This month…

P28 NELS CLINE

P30 BENMONT TENCH

P31 HAWKWIND

P33 PETER MURPHY

P34 BON IVER

P35 ESTHER ROSE

P36 SALIF KEITA

P39 SONGDOG

TUNDE ADEBIMPE

Thee Black Boltz SUB POP

6/10 Solo first from TV On The Radio fusionist

After touring last year with TV On The Radio in support of their reissued debut, Adebimpe now delivers his first full-length. Born from darkness both global and personal, it’s an acknowledgment that even the briefest flashes of hope bring light. Though the apple doesn’t fall far from the electronic/art-rock tree, the writing isn’t as fully realised as TVOTR’s and the playing lacks their meaty resonance. “Pinstack” riffs on “Swinging On A Star”, adding an unmemorable guitar motif, while “ILY” suggests Matt Berninger on autopilot. That said, the deep chug that drives “Magnetic” is irresistible and Adebimpe’s voice throughout is, as ever, warm and alluringly scuffed around the edges.

SHARON O’CONNELL

BAMBARA

Birthmarks BELLA UNION

8/10 New York melodramatists enhance their Southern gothic visions

The Brooklyn-based, Atlanta-formed trio move further away from the Cramps-ypost-punk noir sound of their early records on this, their fifth album. An overarching narrative thread reflects their cinematic ambitions as singer-guitarist Reid Bateh broods charismatically in the personae of doomed characters such as the death row killer of “Letters From Sing Sing” (think Tender Prey-era Cave backed by Pornography-era Cure) addressing the heroine of “Elena’s Dream” (a drowsily horn-laced, female-voiced reverie). When they add a rumbling bass groove, it enhances the impact magnificently, as on “Holy Bones” and the haunted trip-hop lament of “Because You Asked”. Captivatingly widescreen stuff.

JOHNNY SHARP

ANGEL BAT DAWID & NAIMA NEFERTARI

Journey To Nabta Playa SPIRITMUSE

BRANDON SCHULMAN

8/10 Ambitious exploration of a sacred, ancient astronomical site in the Nubian Desert

Journey To Nabta Playa is a brilliant collaboration between the composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Angel Bat Dawid and interdisciplinary artist Naima Nefertari, granddaughter of Moki and Don Cherry. The spirit of the Cherry family pulses through this stunning album, which features a rare Don composition and a phenomenal unreleased piece by his son, David Ornette. The rest are originals, fearless songs traversing free jazz, experimental electronic, classical and even techno. “Exorcism: