SOUND JUDGEMENT

THE LATEST ALBUM RELEASES RATED AND REVIEWED

BOYZONE – THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT ★★★★★

GET ready to shed a tear Boyzone are back for one last outing. The Irish boy band are bidding farewell after a successful 25-year career and are doing so with an album of 12 new tracks, including one with vocals from late bandmate Stephen Gately. The irony is that the record is a real triumph, and serves as a frustrating reminder that there just aren’t many bands of this popfriendly calibre around these days.

With a helping hand from songwriters Ed Sheeran and Gary Barlow, the four singers have given it their all with a collection of tracks that will keep fans happy for years. Dream, created from a 2002 demo of Gately’s and reworked with the band harmonising, is touchingly beautiful.

MICHAEL BUBLÉ – LOVE ★★★★

ONLY Michael Bublé could return from a two-year break and make old songs sound new.

The Canadian crooner has been out of the spotlight following his son Noah’s diagnosis with cancer at the age of three. His 10th album, Love – styled as a heart emoji – is a collection of old favourites and memorable new tunes.

Bublé injects his trademark magic into songs such as I Only Have Eyes For You, but it’s his new material – Love You Anymore and Forever Now, that leave you wanting more. The latter is a spine-chilling, personal ballad that is sure to win him even more fans.

Welcome back, Bublé.

MUMFORD & SONS – DELTA ★★★★

THIS album sounds confident, exciting and experimental.

With producer Paul Epworth’s guiding hand, the band has recorded the album previous LP Wilder Mind should have been. On standout track, The Wild, they delve into synthscapes and plucked melodies, before a cinematic turn sees cascading cymbals and strings.

An album of highs and lows, Delta is remarkably paced, then, just when they appear to have strayed too far from their folky hearts, second single, If I Say, tugs the listener back towards the light.

Mumford & Sons might be on to something here.