April 1: MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE... - Easy Life
I kicked things off with Leicester's coolest alternative band, Easy Life, and their sophomore LP MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE.. . The group's distinctive blend of indie pop and hip-hop can be heard throughout, alongside frontman Murray Matravers' tongue-in-cheek wordplay, touching on themes like hypothetical love and overindulgence. While the album doesn't quite live up to the sharpness of their debut, there's still plenty of fun to be had with this one.
Standouts:
OTT
BEESWAX
MEMORY LOSS
April 2: Spirits Having Flown - Bee Gees
Riding off the back of their success on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, Bee Gees dropped their hugely successful Spirits Having Flown. Having never sat down properly with one of their albums, I shouldn't have been surprised to recognise a fair few of the tracks on here - the British brotherly trio simply write massive hits. The iconic falsetto vocals accompany the infectious disco beats on every song, this is an absolute ball.
Standouts:
Tragedy
Reaching Out
Search, Find
April 3: A Different Kind Of Fix - Bombay Bicycle Club
Listening to A Different Kind Of Fix, you'll find yourself whisked away into a gentle and glistening headspace. Bombay Bicycle Club utilise a dreamy electric guitar ensemble that powers every track forward, backed up by similarly dreamy vocals, and a collection of world instruments. The album is reminiscent of Arcade Fire's early sound; there's just this underlying grandeur that can be felt throughout which feels rare to come by.
Standouts:
Beggars
How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep
Your Eyes
April 4: SCARING THE HOES - JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown
Two of the most inventive hip-hop artists on the scene – JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown – come together with their loud and unapologetic sound on SCARING THE HOES. While this does almost feel like a JPEGMAFIA album with features from Danny Brown (JPEGMAFIA produced the whole thing), the pair's styles are so complimentary of each other that it works regardless. The beats are erratic and the bars are eccentric, for fans of either this is a real winner.
Standouts:
Steppa Pig
Burfict!
Kingdom Hearts
April 5: Vertigo - Groove Armada
Kick back and relax to the smooth electronic sound of Groove Armada. The English duo incorporates gentle beats with a range of samples from throughout musical history, and here and there top things off with some soft horns. It's very easy to get lost in the tracks, each with a rather long runtime, and with the more upbeat dance tunes thrown in here and there, you're pulled back into reality, ready for a boogie.
Standouts:
Dusk You & Me
If Everybody Looked the Same
At the River
April 6: Trouble Will Find Me - The National
The National's sound is a gentle one, drawing on the grungey sounds of Mazzy Star and Portishead, while bringing a little more energy. Frontman Matt Berninger's may not be the strongest out there, but there's an honesty to this which is also found in the lyrics, providing overall an intimate listening experience. I'm surprised the band has slipped my radar for so long, since their influence on the alternative rock scene is pretty evident on Trouble Will Find Me.
Standouts:
I Need My Girl
Don't Swallow the Cap
Graceless
April 7: CrasH Talk - ScHoolboy Q
ScHoolboy Q is, at this point, a mainstay among the modern American hip-hop icons, and his most recent LP, CrasH Talk, is yet another testament to that. The album is absolutely littered with bangers, and ScHoolboy's flow and witty lyricisms are a recipe for a good time. Fine-tuned trap beats and a number of solid features keep the momentum in full flow from start to finish, with a few low-key tracks in there acting as breaks from the action.
Standouts:
Numb Numb Juice
Floating
Lies
April 8: SOUR - Olivia Rodrigo
From Disney Channel to festival headliner, Olivia Rodrigo climbed to pop superstardom in a matter of years. Her debut album, SOUR, is a breakup album with notable influences from Billie Eilish and Avril Lavigne. Lyrically, the album is fairly one-note, hardly deviating from an ex-partner of Rodrigo's. That said, the artist clearly has an absolute knack for songwriting, with plenty of catchy hooks from start to finish. There's a long career ahead for Rodrigo, for sure.
Standouts:
drivers license
good 4 u
happier
April 9: Be-Bop-A-Lula - Spinvis
Dutchman Spinvis is an artist I was completely unaware of, but while scrolling through Spotify the intriguing artwork of his latest album, Be-Bop-A-Lula, caught my eye and I had to give it a click. This album touches base with a variety of different sounds, opening up with an electronic banger, then proceeding to veer into indie and folk. Think LCD Soundsystem in an alternative universe where he was born in the Netherlands.
Standouts:
Tingeltangelhersenpan
Paradijs
Icarus
April 10: Fin De Siecle - The Divine Comedy
Neil Hannon's The Divine Comedy provides a baroque pop sound that never fails to put a smile on my face, and Fin De Siecle is no different in this respect. The album provides a tongue-in-cheek commentary on modern British life in such a theatrical fashion that one wonders why Hannon has never written a musical. The broad range of instrumentation used brings with it an epic scale - there's an absolute confidence that can only be admired.
