Chamayou: Cage² album review – each piece is a brightly coloured gem
Every phrase is perfectly articulated on this revelatory record that reminds us of the composer’s intrinsic originality and vivid imagination - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarMabe Fratti: Sentir Que No Sabes review – rich, rewarding, spellbinding music from a true original
The full-blooded and emotionally driven fourth solo album from the avant garde pop cellist is abundantly melodic, constantly surprising and unequivocally fantastic - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarCharli XCX: Brat review – insecurity-obliterating anthems by pop’s most human superstar
Beyond the sleaze, grinding bass and it-girl in-jokes, the British visionary’s sixth album is a masterpiece that understands how a hard persona can offer protection - Laura Snapes
starstarstarstarstarSibelius and Prokofiev Violin Concertos album review – freewheeling rapport never sounds forced
The violinist, orchestra and conductor find remarkable connections with each other, bringing expansiveness, risk and a spellbinding atmosphere - Erica Jeal
starstarstarstarstarLandless: Lúireach review – fans of Celtic music should flock to this stunning sound
Four powerful voices weave tender yet disquieting harmonies on a second album that honours bold women - Jude Rogers
starstarstarstarstarThou: Umbilical review – one of the finest metal albums of the past decade
Huge riffs, guttural vocals and fearsome intent create a formidable wall of sound in the US band’s maximalist, in-your-face sixth album - Harry Sword
starstarstarstarstarBring Me the Horizon: Post Human: Nex Gen review – a defining album of our digitally overloaded era
Despite losing a key member, the arena-filling pop-metal stars still thrill with their surprise-released new record – a masterpiece of glutted sonic mayhem - Ben Beaumont-Thomas
starstarstarstarstarElgar: Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 album review – warmth, refinement and conviction
These performances are as fine as any currently available on disc, and a testament to the deep musical relationship that Mark Elder’s has built over 24 years as director of the Hallé - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarBeth Gibbons: Lives Outgrown review – long-awaited solo debut is a gripping study of ageing and loss
In the Portishead singer’s singular, astonishing soundworld, these songs sit in autumnal gloom but are occasionally dappled with warmth and light - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarKnocked Loose: You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To review – hardcore punk’s dark stars go supermassive
The Kentucky metalcore quintet cleverly channel pop – and even reggaeton grooves – to create an album of crushing intensity and vast scope - Ben Beaumont-Thomas
starstarstarstarstarMdou Moctar: Funeral for Justice review – desert bluesman on incendiary form
The Nigerien guitarist and his virtuoso band set polemical fury to thrilling musicianship on this no-holds-barred release - Phil Mongredien
starstarstarstarstarYunchan Lim: Chopin: Études Op 10 & Op 25 album review – prodigiously gifted young pianist confirms he’s something special
The South Korean musician’s first recording for Decca features thrilling and original performances - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarClairo: Charm review – deeply human songs of desire and distance
Once known for lo-fi bedroom-pop introspection, the US songwriter embraces freedom to hit a breezy new high - Katie Hawthorne
starstarstarstarstarBeethoven: Complete String Quartets album review – up there with the best
The group’s complete Beethoven quartet cycle – brought together now ins a single set – showcases their characteristically clear and elegant style - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarBrahms: The Symphonies album review – less is more for Nézet-Séguin and the COE
With a smaller orchestra than standard, Yannick Nézet-Séguin bring litheness without diminishing any of the symphonies’ power or clarity - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarCassandra Jenkins: My Light, My Destroyer review – a beautiful, brooding delight
Following her breakthrough in 2021, the singer-songwriter has overcome self-doubt to deliver a diverse album where loneliness is set against cosmic wonder - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarHéloïse Werner: Close-ups review – from lip-smacking to lyrical
No sound is left unturned as the soprano-composer-musician and friends range from Barbara Strozzi to Errollyn Wallen and Werner’s own work - Fiona Maddocks
starstarstarstarstarOrquesta Akokán: Caracoles review – joyous Cuban dancehall
This hugely danceable reboot of the 1950s Cuban sound features slick solos and a Palo Mayombe priest on vocals - Neil Spencer
starstarstarstarstarNorma Winstone and Kit Downes: Outpost of Dreams review – bonded by jazz tradition
The esteemed vocalist and prolific pianist weave their sounds together in an album of exquisite songs and extraordinary empathy - John Fordham
starstarstarstarstarKiasmos: II review – will have you crying tears of joy on the dancefloor
