albums

Belfast harpist Ursula Burns on 30 years of breaking the boundaries and developing her own style of playing

HOZIER UNREAL UNEARTH HOZIER’S long-awaited new album Unreal Unearth is a brave if uneven release from the Irish indie rocker.

Rufus Wainwright Folkocracy RUFUS WAINWRIGHT in his new album Folkocracy revitalises his past with the assistance of powerful vocalists for a series of earthy duets which draw on the song history of American folk staples.

A CERTAIN RATIO – 1982 With post-punk sounds everywhere these days, it's an opportune time for Manchester pioneers A Certain Ratio to return with their 12th studio album, recorded by the core line-up of Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop and Donald Johnson.

FELA KUTI – SHAKARA (50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) NIGERIAN Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti's 1972 album Shakara uses each side of the vinyl LP – newly re-issued by Partisan to mark its 50th birthday – to capture an immersive 13-minute performance.

IGGY POP – EVERY LOSER FOLLOWING 2016's career high Post Pop Depression, Iggy Pop retreated into jazzy disfunction for Free.

LITTLE SIMZ – NO THANK YOU NO THANK YOU, the fifth album by Little Simz, dropped on a Monday in December.

SAM RYDER – THERE'S NOTHING BUT SPACE, MAN! FROM the dancey Put A Light On Me and energetic Tiny Riot to the slow tempo All The Way Over and Michael Buble-esque This Time, Eurovision-winner Sam Ryder showcases his impressive vocals.

STORMZY – THIS IS WHAT I MEAN STORMZY seems invincible at the moment.

SYLVETTE – SINGLE THREAD MANCHESTER art rockers Sylvette unveil a more personal, intimate and experimental sound on their third album, which is imbued with grief and loss.