Album: SBTRKT - THE RAT ROAD

SBTRKT scratches that seven-year itch with an album that covers a LOT of bases

Aaron Jerome has always cut his own path through British music. After a few jazzy, groovy experiments under his own name in the 00s, he came dramatically to prominence at the end of that decade as SBTRKT. He was always associated with the post-dubstep moment where the UK bass subcultures of dubstep and grime folded back into house and techno, launching big names like Hessle Audio and Disclosure – but in fact he didn’t quite fit there.

Album: Jessie Ware - That! Feels Good!

The Londoner is more accomplished than ever - but at what cost?

“If you’re going to do it, do it well” goes a chanted refrain in the opening title track here. And it’s words Jessie Ware clearly lives by – she is not someone who has time to do anything rubbish.

theartsdesk on Vinyl: Record Store Day Special 2023

RECORD STORE DAY SPECIAL 2023 27 records available briefly and exclusively in the shops this Saturday

27 records available briefly and exclusively in the shops this Saturday

Record Store Day is nearly here. At theartsdesk on Vinyl we have a selection of goodies which are appearing exclusively in record shops. See anything you fancy?

THEARTSDESK ON VINYL’S VINYL OF RECORD STORE DAY APRIL 2023

Suicide A Way of Life Rareties (BMG)

Album: Lucy Farrell - We Are Only Sound

The acclaimed folk artist makes her solo debut with an exquisite break-up album

Lucy Farrell has a singular voice, contained and controlled but subtle and expressive. Since graduating from Newcastle’s folk course in the noughties she’s performed and recorded as a duo with Jonny Kearney, as one quarter of the BBC Folk Award-winning Furrow Collective, alongside further musical adventures with Carthy, Oates, Farrell & Young, and Eliza Carthy’s Wayward Band.

Album: Josienne Clarke - Onliness

★★★★ JOSIENNE CLARKE - ONLINESS Singular singer-songwriter revisits cuts from catalogue

The singular singer-songwriter revisits deep cuts from her catalogue

If you key in "Josienne Clarke" on Google, you’ll hit on the "About" section of her website, and the following declaration sets up her stall: "No label, no musical partner, no producer. Clarke is in complete control of her songwriting, arranging, producing, release schedule and musical direction."

The Orielles, G2, Glasgow review - shoegaze trio keeping their eyes on the future

★★★ THE ORIELLES, G2, GLASGOW Shoegaze trio keeping their eyes on the future

A muted atmosphere greeted the group's new material

It is temping to wonder what path the Orielles would have gone down in a world where the coronavirus never occurred. The Halifax trio had just released their second album, Disco Volador when the pandemic struck, and wiped out any hope of touring the record. Instead they reworked material from the record for use scoring a film, and have now returned with last year’s Tableau album as a significantly different beast.

Mimi Webb, O2 Academy, Glasgow review - TikTok queen fails to fire with sparse set

★★ MIMI WEBB, O2 ACADEMY, GLASGOW TikTok queen fails to fire with sparse set

A lack of legitimate pop bangers held the performance back

Blake Rose clearly wasn’t leaving anything to chance. The support act bounded onstage draped in a Saltire, and soon brought up his days growing up in Aberdeen before moving to Australia. That Scottish upbringing helped inspire one of his songs, “Sweet Caledonia”, and going by the lively reaction he received from the youthful Glasgow crowd they were glad to take him as their own.

Album: Depeche Mode - Memento Mori

★★★★★ DEPECHE MODE - MEMENTO MORI Hymns to love and loss sound as vital as ever

Depeche Mode's hymns to love and loss sound as vital as ever

Depeche Mode’s Andy “Fletch” Fletcher, who died in May last year, was generally held to contribute to the dynamic of the band more than the music. The only member of the band without songwriting credits, his contribution as peacemaker and “tiebreaker” in creative decision-making was nonetheless so important that speculation was rife that fellow founders Martin Gore and Dave Gahan might not be able to continue without him.

Ladytron, SWG3, Glasgow review - synth stars show time hasn't diminished their relevance

★★★★ LADYTRON, SWG3, GLASGOW Synth stars show time hasn't diminished their relevance

The quartet were thunderously loud and consistently danceable

It is a sign of Ladytron’s longevity and relevance that their support acts are now performers clearly inspired by the quartet. Elisabeth Elektra, here picked for opening the night in her home city, may not have the icy cool of the evening’s headliners, but the lineage of her buoyantly loud electro pop was clear.

At its best, she showcased a wickedly clear groove, at worst her vocal was submerged by the live drummer pounding away behind her. However it was a lively, enjoyable start to affairs.

Lucia and the Best Boys, SWG3, Glasgow review - a celebratory homecoming for rising star

★★★ LUCIA AND THE BEST BOYS, SWG3, GLASGOW Celebratory homecoming for rising star

The songstress and her band cut an entertaining but inconsistent performance

Jessica Winter is clearly a hardy soul. The Portsmouth singer made a point of shedding her jacket and top as her support set went on, a bold choice given the typically unpredictable Glasgow weather was serving up freezing snow outside at the time.