Daniel Inzani: Selected Worlds review – unhinged, exhilarating adventures in genre-hopping
In his first major solo release, the pianist and composer explores the very different sides to his musical personality across three contrasting but connected LPs
August 2024
Contemporary album of the month
Lance Gurisik: Proffer review – a heart-wrenching, genre-crossing compendium
The Australian composer’s latest offering is a mashup of electronica, minimalism, drum’n’bass and more – but it’s the orchestral tracks that really shine
July 2024
Contemporary album of the month
Beyza Yazgan: Human Cocoon review – from Middle Eastern classical to American minimalism
(Imaginary Animals) The Turkish-born, New York-based pianist’s new album uses the influence of Satie and Glass to respond to the earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria
June 2024
Contemporary album of the month
QOA: Sauco review – electro-acoustic jewels incorporate the sounds of nature
From the meditative serenity of waterfalls, birdsong and pulsing animal heartbeats to galloping tribal drums and rave-like samples, this is a pleasingly random collage
May 2024
Contemporary album of the month
Ezra Feinberg: Soft Power review – trippy, bucolic and playfully minimal
Jonny Greenwood: ‘I’m still arsing around on instruments like when I was a kid’
April 2024
Contemporary album of the month
David Crowell: Point/Cloud review – minimalism that sparkles with joy
The New York multi-instrumentalist, who has played with Philip Glass and Steve Reich, shows great flair for making minimalism rich and harmonically complex
March 2024
Contemporary album of the month
Michelle Moeller: Late Morning review – sparkling, ethereal sound manipulations
Contemporary album of the month
Ruth Goller: Skyllumina review – jazz bassist enters beatific and slightly terrifying new sonic world
February 2024
Contemporary album of the month
Astrid Sonne: Great Doubt review – experimental viola player’s elliptical R&B
Some of her trademark instrumentals remain, but this new, interesting kind of R&B makes for exciting listening
January 2024
Contemporary album of the month
Lea Bertucci: Of Shadow and Substance review – unearthly sounds that seem to capture geological time
The leading noise musician has teamed up with Quartetto Maurice to create an album that distorts acoustic instruments to create an eerie, apocalyptic freak-out
December 2023
Best music of 2023
The 10 best contemporary albums of 2023
There was soothing minimalism and bowel-quaking low end as Neil Gaiman got some wonderfully quizzical accompaniments and Manchester’s answer to Sun Ra freaked out
November 2023
Joan Armatrading world premiere review – how did a brilliant pop melodist produce such a baffling mess?
Contemporary album of the month
Celia Hollander: 2nd Draft review – turns a piano into a new sound world
October 2023
Kronos Quartet: Five Decades review – virtuosic quartet celebrate with djembe, eggplant and Hendrix
In a 50th anniversary concert, the San Franscisco group, led by founding member David Harrington, dipped into a vast, varied back catalogue with their eyes firmly on the future
Contemporary album of the month
Bex Burch: There Is Only Love and Fear review – messy minimalism that grooves hard
The percussionist shares characteristics with Steve Reich or John Adams, but intersects this with sounds from Mali, Bali and Latin America in a freakish fusion of jazz, techno and funk
Gilberto Gil review – farewell London concert for a joyful musical great
At 81, Gil says goodbye to the city that was once his home in political exile, playing a set that hops deftly between bossa nova, tropicália, reggae and funk
September 2023
Contemporary album of the month
Tomas Fujiwara: Pith review – incredibly detailed pieces go far beyond jazz
Patricia Brennan and Tomeka Reid’s unique talents are foregrounded in an album that spirals into ambient, post-rock and classical
August 2023
Contemporary album of the month
Alabaster DePlume: Come With Fierce Grace review – sublime, minimalist improvisation
The saxophonist-poet offers a looser, more eclectic counterpart to last year’s Gold, backed by skilled musicians who explore to striking effect
July 2023
Contemporary album of the month
Lance Gurisik: Cull Portal review – drones, drums and disruptive drama
Gurisik’s startling album – think Aphex Twin meets Keith Jarrett – combines jazz, electronica and contemporary orchestral music to compelling, coherent effect
