Michael Kiwanuka: Small Changes review – an exquisite return
Five years on from his self-titled Mercury winner, the singer-songwriter scales things down to potent effect - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarTchaikovsky: The Seasons album review – exquisite care and ego-free piano playing
Bruce Liu’s performance is superbly polished, but wonderfully free of mannerisms, giving these charming salon pieces the respect and sincerity they deserve - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarLinda Catlin Smith: Flowers of Emptiness album review – compelling beauty and quiet intensity
The composer’s ever evolving chamber music is captured here in eight works from 1986-2024, showcasing a singular voice - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarLaura Marling: Patterns in Repeat review – a tender love letter to motherhood
Domestic contentment radiates through the singer-songwriter’s eighth album celebrating the circle of life - Lisa Wright
starstarstarstarstarHandel in Rome review – Nardus Williams sounds heart-stoppingly lovely
This collection of youthful but complex cantatas written by the composer in Italy is a showcase for the outstanding British soprano - Erica Jeal
starstarstarstarstarSibelius: Violin Concerto, Serenades, Humoresques album review – James Ehnes at his sublime best
The star violinist gives a muscular yet sensitive account of the composer’s only concerto, alongside other works for violin and orchestra - Fiona Maddocks
starstarstarstarstarThe Cure: Songs of a Lost World review – dark, personal and their best since Disintegration
The band are at an artistic peak on their first album in 16 years: movingly melancholic, with a punchy sound to match the lyrics’ emotional impact - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarCharli xcx: Brat and It’s Completely Different But Also Still Brat review – her lime-green imperial phase is unstoppable
(Atlantic)Big-name guests abound on a thrilling remix album that takes a glimpse into celebrity’s heart of darkness but makes it transcendently fun and cool - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarBruckner: Symphony No 7 album review – Jurowski’s live recording is one to cherish
Marking the centenary of the composer’s birth, this recording of the 1944 Haas edition sees conductor and orchestra combine to create an effortless natural flow - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarDaniel Inzani: Selected Worlds review – unhinged, exhilarating adventures in genre-hopping
In his first major solo release, the pianist and composer explores the very different sides to his musical personality across three contrasting but connected LPs - John Lewis
starstarstarstarstarFloating Points: Cascade review – an enthralling record of out-and-out bangers
The eclectic British producer returns with a more dance-focused album laden with giddy modular synths - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarNusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party: Chain of Light review – rediscovered raw emotion of a qawwali genius
The late, great musician confirms his mastery of the Sufi tradition in a hitherto unheard and surprise-laden cycle that soars with spirituality - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarElgar: Violin Concerto album review – Vilde Frang’s exceptional performance makes this one of the finest to appear on disc
In a startling, authoritative performance of Elgar’s demanding masterpiece, the Norwegian violinist and Robin Ticciati are utterly convincing - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarHuw Montague Rendall: Contemplation album review – young opera star justifies the buzz
The debut album from the British baritone lives up to the hype, showcasing his velvet and nuanced singing with room to spare - Erica Jeal
starstarstarstarstarNick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Wild God review – this masterpiece will make you fall back in love with life
Contemplating pain, death and suffering, rock’s former prince of darkness finds euphoria despite it all, on an album of contagious joy and thrilling melody - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarGillian Welch and David Rawlings: Woodland review – 10 exquisite songs of loss and love
Named after their Nashville studio, hit by a tornado in 2020, the duo’s first album together in 13 years picks its impeccable, old-time way through personal and social upheaval - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarSchumann: Works for Oboe and Piano album review – beautifully effective reinventions
This eight-work record, some pieces arranged by Daniel, is a dream – despite most of the pieces not being originally written for the performers’ instruments - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarFontaines DC: Romance review – arenas await, but on the band’s own strange terms