The Icelandic-Faroese duo follow their 2014 cult debut with a second album of meticulous, majestic, simply beautiful electronic music - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarJanáček: The Excursions of Mr Brouček album review – eccentric opera has sparkle and muscle
Jaroslav Březina is characterful in the title role for this new studio recording, heading an excellent cast and orchestra who know this music inside out - Erica Jeal
starstarstarstarstarMishka Rushdie Momen: Reformation album review – beguiling and beautiful performances make the past present
The British pianist plays 16th-century keyboard works on a modern grand, making them feel fresh and new with a virtuosic light touch - Erica Jeal
starstarstarstarstarNduduzo Makhathini: uNomkhubulwane review – entrancing South African jazz
This three-movement album from pianist and shaman Nduduzo Makhathini’s trio combines blues, bop and folk song to transcendental effect - Neil Spencer
starstarstarstarstarJohnny Cash: Songwriter – posthumous patchwork is a pleasant surprise
(Mercury Nashville/UMe)A collection of songs recorded before the Man in Black’s 1990s Rick Rubin revival and reworked by his son has much to offer - Phil Mongredien
starstarstarstarstarDirty Three: Love Changes Everything review – aggressive and transcendent
On their first album in 12 years, Warren Ellis and co fuse violin, guitar and drums to create wistful beauty out of distortion - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarPeiriant: Dychwelyd review – iridescent soundscapes summon spirit of the mountains
Violinist Rose Linn-Pearl and sound artist husband Dan weave their artistry into a vivid collection evoking the natural wonders of their Welsh home - Jude Rogers
starstarstarstarstarSongs for Peter Pears album review – wide-ranging and lucid collection
Irish tenor Robin Tritschler presentation of songs written for Benjamin Britten’s professional and personal partner of nearly 40 years is a fine achievement - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarStradella: Mottetti album review – flair and style, brilliantly executed
The 17th Stradella is little-known today, but his music – and his colourful life – are well worth exploring - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarKolesnikov/Tsoy: Franz Schubert/Leonid Desyatnikov review – a piano duo of rare intimacy
Acute listening and sonic experiments with the Schubert masterpieces add immediacy, setting this recording apart - Fiona Maddocks
starstarstarstarstarKehlani: Crash review – the perfect sexy summer soundtrack
From innuendo-heavy anthems to soulful country, the Oakland singer rides the emotional rollercoaster on their fourth album - Michael Cragg
starstarstarstarstarLola Young: This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway review – winningly messy mix of zingers and vulnerability
The rising star covers all of pop’s bases with a refreshing scuffed charm - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarQOA: Sauco review – electro-acoustic jewels incorporate the sounds of nature
From the meditative serenity of waterfalls, birdsong and pulsing animal heartbeats to galloping tribal drums and rave-like samples, this is a pleasingly random collage - John Lewis
starstarstarstarstarA Song for You: Home review – soulful, spacious harmonies
The 50-strong Berlin-based ensemble showcases the power of many voices on a funk and gospel inflected debut - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarSam Morton: Daffodils & Dirt review – actor’s intoxicating trip-hop debut
Oscar nominee Samantha Morton teams up with label exec Richard Russell for an unnerving, dreamy album inspired by childhood trauma - Shaad D'Souza
starstarstarstarstarJohn Grant: The Art of the Lie review – grooving funk odyssey
The singer-songwriter brings in earthy bass lines and sensuous drum patterns on his playful, soulful sixth album - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarMalcolm Jiyane Tree-O: True Story review – emotive South African jazz with a bite
The latest album by Jiyane, of collective Spaza, wades into darker territory to reflect the reality of poverty in the country - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarJohn Cale: Poptical Illusion review – counterculture icon finds his fun side
Cale creates a sense of hope as he sets hard-won musical wisdom alongside dreamlike reflections in songs with synths, noise and hip-hop grooves - Dave Simpson
starstarstarstarstarRectangles and Circumstance album review – collaborative and gleefully eclectic collection
All five musicians share writing and performing duties on these 10 songs. The closing version of Schubert’s An die Musik is mesmerisingly beautiful - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarMahler: Symphony No3 album review – grandeur and beauty in Vänskä’s sober approach
Conductor completes his Mahler cycle with this unfussy and effective recording - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarPeggy Gou: I Hear You review – sparkling 90s-inspired dance
Irrepressible tracks abound on the hugely popular Korean DJ-producer’s debut album - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarKaytranada: Timeless review – guaranteed to make you move
