Kamaal Williams

Wu Hen

Black Focus / Warp

Jazz

On his second date as a leader, the keyboardist and producer offers a variety of familiar genres and styles as building blocks for a new sound.

— Thom Jurek

Jessy Lanza

All the Time

Hyperdub

Electronic

The Hyperdub artist's third album is characterized by a stronger emphasis on lyrics and a sturdier post-disco R&B foundation.

— Andy Kellman

PJ Harvey

Dry: Demos

Island / Universal

Pop/Rock

The demos of the singer/songwriter's brilliant debut album let the beautiful, nimble bones of its songs stand on their own.

— Heather Phares

Shirley Collins

Heart's Ease

Domino

Folk

The British folk icon returns to the recording studio to create a strong, confident, and forward-thinking album at the age of 85.

— Mark Deming

The Naked and Famous

Recover

Somewhat Damaged

Pop/Rock

The Los Angeles-based New Zealand-bred synth pop outfit pares down to a duo for their effusive, uplifting fourth album.

— Matt Collar

Diana Ross

Supertonic: Mixes

Motown

R&B

Tasteful and concise house remixes of nine classics, 1970-1980, executed by Eric Kupper.

— Andy Kellman

Ellen Allien

Auraa

BPitch Control

Electronic

Ellen Allien's third album in as many years plays like the journal of an extraterrestrial encountering Earth for the first time.

— Paul Simpson

Manfredo Fest

Brazilian Dorian Dream

Far Out / Far Out Recordings

Jazz

Privately pressed in 1976, this set lives up to the "holy grail" hype with a perfect beat-centric fusion of jazz, funk, samba, and classical harmony.

— Thom Jurek

Lori McKenna

The Balladeer

CN Records

Folk, Country

The veteran singer/songwriter turns in another reliably poignant and warmly crafted collection with a deeply personal feel.

— Timothy Monger

Neon Trees

I Can Feel You Forgetting Me

Thrill Forever

Pop/Rock

The band returns from a six-year hiatus with haunted yet catchy songs about the toll 2020s love takes on the heart and soul.

— Heather Phares

Nicolas Bougaïeff

The Upward Spiral

Novamute

Electronic

A startling set of complex audio constructions that challenge the conventional framework of techno.

— Paul Simpson

Winter

Endless Space (Between You & I)

Bar/None Records

Pop/Rock

Peacefully dreamlike and melancholy album that skillfully blends the softness of dream pop with the sonic overload of shoegaze.

— Tim Sendra

Even as We Speak

Adelphi

Discos De Kirlian / Shelflife

Pop/Rock

On their first new full-length since 1993, this Australian indie pop band rewire their fuzzy pop sound into something more futuristic and daring.

— Fred Thomas

Various Artists

NWOBHM Thunder: New Wave of British Heavy Metal 1978-1986

Cherry Red

Pop/Rock

Cherry Red pulls another three discs' worth of lovingly curated, mostly obscure New Wave of British Heavy Metal gems from the forge.

— Timothy Monger

André Bratten

Silvester

Smalltown Supersound

Electronic

Bleak, alien soundscapes taking unexpected inspiration from Conrad Schnitzler's contribution to the first Mayhem EP.

— Paul Simpson

Laurence Pike

Prophecy

The Leaf Label

Electronic, Jazz

The Australian improviser developed these pieces for drum kit and sampler in reaction to the bushfires that ravaged his home country.

— Paul Simpson

Courtney Marie Andrews

Old Flowers

Fat Possum Records

Country, Pop/Rock, Folk

A hushed, understated breakup album that can function as a soothing balm.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Snowgoose

The Making of You

Ba Da Bing Records / Glass Modern

Pop/Rock

The second album from these Scottish folk-rock advocates blends British cool and American warmth and twang with gorgeous results.

— Mark Deming

Crack Cloud

Pain Olympics

Tin Angel

Pop/Rock

By promoting inclusiveness and affirmation, Pain Olympics demonstrates that working together can forge beauty from chaos.

— Liam Martin

Howling

Colure

Counter Records

Electronic, Pop/Rock

RY X and Âme's Frank Wiedemann find common ground in confessional indie folk and minimal techno on their second album as Howling.

— Paul Simpson

Kent Nagano / Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

Penderecki: St Luke Passion

BIS

Classical

An exciting performance of Penderecki's mid-1960s masterwork, paying equal attention to its modernist and traditional aspects.

— James Manheim

Thomas Dausgaard / Seattle Symphony Orchestra

Nielsen: Symphony No. 1; Symphony No. 2 The Four Temperments

Seattle Symphony

Classical

Crack performances by Dausgaard and the Seattle Symphony of Nielsen's little-heard first two symphonies.

— James Manheim

Arabella Steinbacher / Münchener Kammerorchester

Four Seasons: Vivaldi, Piazzolla

PentaTone Classics

Classical

Fresh, energetic modern-instrument readings of the Vivaldi-Piazzolla Four Seasons pairing.

— James Manheim

Dana Zemtsov / Anna Fedorova

Silhouettes

Channel Classics

Classical

Highly listenable, often beautifully lyrical playing in works from the broad neoclassic French sphere.

— James Manheim

Lorelei Ensemble / Beth Willer

David Lang: Love Fail

Cantaloupe

Classical

An austere, minimal work using various texts to describe a failed love affair receives brilliant performances from Lorelei Ensemble.

— James Manheim

Thomas Dunford / Jean Rondeau

Barricades

Erato

Classical

Extremely compelling, unique interpretations of French Baroque works on lute and harpsichord.

— James Manheim

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