Ache

A prodigious talent finds new intensity on her third album

Pretty auspicious new arrival this morning, as you can see from Number 23 at the bottom of the list; sounding good, albeit 44 years too late.

It is hard not to be nostalgic on nights like this. About an NME night when Pulp were on the bottom of a bill headlined, I think, by Kingmaker. About the party for “OU” at the Leadmill, with a problematic balloon launch and a large papier mache head, and the party for “Do You Remember The First Time” at the ICA.

'The Smile Sessions' sees the remaining band members returning to the abandoned album

Been away for a while, so as you might imagine there are a lot of new things in here. Particularly liking The Field, Feist and James Blackshaw at this early stage.

Still much taken with the Mikal Cronin, Hiss Golden Messenger and Meg Baird records, but some nice new additions this week, from Real Estate, Plaid and Wild Flag (I have the full album now), among others.

Spartan but rewarding collection from the flighty New York chanteuse...

Top-drawer retrospective from the super-sessioneer turned solo great...

A few to flag up this week: Hiss Golden Messenger of course, Mikal Cronin (produced by Ty Segall; kind of kin to the first Ganglians record maybe), Meg Baird, Wild Flag.

German synth explorers’ third goes beyond space-rock to ponder the nature of eternity itself...