The Canadian dance producer doesn’t lack for guests on a banger-filled, club-focused album - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarZara McFarlane: Sweet Whispers: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan review – terrific tribute to a jazz legend
The British jazz singer pays homage to Vaughan with earthiness and spontaneity: an animated reinvention of these classics - John Fordham
starstarstarstarstarJake Long: City Swamp review – mesmerising spiritual jazz channels Miles Davis and William Blake
rBilled as ‘a dystopian suite’, the drummer-composer’s debut solo album is an intense affair, with a stellar lineup that includes Nubya Garcia and Shirley Tetteh - Neil Spencer
starstarstarstarstarAyra Starr: The Year I Turned 21 review – magnetic Afrobeats
The Beninese-Nigerian singer-songwriter puts her big voice to work on a set of songs that are over all too soon - Kadish Morris
starstarstarstarstarK-Trap: Smile? review – terse, punchy raps-to-riches flow
The Brit-nominated south Londoner’s not quite debut album of trap and drill showboating flies by - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarRichard Thompson: Ship to Shore review – another collection of beautifully gruelling material
Life gives more grist to the mill of the veteran singer-songwriter, whose guitar playing remains as eloquent as ever - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarSchubert: String Quartets in G, D887 and B Flat, D112 album review – Takács take their time, this time
The group’s new recording of G major quartet is strikingly different from their intense 1997 recording, while the Haydnesque B flat is a model of good manners - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarSchoenberg: Expressionist Music album review – thoughtful and illuminating collection
Soprano Claire Booth and pianist Christopher Glynn turn to Schoenberg’s early and little known songs in this immaculate recording - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarKaia Kater: Strange Medicine review – Canadian banjo virtuoso packs a powerful punch
The Canadian-Grenadian singer-songwriter’s phenomenal playing underscores strongly personal and political themes on her superb fourth album - Neil Spencer
starstarstarstarstarPayne: Visions and Journeys album review – British composer steps out of Elgar’s shadows
Inspired by holidays that the late Andrew Payne spent in the Isles of Scilly, this three-part collection of his previously unrecorded scores evokes crisp musical images - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarBess Atwell: Light Sleeper review – poignant, dreamlike miniatures
This striking English singer-songwriter embraces life in all its complications on her classy third album, produced by the National’s Aaron Dessner - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarEzra Feinberg: Soft Power review – trippy, bucolic and playfully minimal
Feinberg has moved from psychedelic rock to a hypnotic romanticism that invites us to share in its gently throbbing pulses and heart-tugging beauty - John Lewis
starstarstarstarstarNathy Peluso: Grasa review – don’t overlook this Latin pop polymath
The Grammy-nominated Argentine–Spanish singer moves between snarling bombast, acoustic yearning and lavish salsa in her eclectic second album - Alim Kheraj
starstarstarstarstarPaul Weller: 66 review – sumptuous rumination on older age springs some surprises
In this elegiac 17th solo album made with guests including Noel Gallagher, Weller contemplates mortality with sun-dappled ballads – but there’s still an experimental edge - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarBillie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft review – could have hit even harder
An impeccable mix of haunted earworms, zinging lyrics and dancefloor delights that end too soon, the American superstar’s third album seems to pull back from tantalising new horizons - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarJasmine Myra: Rising review – gently insistent jazz
The alto saxophonist leans into her soft and subtle sound with newfound confidence on this second album - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarBeth Gibbons: Lives Outgrown review – the Portishead singer’s solo debut elegantly contemplates mortality
‘We all know what’s coming,’ sings Gibbons on an elegiac, folk-imbued record that’s been 10 years in the making - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarArooj Aftab: Night Reign review – all the heat and mystery of nocturnal life
Mercurial and moody soundscapes are infused with wistful romance in one of the Grammy-winning singer and composer’s most spirited records to date - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarMessiaen: Poèmes pour Mi; Chants de Terre et de Ciel album review – beguiling, soft-edged intimacy
The superb projection of Hannigan’s voice and the rainbow of colours in Chamayou’s piano lay bare the sexual desire and religious fervour prevalent in Messiaen’s early works - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarBillie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft review – still the great outlier of American pop
