The band's fourth album has a more focused approach and sound, yet still reaches the same shoegaze-y heights as previous works.
Whether it's moody hip-hop or moody electronica depends on the track, but Alias' 2014 effort is dark and down all around.
The ever-evolving artist delivers a rich, single-mike classic with a set of Handsome Family covers.
Andris Nelsons leads the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in three of Richard Strauss' most popular symphonic poems.
Furious drum machines and fierce lyrics combine on the drag queen's delicious debut.
Electro and funk elements energize Black Banana's second album, making for some of Jennifer Herrema's most engaging post-Royal Trux music.
Split EP from two very different extreme French bands reveals the blackened bridge between them.
In the wake of his father's death, Mould explores his own mortality in this powerful, vital album.
Acclaimed composer's debut album blends his atmospheric present and his indie rock past.
Chad Hoopes plays violin concertos by Mendelssohn and Adams, which have striking similarities, despite their obvious stylistic differences.
Sonically adventurous fourth album full of layered synths and poetic gravitas.
Four albums from Martin Newell's homemade pop project reissued in this box set, including the superb Living with Victoria Grey.
Must-have anthology of the influential jazz trumpeter's albums for Blue Note in the 1950s.
The band's second full-length is a warmer, more relaxed, and relaxing, take on synth-driven, dream-inducing indie pop.
These blues-haunted, brooding love songs are predicated on twisted desire, tragedy, and the need to escape. Killer.
Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin give a frank reading of Elgar's Symphony No. 2, which reveals the composer's nostalgia and anxiety.
The leaders of Half Japanese and Danielson Famile join forces for this joyous embrace of the power of positive rock & roll.
The Blasters' founders pay homage to the iconic bluesman Big Bill Broonzy in their first studio collaboration since 1985.
A swinging hard bop and soul-jazz-inflected date that harks back to classic '60 and '70s Blue Note albums.
The third LP by this proprietor of artful, new wave-inspired pop is more shimmering, laid-back, and honest than his previous work.
The South African electro-freakshow duo return with an album as wild and wonderful as their debut.
The third offering in 18 years from the bandoneonist's "family band" is as timeless and accessible as it is complex and modern.
A deep and different alternative to Major Lazer, Vadim's electro-meets-rasta album is also excellent.
Walton's Toccata for violin and piano is beautifully paired with Dallapiccola's Tartiniana seconda for a tour de force effort.
The sophomore Soundway outing from this group ecstatically explores a range of Caribbean rhythms through rock, electro, and psychedelia.
Late-in-the-game triumph for the band, with brilliant production from Youth and lovely vocals by Ian McCulloch.
The Canadian hardcore band continues to reinvent punk rock on its revelatory fourth album.
Three inspired voices from the outer reaches of jazz converge on this date; a must for followers of improvisation and free jazz.
Olivier Messiaen's Turangalîla-symphonie has become his best-known orchestral work, and this SACD from Ondine is one of the finest recordings.
Though the prolific actor waited until he was 88 to release his debut as a singer, it was well worth it.
On their third outing the Norwegian trio explore hard rock more aggressively than ever before, but maintain their ties to electric jazz.
Strongly recommended for those interested in new experiments with music that incorporates popular elements, but is not "crossover."
Heavy on deep 1977-1983 selections, the fourth mix from the London-based DJ crew is another set with novice and expert appeal.
The indie R&B project's sprawling third album is its most ambitious and natural-sounding work yet.
The former White Stripes leader gets weird again on his second solo album.
The respected singer and songwriter says a great deal with simple means on this set of songs about love and relationships.
The ambitious singer and songwriter melds soul, jazz, funk, and rock to create a dizzying, provocative new collection.
Cellist Julian Steckel and pianist Paul Rivinius offer fresh readings of not-overly-familiar French repertory here.
Lengthy sophomore effort from this Congolese collective spans over 100 minutes of dense, joyous music.
La Ritirata employs period instruments and authentic techniques in the string quartets of the "Spanish Mozart," Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga.
Hollywood pop star moves into more patient and jazz-inflected moods on this Dan Auerbach-produced album.
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A relaxed but no less joyous set from Matt Cutler, his second album for Belgium's mighty R&S.
The band's first album as a trio strips away the noise, revealing them as first-rate purveyors of swooning synth pop.
This is an exceptional Mozart Requiem for anyone with any sympathy for what the 19th century brought to the work.
Markus Stenz and the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln present Mahler's Symphony No. 6 in an extraordinarily detailed recording on hybrid SACD.
Martijn Deykers' all-analog third album offers his richest amalgamations of house, techno, and dubstep yet.
This song cycle about the end of a love affair is unlike any other "heartbreak and healing" album; its songs border on the profound.
The band moves deliberately toward hard rock with more crafted songwriting and hooks, but keeps their bag of enormous riffs intact
Musically and emotionally a subdued continuation of Devil's Halo and Weather, this involves some of the underappreciated artist's rawest songwriting.
Two master guitarists from different generations come together in Lisbon, letting its magic inform these lovely improvisations.
The Brooklyn outfit takes a more sophisticated studio approach to its disco and synth pop fixations.
Miranda tries to be everything to everyone on her fifth album and comes awfully close to succeeding.
From raw house to smooth downtempo material, an even-handed sampling of all seven albums from George Evelyn and co., Warp's most enduring act.
Their second album is streamlined, angry, full of undimmed passion and fire, and also quite catchy and fun, just like the group's debut.
The Brooklyn art-poppers deliver an impressive and challenging second album that unwinds over repeated listens.
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It's excellent, but production from Brooklyn's Dre Skull means this isn't your everyday dancehall debut.
Debut album from D.C. post-punkers carries on their hometown's lineage of catchy mutant punk excellence.
In another excellent offering, the band showcases why it is one of the most consistent and dynamic outfits in contemporary blues.
The thrill of his early days meets wiser lyrics and layered ideas on the indie rapper's 2014 album.
A grand, sweeping album of traditionally minded soul driven by the enduring top-tier producer, featuring key turns from Ne-Yo and Corinne Bailey Rae.
The songwriter's Oliver Wood-produced set is his leanest-sounding and most diverse musically, though blues remains at its heart.
On his third ECM date, the Norwegian guitarist showcases a fine new quintet with Trygve Seim and pianist Marcin Wasilewski's trio.
This thoughtful recital is highly recommended and the presentation and engineering live up to the high standards set by the Steinway & Sons label.
A gleaming, long-in-the-making combination of left-field electronics, alternative R&B, and futuristic jazz released on Flying Lotus' label.
Fourth album from this Brooklyn trio focuses on lush horn arrangements and darkly dreamy production.
Newly recorded renditions of the songs the duo played on the Shaking the Habitual Tour unite the different eras of the Knife's music.
The Glasgow quartet may have delivered its most engaging and fully realized record yet.
An excellent survey of music that will be unknown to most listeners other than the ones who can read the supplied Polish booklet notes.
Drew Daniel's house and techno versions of black metal make for some of his most personal, and fascinating, music.
Surprisingly vigorous 2013 rendition of the Who's classic 1973 rock opera; deluxe version contains 5.1 mix of the original LP.
The duo's second album trades grimy post-punk for dark synth pop filled with high fashion heartbreak.
On his first new album of predominantly original material in nearly two decades, the singer and songwriter is in top form.
It's hard to know where to start in enumerating the virtues of this recording of Handel's opera Tamerlano, HWV 18.
The coldwave-inspired duo's fourth album lets more light and air into their music, making for a fascinating mix of the hard-edged and ethereal.