Omar Souleyman – Bahdeni Nami (Monkeytown)
Why you should listen: The prolific Syrian wedding singer with more than 500 albums to his name releases a second studio album, filled with his brand of frenetic dabke (Syrian and Iraqi folk) fizzing over Four Tet and Modeselektor-produced electronic beats.
It might not be for you if … You tried to get on board with Souleyman’s music a few years ago, but find its pace and haywire keyboards too hard to handle.
What we said: “Melodies are both abrasive and ebullient, chattering endlessly like raucous birdsong,” wrote Paul Macinnes, in the Guardian.
Score: 4/5
Field Music – Music for Drifters (Memphis Industries)
Why you should listen: Brothers David and Peter Brewis have managed to make the soundtrack to a film about herring fishing sound not only interesting, but beautiful.
It might not be for you if … No amount of atmospheric guitars and evocative percussive textures could make you listen to a herring-based film soundtrack.
What we said: “It evokes the ferocious waters that smashed against the north-eastern coastline and brought in the bounty, with the brothers conveying the clash of tradition and modernity by dextrously applying their gawky time signatures and inquisitive melodies,” wrote Harriet Gibsone, in the Guardian.
Score: 4/5
Sleaford Mods – Key Markets (Harbinger Sound)
Why you should listen: The mouthy Nottingham duo are back, sounding as enraged as ever on their third album of bare-bones bass, drums, programmed keys and spittle-angry vocals.
It might not be for you if … You’re convinced Sleaford Mods only exist to slag off bands such as Kasabian and Slaves.
What we said: “The Nottingham duo’s third cracker in three years finds producer Andrew Fearn’s insistent beats and basslines again providing the perfect vehicle for Jason Williamson’s furiously spluttered, sweary rhymes,” wrote Dave Simpson in the Guardian. Phil Mongredien also gave the album four stars, in the Observer.
Score: 4/5
The Soil – Nostalgic Moments (Proper Music)
Why you should listen: The South African trio use voices as instruments, ladling on harmonies and non-corny beatboxing while straddling elements of pop, soul and a cappella township choir song.
It might not be for you if … You, for whatever reason, don’t listen to South African music beyond Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and the older greats.
What we said: “They constantly switch direction, from the cool, finger-clicking ballad Streets of Soweto to the township jive-rap fusion of Susan and the soulful We Are One,” wrote Robin Denselow, in the Guardian.
Score: 4/5
Lamb of God – VII: Sturm and Drang (Nuclear Blast)
Why you should listen: Band frontman Randy Blythe was acquitted of manslaughter charges following in incident in Prague, and has made the city the lyrical focus of this seventh studio album of pounding, roaring metal.
It might not be for you if … You never listen to metal. It makes your head hurt.
What we said: “The rest of the band are more than able to match their singer’s furious diatribes with streamlined but idiosyncratic onslaughts that deftly marry the precision of thrash to more adventurous modern mutations,” wrote Dom Lawson, in the Guardian.
Score: 4/5
This week also sees the release of Titus Andronicus’ 29-track concept album, Chemical Brothers’ latest (given two stars by the Guardian and four by the Observer) and the debut from funk-house producer Seven Davis Jr. What are you looking forward to hearing?
