Back in stock: Pop

Review: Loredana Berte's unmistakable voice meets the glittering finesse of French touch as Dimitri From Paris spreads her 1980 hit 'In Alto Mare' across a hot griddle of club-ready disco. The track launches a new remix series celebrating Berte's legacy through the lens of contemporary producers and DJs: Dimitri, known for his stylish refits of Jamiroquai, Chic and Dua Lipa, now leans into a comparatively classic funk groove, elevating it with a cinematic glide and streamlinear post-prod polish. Long a staple of his DJ sets and broadcasts in bootleg form, this official release feels fated. "It's melodic, disco-flavoured, cinematic, and emotionally powerful - all the things I love," he says, as it manifests as the first of seven reworks dropping over the course of May 2025.

Review: Charli XCX's sixth studio album, Brat, marks a triumphant return to her experimental roots following 2022's Crash. Steeped in the aesthetic of the 2000s London rave scene, this album is a highly personal and intriguing nostalgia trip. The intricate beats, polished production, and confrontational lyrics evoke the underground decadence of the Myspace era. Charli and her collaborators craft each track with a rich sense of atmosphere, transporting listeners to a vividly recalled past. The opening track, '360,' sets the tone with Charli declaring herself "666 with a princess streak." The throwback rave anthem 'Club Classics' and the retroclash headtrip 'Von Dutch' show her at the top of her game, maintaining her status as a significant pop experimentalist. The sleek standouts 'Sympathy is a Knife' and 'Girl, So Confusing' tackle contemporary conflicts. Beneath Brat's deceptive veneer lies a melancholic sense of anxiety. 'I Might Say Something Stupid' reveals Charli's existential desperation, while 'So I' serves as a poignant eulogy to Sophie, highlighting her emotional depth. The introspective 'I Think About It All the Time' finds Charli at her most confessional, pondering motherhood and the fleeting nature of success. Brat is a crucial step in Charli XCX's artistic evolution, blending mainstream pop with her experimental roots. Her themes of celebrity, growth, obsession and creative liberation are articulated with biting wit and innovative vision.

Review: In celebration of the tenth anniversary of Grimes' 4AD debut, this album was reissued in 2022, and now it gets reissued once more as a great reminder of the flourishing of electronic and experimental pop music in the late naughties and early tens. Claire Boucher's third album remains a standout lauded for its innovative blend of ethereal, futuristic sounds. At the time, Visions was named one of the Best Albums of the 2010s by Pitchfork, who described it as "human-generated cyborg pop" and it still very much feels enigmatic and exciting even years later.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged (slight split at the top, dinked corners) but otherwise in excellent condition***


This record marks a bold return to Lady Gaga's pop roots. It fuses the eclectic energy that first captivated her fans with a new and ever-fearless artistic vision that means she delves into themes of chaos and transformation while celebrating music's ability to unite, provoke and heal. Gaga has said that the album began as a response to her fear of returning to the pop sound her early fans loved. Far from merely nostalgic, Mayhem reinvents her signature style with a kaleidoscopic approach by drawing from her broad musical influences. Gaga compared the creative process to "reassembling a shattered mirror," and has created something beautifully new from the pieces.

Review: Kim Wilde's Now & Forever marks a significant shift in her musical style, departing from her pop roots to embrace a more contemporary electronic soul sound. Originally released in 1995 on CD and cassette, this album is now available on vinyl for the first time, presented as a double LP set on solid white vinyl. Produced by her brother Ricki, the album features a collaboration with DJ producer C.J. Mackintosh on four tracks, adding a modern edge with influences from gospel house and dance music. Writers like Pam Sheyne and Tony Swain also contribute, enhancing the album's depth and quality. Standout tracks include the singles 'Breakin' Away' and 'This I Swear,' showcasing Wilde's knack for crafting catchy melodies against a backdrop of innovative sounds.