Standouts:
Thrillseeker
National Express
The Certainty of Chance
April 11: Lust For Life - Iggy Pop
I'll never be able to listen to the opening track and album's namesake, Lust For Life, without picturing the incredible opening Trainspotting scene. Just as it works for a film, so too is it a brilliant introduction to the 'Godfather of punk', Iggy Pop. The producer credit from David Bowie is clear throughout, as the album brings in flavours of proto-punk and more operatic pop. The spoken word angle on a couple of the tracks also works brilliantly, as Pop delves more into a storyteller mode.
Standouts:
Lust For Life
The Passenger
Fall In Love With Me
April 12: Parallel Lines - Blondie
New-wave head runners Blondie are iconic in many ways, and Parallel Lines is a clear example of this, from its album cover to its many hits. A satisfying blend of pop and rock, the album boasts some feisty guitar solos and head-jamming basslines. Vocalist Debbie Harris brings so much character in her style and tone, with a voice that has become instantly recognisable thanks to the album's biggest hit, One Way Or Another.
Standouts:
Sunday Girl
Heart Of Glass
11:59
April 13: IV - BADBADNOTGOOD
The Canadian instrumental ensemble, BADBADNOTGOOD manage to navigate any genre they please seamlessly on IV. One could say it's a jazz-focused album, but elements of hip-hop, post-punk, rock and psychedelia can be heard throughout. An array of impressive vocal features help bring even more life to some of the tracks, but the strength really lies in the instrumentation below. I'll be seeing these guys at a festival later this year and I can't wait.
Standouts:
Speaking Gently
Lavender
In Your Eyes
April 14: Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Bon Iver's self-titled sophomore entry had a lot to follow up on after the huge acclaim of For Emma, Forever Ago. While I personally wouldn't quite count it in the same league, there's still plenty of beauty to take away from Bon Iver. Vernon's dreamy indie folk sound is ever-present, with a tracklist mostly made up of plays on place names. Treading into some new sonic territory was definitely a step in the right direction for Vernon, though, paving the way for an esteemed career in music production.
Standouts:
Holocene
Michicant
Calgary
April 15: MOTOMAMI - ROSALIA
ROSALIA has skyrocketed to superstardom seemingly overnight, aided by the universal success of her latest album, MOTOMAMI. Spanish-born but taking influence from genres across the globe, MOTOMAMI is an intoxicating blend of reggaeton, hip-hop and pop. ROSALIA's provocative outlook and refusal to be categorised may be one of the secrets to her massive success - or it may just be her fantastic songwriting abilities.
Standouts:
SAOKO
LA FAMA
CHICKEN TERIYAKI
April 16: Both Ways Open Jaws - The Dø
Having been introduced to French-Finnish electro-pop duo – The Dø – earlier in the year with their album Shake Shook Shaken, I thought I'd delve deeper into their discography with Both Ways Open Jaws. A bias of frequency may have me favouring the former album, but their experimental approach to forging unique pop music is on full display here, as Olivia Merilahti's vocals float gracefully over the rogue beats of Dan Levy.
Standouts:
Slippery Slope
Dust It Off
Too Insistent
April 17: The Fall of Hobo Johnson - Hobo Johnson
Rapper/spoken word artist Hobo Johnson is a wholly internet-cultivated artist. His tongue-in-cheek style and striking music videos make clear he's a musician who knows how to have fun at the same time as making some bangers. That said, there's plenty of vulnerability on The Fall of Hobo Johnson, as he delves into lost love and anxieties about modern America. There's a little bit of everything on offer here.
Standouts:
Typical Story
You & the Cockroach
Happiness
April 18: Drunk On A Flight - Eloise
Newcomer Eloise provides smooth beats and some beautiful vocals on her debut album, Drunk On A Flight. The album's title evokes the same feeling that the tracklist provides - a dreamlike nature with the artist/listener on some trip to a new destination. Lyrically, it's a breakup album and doesn't stray too far from this theme, but Eloise's poetic ability with words is enough of a draw to keep you listening.
Standouts:
Drunk On A Flight
Therapist
Vanilla Tobacco
April 19: Love, Damini - Burna Boy
Although he hails from Nigeria, Burna Boy's music has become so synonymous with British culture that one may be mistaken for believing he's one of our own. Being a pioneer of the afrobeat/dancehall sound – which is so popular here – this comes as no surprise. On his latest LP – Love, Damini – Burna Boy delivers a 19-strong tracklist of feelgood tunes, celebrating life's simple pleasures, as well as his rise to success. This'll have you head-nodding to every song without even realising.
Standouts:
It's Plenty
Kilometre
For My Hand
April 20: Let's Dance Raw - Shintaro Sakamoto
This is an album I was recommended by a friend – which I think I'd never have come across otherwise – but the cover alone produces enough intrigue to click 'play' on this one. Let's Dance Raw is the second solo project from Shintaro Sakamoto, who had previously fronted the psychedelic rock band Yura Yura. Those psychedelic elements are on full display here, as Sakamoto takes you into this eerily gloomy world that the album cover alludes to. This sounds like the end of the world taking place on a tropical beach.
