CD reviews

The third album from Danish songstress Agnes Obel sees her broaden her musical palette, moving beyond the stark intimacy of her previous releases towards bolder aural territory.

Since their debut album in 2001,  Elbow is one of those bands that it’s easy to dive in and out of, confident in the knowledge that it will very seldom disappoint and very often be brilliant.

A long-time collaborator of Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees), Londoner Duke Garwood has a similar paint-stripper baritone, which he has combined with a cool bluesy approach for his sixth album.

Hailing from Georgia, United States, and comprising veterans of the punk and hardcore scene, Arbor Labor Union’s sludgy dirge occasionally gives way to moments of unbridled motor-city-esque abandon...

Dunedin-Christchurch veterans The Bats manage to pull off the deft trick of sounding fresh yet familiar on their ninth studio album.

The incendiary chemistry between MC/producer El-P and Outkast associate Killer Mike continues on Run the Jewels 3, as the hip-hop veterans take a certain "devil ... with a bad toupee" to task over...

For her first solo release of new material in 18 years, it might seem like a cop-out to discover that Alison Krauss has opted to cover 10 classic songs. However,  the songs and ...

A follow-up to Minneapolis rock quintet Night Moves’ 2016 sophomore album, Opened Days, this EP clearly is intended as a place-holder before a new full-length effort is completed, yet it...

Swedish songwriter Jens Lekman’s fourth album, his first since 2012’s melancholic I Know What Love Isn’t, comes with none of the insecurities he  professes in interviews.

The fourth instalment in Bad Seeds member Mick Harvey’s exploration of material by Serge Gainsbourg, Intoxicated Women largely focuses on the French composer’s duets of the 1960s, a period that...

Hailing from England by way of Spain and South America, Crystal Fighters pluck elements from folk, basque, hi-life and EDM, then shake well, producing an exuberant brand of gypsy punk.

A solo album in all but name, the 10th effort from post-punk survivor Chrissie Hynde sees more trademark tender toughness, this time with an able supporting cast of session musos in tow.

The Stones might not win any individual medals for proficiency on their chosen instrument, but put them together in a room facing each other and they cannot be beaten.

Having arrived on a wave of attention last year courtesy of bombastic singles Lydia and Bloodfeather and a debut album, Mister Asylum, that led to two Grammy nominations, this former covers band...

If Michael Jackson and Prince were still alive, they might listen to Bruno Mars' latest and wave their hands in the air like they just don't care. 

Bic Runga doesn’t completely veer from the whimsical ’60s-French pop approach that marked the excellent Belle (2011). The difference here, however, is 10 of the 12 songs are covers.