On this deeply involving third album, Eilish once again breaks the rules for arena-filling artists: it’s subtle and understated, yet jars the listener with eerie show tunes and explosive noise - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarLes Savy Fav: Oui, LSF review – New York post-punk oddballs make restrained return
The veteran five-piece’s first album in 14 years has flashes of the old thrill, but doesn’t quite hit earlier heights - Phil Mongredien
starstarstarstarstarYaya Bey: Ten Fold review – a free-ranging tribute
Bey’s latest, written in mourning to her rapper father Grand Daddy IU and featuring his voice, includes catchy dancefloor bangers alongside soulful odes - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarDehd: Poetry review – a sparkling dialogue with rock’n’roll history
The Chicago trio go back in time and dip into big-chorused Americana, slacker indie and vintage soul – all with real feeling - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarWadada Leo Smith and Amina Claudine Myers review – an elegiac homage to New York’s green lung
In their album Central Park’s Mosaics of Reservoir, Lake, Paths and Gardens the two musical soulmates impressionistically reflect on John Lennon, Albert Ayler and more - John Fordham
starstarstarstarstarBeethoven: Violin Sonatas 1, 6 and 8 album review – characterful and infectiously gleeful
The easeful interplay between pianist Alasdair Beatson and violinist Viktoria Mullova stands out on these three sunny sonatas - Erica Jeal
starstarstarstarstarSherratt/Drake: Fear No More album review – drinkably deep bass at his peak
For the singer’s first recital recording he goes to Hades with Schubert, chills with Mussorgsky and closes warmly with English songs - Erica Jeal
starstarstarstarstarDua Lipa: Radical Optimism review – a banger-filled missive from dating land
Talk of a new musical direction proves unfounded as the Grammy-winning singer’s third album shares more retro-inspired dance pop and lessons from her love life - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarRachel Chinouriri: What a Devastating Turn of Events review – a debut that’s better than it thinks
The new wave Britpop singer-songwriter includes a couple of old hits on an album that is in fact brimming with fresh ideas - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarKamasi Washington: Fearless Movement review – the sax star dials up the tempos
Input from George Clinton, André 3000 and Washington’s toddler daughter feature on his virtuosic, richly varied latest - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarJessica Pratt: Here in the Pitch review – retro pop with the feel of a forgotten classic
With her best songs yet, the Californian singer’s fourth album could transform her from fringe act to mainstream success - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarT Bone Burnett: The Other Side review – a radiant meditation
Inspired by new guitars, and with guest spots from Roseanne Cash and more, the US producer-musician contemplates love and mortality - Neil Spencer
starstarstarstarstarSt Vincent: All Born Screaming review – magnificently dark, heavy and loud
Recreating the noises in her head, Annie Clark’s first fully self-produced album ranges across styles and emotions, and is her most direct yet - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarPet Shop Boys: Nonetheless review – a great, fan-pleasing album
The duo’s first LP in four years finds them refining and updating their late-80s heyday sound, with a new producer in tow - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarKasabian: Happenings review – newfound concision and big choruses
Minus disgraced former frontman Tom Meighan the band are tighter, but their realignment feels like a work in progress - Phil Mongredien
starstarstarstarstarHeadie One: The Last One review – rueful memoir with party tunes attached
The north London rapper’s gritty honesty is his strongest suit on a guest-packed second album that juggles dance tracks with his troubled past - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarKasabian: Happenings review – pivot towards pop could almost be Coldplay
The lad-favourites shift into neon hues on their second Serge Pizzorno-led album, as knockout choruses face off against some disappointing filler - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarLil Yachty and James Blake: Bad Cameo review – a swing and a miss from the shapeshifting duo
The rapper and singer are both unafraid to confound fans by taking stylistic chances, but here their soulful ambition doesn’t quite gel - Chal Ravens
starstarstarstarstarLinda Thompson: Proxy Music review – rueful songs of love and ageing with an all-star cast
The extended Thompson clan, the Proclaimers and Rufus Wainwright are among those lending their voices to a moving set from a folk great - Neil Spencer
starstarstarstarstarKate Nash: 9 Sad Symphonies review – from first dates to crying in a car park
Pivoting from riot grrrl to baroque ruffles, Nash nonetheless retains her trademark unvarnished lyricism on her fifth LP - Jenessa Williams
starstarstarstarstarZemlinsky: Eine Florentinische Tragödie album review – adultery and murder in Renaissance Italy
Zemlinsky’s one-act opera benefits from John Lundgren’s powerful presence but sometimes underplays the emotive power - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarZsela: Big for You review – modern R&B with a leisurely, old-school charm
