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Review: Despite being popular amongst their peers, London post-punk outfit The Sound never achieved the level of commercial success that their impeccable output merited. The Statik Records Years, an expansive five-disc box set, delivers a reminder of both their qualities and trademark sound, which prioritised jangly indie guitars, basslines reminiscent of the Smiths and the expressive, stylish lead vocals of Adrian Borlad. The box set documents the most prolific two-year period in their career (1984-85), delivering a trio of remastered albums (Shock of Daylight, Heads & Hearts and In The Hothouse), a CD of demo recordings (disc four), and a compilation of rare cuts, unreleased tracks and non-album singles (CD4). A fine celebration of a band whose catalogue definitely deserves more love.

Review: Originally released in 2013 and celebrating its ten-year anniversary just a little late, Bloodsports was the sixth full-length and much needed return to form from London's glam-centric alt-rock staple Suede. Arriving more than a full decade after 2002's A New Morning, the LP marked the longest gap between projects from the group as issues stemming from addiction as well as the commercial underperformance of the aforementioned album led to a seven-year hiatus. Reuniting with longtime producer Ed Buller, for the first time since 1996's Coming Up, while re-enlisting former keyboardist Neil Codling who originally departed in 2001, the end result would be not only their most acclaimed work since their last outing with Buller but rejuvenate the Suede camp entirely, as we've since been treated to three more subsequent LPs, with the most recent, criminally underrated Autofiction lading in 2022.