CD: PP Arnold - The New Adventures Of…

Impressive though belated comeback from the ever-distinctive soul stylist

After 15 seconds, it’s obvious who The New Adventures Of… is by. PP Arnold’s instantly recognisable, slightly cracked yet melodic, gospel-informed voice weaves through “Baby Blue” like a bird navigating thermal air currents. The song itself is no slouch too.

Blues in the Night, Kiln Theatre review - hard times, hot tunes

★★★★ BLUES IN THE NIGHT, KILN THEATRE Sharon D Clarke leads a steamy, soulful musical revue

Sharon D Clarke leads a steamy, soulful musical revue

It’s too darn hot, BoJo is in Downing Street, and we’re all going to Brexit hell – so we might as well sing the blues. Or at least take a night off from the apocalypse to enjoy a virtuoso company singing them for us in this rousing revival of Sheldon Epps’ 1980 musical revue, which showcases jazz greats like Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen.

Stevie Wonder, BST Hyde Park review - the Master Blaster steps out

★★★ STEVIE WONDER, BST HYDE PARK Songs in the key of life, even in adversity

Songs in the key of life - even in adversity - with Lionel Richie as warm-up act

Day two of the seventh BST Hyde Park concert series, and despite darkening skies the rain held off until the last hour or so, at which point anything else would have seemed inappropriate – for Stevie Wonder was about to tell us that in September he is to have a kidney transplant.

CD: Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana

Exploring the depths of Californian noir on ultra-accomplished rap album

Don't let the presence of nerds' favourite Madlib on production duties fool you: this is a big bad bastard of a West Coast rap record. It's a cocaine-wholesaling, n-wording, gun-toting, dog-eat-dog-ing, murderous bastard of a rap record, in fact. The narratives are of jail cells, money laundering, betrayal and domination. When talk turns to politics, it's couched in terms of brutal power, paranoia and “puppetmasters”.

CD: Foy Vance - From Muscle Shoals

Latest from Northern Irish singer-songwriter emulates '60s southern soul with waning results

Endlessly gigging Northern Irish performer Foy Vance's profile first rocketed after touring with fellow singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. The pair became pals, Vance went onto support the likes of Elton John, and signed to Sheeran’s Gingerbread Man Records. His fourth album is the first of a themed couple paying tribute to the southern US roots of popular music (the other will hail from Sam Phillips Studios in Memphis).

CD: The Waterboys - Where the Action Is

Mike Scott muses on his youthful musical, literary and geographical influences

Mike Scott has never been afraid to call on high-brow literary influences in his songwriting – 2011’s An Appointment With Mr Yeats album being the most obvious example. Now, almost forty years (on and off) into the Waterboys’ career, Scott takes a more all-encompassing view on the influences that have fired up his literate yet soulful rock’n’roll: be they musical, geographical or bookish.

CD: Lizzo - Cuz I Love You

★★★★ LIZZO - CUZ I LOVE YOU The self-love album of the summer

Minneapolis singer-rapper offers up the self-love album of the summer

Cuz I Love You starts with a big, bold, black-and-white soul moment, an album title hauled from the heavens via the lungs of an extraordinary pop star. It’s a stunning rush of feeling from Lizzo, the Minneapolis-based singer and rapper, alone in the spotlight before a brass band kicks in.

theartsdesk on Vinyl 49 - Part 1: Keith Richards, Asian Dub Foundation, Popul Vuh, Nirvana, Cage the Elephant and more

THE ARTS DESK ON VINYL 49 Keith Richards, Asian Dub Foundation, Popul Vuh, Nirvana & more

The largest, most wide-ranging monthly record reviews on the planet

Due to exciting matters beyond theartsdesk on Vinyl’s control there’s been a slight delay to this month’s edition but, never fear, to ensure we cover all that’s juicy, we’re doing a special two-volume version, with Part 2 coming next week. Watch this space.