SOUND JUDGEMENT

THE LATEST ALBUM RELEASES RATED AND REVIEWED

THANK U, NEXT ARIANA GRANDE ★★★★★ THANK U, Next is a romantic, fuzzy offering, eclipsing 2018’s Sweetener – a notably cathartic effort after the Manchester terror attack at her concert – and its impactful singles, by being softer, raw and fuelled with emotion.

The music is dreamy and waltz-like, interspersed with vocal clips that could be straight from a vintage movie, all hazy and sepia tinged. Euphoric at times, Grande softly sings lullaby-style melodies over chiming isolated beats, laying out the grand ideas of romance, describing all the wonderful things about a relationship.

There are also hints that the 25-year-old has experienced too much too soon. She swings through a range of moods: wistful, heartfelt and optimistic, apologetic, self-analysing, and empathetic towards the lovers she’s serenading, resulting in an album that is a total celebration of love.

RARITIES –

NOUVELLE VAGUE ★★★★★ IT has been 15 years since Nouvelle Vague’s self-titled album sauntered into the ether, with their soft melodies and dreamscape lyrical sighs, and, to celebrate, the French collective have re-recorded their favourite tracks. Here we have a strippedback sound; almost like a relaxing beach holiday, there are birds chirping in the background and Moody has a jazz like lilt rather than their usual bossa nova vibe.

Whether you are a long-time fan or have never dipped your toes into the glassy pond that is Nouvelle Vague, this is an album you need to hear.

BRICKBAT –

PIROSHKA ★★★★★ SINGER Miki Berenyi is supported in this indie supergroup by members of Moose, Elastica, and Modern English, and there is real quality here. Village Of The Damned is gorgeously great, and the synths on Everlastingly Yours swoop and soar in all the right places.

Unfortunately, the more straight-forward poppy numbers lack their subtlety and lazy sixth-form lyrics on tracks such as Hated By The Powers That Be grate somewhat.