A cat in infra-red imagery. Basement's Wired album artwork

Basement – ‘Wired’ album review


Basement return with ‘Wired’, the Ipswich five-piece’s first new album in over eight years. Released via their original label, Run For Cover Records, the record is the result of all the band members collaborating during the songwriting process and working with producer John Congleton (Sharon Van Etten, Death Cab for Cutie, St. Vincent). The atmospheric…

Jesca Hoop – ‘Long Wave Home’ album review


Drawing on the political landscape and her personal experiences, Jesca Hoop’s seventh album ‘Long Wave Home’ finds the California-born. Manchester-based songwriter examining the value of relationships, community and the strength of solidarity. Album opener ‘Adam’ is a restrained affair with Jesca pleasing to stay together with the subject of the song (‘Only the wrong clothes,…

Ben Auld – ‘Loserdom’ album review


Ben Auld’s second album ‘Loserdom’ is named after a term said by Walter Becker in a Steely Dan documentary and finds the Norwich-based singer-songwriter celebrating the relief that comes when you accept your losses and start to move on in life. The appropriately titled ‘Opening’ starts the record with gentle guitar strums and then later…

Pigeon – ‘OUTTANATIONAL’ album review


Recorded between the Albion Rooms in Margate and Jelly Studios in Ramsgate, spiritual five-piece Pigeon’s debut album ‘OUTTANATIONAL’ tackles subjects including belonging, migration and identity with a joyous enthusiasm. There’s an afrobeat intro on album opener ‘NRG’, a song that demands you give it its titles while Falle Nioke wards off evil spirits over a…

Frog for Sale album artwork

Frog – ‘Frog for Sale’ album review


Singer-songwriter Daniel Bateman, also known as Frog, releases eight studio album ‘Frog for Sale’ on 17 April, 2026. An album about ‘how money sometimes gets in the way of love’, it finds Daniel taking inspiration from Buddy Holly and Paul McCartney . The album opens with ‘Bad Time to Fall in Love Again’, a subtle,…

Masca Love Letters album artwork

Masca – ‘Love Letters’ album review


Masca – a Bristol trio made up of Christina Maynard (vocals, guitar), Jack Hamilton (drums, vocals) and Ben Holyoake (bass) – are all set to unleash their debut album ‘Love Letters’. It’s a record powered by love, belief and a refusal to stop creating, while also being a celebration of the power of love, music…

Tigers Jaw Lost On You

Tigers Jaw – ‘Lost On You’ album review


‘Lost On You’ finds Tigers Jaw’s Ben Walsh (guitar, vocals) and Brianna Collins (keys, vocals) attempting to navigating the stage of middle adulthood where you’re meant to have your shit together, but then you realise nobody really does… There’s a DIY feel to the short and sweet opener ‘It’s OK’, a song that asks ‘Am…