sound judgement

THE LATEST ALBUM RELEASES RATED AND REVIEWED

THE BOOK OF TRAPS AND LESSONS KATE TEMPEST ★★★★★

ONE of the most powerful and vital voices in modern popular culture, Tempest returns with her most personal album to date. From the outset the tone is more intimate, with Tempest open about her sexuality on the first two tracks Thirsty and Keep Moving, Don’t Move.

Not everything changes, though. Her earlier album Let Them Eat Chaos ended with Tempest “screaming at (her) loved ones to wake up and love more” – a message overlooked by much of society. Here, closing track, People’s Faces, contains a plea for “more love... more empathy, less greed, more respect” paired with a plaintive admission that “all I’ve got to say has already been said”.

TURN OFF THE NEWS (BUILD A GARDEN) LUKAS NELSON AND PROMISE OF THE REAL ★★★★★

“THEY have no fear,” said Neil

Young speaking about Lukas Nelson, son of country music hero Willie, and his band Promise of the Real who are currently Young’s backing band.

One of the big themes on Turn Off The News is searching for peace in a chaotic world. On the title track, Nelson urges us to focus on the love in front of us.

Young also features, as do friends including Sheryl Crow, Kesha, Margo Price and Hunter Elizabeth.

But, while a cavalcade of stars pass through, the band remain focused on their own music. This shows in the quality musicianship and adventurous tenor.

Turn Off The News is their finest, most accessible, album yet.

DOOM DAYS

BASTILLE ★★★★★

BASTILLE ’s new 11-track album is a treasure trove of tracks. The 11-strong album starts with Quarter Past Midnight which sets the right tone for an album opener.

The band’s lead singer, Dan Smith, has been quoted as saying the first half of the album is about escapism. Million Pieces is bound to surge up the charts and Doom Days is sure to follow.

Smith said of the song: “I was thinking about our phone addiction. How mad it is to always be holding this thing that’s a rolling, scrolling window into the wonders and horrors of the world”.

Luckily this album is the opposite of a horror – it’s a charming, impressive collection of tracks.