The first of our magical musical moments for this week comes from Alison Krauss & Union Station, who are known for an immaculately crafted but endlessly surprising sound that transcends the boundaries of roots, country, rock & roll and pop. Krauss is a 27-time Grammy winner who was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2021. The band now make their long-awaited return with Arcadia – their first album since the critically lauded, multiple Grammy Award-winning 2011 masterpiece Paper Airplane.
Dreams on Toast marks a bold new chapter for The Darkness. With their signature blend of flamboyant rock anthems and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, this album cements the band’s place at the pinnacle of British rock. Expect soaring guitar riffs, infectious hooks and a nostalgic yet fresh take on the genre that will resonate with long-time fans and new listeners alike.
Wherever You Are is a new solo piano album composed and performed by John Foxx. Most of the recordings were made at Foxx’s home in the early hours in the weeks following his rare live performance at Kings Place, London in October 2023 as part of the BBC Radio 3 ’Night Tracks’ event.
Lucy Dacus, widely regarded as one of the best songwriters of her generation, returns with Forever Is a Feeling. Following a career-defining run with boygenius that earned her three Grammy Awards, her fourth solo studio album explores falling in and out of love, the tumult of desire and larger-than-life romance. Across 13 tracks that range from lush arrangements to simple declarations, Dacus makes a serious inquiry into what it looks like to dedicate one’s life to true love, and a valiant attempt to capture the elusive, fleeting feeling of forever.
Grammy and Brit award winners Mumford & Sons return with their fifth studio album, Rushmere. The 10-track album is a triumphant return to form, with upbeat foot-stompers ‘Rushmere’, ‘Truth’ and ‘Caroline’ alongside tender ballads such as ‘Monochrome’ and ‘Where It Belongs’.
Our release of the week comes from three of the most renowned and respected musicians of their generation: Norman Blake the centrifugal force in Teenage Fanclub; Bernard Butler renowned for his solo work and ouput with Suede and McAlmont Butler; and James Grant for his work both solo and with Love and Money. Following a handful of hugely well received shows in which the trio performed a selection of each other’s songs, the collective reconvened to write new material together. The result is an errant joy: each of the guys taking vocal turns with simpatico input from their co-players. Butler, Blake & Grant oozes with natural camaraderie and beautifully crafted tunes, filled with melody, harmony and impeccable guitar chops.
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