Rock

Humanist

On The Edge Of A Lost And Lonely World

Bella Union Bella1600Cd; Lp: Bella1600V

Rob Marshall's second album as Humanist has a big production sound with programming and synthetics, but with his powerful, lyrical rock guitar at its heart. Again it features top-class guest singers and high-quality songs, with some steeped in melancholy from the recent death of his musical collaborator Mark Lanegan. 'Love You More', with Isobel Campbell, veers close to My Bloody Valentine with breathy samples and swirling guitars. Ex-Midlake singer Tim Smith soars over the musical panorama and power chords of 'Too Many Rivals', and Dave Gahan navigates the strong emotional currents of 'Brother' with style. 'The End' concludes elegiacally with piano, sonorous bass notes, keyboard drones and high wordless vocals. MB

Sound Quality: 90%

Louise Patricia Crane

Netherworld

Peculiar Doll Pecul002Cd; Lp: Pecul002Lp

The singer and multi-instrumentalist's solo debut, 2020's Deep Blue, had a hint of the gothic guitars of Cocteau Twins, but this is musical magic realism, mixing fantasy and cosmic musings, and inspired more by her Irish roots. Comparisons with Kate Bush's Hounds Of Love are unavoidable, particularly on 'Dance With The Devil', with its uilleann pipes, recitations, vocal chorales and tumbling drum patterns. With a stellar cast of musicians - including Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson on flute, and King Crimson bassist Tony Levin and guitarist Jakko Jakszyk (who also co-produces) - Netherworld feels like traditional music from a parallel, more attractive world. MB

Sound Quality: 90%

Simon Fisher Turner

The Instability Of The Signal

Mute Stumm504 (Vinyl, Limited Edition)

A former '70s teen pop star and actor - he took Robert Mitchum to punk hangout The Roxy in 1977 when they were filming a remake of The Big Sleep - Turner has since taken a more experimental tack, but was keen here to get back to songs. These are compelling, spacious, strangely shaped and mostly rhythmless, except for subtle loops. He plays spartan piano on 'Thrashing It Out' and sings lyrical haikus over drones on 'Fishscales'. The vocal harmonies on 'Toast' are impressive as he relives childhood memories of books and tap-dancing, while a bass line and trebly guitars start up and then disappear, like he's casually avoiding the rules of songwriting. MB

Sound Quality: 85%

Seasick Steve

A Trip A Stumble A Fall Down On Your Knees

So Recordings Soak473; Lp: Soaklp473

When Steve Wold emerged in the early '00s, he already looked like an old-timer, with his long beard and home-made guitar. But he's proved to be far more than an oddball novelty. This album ranges from gnarly country blues to 'Internet Cowboys', on which he revs up his slide guitar like early ZZ Top. He steers his exceptional band - Dan Magnusson's drumming is phenomenal - towards reggae and New Orleans funk, and 'San Francisco Sound', a tune he began in 1967, is a psychedelic slow blues with big organ chords and female backing vocals. There's a satisfying timelessness to it all. 'Time to get offline' he says on 'Move To The Country'. If only. MB

Sound Quality: 80%