On their most approachable album the Irish rockers add pop melodies, nu-metal touches and lush orchestration – while their troubled view of the world remains - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarRosie Lowe: Lover, Other review – freewheeling styles that all add up
The British singer’s third album slinks from bossa nova to breakbeats with aplomb - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarMilton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding: Milton + Esperanza review – Brazilian giant finds a new groove
The 81-year-old singer’s collaboration with the US jazz bassist reworks past songs in lively and expansive ways, masterfully blending their exciting voices - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarWayne Shorter: Celebration Volume 1 review – first posthumous LP is a true classic
This 2014 live recording of the saxophonist’s late-career quartet showcases one of the great modern jazz bands and the enthralling genius of their leader - John Fordham
starstarstarstarstarAigul Akhmetshina: Aigul album review – mezzo from Bashkortostan is an insouciant star
Her debut solo recording perfectly showcases the glowing expansiveness, swagger and breathtaking poise of Akhmetshina’s arresting voice - Erica Jeal
starstarstarstarstarLang: Composition as Explanation album review – Gertrude Stein set to music
David Lang has created a freewheeling concert/lecture mashup based on a 1926 Gertrude Stein lecture and ushered into being by the imperious Eighth Blackbird - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarBerwyn: Who Am I review – should be on the national curriculum
With devastating directness, the Trinidad-born London artist depicts his struggles with UK immigration, fusing visceral poetry, dark humour and a crackling R&B croon - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarChamayou: 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
starstarstarstarstarSt Vincent: All Born Screaming review – the unmasking of a great American songwriter
Are we finally seeing the real Annie Clark? Replacing alter egos with raw immediacy, she delivers one of her best albums: restlessly inventive and packed with ideas - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarStill House Plants: If I Don’t Make It, I Love U review – inspiringly fearless and free art rock
Powered by Jessica Hickie-Kallenbach’s astonishing singing, the British trio explore Dilla-time funkiness and math-rock detail - Ben Beaumont-Thomas
starstarstarstarstarBeyoncé: Cowboy Carter review – takes country music by its plaid collar and sets it on fire
The Texan superstar’s eighth album is a thrilling 27-track journey through and beyond America’s roots music, and it feels like a genuine feast - Michael Cragg
starstarstarstarstarFabiana Palladino: Fabiana Palladino review – sublime 80s pop innovation meets 21st-century chaos
The musician’s long-gestating debut album melds killer tunes to grimy distortion and the scuffed gloss of Jam and Lewis-era Janet Jackson, and marks the flowering of an original pop voice - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarNico: The Marble Index/Desertshore review – an unforgettable trip to a very dark place
These two reissued solo albums from the German singer have a fearsome reputation – but they offer an experience like no other - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarSam Lee: songdreaming review – a moving tribute to Albion’s troubled soul
Disquiet pervades the folk singer’s self-written fourth album, with romantic love and awe of nature holding out against ecological collapse - Neil Spencer
starstarstarstarstarCharles Lloyd: The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow review – sax legend shows no sign of slowing down
The octogenarian joyfully whispers and warbles his way through sublime tone poems, impassioned tributes and traditional spirituals with an all-star band - John Fordham
starstarstarstarstarBrittany Howard: What Now review – an outrageously great album
Dancefloor bangers, vintage soul, joyous funk… the winningly candid Alabama Shakes frontwoman mixes it up to perfection on her second solo album - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarSam Gendel and Fabiano do Nascimento: The Room review – a tender, complex modern classic
The shapeshifting LA-based saxophonist and Brazilian guitarist’s LP is a bossa-tinged celebration of their instruments - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarThe five-star albums we missed in 2023 – from Jane Remover to Jalen Ngonda
Albums highly rated, but not reviewed, by our writers this year include debuts from Sanam, Priya Ragu and Current Affairs – and Lil Yachty’s genre-hopping return - Tayyab Amin, Ben Beaumont-Thomas, Alexis Petridis, Rosie Solomon, Aneesa Ahmed, Stephanie Phillips, Michael Cragg, Laura Snapes, Dave Simpson and Sasha Mistlin
