Life Has Not Finished With Me Yet may not be the most instantly-gripping Piano Magic LP, however when granted some mandatory immersive listening its enveloping and eclectic embrace is hard to resist.

This is a transitional album, it seems: there are a lot of attempts here to do something new, not all of them successful. Still, it will be exciting to see what they transition to.

The band resorts to an 18-set record simply because everything is indisputably necessary and furthermore, solid gold.

Continuing to mystify audiences with ethereal, oft-experimental electronic music, Shackleton delivers one of the finest jewels of 2012.

Dreamy at times (Crawlersout), with shimmering synths and picturesque melodies, there is a haunting beauty, almost terrifying, that surrounds the listener, almost as if one is sitting inside a sonic cocoon while taking it all in.

Segall takes us on a tour de force that is short and succinct in nature and delivery: the music swells with an infinite amount of pulse and drive and supported by Segall's remarkable ear for melody, it's simply another winner in his long-standing discography.

Liars have created another standout album that while dissimilar from the rest, is nothing short of amazing and nothing of a surprise from such an exceptional band.

Vastly rich... Ocean's voice is a thing of beauty – clear, crisp and almost, divine – he speaks of truth in an unabashed manner.

There is a subtle grandeur to George Lewis Jr.'s voice and musical nature.

This is music to celebrate life with and to joyously fashion because it's certainly amazing.

With Port of Morrow Mercer digs deep in forming a polished and almost, muscular relationship with the music.

Laswell and company have crafted something deeply personal and profound, and it's destined to be a milestone in his career.

This could be a rare Giant Sand LP that manages to be both sophisticated and sprawling. Overall, Tucson is destined to be labelled as a 'must-keep' for those struggling to house their vast Giant Howe collections.

With synths that convey the techno side behind Scuba's music, Rose allows the songs to flow within each other by way of carefully-placed transitions. There's a strong ear for melody and a terrific depiction of the sunny summer month.

This is the stuff of Hollywood film soundtracks, and Gahan's robust baritone is a perfect fit for the proceedings.

Whilst there are a few archetypal GBV misfires inside Class Clown Spots A UFO – brought about by scattershot recording fidelity and a small imbalance in the quantity over quality ratio – overall it is still a solidly-carved collection.

This summer, don't just think about going surfing, listen to Strange Heaven instead.

Here We Go Magic certainly sound fantastically magical on A Different Ship. It's a definitive kind of feel and one that deserves proper recognition; they've delivered a remarkable album.

Although The Lost Tape might lack some consistency in places and the live material might have been better served on a separate collection, overall this is a richly rewarding treasure trove for the ever increasing number of Can fanatics across the globe to hunt down immediately and devour.

From track to track, there is a progression that not only befits their name but their musical endeavors.

It's not so much "old sad bastard music," as Barry described it--more like charmingly puerile lullabies.

Malcolm Middleton's position as Scotland's premier musical prankster is more or less entirely cemented by the time the final notes of Human Don't Be Angry fade off into the ironically romanticised Caledonian sunset of Malcolm Middleton's wryly expressed musical imagination.

Although Violens is a bit remarkable for capturing such a specific sound ...its scope is a bit limited. The trio utilizes the same tones and mostly the same approaches throughout, resulting in only the smallest level of uniqueness for each track.

The Bravest Man in the Universe doesn't need much of a buffer as it quietly approaches its essence with backing tracks, loops, bouts of acoustic guitar and piano all holistically orbiting around the central component of the album, Womack's unblemished vocals.

A refreshingly new take on classic indie guitar rock.

Fields sounds commandingly assured with songs that ache and bristle with lush convictions.

Ultimately, Tarot Classics is a fun and welcome addition to any existing Surfer Blood fan's catalogue, even if it is unlikely to win over any new fans.

The depth of Sioux's technical skill is palpable and worth the listen.