The American singer’s buttery voice comes to the fore on an arresting debut in styles ranging from Kate Bush to the Boss - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarNormani: Dopamine review – pop’s longest-awaited debut almost defeats the trolls
The ex-Fifth Harmony member was tipped for huge success until creative differences and personal strife set her back, but she has confidently regained her footing by leaning into R&B - Michael Cragg
starstarstarstarstarTo Sing of Love album review – sweetly glowing, beautifully coloured choral music
Partly set to medieval poetry, with eight singers and an orchestra boasting top soloists, these works pull heavily on the heartstrings - Erica Jeal
starstarstarstarstarGeeJay: What’s the Sun Without the Rain? review – charming UK jazz-soul
Melodic grooves and warm vocals unfurl on Gina Jane and Jacob Lobo’s debut album of originals contemplating new parenthood and more - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarPaul Weller: 66 review – the Modfather holds his ground with a little help from his friends
Noel Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie and Suggs chip in on this solid affair, which peaks with some smouldering sax - Phil Mongredien
starstarstarstarstarShaznay Lewis: Pages review – All Saints star returns with polished second solo album
Twenty years after her solo debut, Lewis delivers a mostly sumptuous set of turn-of-the-millennium-style pop - Tara Joshi
starstarstarstarstarZayn: Room Under the Stairs review – Nashville-produced minimalism suits him
The former One Direction singer continues to intrigue with an introspective, acoustic-leaning set with more highs than lows - Michael Cragg
starstarstarstarstarBeethoven: Complete Symphonies album review – perfectly adequate but perfectly forgettable
Though the sound is lean and bright, and the articulation of the strings wonderfully crisp, this rehash of Beethoven’s Symphonies lacks character and excitement - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarKings of Leon: Can We Please Have Fun review – polished but tired
The Nashville rockers still sound great, but their lyrics seem bereft of ideas - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarThe Jazz Defenders: Memory in Motion review – crackles with energy and skill
The third album from this classy Bristol quintet keeps things fresh with funky rhythms, moody moments, a bit of rap and one live duet - Neil Spencer
starstarstarstarstarGoblin Band: Come Slack Your Horse! review – rowdy, flamboyant folk
Born out of a London musical instruments shop where members worked, the Paul McCartney-approved band’s first EP is eager and theatrical, sometimes to a fault - Jude Rogers
starstarstarstarstarDua Lipa: Radical Optimism review – ‘psychedelic pop-infused’? Pull the other one!
The British superstar has said her new album is influenced by Britpop, rave culture and Primal Scream, but you could go mad trying to find the evidence - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarJustice: Hyperdrama review – an uncertain return to the dancefloor
The French producer duo attempt a return to their roots, but the results are a little too polished - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarMegan Thee Stallion: Megan review – rap skill showcase is a sour sermon on superiority
The feelgood fun of Hot Girl Summer and WAP has been replaced by icy tales of false friends, adultery and incessant betrayal in a broadly humourless, navel-gazing album - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarCamila Cabello: C,XOXO review – Havana star’s bad-girl reboot is totally unconvincing
Leaving behind gooey balladry and family-friendly fare, the US star’s reinvention owes a clear debt to Charli xcx but leaves her grasping for space on her own album - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarNxWorries: Why Lawd? review
The producer-singer duo’s sweet nostalgia-funk now has a sour vibe as .Paak switches between anger and self-pity - Stevie Chick
starstarstarstarstarAespa: Armageddon review – music is an afterthought in high-concept pop
Cutesy melodies, dubstep basslines, pop-punk and disco on the K-pop foursome’s debut album are outshone by their intriguing world-building, with interdimensional rifts and alien popcorn - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarEveryone’s Getting Involved review – tepid all-star Talking Heads tribute
Cult film company A24’s tie-in merch to the seminal documentary Stop Making Sense sounds either like karaoke or is wildly disconnected from the source material - Claire Biddles
starstarstarstarstarBrian: The Cenci album review – composer’s lack of flair for music drama all too evident
Havergal Brian’s third opera, a reworking of Shelley’s play of renaissance corruption and incest, sparks only intermittently into dramatic life - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarPorij: Teething review – dance music without drama or daring
The Manchester band sing about edginess and emotional danger, but never manage to give their beats any tension - Shaad D'Souza
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