Back in stock: Indie/Alternative

Review: For their sixth full length album 'Violence', melancholic Birmingham alt-rockers Editors have adopted a grander synth-pop sound to frame their typically dark songwriting in. This change in direction comes from collaborating with the album's producer Leo Abraham and composer Blank Mass, who helped the band hone their electronic craft. The songwriting pairs grandiose stadium riffs with assertive synth-work; 'Hallelujah (So Low)' goes straight for the jugular with fat synth leads and lo-fi drums, and the chorus of lead single 'Magazine' balances sections of punchy electronic swagger with singalong melodic euphoria. On 'No Sound But The Wind', there's a glimpse of an earlier Editors sound, more atmospheric and spacious than the tracks that surround it - unsurprising as it's a song the band first debuted back at Glastonbury 2008 and have been re-working since. Following 2015's somewhat confused 'In Dream', Editors sound reinvigorated and confident in the direction 'Violence' is taking them in.

Review: Easily outgrowing the original perception of them as stadium-indie bringers of gloom, Editors have evolved steadily with each record, and seemingly found themselves increasingly more comfortable each turn along the way. 'In Dream', the fifth from the Birmingham outfit, finds them expanding on the widescreen sweep of their sound, experimenting further with electronics, yet still maintaining a core of intimacy and introspection that has become their trademark. Thus, perversely, what may be their darkest record to date is also their most uplifting, with indelible songwriting, synth filigree and nocturnal atmospherics colliding to provide a black-clad tour de force.

Review: Good Cop Bad Cop's sophomore release, crafted by frontman Joe Carnall and producer Gold Teeth, marks a departure from traditional indie rock. Recorded closer to home, the album embraces synth and hip-hop influences, pushing boundaries while retaining elements of nostalgia. The decision to leave guitars largely untouched results in a sound that feels both timeless and contemporary. Carnall's forward-thinking approach shines through, showcasing his willingness to evolve creatively. While rooted in the present, traces of the band's indie rock origins linger, creating a dynamic listening experience that bridges past and future. The album has innovative soundscapes that journey through Carnall's sonic evolution, offering a refreshing take on modern music.

Review: When 2017's Weather Diaries marked the first full-length from Oxford shoegaze legends Ride in 21 years, many welcomed what was presumed to be a reshaping of legacy so as to not have bowed out with the negatively received Tarantula. This made 2019's This Is Not A Safe Place even more of a joyous sonic spectacle (before touching on the fact that the LP legitimately bore some of the band's finest work to date). Now that the dust has settled on a plethora of tour dates and festival appearances, we arrive at the third of their post-reunion albums with the highly anticipated Interplay. From the bubbling, ethereal synths of lead single 'Peace Sign' to the hazy, neo-psych dream-pop of 'Last Frontier', Ride appear more rejuvenated and hopeful than they've ever sounded, and it's a miracle in and of itself to be on the cusp of nearly having as many post as pre-break up records.