Rock

Heavenly
Highway To Heavenly
Skep Wax Skepwax040CD; LP: Skepwax040LP

In the ’90s, Heavenly were often labelled as a bit twee, but then they were jostling for position with laddish Brit-poppers, so their boy-girl combination and innocent look made them a bit of a target. Times have changed – singer and guitarist Amelia Fletcher is now a CBE for services to economics – but their subtly political music continues to influence a younger generation. And so they have reconvened with their first album in 30 years, a fresh-sounding collection of primary coloured pop with chiming guitar and reedy keyboards. On the speedy ‘Portland Town’ Fletcher longs for a place where she can fit in, and ‘A Different Beat’ is a wittily observed tale of a developing relationship. An unexpected delight. MB

Sound Quality: 90%

The Cribs
Selling A Vibe
Play It Again Sam PIASR1573CD; LP: PIASR1573LP

The Cribs’ 2017 album was titled 24-7 Rockstar Sh*t and latterly they’ve lived that through legal wranglings, and even thought about disbanding. But the sibling trio drew strength and inspiration from their familial bonds, and without psychoanalysing the songs, their first album since 2020 is a belter. They took their indie rock to US producer Patrick Wimberly, who works more in pop and rap, and he has smartened the sound without compromising their identity, adding punch and gloss to their big guitar chords, which can go crunchy and dissonant. They’ve always tapped back into the melody and harmony of classic pop and ‘Distractions’ has a very ’60s vibe. MB

Sound Quality: 85%

Whitelands
Sunlight Echoes
Sonic Cathedral CD CR340; LP: SCR340LP

London four-piece Whitelands play an immersive guitar rock, which is reminiscent of the shoegaze bands of the ’90s. ‘Blankspace’ repurposes the overdriven guitar-o-rama of Chapterhouse, although Jagun Meseorisa’s busy drumming ends up being rather swamped. Guitarist and vocalist Etienne Quartey-Papafio seeks to transcend the indistinct singing that typified the genre and admits the influence of certain female singers. He duets with former Lush vocalist Emma Anderson on ‘Sparklebaby’, sings about the power of attraction on ‘Glance’ and while this feels like music to dream to, on ‘Dark Horse’ he also confronts war and genocide. MB

Sound Quality: 85%

Sleaford Mods
The Demise Of Planet X
Rough Trade CD RT0574CD; LP: RT0574LP

In visual terms, Sleaford Mods’ scathing, satirical worldview feels like an update of Hogarth’s London and Hieronymus Bosch’s ‘The Last Judgement’, with Jason Williamson sharing his observations – complete with weapons-grade swearing – over groovy riffs, samples and beats. It’s a bracing, cathartic combination. A number of guest artists feature and on ‘The Good Life’, Williamson’s approach is contrasted by Big Special’s mellow vocals, while actress Gwendoline Christie (Game Of Thrones) has a bit of a meltdown. There are some reflective, eccentric moments: the title track visits the theme from ‘The Magic Roundabout’ while ‘No Touch’ (track 5) is almost pretty. MB

Sound Quality: 80%