Rally festival review – thrilling blend of cult DJs and indie darlings
Mount Kimbie’s electro-acoustic jams capture the ethos of this celebration of the boundary pushing that included sets from Two Shell, Nilüfer Yanya and bar italia
Taylor Swift review – a joyous, bravura singathon marks the end of an Era
The US megastar’s world-conquering Eras tour threatened to become its own sideshow in recent weeks. In the event, though, it’s almost too much fun…
Fontaines DC: Romance review – their best record yet
The all-conquering Dublin five-piece hit expansive new heights on an album full of highlights
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Wild God review – this masterpiece will make you fall back in love with life
Contemplating pain, death and suffering, rock’s former prince of darkness finds euphoria despite it all, on an album of contagious joy and thrilling melody
André 3000 review – live spiritual jazz leaves hip-hop visionary with nowhere to hide
The former rapper starts promisingly with earthy improvisation but the band drifts disappointingly with no solos and few flashes of emotion
Hifi Sean & David McAlmont: Daylight review – the sound of a summer breeze
The duo’s latest album mixes 90s house, melodic trance and new wave, all the while spotlighting McAlmont’s heavenly vocals
Fontaines DC: Romance review – arenas await, but on the band’s own strange terms
On their most approachable album the Irish rockers add pop melodies, nu-metal touches and lush orchestration – while their troubled view of the world remains
Korn review – a mosh-pit erupting set drenched in dark energy
The nu-metal pioneers commit entirely with hulking riffs, frenzied scatting and guttural rage as they stomp through their songs with little ceremony
Charly Bliss: Forever review – alt-rockers put pop first
The Brooklyn band go all out for fun with an unashamedly catchy third album that wears its heart on its sleeve
Ravyn Lenae: Bird’s Eye review – a breathtaking R&B follow-up
The US singer-songwriter’s featherlight voice and distinctive lyrics skip easily between styles on her strikingly self-assured second album
Asake: Lungu Boy review – Nigerian superstar trips across the Black diaspora, with help from Stormzy
Although not as strong as last year’s Work of Art, Asake’s third album is rich with compositional detail and guest spots from the likes of Travis Scott and Central Cee
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: Flight b741 review – a cheerfully rocking album about global collapse
Channelling garage bands, Little Feat and more, the prolific Aussies pair nihilistic lyrics with 70s-style riffs in a darkly enjoyable romp
Meshell Ndegeocello: No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin review – a fire reignited
Baldwin’s stinging words on race and America are matched with the kind of musical eloquence that the great writer himself so admired
Jack White: No Name review – terrific surprise album is his most White Stripes-esque solo release
Originally handed out to customers at his record shop in an unmarked sleeve, White’s latest was bootlegged online and now gets an official release. Every one of his fans needs to track down this uncut gem
Womad festival review – wildly entertaining treasure trove for adventurous music fans
Radically inclusive global lineup includes Sampa the Great’s feminist pizzazz, Young Fathers’ twisted genre-splicing and Bixiga 70’s full-tent conga