40. Fat White Family – ‘Serfs Up!’
What We Said…
Since their conception with the 2013 debut album 'Champagne Holocaust', South London's Fat White Family have always thought of themselves as an anti-pop band. Tackling uncomfortable subject matter over a dark and brooding bed of indie-rock pretence, the group's first two records gave us the impression that they had fixed themselves in this hard and murky world of mood-driven dissonance. But as they return with album number three, 'Serfs Up!' sees them in a whole new light, taking influences from a wide range of sources, the band seem rejuvenated and vibrant in a way we haven't heard before.
Cementing itself in a psychedelic position, and filling out with nods to the disco, glam and Baroque sounds, this new return plays as their most diverse and uplifting collection to date. Moving firmly away from their initial sound, 'Serfs Up!' aims to embrace the band's lesser-seen experimental angle, creating long and drawn-out soundscapes that look to captivate and excite in equal measure. While their are still the odd moments that play to their former direction, most notably 'I Believe in Something Better', much of this release is a smooth and laid-back affair that looks to breathe new life into Fat White Family and give them a whole new perspective in the process.
The sheer swagger and inventiveness of 'Serfs Up!' is so extremely hard to ignore on this new collection. With each track that goes by, another equally spellbinding cut seems to rise up in its place, keeping the listener constantly on their toes and delivering a wonderfully mesmerising release throughout. It may be a surprise to their loyal fanbase but is something even the most fair-weather of followers can embrace.
39. Self Esteem – ‘Complements Please’
What We Said…
When frontwoman Rebecca Taylor first announced her plans for a solo project at the end of 2017, many seemed surprised that she was looking to move away from her formative group Slow Club. With five critically-acclaimed albums under their belt, the duo were on the top of their game, so to walk away from that in order to try something new seemed like a risky premise. But as she confronts on the record's opening track '(Feelings)', she was being pulled into a new direction that her former bandmate wasn't interested in, and so we now have the reinvention of Rebecca Taylor in the form of 'Compliments Please'.
While fans of Slow Club will obviously find a lot to enjoy on this new collection, it is clear that she had ideas that went far beyond the realm of the original pairing. With an eclectic and diverse approach to production and style, 'Compliments Please' feels like a rush of bold and brave concepts, as if she had been holding in these intentions for years beforehand. Taking cues from other alt-pop artists such as Rae Morris and Sigrid, the Self Esteem project seems to enjoy riding the edge of a commercial identity, creating something accessible but not too glossy as to remove it from the raw passion within each single.
She may not be a new artist in the literal sense of the word, but 'Compliments Please' certainly feels like a new beginning for the frontwoman. Engaging and captivating throughout, this new release plays with a stunning level of confidence and sees her emerge from her shell, making a statement as to who she truly is as a creative musician.
38. IDER – ‘Emotional Education’
What We Said…
With Scandinavian acts likes Aurora and Sigrid beginning to penetrate the pop zeitgeist of the world, it is no surprise that many emerging acts are beginning to adopt their more euphoric edge as they look to establish themselves in the industry, and this also goes for the heavily-hyped London-based duo IDER. But while their sound is easy enough to pinpoint, what the pair have done with it is take it from the pigeonholed view of what has been done with it before, and instead take it to places we have yet to hear as they deliver their eagerly-awaited debut album 'Emotional Education'.
While this new collection is very easy to describe when it comes to those that have influenced it, 'Emotional Education' is so much more than a simple knock off. Instead of taking what the Swedes and Norwegians have produced in the last few years, they have rebranded the style with a distinctly British enthusiasm for eccentric and progressive experimentation and delivered one of the most impressive debut records of the year so far. With a production flair that also channels the likes of Chvrches and Pale Waves in places, this new release sets a new bar for the envelope-pushing alt-pop scene that is both musically intriguing yet commercial viable.
IDER have certainly been raising some eyebrows over the last few months, and this debut full-length cements those piques of interest through and through. A solid and confident initial record that will not only grow in appreciation, but one that leaves plenty of avenues as to where to go next.
37. Aurora – ‘A Different Kind Of Human (Step 2)’
What We Said…
When Aurora released her sophomore album 'Infections Of A Different Kind (Step 1)' as a surprise last September, it was almost too good to be true. The proficient and experimental frontwoman delivered one of the best electro-pop albums of the year, and its flippant release seemed to treat it as just another throwaway collection. And while we knew that album was only one half of the saga, we have eagerly awaited the return of the Norwegian to complete her latest collection, and so here we are with 'A Different Kind Of Human (Step 2)', a record that has truly brought out the best in her.