starstarstarstarstarPeter Gabriel: i/o review – a glorious, late-career masterpiece
Gabriel’s first album of new material for 20 years considers the human condition with air-punching choruses and magnificent quieter moments - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarSchumann: Piano Quartet; Piano Quintet album review – period instrument perfection
This pairing of Schumann’s larger-scale chamber works has lightness and clarity, the instruments are beautifully balanced - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarRavel: Daphnis et Chloé album review – generations will thank John Wilson for this glorious recording
Ravel’s ballet is infused with Hollywood golden age lushness by Wilson’s outstanding handpicked supergroup Sinfonia of London - Erica Jeal
starstarstarstarstarMonteverdi: Tutti I Madrigali album review – Alessandrini has achieved something truly outstanding
Twenty-eight years in the making, Rinaldo Alessandrini finally completes his wonderful survey of Monteverdi madrigals, and the complete set is a joy to behold - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarBlack Pumas: Chronicles of a Diamond review – swaggers from the speakers
On the Texas soul revivalists’ game-raising second album, co-writers Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada cast the familiar in a scintillating new light - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarTaylor Swift: 1989 (Taylor’s Version) review – subtle bonus tracks add new depths to a classic
Swift’s revamp of her 2014 smash is her most faithful re-recording yet: a time capsule enhanced by pertinent cutting room floor tracks that show she never goes out of style - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarØXN: CYRM review – Irish folk debut full of unsettling dark magic
Featuring grisly trad tales, striking vocals, two members of Lankum and shades of PJ Harvey, this is a compelling record from Claddagh’s first signing for nearly two decades - Jude Rogers
starstarstarstarstarArmand Hammer: We Buy Diabetic Test Strips review – an exceptional record
With contributions from Segal, Shabaka Hutchings and more, rappers Billy Woods and Elucid bleakly fizz on an album that deserves your full attention - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarCorinne Bailey Rae: Black Rainbows review – an extraordinary new sound
Rock, jazz, Afrofuturism… the British singer-songwriter is transformed on this record inspired by Chicago’s archive of Black art - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarMitski: The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We review – a songwriter with stunning melodic power
Playing country-inflected orchestral pop with sardonic wit and deep feeling, Mitski underlines why she’s one of the very best singer-songwriters working today - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarRóisín Murphy: Hit Parade review – a masterful album with an ugly stain
To DJ Koze’s warped soul and dub techno, Murphy examines unrequited love and the ecstasy of being seen for who you are – a theme that jars with her recent comments about trans kids - Laura Snapes
starstarstarstarstarThe Gentle Good: Galargan review – mesmerising Welsh folk songs for summer’s end
Gareth Bonello’s latest album sees him excavating his homeland’s folk classics, interpreting each with drowsy, melancholic voice, guitar, cello and piano - Jude Rogers
starstarstarstarstarTyshawn Sorey Trio: Continuing review – genre-hopping triumph from award-winning drummer
Standard-song jazz interpretations by this group, helmed by drummer, composer and improviser Sorey, just don’t sound like anybody else’s - John Fordham
starstarstarstarstarKenneth Hamilton Plays Liszt, Volume 2: Salon and Stage review – classics reworked for piano with tremendous verve
Pianistic flair and technical brilliance are the hallmarks of this winning record, in which Hamilton delivers Liszt’s transcriptions of works by Schubert, Wagner and others - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarGrace Carter: A Little Lost, A Little Found review – worth the wait
The British soul-pop singer’s first EP in five years is an ambitious, sophisticated work that makes the most of her affecting voice - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarGabriels: Angels & Queens review – sensational second chapter from the retro-future soul trio
Proud and seductive, part two of the UK-LA band’s debut album is a wonder from start to finish - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarAnohni and the Johnsons: My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross review – piercing heartache
Recorded at speed, Anohni’s first album since 2016 adds a soulful swagger to poetic, cathartic rock - Michael Cragg
