Back catalogue: Pop

Review: American superstar The Weeknd really went big with the guests on 'Popular', his dynamic r&b and pop hit from 2011, by enlisting none other than Madonna and Playboy Carti. As a breakout hit from his mixtape era, it showcases his seductive charm and magnetic presence, drawing listeners into his world of late-night escapades and hedonistic pleasures with infectious beats and smooth vocals that exude confidence and swagger and set the stage for his meteoric rise to fame and influence in the years to come. Flip it over and on the back of this Kiss Classics 7" you will find the equally effective 'Starboy' featuring Daft Punk.

Review: It's never easy to have a huge breakthrough single and then keep the momentum. But Tom Walker, who shot to massive fame and acclaim through the 2018 hit 'Leave A Light On', seems to have managed it pretty well considering he's gone five years between first record, What A Time To Be Alive, and the September 2024 follow-up, I Am. That's an age in modern music's relentless march and production line gutter ethics. I Am is certainly a case of picking up where things left off on the last long form. The track list is a mixture of hyper emotional main stage acoustic-electronic pop balladry, and quiet piano-vocal solos seemingly poised over your bleeding body, ready to cut heartstrings with a love letter from the loss of your life. Elsewhere, EDM and hip hop-hued uptempo numbers make a similarly big impression. Comparisons to Ed Sheeran still ring true, then, but that's not to say there's nothing new happening here.

Review: Walt Disco are evolving. Lead vocalist Jocelyn Si, drummer Jack Martin, synth player Finlay McCarthy, bassist Charlie Lock, and guitarist Lewis Carmichael challenged norms with their debut album, Unlearning. Their new record, The Warping, reflects shifting identities, blending memory and future, and exploring younger selves and imagined personas. Written across the Atlantic, from Los Angeles to Glasgow, the album builds enhances their cinematic glam with orchestral musicians, creating a sound both organic and sophisticated. The album addresses personal themes with radical honesty, especially exploring gender dysphoria and envy. Despite a hostile world, especially for queer and trans people, Walt Disco remains resilient.

Review: Robbie Williams remains a towering presence on the British and world pop scene despite some of his more amusing and irreverent antics in the last few years. XXV is his latest album, a 13th overall, and finds his classic hits newly orchestrated by Jules Buckley, Guy Chambers and Steve Sidwell. They have all been re-recorded with the acclaimed Metropole Orkest and as well as the many well-known tunes is 'Lost', a new and original composition and single that shows off Robbie doing what he does best - characterful pop with plenty of hooks.

Review: The late, great and still sorely missed Amy Winehouse performed one of her famously absorbing live shows at Presqu'île de Malsaucy, Belfort, France for the Eurockeennes de Belfort Festival on June 29th 2007. Four years before her death, it was when she was quite possibly in the form of her life, before her battles with addiction and mental health woes truly took hold and she was able to dig into her emotional reserves and translate that through the mic. That means her renditions of the likes of her own classic tracks 'Back To Black', 'Valerie' and 'Rehab' have rarely sounded better.

Review: Amy Winehouse - The BBC Sessions captures the raw brilliance of the late British singer during her most formative years and across some magical sessions for the Beeb. The album compiles live performances from various radio shows, each of which showcases Winehouse's soulful voice and magnetic stage presence, and all recorded between 2004 and 2009. The sessions feature stripped-back renditions of her iconic tracks like 'Rehab' and 'Love Is A Losing Game' as well as covers that highlight her deep musical roots in jazz and soul. This is a fine behind-the-scenes look at the great artistry and emotion of one of the greats of the last 50 years.

Review: Marking the 15th anniversary of Amy Winehouse's live performance at Glastonbury in 2007, the full set recording is now available on vinyl to purchase. Greatest hits in the late Camden-native's catalogue played live with a 6 piece band, 16 classics like 'Tears dry on their own' and 'Back to black' from her 2 albums are pressed on this double LP. The latter performance being watched on YouTube almost 8 million times, the raw vocals are incredible and a reminder of what made Amy Winehouse the legend that she is. This record is an indisputable must-have for collectors this year.

Review: To celebrate the return of the Glastonbury Festival in 2022 and mark the 15th anniversary of an iconic moment, Island Records served up Amy Winehouse's 2007 Pyramid Stage performance for the first time. This unforgettable set saw the troubled genius headline on June 22nd and it was her debut on the Pyramid Stage. She entranced audiences as ever with her soulful voice and electrifying presence and later that day, she also graced the Jazz World Stage and once again wowed those in attendance with another heartfelt and raw performance. The album now gets reissued and commemorates a milestone in Amy's career as well as a chance to relive the magic of her timeless sound.