(ECN/Proper)
Guitarist Kieran Gunter and pianist Chris Bland and co embrace prog-rock, synth and velvety vocals on this Pat Metheny-inspired set

(Tapete)
This latest iteration of Lan McArdle and Owen Williams’s Joanna Gruesome turns their lush vocals, guitar heroics and recent heartbreaks into melodic gold

(Parlophone)
The Chris Martin-feted Spanish American singer-songwriter delivers a debut album that is mainstream pop fare but packed with variety and nuance

(Transgressive)
Close harmonies and delicate percussion front and centre showcase the band’s songwriting finesse on their beguiling fourth album

(Warner’s)
Made during a difficult time in the late rapper’s life, this abandoned work captures the musicianship and introspection of his fertile mid-career

(Nyege Nyege Tapes)
This Peruvian-Congolese partnership transforms traditional African guitar-playing with thrillingly chaotic sound design

(PIAS)
The London musician’s assured debut runs the gamut from aggressive jungle to uplifting house, toggling between hedonism and introspection

Streep/Prohaska/Maîtrise et Choeur de Radio France/OP de Radio France/ Franck
(Warner Classics)
Hollywood royalty in the shape of Meryl Streep, and the soaring soprano of Anna Prohaska lend authenticity to Wainwright’s expressive eulogy to human loss

Nash Ensemble
(Hyperion)
The Ensemble mark their 60th anniversary with an outstanding recording of Debussy’s late sonatas

(Rock Action)
While old-school fans may lament their softening, the Glasgow band swap rage for refuge as they face personal strife – and their 30th anniversary

(Transgressive)
The sex-positive South African trailblazer deserves to break into the mainstream with the fullest expression so far of her wit and sheer verve

(Daughters of Cain via Awal)
Ambient soundscapes dominate US singer-songwriter Hayden Silas Anhedönia’s resolutely avant garde second album

(Full Time Hobby)
The inventive English six-piece deliver another slice of whimsy, wit and gentle musical experimentation

(Domino)
The Scottish art rockers’ sixth album benefits from an infusion of fresh blood, but can’t maintain the standards of the first few songs

(ECM)
Played by world-class personnel including Bill Frisell and the late, great alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, this 2014 set is full of subtle, spontaneous ideas

(Transgressive)
Spinning the sounds of Johannesburg and Durban into distinctive, abrasive electro-pop, the blue-braided singer is filthy and sharply funny

Armonico Consort/Monks
(Signum)
Armonico Consort continues to rehabilitate the reputation of overlooked Scarlatti family member Francesco in this uneven but dramatic choral piece

Osborne/London PO/Gardner
(LPO)
Edward Gardner conducts first-rate performances of two rarely recorded works, bringing Tippett’s musical language into sharp focus

(City Slang)
Championed by Iggy Pop and riot grrrl royalty, the Brighton duo pile on the jagged riffs, scabrous humour and swearing for their politically charged debut

(Domino)
Alex Kapranos and co are finally acting their age, but have lost their cool in the process