Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Ahora, the new record by Melenas, is the polar opposite a third-album slump. Other bands might suffer from a lack of inspiration typical of such a critical creative moment, but this Spanish quartet reappears more invincible than ever, reassembled with a splendid palette of sounds raising the question: can you make jangle pop and garage rock with synthesizers? The likes of 'K2' and 'Bang' recall a resounding yes; in fact, the glorious throb of analogue keyboards, which dominate the album, do not betray Melenas' sound, and in fact propel it to an ascended pop heaven. Textured vintage synths, such as the Korg Delta or the Yamaha PSR-36, provide and maintain said immediacy, also imprinting a fascinating gamut by stretching the band's sonic identity, a transformation heard not only in the the crystalline pop of '1986', but the sombre, but moving undertones of 'Flor de la Frontera'.

Review: With a beautiful folk-rock voice and jangly indie rock guitar-led backing, Welsh indie rockers the Tubs have a sound that you can file alongside the likes of New Zealand icons The Clean and Fairport Convention. Despite having only formed in 2018, their album sounds like it could have been released any time in the last 40 years. There's a strength to that. Whilst some may feel the need to overly embellish with complex arrangements and effects, The Tubs' core elements - vox, guitar, drum, bass - are so brilliant that you're glad they don't muddy the waters here. The lead singer, Owen "O" Williams (a founding member of indie noise sorts Joanna Gruesome) is the son of the late, great folk singer Charlotte Greig. He wrote the new album in the period following the suicide of his mother and the cover art is a photo of her nursing him. It's a truly powerful album with deep, thought-provoking lyrics and since it's released the same year that they're scheduled to go on tour with The Wedding Present, you can expect The Tubs' stock to rise in the coming months. Grab this record in the colour that's a homage to Wales' St.David's day whilst you can.