SOUND JUDGEMENT

THE LATEST ALBUM RELEASES RATED AND REVIEWED

THE GO-BETWEENS

AUSTRALIAN band The Go-Betweens released six albums in the 1980s and another three after reforming in the 2000s, before coming to an abrupt stop when one of their two songwriters, Grant McLennan, died aged 48 in 2006.

With 129 tracks over five records and five CDs, this box set includes the albums Liberty Belle And The Black Diamond Express and 16 Lovers Lane – two of best records of the 1980s by anyone. There are also B-sides, radio sessions, live tracks and 28 demos.

If the band is new to you, start with a best of; if you already know them, you’ll want this.

CAMILA CABELLO

CAMILA CABELLO’S second album is playful and sexy and oozes the easy confidence of a musician who has really found her feet in the industry, her style well established by this point.

Fun and breezy singles such as Liar and Senorita act as anchors for the album and intriguing surprises such as the exciting Bad Kind of Butterflies, an almost operatic tinged track with a chunky beat and an aria-style falsetto throughout, and the reggaetoninfused My Oh My with rapper DaBaby.

Cabello has blended genres with cheekiness, style and elegance.

WILL SAMSON

WILL SAMSON’S fifth album is low-key and made for late-night headphones listening.

The eight subtle, glitchy tracks are as much moods as songs, with his gentle falsetto delicate vocals shrinking into the background on tracks such as The Smallest Silver.

The album succeeds in its intention to evoke the experience of using flotation tanks, although I would be keen to see how he recreates it when he tours.

This fragile music is likely to be appreciated by fans of James Blake, while his voice has been compared with Sufjan Stevens, and although it won’t change the world, it does make it a better place.