Album: Friendship - Love the Stranger

★★★ FRIENDSHIP - LOVE THE STRANGER Unhurried Americana revelling in day-to-day events

Unhurried Americana revelling in the wonder of day-to-day events

Over the past few years, Joe Pera Talks With You has been one of television’s joys. Each episode finds the small-town American music teacher navigating life in Upper Michigan. Unhurriedly, with good humour, he deals with the day-to-day small things. The big things are more complicated, but he finds his way. Every programme is a warm bath in goodness.

Album: Jamie T - The Theory of Whatever

Indie-punker's first album in six years demonstrates a tragic lack of inspiration

When Jamie T first appeared in the early noughties, he was trumpeted by some who should have known better as the musical heir to Joe Strummer, while actually sounding more like a Kate Nash acolyte. Six years since his last album, The Theory of Whatever dips into a range of genres from dreary indie rock to low energy hip hop and acoustic ballads fuelled by a seemingly endlesss word-spaghetti of clichés.

Music Reissues Weekly: The Beatles - Get Back

THE BEATLES - GET BACK Peter Jackson’s triumphant re-evaluation of the ‘Let It Be’ film's source

Peter Jackson’s re-evaluation of the ‘Let It Be’ film’s source material is a triumph

“At all times, the film-makers have attempted to present an accurate portrait of the events depicted and the people involved.” The on-screen statement beginning each of Get Back's three parts acknowledges that definitions of accuracy can depend on points of view.

Album: Ben Harper - Bloodline Maintenance

★★★ BEN HARPER - BLOODLINE MAINTENANCE Bluesy singer-songwriter star bares soulful side

Bluesy singer-songwriter star bares his soulful side with likeable results

Throughout the 1990s and the first decade of this century, Ben Harper achieved global stardom, although the UK was a territory where he never achieved lift-off. By contrast, in the US, Australia and much of Europe, he’s regarded as a heavyweight (he’s won three Grammys!).

Album: Kathryn Williams - Night Drives

★★★ KATHRYN WILLIANS - NIGHT DRIVES Folk renaissance woman expands her sonic palette

The folk renaissance woman expands her sonic palette with mixed results

Kathryn Williams’ creativity leaves most singers standing. She’s always up to something and it’s usually interesting. As well as multiple albums over two decades, including one themed around Sylvia Plath and another created with the poet Carol Anne Duffy, last year she had her first novel published, the ominous island-set tale, The Ormering Tides.

Album: Gareth Williams - Short Stories

★★★★ GARETH WILLIAMS - SHORT STORIES  Very fine trio album bears repeated listening

A very fine trio album which bears repeated listening

Maybe it’s inevitable that their fate is to receive just a fraction of the recognition they deserve. Gareth Williams is one of the crop of truly remarkable  – and now fully-formed  – jazz pianists from the UK born in the years 1968 and 1969. I can think of three of them – there may be more.

Album: Jack White - Entering Heaven Alive

★★★ JACK WHITE - ENTERING HEAVEN ALIVE Playful, varied, relaxed and enjoyable new one from the former White Stripe

Playful, varied, relaxed and enjoyable new one from the former White Stripe

Jack White’s last couple of albums, Boarding House Reach from 2018 and Fear of the Dawn from April this year, were both driven by experimentalism, dipping into electronics, hip hop, noise and more. They were both, to differing degrees, admirable in intent, coming from an artist perceived as zealously retro, but they were also only partially successful.

Frida Kahlo Through Indian Classical Music, Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall review - a strangely effective meeting of cultures

Saudha Society of Poetry and Indian Music

Mexico's finest artist as interpreted by Indian classical musicians

This one sounded implausible. Frida Kahlo, the great (and fashionable – collected by the likes of Madonna) Mexican painter interpreted by Indian classical music at the Elgar Room in the Royal Albert Hall. It was, however, entrancing, made a curious sense, and was a different way of immersing yourself both in the music and paintings.