Much like her last full-length, 'A Different Kind Of Human (Step 2)' likes to tread that comfortable bridge between soaring and ethereal electronics with a hard and purposeful production. From the very start, Aurora makes her intentions known with the double punch of lead singles 'The River' and 'Animal', setting the tone of what we can expect from here on in. From there it is a display in masterclass songwriting and production as the singer swoons and serenades her way through a rich and luxurious tapestry of pulsing electronics and adventurous instrumentation to deliver a release that may in fact supersede her last.
It is hard to imagine another artist that is improving sonically as much as Aurora is. With each release, she grows more confident and reassured in her sound, allowing her to share a bold and brilliant new set of ideas that conjure up yet more wonder than we have heard before. An incredible return from a woman that just never seems to slow down.
36. Ibibio Sound Machine – ‘Doko Mien’
What We Said…
Ever since the release of their breakthrough sophomore album 'Uyai' in 2017, the Africa-via-London outfit Ibibio Sound Machine have quickly grown from a cult name to one of the country's most loved emerging acts. Their unique approach to incorporating elements from afrobeats, funk, disco and almost anything else they can get their hands on has been the unique signature to their sound, creating a bold and interesting style in the process. But now returning with their third LP 'Doko Mien', it seems that the expansive outfit have finally found their final form.
Although 'Uyai' was certainly a grand and fascinating experiment, the electronic elements within its production sometimes felt tacked on to the final product. But on this return, they have become fully woven into the overall sound of the record, making this a more comfortable and approachable release. But aside from that, this collection is simply business as usually for Ibibio Sound Machine. Filled with high-energy works such as 'Tell Me (Doko Mien)' and 'She Work Very Hard', the album manages to find that happy middle between all the clashing elements of their sound, which has also allowed to include some more tender moments as well.
As much as fans enjoyed the perspective of 'Uyai', it feels that 'Doko Mien' has been better produced in order to combine all those diverse styles into one direction. Smoother and more insatiable from start to finish, this sounds like the one where the band have truly come into their own and delivered the record that we could all hear inside them.
35. Charli XCX – ‘Charli’
What We Said…
Charting the evolution of Charli XCX can be a turbulent thing to get your head around. After making her name as a dark and unconventional artist as part of London's alternative dance music scene, she quickly became the darling child of the US pop market with a wave of commercially successful singles and featured appearances. Now she prefers to occupy somewhere in the middle of those two contrasting directions, and it seems that she has convinced most of the scene to join her as she unveils her collaboration-heavy third LP 'Charli', a glimpse into the world of future-pop that she now reigns.
Unlike her previous album 'Sucker', this new collection isn't aiming to be taken as a countercultural remark towards the state of pop music today, but intends to be treated as the sound of pop to come. Featuring an impressive list of contemporary artists including Lizzo, Christine & The Queens, Haim, Sky Ferreira and many more, 'Charli' is a record that very much sees itself as part of the musical zeitgeist of today. But while maintaining a strong and radio-friendly sound throughout, there always seems to be this edge of experimentation threaded throughout, giving it a diverse and refreshing aesthetic that helps separate it from the usual riff-raff.
Promotion for this record began almost two years ago, and it has certainly been worth the wait. After seemingly playing both sides of the same coin for years, Charli XCX has found a near perfect balance between the alternative and commercial arenas, making this her most accessible full-length to date.
34. The Amazons – ‘Future Dust’
What We Said…
When Reading-based outfit The Amazons first dropped their self-titled debut album in 2017, the band were riding a wave of hype that began many years before they dropped their first full-length. With a variety of radio-friendly releases along with some inoffensive filler, their initial LP was greeted with modest acclaim, showing that while it was a confident start, many could see the opportunities lost to make a truly impactful debut record. But it seems the band themselves could also see their flaws and as they return with their sophomore full-length 'Future Dust', it is clear that they have looked to evolve away from their commercial ambitions and deliver a release that cements their raucous nature.
From the very start, 'Future Dust' looks to be the album its predecessor was hoping for. With the previously heard single 'Mother' acting as the introduction, the band drop the glossy pop-rock pretence in favour of pure and riff-heavy rock stompers, something that they rarely give up throughout. Coming across as the brainchild of Royal Blood and Queens Of The Stone Age, this follow-up is as thunderous as it is ambitious, showing that while they are still on the ascend, they are already packing their musical canon with as many stadium-filling anthems as they possibly can.
