
Her understanding of rock'n'roll, gospel, folk and country has a profound depth.

Venerable Texan jazz-pianist offers a soulful set.

An ambitious work, and all of its aims have surely been fulfilled.

Cranky, clanky, lo-fi business from the Sic Alps member on his latest solo album.

Master musicians combine to create an orchestra of ultimate dimensions.

British reedsman furthers his reputation for mixing tradition with experimentation.

Minimalist brutality meets rich arrangements on Merrill Garbus’ second album.

Ben Chasny’s solo venture continues to tackle folk as if the 1970s never ended.

Drum'n'bass topped by cool horn statements and mournful string parts.

He manages to make downer sentiments sound rather cheerful.

This guest-strewn project lacks the magic of previous Quincy classics.

He deftly shunts between cathartic blow-outs and sensitive washes of melodic emotion.

An uncomplicated package for the uninitiated.

Its emotional resonances hover on the right side of poignant.

Its strongest point is its deeply sustained moodiness.

He doesn't usually need any star guests, but we're glad this lot turned up anyway.

Perry’s intuitively creative personality permeates every one of the collection's 44 songs.

Atlas’ new, precisely ornamented disc has an optimistically melancholic character to it.

A lightness of rhythmic touch is the main character of these improvised pieces.

Quality tunes from the time before Maal entered his major label phase.

Her original compositions sound like standards already.

Winston Rodney’s first album to attract acclaim beyond Jamaica reissued with bonus dubs.

Lowdown lyrics meet guitar frazzle on the group’s latest long-player.

The four-piece’s new album delivers a sustained sense of open-mouthed surprise.

A typically international project from the Senegalese star.

Songs which reinforce a formula, but it's ACR's very own.

Embraces the blues with authority, creativity and innovation.

A mixture of uncompromising rap and populist soulfulness, often playing side-by-side.

Surely set to be one of the Pixies main man’s strongest solo albums.

A single-toned album that does little to differentiate its maker from many peers.

A retro vibe can’t prevent these songs from crackling with energy.

A versatility that produces a new band style, drawn from many quarters.

Marking a decade of one of the UK’s best independent labels.

Contrast is Gemini's not-so-secret weapon.

Their musical language is varied, but based on funk, jazz and soul.

Its orientation isn't as folkloric as initial impressions might suggest.

Ford is one of the blues’ funkiest, jazziest practitioners.

This may well find the trumpeter a fresh, mainstream audience.

Acid funk with nods to Prince, Donna Summer and Funkadelic.

Revel in this fresh musical immersion.

A bumping together of nostalgic soul and funk moves.

Imagine a team-up between Jon Hassell, Brian Eno and Level 42.

A prevailing mood of relaxation, albeit with a constant background aura of quiet tension.

A transgressive sound, full of bent notes and shiny contortions.

A valuable exhumation of live material.

Supremely calming without being in any way bland.

Call them an avant rockaboogie death jazz supergroup, then duck for cover.

Definitely not for jazzers who dig swallowing heavy roughage.

This disc is exciting enough, but Elephant9's full damage is probably done during a...

This entire second-half run has a sustained momentum that lends the listening...