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Jun 6: Week 23 of the year. We’ve made it to June. While festivals ramp up for the Summer, it seems that albums and the like haven’t slowed down at all. Names this week include visionary artist Little Simz, folk soothe-sayer Nick Mulvey, avant-garde old-timers Pulp and hard rock velvets Turnstile.

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Along with Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage performance aswell as set to being the bonafide curator to Southbanks’ Meltdown celebrating music’s best cut of meats, It’s an outrageous feat for any artist to hit the sixth album mark. But for one of the UK’s most captivating artists and most reaffirmed British acts, it’s all part-and-parcel to Little Simz’s greatness. From 2021’s Mercury Music Prize-winning record Sometimes I Might Be An Introvert to performing at Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in 2024 to now curating the next Meltdown edition at Southbank, Little Simz is a generational magic in raw confidence and talent.

This year, we see another chapter to Simz’s already blazing journey of her becoming. Dissecting her album during her intimate tour right now, her sixth album, Lotus is a deeply honest and heartfelt struggle. For those fans worried, visceral lyricism and propulsive instrumentations – driving factors into what makes Little Simz so great – are all on display here throughout its 13-track listing.

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The man behind the intricacies of Fever to the Form has returned to the fold in three years with new feel, Dark Harvest Pt.1. A seemless bridge between guitar folk and softly-spoken indie, Mulvey is an acoustics delight of remaining true to the sound.

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A rather secondhand pop demure, Pulp have gone on to become of the most innovative bands of the ’90s and beyond. A steadfest fusion of glam rock, fusion, British indie rock and everything in-between, ’95’s Common People and ’94’s His N Hers have gone on to become traditional staples in perfect songwriting landscapes; all orchestrated by one witty Jarvis Cocker, painting a beautiful picture of pure working-class misfits. Today marks the bands’ first studio album in 24 years with More, the groups’ eighth studio record. In the next chapter of their life, synth and strings-heavy More is a strangely beautiful telling of a band all grown up.

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The most boundless hardcore rock band of the century are back with their fourth after their glistening spectacle of GLOW ON in 2021. Flute solos, sax quips and formidable guitars make up the most of Turnstile‘s fourth studio record; a true doubling down on being one of the best crossover bands right now. Incorporating GLOW ON‘s pop sheen with a whole hog of ’80s trifling, Turnstile make it be known that they’ve still got the experimental edge of keeping it fresh.

The funky Police-esque of SEEIN’ STARS; alongside the traditional 2-step scope of BIRDS; in the same album as shoegaze lust LIGHT DESIGN. It’s an album both equally separate in parts but joint at the hip in style.

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The garage rock trio tap into their playful youth with debut, Ripped and Torn. Already feeling like a seasoned outfit, Lifeguard fire on all cylinders making you want to believe that the revival is happening all over again. With enough anxious guitar to shake a stick at, Ripped and Torn is a welcome break for another band in this compact genre – we’re gonna need a bigger boat.

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