Singer-songwriter Bryony Williams releases her debut album ‘You Are Here’ on 5 February, 2025. The record explores themes of love, self-discovery and resilience while also looking back at the battles you work through to get through this thing called life… ‘Trip Me Up’ opens the record with Postal Service vibes, an air of sadness (‘Taken…
Following frontman Kieran Shudall’s near-death experience (a main artery in his heart was severely blocked), Circa Waves make a welcome return with their sixth album ‘Death & Love Pt. 1. It’s a record Kieran said he needed to make to process his experience and recovery – and also to ‘make kids in their bedroom pick…
Out on 14 February, ‘Critical Thinking’, Manic Street Preachers’ fifteenth (!) album, finds the legendary Welsh trio celebrating conflicting ideas colliding. Nicky Wire says: ‘While the music has an effervescence and an elegiac uplift, most of the words deal with the cold analysis of the self, the exception being the three lyrics by James (Dean…
Young Knives return with a new album, appropriately titled ‘Landfill’, on 24 January 2025. The record finds the duo looking at the scene they rose to prominence in right in the eye – as they endeavour to figure out what it means to define your own legacy. There’s a slow-burn intro to album opener ‘A…
Newcastle upon Tyne-via-Leeds duo lots of hands (Billy Woodhouse and Elliot Dryden) release their debut album ‘into a pretty room’ via Fire Talk Records on 17 January 2025. It’s a thoughtful collection of songs that cover everything from tragedy to triumph, taking in grief and growing up along the way. ‘Alive’ opens the record with…
London-based singer-songwriter Sophie Jamieson releases her second album ‘I Still Want to Share’ via Bella Union on 17 January. The record is packed with observations on the inescapable and often repeated nature of loving, losing and longing… ‘Camera’ opens the record with evocative piano and strings as Sophie sings about ‘letting go of all you’ve…
Jasmine.4.t releases her debut album ‘You Are the Morning’ via Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records on 17 January. Produced by boygenius, the album is a celebration of queer friendship and how it helped Jasmine deal with the lack of acceptance shown towards her after coming out as trans… There’s a very introspective sound as almost…
Composer/producer Paul Russell (Axes/Tough Glove) returns with ‘Thank You’, the fourth album to be released by his Human Pyramids project. Featuring members of Axes, Suicide Bid and Modern Studies, the album was recorded all over the world and mastered by Alan Douches (Sufjan Stevens/Animal Collective). Gentle feedback and breezy, chiming percussion combine in the early…
Portland, Maine indie rockers Little Oso release their debut album ‘How Lucky to Be Somebody’ via US label Repeating Cloud and UK label Safe Suburban Home on 17 January 2025. According to vocalist and guitarist Jeannette Berman, the album ‘chronicles all of the multiple truths of what if feels like to exist, and how at…
It’s that time of year again. Yes, the Spectral Nights Top 5 albums of the past 12 months. There have been some exciting new releases and long-awaited returns in 2024. Now it’s time to celebrate some of our favourites. As always, it’s important to note music is not a competition hence we’re hesitant to use…
