent.