Serious issues underpin a number of the releases this week as Fiona Apple drops her first new music in five years.

Single of Week: Fiona Apple – Pretrial

Genius is a term that is over bandied about, but in the case of Fiona Apple it is well deserved, also requiring the caveat ‘mercurial’ in front of it. This track has been released in support of women in the USA held in custody until their pretrial appearance, often needlessly in the view of Apple who worked in courts for a couple of years.

No Windows – Tricky

Gorgeous guitar ditty, an EP dropped on Friday that deserves proper listening.

Blossoms – Get Happy

I have often struggled to get on with Blossoms, finding them a little bit beige – but this is a great track, part of the extra material from the deluxe version of album ‘Gary.’

Baxter Dury and JGrrey – Allbarone

Baxter has somehow quietly gone from niche artist, best known for being the son of legend Ian Dury, to a highly respected artist that crosses various genres and age ranges. If he wasn’t cool before, his 2021 appearance on Fred Again’s Actual Life series introduced him to a whole new audience. This has a great disco-synth backing.

Man/Woman/Chainsaw – MadDog

Closing out the live music at this year’s Are You Listening? Festival in Reading, this new release confirms them as ridiculously talented musicians, storytellers and masters of harmony and melody.

CMAT – Take A Sexy Picture of Me

Written as a response to the horrific online abuse she received after several appearances last year. She is a huge rising star, and the new album should cement her ascent.

Elbow – Sober

Achieving national treasure status many years back, this is the second release that will form part of an EP following up on the funky musical style they were pursuing on Audio Vertigo.

Lord Huron – Looking Back

The new album is clearly going to be fantastic. Live UK appearances later this year sold out within a day.

The Dare – I Can’t Escape Myself

Featuring on a beefed-up version of What’s Wrong With New York? coming out in June, rather than a new album. The strong additions are threating to turn it into the quality of album I was expecting in the first place, but that it didn’t quite live up to.

Loyle Carner – about time

Of all the talent in UK rap and hip-hop right now Loyle Carner is right at the top, a stunning artist producing deep and beautiful work.

Plenty more tracks to hear on the playlist.