Jaminaround, Ancient Technology Centre, Cranborne review - contemporary sounds in an archaic setting

★★★★★ JAMINAROUND, ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, CRANBOURNE A celebration of independent musical spirit and community in an Iron Age roundhouse

A celebration of independent musical spirit and community in an Iron Age roundhouse

The most unlikely venue: an extraordinary, authentic-as-can-be replica of a large Iron Age roundhouse. There’s a turf and grass roof, and the structure, made of immense roughly carved oak trunks, defies belief.

Album: Björk - Fossora

★★★★ BJORK - FOSSORA The Icelandic singer carries a mother lode on her new album

The Icelandic singer carries a mother lode on her new album

Album opener “Atapos” was released as a single earlier in September, its sharply angular beats created by Björk and Indonesian duo Gabber Modus Operandi, one of whom has since had his contributions removed following #MeToo allegations. The song’s message is about growth towards connection. “To insist on absolute justice at all times / blocks connection” she sings, intoning “hope is a muscle” towards the end.

The Big Moon, Oran Mor, Glasgow review - partying prevails despite band's bad luck

★★★★ THE BIG MOON, ORAN MOOR, GLASGOW Partying prevails despite band's bad luck

The quartet's pop and indie blend was in fine fettle

Presumably before setting out on their current tour the Big Moon smashed a few mirrors, walked under some ladders and crossed the paths of numerous black cats. Not only is this jaunt over two years in the making, endlessly postponed for the usual coronavirus reasons, but the foursome also lost most of their equipment in Spain just prior to hitting the road.

The Divine Comedy, Barbican review - a triumphant retrospective

★★★★★ THE DIVINE COMEDY, BARBICAN A triumphant retrospective: 10 albums in five nights

Ten albums in five nights showcase Neil Hannon’s endless invention - and stamina

“We love you, Neil!” came the shout from the back of the circle. “Well, you’d have to,” he replied. Five nights, ten albums, 113 songs and 30-plus years of releases: The Divine Comedy’s residency at the Barbican was an opportunity to savour the artistry of Neil Hannon, as his creative life unfolded in fast forward for our pleasure.

Album: Two Door Cinema Club - Keep On Smiling

★★★ TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - KEEP ON SMILING An uneven return, but a passing grade for the electronic-infused indie trio

An uneven return, but a passing grade for the electronic-infused indie trio

Three and a half years on from 2019’s False Alarm, Keep On Smiling comes album number five from Northern Ireland trio, Two Door Cinema Club. Known for having more bounce to the ounce than your average band, their brand of guitar-flecked electro pop has won hearts, minds and sales in roughly equal measure.

Dope Lemon, O2 Academy, Birmingham review - Australian cosmic cowboys bring the house down

★★★★ DOPE LEMON, 02 ACADEMY, BIRMINGHAM Australian cosmic cowboys fly free

Angus Stone’s long delayed UK tour finally kicks off in Birmingham

The Academy 2 may not be the biggest venue in Birmingham, but it was packed on Friday evening for the first gig of Dope Lemon’s much delayed Rose Pink Cadillac tour – to support an album that was finally released after delays of its own back in January. In fact, such was the mass of bodies waiting in anticipation for Angus Stone’s crew to take the stage that it took the best part of half an hour just to get served at the bar before the action started.

Fleet Foxes, Islington Assembly Hall review - exceedingly alive

★★★★ FLEET FOXES, ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL A very particular musical ecosphere

A very particular musical ecosphere exerts its pull

Just under two weeks ago, Fleet Foxes finished their US tour at the 13,000-capacity Forest Hills Stadium. Now, here they are kicking off their European dates in an auditorium attached to a North London town hall. Capacity 890. Unsurprisingly, it’s sold out. And very hot. After he comments on the heat, someone shouts at head fox Robin Pecknold to take his hat off. “Never” is his response.

Coldplay, Hampden Park, Glasgow review - a pop spectacle for all ages

★★★ COLDPLAY, HAMPDEN PARK, GLASGOW A pop spectacle for all ages

The indie band's transformation into wild stadium pop is complete

It is a testament to Coldplay’s capacity for reinvention that a good portion of this stadium crowd were not even born when the band first broke through over two decades ago. Such an age range in the audience clearly caught the eye of Chris Martin, who, in a rare moment of standing still, dryly noted that he owns trousers older than some of the people singing along.

Album: Ezra Furman - All of Us Flames

★★★★ EZRA FURMAN - ALL OF US FLAMES Classic American musical sensibility unites with anger

Where a classic American musical sensibility unites with anger

The third track of All Of Us Flames is titled “Dressed in Black.” Its protagonist “come[s] to me by night beneath my window sill…you leave before the sun comes up. Haunted eyes, you’ve got those haunted eyes.” Though tortured, this relationship doesn’t seemed to be doomed despite a mention of weapons.

Album: Hot Chip - Freakout/Release

★★★ HOT CHIP - FREAKOUT / RELEASE Slick with delicious songwriting

Electro-pop perennials latest is slick but contains delicious songwriting

You know those people who claim to literally only like the very first music a band does at the start of their career, then kind “Meh” decades-worth of solid later stuff? Ridiculous, right?