Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Gracie Abrams's The Secret of Us gets served up as a special edition here and it marks her most expansive album yet. This ambitious project shows her growth as both a songwriter and vocalist and adds in already assured fan favourites like 'That's So True' and 'I Love You, I'm Sorry (Live From Vevo).' The record finds Abrams collaborating once again with Aaron Dessner and she also worked with her best friend Audrey Hobert on several tracks. Together they reflect the urgency of recounting a meaningful night to a close friend with live experiences over the past year shaping its narrative and sound. A nuanced pop album with plenty to explore.

Review: Sabrina Carpenter's latest release offers a mix of catchy pop melodies and introspective lyrics, perfectly captured on this limited edition olive green vinyl LP. Each track feels like a personal reflection, blending playful pop elements with deeper emotional moments. Carpenter's vocals transition effortlessly from light-hearted to deeply resonant, mirroring the complexities of self-discovery and relationships. With its honest lyricism and vibrant production, the album presents a refreshing take on pop. The indie-exclusive edition comes with a postcard, making it a must-have for collectors and fans who appreciate a blend of engaging music and tangible, personal touches.

Review: Robert Smith has always treated remixing less like revision, more like ritual i a habit that's followed him since his days in Crawley, West Sussex and then surfacing officially on the first Cure remix album, 1990's Mixed Up. This triple-disc release of reworkings from the band's latest LP Songs of a Lost World feels assembled with obsessive care, mapping out every possible mood lurking beneath the surface. There are club-ready flips, yes i Sally C, Danny Briottet and Gregor Tresher all push the rhythm forward i but they sit beside glacial pieces that feel more like haunted sketches than reworks. Mura Masa's take on 'All I Ever Am' is disintegrated almost beyond recognition, its vocal a flickering memory. Mogwai's 'Endsong' feels like the end of the world in slow motion. Even Chino Moreno turns in something striking i 'WarSong' morphs into a sludgy howl with heat-warped edges. But it's the sequencing that surprises: these aren't bolted together, but grouped in arcs, as though Smith were arranging the bones of an old idea into something still alive. Four Tet's version of 'Alone' is a high point i deeply textured but featherlight. Like all The Cure's output, what really matters is the feeling of being drawn somewhere, and Smith's hand never letting go.

Review: More than four decades after he first appeared in smudged eyeliner and a mop of jet-black hair, Robert Smith is still finding new ways to pull his music apart and stitch it back together. This new remix collection i assembled and curated by Smith himself i feels less like a victory lap and more like a restless dissection of a legacy he's still actively shaping. The collaborators here are hardly incidental: Four Tet, Orbital, Ame, Chino Moreno, Mura Masa, Trentemoller, Mogwai. It reads like a list built by someone still hungrily tuned into the present, not stuck in the past. And true to form, the results are all over the place i a feature, not a flaw. Some tracks lean into grandeur: Paul Oakenfold's take on 'I Can Never Say Goodbye' opens with all the sweeping melodrama you'd expect, while Daybreakers stretch 'WarSong' into widescreen synthwork. Elsewhere, Shanti Celeste and Ex-Easter Island Head bring a strange intimacy to 'Alone', teasing out its ache with a different kind of spaciousness. At times, you wonder if Smith enjoys seeing how far his work can be bent before it breaks. But it never does i even filtered through others' hands, his sense of tension, drama and deep emotional unease holds everything together.

Review: After a 16-year hiatus since 4:13 Dream, The Cure returns with the anticipated Songs Of A Lost World. The first single, 'Alone', marks a powerful resurgence for the band. Unlike the somewhat unfocused production of their last album, 'Alone' brings back the bold, expansive sound fans have longed for. It's a stunning track, filled with emotional depth and lush instrumentation, blending synth strings with chiming guitars. Robert Smith's voice remains as poignant and expressive as ever, defying time with its raw, emotive power. The song feels like both a return to form and a bittersweet farewell, hinting that this may be the band's swansong, while the five album songs trailed live in recent years, as swansongs go this is a hugely impressive one.

Review: The king of west coast hip-hop is back better than ever, with a massive sounding album blending cinematic production with nostalgic nods to funk, slow jams and new jack swing, creating a rich tapestry of different styles. At its core is a narrative of resilience and responsibility, exploring themes of artistry, sacrifice, and the pressures of being a role model. Opening with sharp reflections on personal and public controversies, the record sets a tone of wisdom tempered by humor. Tracks like 'Heart Pt. 6' showcase vulnerability and growth, while others revel in pure bravado, bolstered by thunderous beats and infectious hooks. Collaborations with seasoned producers and emerging talent add depth, creating a sense of community and mentorship that underscores the artist's commitment to nurturing the next generation. Lyrically, the album examines fame, familial bonds and self-acceptance with a sense of duty and truth. It's a powerful statement of intention, offering both anthems for celebration and moments of introspection.

Review: The Rolling Stones is the band that never dies, seemingly. All the members are truly ancient by now but - Charlie Watts aside - they keep on keeping on and after 18 years since the last they recently announced their new album. Hackney Diamonds came with its own playful viral marketing campaign and lead single 'Angry' which won plenty of plaudits. The full album is now here on CD with a note from front man Mick Jagger who said "we wouldn't have put this record out if we hadn't really liked it." It's a full on album full of very Rolling Stones sounding cuts that will get you up and playing along to the huge riffs.