Back catalogue: Pop

Review: Applying what we're all thinking in February 2021 to a kind of Netflix & Chill parody, Fickle Friends are definitely the most thematically fitting band of the month. The Brighton outfit join a long and esteemed list of British pop groups that manage to marry scathing, sarcasm, and bare-boned honesty with sweetness, beauty and universality. Providing you like those keyboards with a No.1-style glitter coating, of course.

Opening on biggest of the lot, 'What A Time', the troupe opt to get the most inescapably positive out of the way first before rolling out real variety. '92' is an icy cool, emotionally scarred (or scarring?) ballad, 'Million' is a stepping, rave-rock workout, with 'IRL' apparently made for sunnier times than the current UK winter, and finale 'Finish Line' closing out on a calming and uplifting tone that's not a million miles away from what some would describe as Balearic chill.

Review: Fleur is a firm favourite with fans and now teases the new upcoming album with a new 7" single that is going to resonate well with fans of acts like The Kinks, Holly Golightly and The Remains. The A-side, 'Nous Continuerons a Marcher Ensemble' kicks off with a sharp guitar riff and builds into a catchy, powerful chorus. The B-side, an exclusive to this 7", is 'Tu M'as Mise a Genoux' a fast-paced punk track driven by fuzz bass. Both of them are superb retro indie-pop bangers and have been penned by Mark ten Hoor of The Kryng, and he also recorded the backing tracks for this release.

Review: The famously fun loving and colourful pop queen Paloma Faith shows a whole new life with her latest album The Glorification Of Sadness. As the title suggests, it is a captivating exploration of melancholy transformed into artistry with her signature soulful vocals and emotive delivery from and centre. They find Faith navigate themes of heartbreak and resilience with raw honesty and theatrical flair as each track unfurls like a cinematic journey adorned with lush orchestration and poignant lyricism. It's an album of bittersweet beauty. From the haunting to the empowering, always with a poignant narrative that celebrates the complexities of human emotion.

Review: Finneas's Blood Harmony album was originally reals din 2019 and now gets a special deluxe treatment that spreads it across two slabs of blue wax with an original insert. It also includes a new version of 'Let's Fall in Love for the Night' entitled 'Let's Fall in Love for the Night (1964)' and 2018 single 'Break My Heart Again.' The album rather underperformed at first but has since grown in popularity with its contemporary pop production and Finneas's accessible lyrics resonating with fans old and new. 'I Lost a Friend' is a strong electropop ballad with minimal bass guitar, piano and drums under layered harmonies and is archetypal of this record's sound.

Review: This self-titled album from Fireboy DML is a deeply personal reflection of his journey through love, loss and self-discovery. Beyond a collection of songs, it captures years of artistic growth and the challenges of navigating life's complexities and is inspired by various forms of love - self-love, familial and romantic - so explores the emotional depth of human connection. In a world full of distractions, "adedemola" emphasises the importance of cherishing family, health and genuine relationships and is a call to embrace life's simple joys.

Review: 2006 was a very different time in rock 'n' roll. We'd cast off the Britpop and nu metal of the previous century's finale and millennium turn, and things had moved onto sounds that were far more sentimental, sometimes self-pitying and always hyper-emotional. This was true both of the rise of emo and hardcore resurgence, and the more chart (and advert)-friendly stuff coming from the likes of Keane and Coldplay. Over in the US, The Fray were looking to secure membership to that Closer-soundtrack worthy club and on their debut LP made a strong case for it. How To Save A Life features a number of powerful tracks, from the titular lead single to the piano-vocal showstopper, 'Hundred'. Moving enough to become the best selling digital album of all time, at the time (only trumped by Eminem's Recovery in 2010), here it is in physical form.

Review: Like many of us, Fred Again keeps a diary. But rather than writing in a journal, pager or Notes app, his diary takes the unusual form of an intensely personal album series, 'Actual Life'. The second instillment in the series hears him once again weave through Londonized R&B, future garage and pop-electronic, charting an 8-month period looking into an intensely difficult period of his life, in which the artist was confronted with a complex case of grief.

Review: Fred Again seems to be one of the most talked about artists of the year. Part of that centers around the astonishing Boiler Room set he served up, but also plenty of credit is due for the music he makes. A lot of that is summed up here on Actual Life 3, the third installment of his series after the previous two back in 2021 and recent collabs with the likes of Swedish House Mafia and Future. It shows off his mastery of a range of different sounds and scenes across 13 fun and fresh tunes that are backed with emotive beats and catchy hooks as well as some standout vocals.

Review: Fred Again's latest album Actual Life 3: January 1 - September 9 2022 is the third installment in a series of albums by the British artist which has received positive reviews from music critics and been praised for its experimental sound and emotional depth. The LP features songs that document his personal experiences and thoughts over a period of time. His musical style can be described as a blend of electronic, dance and pop with introspective and emotive lyrics, often incorporating samples from various sources, including personal recordings to create a unique and eclectic sound. The album features collaborations with various artists, such as Kieren Hebden, Jamie XX and Skrillex, among others.