In a way to keep ourselves from drowning amongst the new music that’s filtering into our ears right now, we decided to fill out a bumper pack of big album contenders that we simply cannot get enough of right now. Enjoy!

The gargantuan Ghanian-Australian hip-hop rapper stylist is back with his third iteration REDSTAR WU. The cautionary “anti-hero” knows no boundaries between his experimental hip-hop word musings, rugged punk aesthetic and freshening take on the world of alternative. His latest is just another exploration of how far he can take things. From PIRATE RADIO to LIFE KEEPS GOING, the record has ramped-up anthems, tidbits and magic acts that is worthy of any shortlist.

All-powerful and all-heavy French trio SLIFT have done it again. A thesis of a genre composite where jams and improvisations lead the conversation, Fantasia is the trio’s greatest and most direct record to date. It is oddly beguiling, a set-up of delights before it whacks you in the subwoofer with a heinous breakdown or two.

Indie folk-rock’s exemplary show of Kurt Vile has returned to an album’s worth of licks and laser-focused precision with Philadelphia’s been good to me. It’s mesmerising and deeply affectionate.