Hold On Now, Youngster is the proverbial promising debut, brimming with attitude, ideas and oomph. We await their next move with interest.

Deerhunter's latest features more pop melodies and fuzzy soundscapes, forsaking the raw, intense sound we all love.

Icky Thump is freighted with moments of frazzled virtuosity yet may prove excessively outre for most palettes.

Beautiful, but never callow, here is an album to fall slowly in love with.

This collection sees Levon return to his roots to reinterpret classic songs from his childhood and pay homage to those who influenced him along the way.

Beautiful, arcane, unsettling--and that's only the cover. White Chalk isn't so much a record, as a great effort at dragging you into another world.

Overwrought second album from Glaswegian indie quartet.

Despite their reputation as torch-bearers of the new post-rock prog, it lacks the outrageousness of the ‘70s version of the genre and there’s an earnest sameness to these pieces that render much of it tedious beyond belief.

Warm-hearted folk pop from New England.

Hook-laden agitprop combines with slinky beats on outing number ten from The Roots.

The mangled electronic hailstorm is unrelenting, but it is also perversely enjoyable and infectious.

What’s most remarkable about the record is its incredible level of musical cohesion – it’s like the trio never stopped playing together.

Too cool for school? Maybe. But if Liars aren’t anybody’s idea of easy listening, by gum, they’re never dull, and for that, we salute them.

A sophisticated gentleman does a poo.

The new record sees him pushing his songbook to extremes in entirely unexpected fashion.

US production whiz hires SFA mainman, perfect pastiche synth-pop ensues.

Comprising 11 beautifully varied trad numbers, The Rocky Road is a big-hearted tribute to the enduring power of Irish folk songs.

Electro-pop wizards deliver cracking third album.

West crosses genres with wilful and speedy abandon, taking the listener on an epic quest where the journey is just as enjoyable and unpredictable as the destination.

Steady as she goes from the indie institution.

This grand musical quest is often fruitless, and leaves this listener wondering what might have been, had the group demanded less of themselves.

The group have kept their sound surprisingly fresh incorporating some welcome sonic refinements, without making any great creative leap or departure.

Accelerate is patchy at best, with only the blaring finale, ‘I’m Gonna DJ’, really catching the attention.

And as folksiness, indieness and bittersweet mournfulness set the tone, it also becomes apparent that this is much better than the words ‘folk’ and ‘indie’ on their own suggest.

Astonishing new album from ex-Immediate wunderkind.

Neil doesn’t do things by halves. His words and melodies are, like Roy Orbison, Cecil B De Mille scaled. That said, there are more than a few points where he misses the mark.

Piano playing songwriter straight out of a ‘70s dinner party.

Chicago duo ride to the rescue of hip-hop--on pimped up BMXs.