Album reviews: Jan 2025

Reviews for full subscribers

On the last Monday of each month I send out a few album reviews of new and fairly new releases for paid subscribers. Hit the upgrade button if you want to read them.

---

Reviews this month

1. Swirl (2025) by Flora Hibberd - Album of the month!

2. Antenna (2025) by Rob Goraib

3. Close to Heaven (2024) by Reavsey

4. I Can Change Your Mind (2025) by Maddie Jay

5. The Last Dance (2024) by Noir Disco

6. Force Majeure (2025) by Delivery

7. Slowly, It Dawns (2025) by Victoria Canal

8. Héritage (2025) by Songhoy Blues

9. Spiral Your Way Out (2025) by zzzahara

10. Stupid Says Run (2025) by Dorie Jackson

    ---

Swirl (2025) by Flora Hibberd

An album that struck me as wonderful from the moment the first song played. Pulling in bucolic folk sounds and mixing them with popping bass guitar lines, we get songs reminiscent of Cate Le Bon at her very best. Hibberd is a Paris-based British songwriter, fascinated with language thanks to her work as a translator. Lyrics never worry me too much, I prefer feel, and this album feels fabulous. Hibberd intones in her crystal clear voice over clanging folk guitars and rumbling beats. She leaps around her vocal range, sounding icy and majestic on Remote Becoming Holy, whilst Code is cleverly funky in its snap, Hibberd almost speaking the words.

I can’t get over how good this album is. Every Incident Has Left Hits Mark is a dramatic folk piece, followed by the sweet pastoral sound of Canopy with its beautiful melody.. An early contender for my album of the year.