starstarstarstarstarJulie Byrne: The Greater Wings review – a stunning study of love and loss
Recorded both before and after the death of a friend and collaborator, the US singer-songwriter’s new album feels as though it sits outside time and space - Ben Beaumont-Thomas
starstarstarstarstarVarious artists: A Collection of Songs in the Traditional & Sean-Nós Style review – Gaelic sadness and longing
Recorded in pubs, kitchens and community halls, these old Irish songs are a thrilling reminder that the voice needs no technology to move us deeply - Jude Rogers
starstarstarstarstarAmaarae: Fountain Baby review – sexy, sparkling dream pop
Drawing on a whole world of sounds, the Ghanaian American’s second album proper is a summery delight - Tara Joshi
starstarstarstarstarChristine and the Queens: Paranoïa, Angels, True Love review – a grief-stricken masterpiece
A howl of despair sublimated into beautiful experimental pop, the artist’s fourth album is his best yet - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarSpeakers Corner Quartet: Further Out Than the Edge review – flawless hymn to fusion
This long-awaited debut from the south London spoken-word night house band is rich in guests and dark, downbeat textures - Ammar Kalia
starstarstarstarstarSparks: The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte review – one artful banger after another
Overflowing with delicious melodies and lyrics to match, the Mael brothers’ 26th album is all hits, no misses - Phil Mongredien
starstarstarstarstarPaul Simon: Seven Psalms review – a surprise and a revelation
The veteran singer-songwriter ponders faith and mortality in seven beautiful, impressionistic movements - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarNaïssam Jalal: Healing Rituals review – cinematic album salutes the natural world
A remarkable artist, the visionary flautist and her skilful partners have created a startling album that draws on techniques from classical, jazz, hip-hop and more - John Fordham
starstarstarstarstarOvermono: Good Lies review – certified bangers galore
The Russell brothers mix weapons-grade nostalgia with two-step, trap and sped-up vocals in a set full of emotional ambushes - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarThe Lemon Twigs: Everything Harmony review – rarely has stark despair sounded so lovely
With their classic late-60s songwriting and beautiful harmonies, the New York duo have never mined the past more effectively than on this fourth album - Ben Beaumont-Thomas
starstarstarstarstarJessie Ware: That! Feels Good! review – 21st-century disco packed with personality
The retro mood of Ware’s brash pop never feels like a costume, as her tight melodies, killer choruses and dry humour wear vintage details with style - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarEverything But the Girl: Fuse review – still staking out pop’s frontier after 40 years
Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt have absorbed the revolutions in dance and electronic music since their previous album in 1999, and shaped them into melancholic, finely detailed stories - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarAvelino: God Save the Streets review – long-awaited debut sets the bar high
The London rapper shines on a powerful set of urban stories and mea culpas - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarBoygenius: The Record review – Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus blaze with feeling
The US indie-rock supergroup skewer the male ego on this magnificent meeting of harmonies and minds - Tara Joshi
starstarstarstarstarJames Holden: Imagine This Is a High Dimensional Space of All Possibilities review – a dance album like no other
With his fourth album, the acclaimed British producer has created the vintage rave soundtrack he would have wanted as a teenager. The result is magnificent - Kitty Empire
starstarstarstarstarEddie Chacon: Sundown review – delightful career renaissance for former one-hit wonder
The 59-year-old singer of Charles & Eddie fame is back with a second album of tightly written melodies and abstract tracks that draw you in to a rich, heady world - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarBlack Country, New Road: Live at Bush Hall review – magical resurgence by this odd little chamber orchestra
The six-piece’s first new material without frontman Isaac Wood, recorded over three nights in London, proves their malleability and resilience - Ben Beaumont-Thomas
starstarstarstarstarLankum: False Lankum review – folk radicals get in touch with their softer side
Without diluting their power or abandoning their gothic intensity, the Dublin group’s fourth album lulls the listener with songs of exquisite softness and deeply affecting harmony - Jude Rogers
starstarstarstarstarLigeti: Metamorphoses review – Quatuor Diotima meet quartets’ challenges with accuracy and brilliance
Superlative renditions of the composer’s two string quartets illuminate his musical transition from communist Hungary to the western avant garde - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarShana Cleveland: Manzanita review – a perfectly woven tapestry of musical delight
Baroque psychedelia mingles with west coast pop and gothic folk in this dazzling third solo album from the La Luz frontwoman - Michael Hann
starstarstarstarstarPuccini: Turandot review – rare bonus material and vibrant playing make Pappano’s version stand out
Puccini’s original score was ‘finished’ by Franco Alfano, whose additions are heard uncut on this dramatic all-star recording - Erica Jeal
starstarstarstarstarMasego: Masego review – behold a wizard at work
The multitalented Micah Davis returns with a signature blend of trap, house and jazz that is nothing short of magical - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarSlowthai: Ugly review – the unravelling psyche of a true British great
Fusing rap, alt-rock and abrasive electronics, the Northampton rapper mints a sound all his own on his third album - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarSchubert: The Piano Trios, etc review – wonderful swan song from Lars Vogt
The late pianist is outstanding in these last recordings, accompanied by his longtime collaborators, the violinist Christian Tetzlaff and his cellist sister Tanja - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarGaz Coombes: Turn the Car Around review – genial English rocker’s best album in 20 years
The former Supergrass frontman’s gorgeous, heartfelt new songs are intoxicating - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarThe Murder Capital: Gigi’s Recovery review – superlative downbeat rock thrills
The Irish post-punk band go bigger and deeper on a second album that exudes muscular drama - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarSamia: Honey review – blackly comic indie-rock confessionals
On her second album, the Nashville-based musician dwells on broken relationships, toxic behaviour and addiction all too relatably - Michael Cragg
starstarstarstarstarSay She She: Prism review – boundary-busting discodelic soul
The Brooklyn trio conspire to produce an idiosyncratic album that ranges from drum-machine funk to small-hours sublimity - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarWhite Lung: Premonition review – a blazing farewell of love and anger
The punk band go full pelt for their final album, a set livid with worldly disgust and bitter humour - Emma Garland
starstarstarstarstarVince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas (Super Deluxe Edition) review – a festive classic
No one expected these songs of off-key melancholy, imperfect singing and seasonal disappointment to succeed, but nearly 60 years on, the jazz pianist’s masterpiece endures - Alexis Petridis
starstarstarstarstarSaunders: Skin; Void; Unbreathed review – important music, superbly delivered
Brilliantly sculpted textures, sometimes intensely fragile, sometimes furiously wrought, show Rebecca Saunders to be one of the leading figures of European music today - Andrew Clements
starstarstarstarstarSault: Aiir, Earth, Today & Tomorrow, Untitled (God), 11 review – an act of supreme generosity
The esteemed collective release five dazzlingly eclectic albums, melding rap, post-punk and modern classical composition - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarEzra Collective: Where I’m Meant to Be review – brilliant follow-up from the inventive party band
This sophisticated second album from the five instrumentalists could just see them cross over to the big league - Kate Hutchinson
starstarstarstarstarThe Beatles: Revolver Special Edition (Super Deluxe) review – experimental genius in real time
New details tease out songs’ deeper meanings and reveal their transformational journeys in this expanded, remixed and remastered album - Annie Zaleski
starstarstarstarstarLoyle Carner: Hugo review – a beautiful, blistering masterpiece
The disarmingly open Londoner rapper tackles identity, mixed-race roots and relationships on his richly introspective third album - Damien Morris
starstarstarstarstarOne Leg One Eye: And Take the Black Worm With Me review – gorgeousness and menace
Lankum mainstay Ian Lynch’s debut as One Leg One Eye is an immersive world of created sounds and raw, resonant singing - Jude Rogers
starstarstarstarstarTaylor Swift: Midnights review – small-hours pop rich with self-loathing and stereotype-smashing
With its confident songwriting and understated synth-pop, Swift’s sophisticated 10th album indicates that she no longer feels she has to compete with her peers - Alexis Petridis
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