SOUND JUDGEMENT

The latest album releases reviewed

CLOSE TO HOME AITCH

★★★✩✩

Twenty-two-year-old Manchester rapper

Aitch has already made his mark on British hip hop- and his debut album, Close To Home, shows what he is capable of, with a brilliant flow and bars that are cheeky, fun and at times contemplative and personal.

The record reflects his upbringing and how his fame and fortune has changed his relationship with his hometown, family and friends.

Standout tracks include single Baby, featuring 2000s R&B legend Ashanti, the spicy Fuego and Sunshine, a mellow summery track. Cuts like The Palm bring the naughtiness fans know and love, while opener Belgrave Road is far more introspective, showing a different side to the rapper.

Unfortunately Ed Sheeran’s feature on My G is tonally inappropriate and cringeworthy, bringing down an otherwise decent track.

Aitch has the talent, charisma and the fanbase and overall, Close To Home is a great debut.

RIDE WALTER TROUT

★★★✩✩

Veteran blues guitarist

Walter Trout’s latest album is the product of a lockdown spent in Huntington Beach, California, and the reflection that forced upon him.

The 71-year-old had a complicated childhood and Ride addresses it in detail. Hey Mama sees him reflecting on his mother’s failure to protect him from his abusive step-father over cascading guitar licks full of drama, while the title track recalls trains that would pass his home prompting thoughts of escape.

Trout is close to royalty on the contemporary blues circuit and Ride sees him embracing the genre’s full breadth. It is full of catharsis, a satisfying listen packed with important lessons and thrilling sounds.

FREAKOUT/RELEASE HOT CHIP ★★★★✩

Hot Chip will forever be linked to the glorious

Over And Over – one of the catchiest tunes of all time.

Freakout/Release, their eighth album, takes a similar approach and taps into the power of hooky music.

But the band have taken a more melancholy turn, although this is still 80s synthpop at its very best (think upbeat Depeche Mode).

The title song growls with a dirty bassline but there is a desperation between the funky beats. Down, meanwhile, channels 70s funk and you can feel a sense of hope.

The album is a clever piece of art, balancing darkness with just enough light and pop melodies. It’s a delight without a single track of filler.