Island Vinyl & CDs

Review: Roan's debut LP, released in 2023, has catapulted her to stardom, poised to top the UK charts and marking her set at Lollapalooza as one of the festival's most-attended. Her meteoric rise, fueled by her support role on Olivia Rodrigo's Guts tour and the success of the single 'Good Luck, Babe!', has been impressive. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is a showcase of Roan's fearless songwriting, blending intense revelations with irresistibly catchy choruses. To commemorate the album's one-year anniversary, Island Records has announced a limited-edition 2xLP in 'my kink is coral' vinyl. This release celebrates the album's cultural impact, from its iconic 'Pink Pony Club' costumes to the viral 'HOT TO GO!' dance, solidifying Roan's is here to stay.

Review: It is now a full decade since the Disclosure boys burst not the world sated with their Settle album. Not only is the artwork iconic, but the tunes too ushered in a new era of chart-friendly sounds and showed artists they needn't be afraid of popping their heads above the so-called underground. This special new version comes with all the original tunes, many of which were big hits for the duo, as well as bonus tracks. A full decade on they all sound as good as ever with the Surrey boys' production prowess still standing out. This one got platinum certification and topped the UK charts in its first week.

Review: Florence Welch's globe-straddlingly successful epic-pop project has made its name largely through no-holds-barred emotion and rapturous melodrama, and although this third album has largely been trumpeted as a return to a more stripped-down and less over-the-top approach, long-term fans of the couture-clad siren needn't worry too much. 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful' remains true to her heart-on-sleeve approach and the cinematic splendour she's made her trademark. Crucially, even beneath the orchestral arrangements and the life-or-death vocal declamations, the songs on this record shone through as memorable and emotive enough to withstand the level of ornamentation around them, and fit to have Florence's fearsome pipes send them skyward.