Album: Larkin Poe - Bloom

Heavy blues-rock riffery guides the Lovell sisters’ introspective new songs

The Lovell sisters Rebecca and Megan can be heard supporting Ringo Starr on his new album of country songs, while at the same time their seventh album hits the shelves, and with some heft and punch, too, on the raw strength of the scuzzy guitar-led opener, “Mockingbird”. As raw-edged guitar ballads with big choruses go, it’s a strong opening account for a duo who have delivered fine albums stirring together a pungent one-pot meal of Southern rock, electric blues and Americana.

Album: Kele - The Singing Winds Pt. 3

★★★★ KELE - THE SINGING WINDS PT.3 The road less travelled has led to a fantastically focused creative identity

The road less travelled has led to a fantastically focused creative identity

Of the big UK indie bands of the 00s wave, Bloc Party were always the most austerely art-rockish. Where Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons, Franz Ferdinand all to some degree or other had a dose of the vaudevillian and a bit of party “woohoo!”, BP adhered way more to the seriousness, alienation and introspection of their post-punk inspirations.

Album: The Weather Station - Humanhood

Canadian singer-songwriter makes sense of a period of crisis

Four of Humanhood’s 13 tracks are short, impressionistic mood pieces. Between 48 seconds and just-over a minute-and-a-half long, they mostly lack singing. Instrumentation is jazzy, leaning on piano and wind instruments. Drones and white noise evoke ocean spray or wind. In one case, a wordless vocal edges towards articulating recognisable syllables.

Music Reissues Weekly: Celebrate Yourself! The Sonic Cathedral Story 2004-2024

With the help of a sympathetic label, shoegazing once again confirms its resonance

Yeti Lane’s second album The Echo Show was released in March 2012. The Paris-based duo’s LP was stunning: holding together overall, as well as on a track-by-track basis. There were obvious influences: Kraftwerk, late-period Spacemen 3, motorik, My Bloody Valentine. But it didn’t sound like anyone else. Charlie Boyer and Ben Pleng had created a wonder.

Album: Franz Ferdinand - The Human Fear

★★★ FRANZ FERDINAND - THE HUMAN FEAR Worthwhile and creative

Indie rockers' sixth album may not live up to their iconic debut but is no less striking

Travel back in time to the mid 2000s and you would be hard pressed to escape "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand on the air waves. On the radio, music channels, in discos and clubs, what felt like overnight, the track catapulted frontman Alex Kapranos, guitarist Nick McCarthy, bassist Bob Hardy and drummer Paul Thomson into a household UK name with its tension building first section, and iconic riff.

Album: Bridget Hayden and The Apparitions - Cold Blows The Rain

Classic folk songs are given a desolate new setting

The title Cold Blows The Rain encapsulates it. A mournful, unembellished female voice sings of loss. The musical backing is sparse. Rhythms are measured. Nothing is hurried. If this album was a weather forecast, it would predict impenetrable mist followed by cold rain and wind. Then, more mist.