The difference between this and their debut album feels like day and night. If the self-titled record was the appetiser, then this is certainly the protein-packed main course. After two years of touring that first release, The Amazons have clearly taken on board what their fans enjoyed the most and have given a solid and cohesive follow-up that gives us even more hope for their future.
33. Soak – ‘Grim Town’
What We Said…
Having first been introduced to SOAK, aka frontwoman Bridie Monds-Watson, after her stellar debut album 'Before We Forgot How To Dream' in 2015, it was clear from the very start that this young woman had far more to offer than most of her ilk. With a strong and confident presence, something normally lacking in an initial full-length, she was able to project wisdom far beyond her years from the very start, making her debut LP one of the more engaging from that year. Now with four further years of industry experience under her belt, she returns with 'Grim Town', a record that looks to find the joy in the bleakest angles of today's society.
Opening up with the disparaging introductory track 'All Board', which recites a train conductor commanding people of various social statues to move around the carriage in order to segregate and humiliate them, it is clear that this return with have more of a political angle than her debut release. But rather than force it down our throats, the album swings and swoons itself around a mesmerising medley of euphoric pop tunes, capturing more of the singer-songwriter's uplifting and optimistic sensibilities instead of bogging us down in taglines and rhetoric, making this a far more accessible collection than we were expecting.
The evolution of sound and style since her early days is ever apparent on this new album. The Northern Irishwoman has taken the hallmarks of her debut and pushed to their upper limits on here, creating a diverse but ultimately enjoyable new release. Filled with positive energy throughout, 'Grim Town' has more than improved on her first full-length, it has practically left it in the wind.
32. Bon Iver – ‘I,I’
What We Said…
When Bon Iver released their first studio album 'For Emma, Forever Ago' back in 2007, many were under the impression that the material was the sole product of singer and songwriter Justin Vernon. But as time has gone on, Vernon has spent much of his time convincing us that this is far from being a solo venture and has spent many interviews paying credit to those that have helped create his unique and darkened sound. This pursuit of making Bon Iver appear more than just a single man's work was first explored on their third studio album '22, A Million' and now looks to be pushed even further as 'i,i' sees the group as a bold and multifaceted entity, filled with experimental electronics and left-of-centre production.
While many saw their previous full-length a huge step away from their familiar content, looking to pursue a more irreverent approach to his normally folk-inspired intentions, 'i,i' sees the group continue where that release left off and continue down a path of self-exploration that still manages to create a bold and fascinating atmosphere for those listening. Rather than produce a collection of singles however, each with their own fully formed direction, this new collection sees the outfit deliver a series of ethereal and diverse compositions that act more as a bridge between those more well-rounded moments, making this album less tied down and feeling more like a band in search of raw and impassioned emotion instead.
It will certainly be their hardest record to appreciate from the first listen, but once you understand and get a feel for its ebbs and flows, you'll realise that this is so much more than just another Bon Iver album, but a step towards their next evolutionary phase. Each track has been specially selected to keep the music ever moving forward, creating an exciting and enticing release that will be hard to forget.
31. Sigrid – ‘Sucker Punch’
What We Said…
Since first emerging at the start of 2017 with her stunning debut EP 'Don't Kill My Vibe', Sigrid has sat as one of the new saviours of modern pop music. The Norwegian frontwoman has spent the last two years releasing a flurry of brilliant and uplifting singles, that see her as a far more engaging and captivating singer than most in her ilk. Yet after so much buzz these last couple of years, she now unveils her long-awaited debut album 'Sucker Punch', a record that brings together the best of her career so far and cements her as the pop scene's most impassioned newcomer.
While some of this release has been heard before with singles such as 'Don't Kill My Vibe' and 'Strangers' previously appearing on her first EP, the bulk of this collection looks to call back to the high energy of those earlier days and deliver an album that punches even higher than we thought possible. Opening up with the truly anthemic title-track, the record rarely lets up on its progressive pace and unleashes one bold and vibrant pop vision after another. And although it does have its more sombre moments, they never lack that magical Sigrid energy which helps breathe life into each one of her releases.
This release has certainly been a long time coming, and fans of her work will be more than excited to get their teeth into this new collection. 'Sucker Punch' sits as one of the more accessible pop debuts of the year so far, but still manages to showcase her unique aesthetic and passion for thunderous songwriting, making it more than just another radio-friendly full-length.