2015 Update

So far, 2015 as a year for music is the gift that keeps on giving. As we come up to the mid-point of the year, there has already been some fantastic albums released with the promise of more good music to come. The key word here is albums, with some great long players emerging in an age where many people keep saying the album is dying. Well based on some of these releases, I beg to differ.

The albums that have impressed me the most in 2015 at this point have been

Alabama Shakes – Sound & Colour – A very new direction for the band, bringing in Curtis Mayfield psychedelic soul and a harder edge overall to their sound. Very interesting album musically, while Brittney’s vocals are still top-notch.

Blur – The Magic Whip – One of my albums of the year. A fantastic return for the British band in what is one of their best ever albums. This album has a very diverse sound musically and includes a lot of things which you would not immediately think would appear on a Blur record. Here, Albarn and Coxon again prove why they are two of the great musicians of their generation.

Noel Gallagher – Chasing Yesterday – All this talk about an Oasis reunion is nonsense. Noel is far better on his own and this album proves it. Here, he brings in other influences such as soul and even jazz on one of the best songs he has written “The Right Stuff”. I really dig this album, and is is great just having the man in the media as he gives some of the best interviews in music.

Paul Weller – Saturn’s Pattern – This one has just been released and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised as I wasn't expecting much as Weller’s last two albums for me have been patchy. But this album is quite brilliant and easily his best in years. Full of psychedelic and electronic influences in what is actually quite a trippy album, although the melody and soul you expect with Weller is still there.

Albums to come in 2015 which are wetting my appetite

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi Love – the songs I have heard so far are very promising

Tame Impala – Currents – Expecting more neo-psychedelic brilliance from these Aussies.

Florence + The Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful – It’s Florence so it will be good.

St Germain – St Germain – This was a surprise announcement as there has not been an album in 15 years. Will be interesting to see what this one sounds like. 

- Sam