Standouts:
Extremely Bad Man
Let's Dance Raw
Why Can't I Stop
April 21: Fever To Tell - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I've so far only been familiar with Yeah Yeah Yeahs thanks to the A-Trak remix of their track Heads Will Roll. As I'll be seeing them at a festival later this year, I thought I'd give them a proper listen. Their debut, Fever To Tell, has all the elements of an early 2000s garage rock album: scratchy vocals, loud guitars and edgy lyrics. At least on this first listen, nothing really stood out to me to explain their acclaim, though I can imagine they put on a fun live performance.
Standouts:
Black Tongue
Y Control
Maps
April 22: The Crane Wife - The Decemberists
The Decemberists may hail from Portland, Oregon, but they have the air of a classic English folk band. The Crane Wife is a gentle album with a sweet storytelling aspect, drawing the listener into The Decemberists' imagination. Harmonic vocals sit atop the mostly acoustic instrumentation, and as I made my way through the album, I almost felt myself whisked away into some nostalgic pastime in a faraway place.
Standouts:
Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)
Sons & Daughters
The Crane Wife 3
April 23: Still Bill - Bill Withers
Bill Withers is one of those few artists who just seems to have universal acclaim and popularity. Instantly recognisable, soul-filled vocals dominate Still Bill and rightly so - it's what everyone's here for. Of course, this does not totally distract from the clinical production quality, combining infectious basslines, dramatic strings and some quieter piano pieces. The album also includes arguably the most beautiful song about friendship ever written.
Standouts:
Who Is He (And What Is He To You)?
Use Me
Lean on Me
April 24: Twin Heavy - Willie J Healey
I first saw Willie J Healey seven years ago in a tiny pub in Guildford, but for some reason had never properly revisited his music since there. His most recent album, Twin Heavy, is a testament to just how far his songwriting skills have come - this is a fully realised and super-polished indie rock album. Healey's deep vocals are soothing and familiar, alongside some brilliant, often musical-like tunes. Yet another artist I'll have the pleasure of seeing live this summer.
Standouts:
Condo
Fashun
For You
April 25: Bismillah - Peter Cat Recording Co.
The Dehli-based five-piece, Peter Cat Recording Co., have a musical style that is difficult to define; there's soul, there's dance, and there's a whole lot of good energy. Vocalist Suryakant Sawhney sings with comforting ease, accompanied by a selection of suitable instruments - the horns are my favourite touch. The cover aptly fits the album's tone, a celebration of life, bursting out like the bubbly from the bottle.
Standouts:
Soulless Friends
Memory Box
Floated By
April 26: Stumpwork - Dry Cleaning
I've got to say, the cover art for Dry Cleaning's Stumpwork fills me with a serious uneasiness, and as the first track begins, it feels as though that uneasiness is going to carry on into the music. In fact, the South London group's post-punk, spoken-word sound is refreshing and intriguing. Lyricist Florence Shaw has an observational style that is unequivocally British; when you can make meal deals sound poetic, you're on the right track.
Standouts:
Gary Ashby
Conservative Hell
No Decent Shoes For Rain
April 27: Butterfly 3000 - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
For a band that never seems to take a day off with multiple album releases a year, there was plenty of choice when picking a King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizzard record to listen to. Butterfly 3000 shows off all these psych-rocking Aussies' abilities, with a selection of songs that flow seamlessly from one song to the next. The falsetto vocals help fuel the hypnotic guitars and synths, overall evoking a feeling of being in some crazy, vivid dream.
Standouts:
Catching Smoke
Shanghai
Dreams
April 28: Ends & Begins - Labrinth
Outside of Euphoria soundtracks and the L.S.D collaboration project, London's own Labrinth is not an artist who just drops an album any day of the week. His latest record, Ends & Begins is powered by the Hackney-born singer's soul-filled style, with some slick electronic/hip-hop production that feels a long way from his debut, Electronic Earth, which dropped over a decade ago. Even with his Euphoria success, Labrinth remains a sorely underrated artist.
Standouts:
Never Felt So Alone
Covering
Kill For Your Love
April 29: no sleep in LA - blackwave.
You could be mistaken for thinking this Los Angeles-inspired album was the work of city locals upon hearing their accents, but in fact, the hip-hop duo who make up blackwave are Belgian. Origins aside, no sleep in LA is a pretty standard hip-hop album, with some clear influence from the likes of Brockhampton and blackbear. Ultimately, though, nothing here really stands out, but it does feel like a suitable soundtrack to a feel-good movie or a Fifa game.
Standouts:
recluse
good day
a-okay
April 30: Jackman. - Jack Harlow
The Kentucky-based rapper who rose to the top of the hip-hop ladder in a few short years, Jack Harlow, comes in with a surprise drop of this third studio album, Jackman. The whole thing has more of a mixtape feel than his previous release which felt super-refined, but here Harlow returns to his sonical roots. Classic hip-hop beats and his charming, tongue-in-cheek bars provide twenty-four minutes of easy listening that has me as prepped as ever for a big summer.
Standouts:
Ambitious
The Don't Love It
Denver
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