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This Brazilian band have come up with a third record that is full of different styles, but it has to be said that the songs on the new record do lack body. Having split with record company Sub pop, freedom is the key word on this album. Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream) and Ratatat are amongst the collaborators on show. Unfortunately, apart from “Hits me like a rock”, there is really nothing else worth mentioning here.

Tinariwen

Many record companies have turned to Africa in their search for the imagination and character lacking in a lot of Western music. This phenomenon from Mali, who sing traditional songs backed up by electric guitars, can easily be placed alongside projects like Congotronics and Ethiopics. This well-known group has played at famous festivals like Womax’s Tinariwen show and this is their fifth record.

Eddie Vedder

For better or for worse, depending on the record, those of us born in the 70s have been utterly marked by the band Pearl Jam. Vocalist Eddie Vedder took his first tentative solo steps on the soundtrack to the film “Into the wild”. He’s back and armed with a ukulele, a very nice instrument we think indeed, on this, his new record. Moreover, the song “Tonight you belong to me” features the voice of Cat Power. Oh!

The Rapture

The Rapture’s latest record features sounds from the 70s and 90s. They were the first to mix funk, disco and rock with a view to the dance floor. Some of those who came after them overtook them and the band had kind of fallen by the wayside in the last few years. Nevertheless, they still make huge records and this one is no different. Made with love.

Ladytron

This Liverpool band released a “Best of...” earlier this year but they have also found the time to record their fifth studio album, full of their usual synth-pop melodies. “Gravity the seducer” is the name and it is home to 12 songs of which “Mirage” we have liked the most so far. The other 11 tracks are not to be sneezed at either. This band have been around for a while and it shows in their strength as a unit.

The Kooks

Influenced by Ray Davies and the like, this British band have been unable to get over the success of their debut album released several years ago. Their follow up didn’t meet up to expectations and that hasn’t made it any easier for them on this their third album. Though the record kicks off very strongly with excellent songs like “Rosie”, the songs get weaker the further into the album you get until you finally stumble into “Time above the earth”.