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The weather in June wasn’t the only thing that was red hot (lol) – here are the 9 best albums

The cream of the past four weeks

What’s there to say about June that isn’t the reiteration of a lot of sadness, anger and finger pointing about recent events? At least Glastonbury, like a light at the end of a particularly dark tunnel, looked like a lot of fun. And the Tories got a bollocking.

There’s also been a heatwave and some excellent new music released. These are the albums that’ve regularly graced our overheated stereo these past four weeks. Starting with…

Artist: Wesley Gonzalez
Title: Excellent Musician
Label: Moshi Moshi
What is it? The debut solo album from the former Let’s Wrestle frontman is an anti-indie record.
L&Q says: “Gonzalez may be a raconteur in a forgotten, kitsch, British kind of way, but he’s far from a total chancer.”
Read Rachel Redfern’s full review

Artist: Vince Staples
Title: Big Fish Theory
Label: Virgin
What is it? Bon Iver and Kendrick Lamar are among the guests on the Californian rapper’s second album.
L&Q says: “Stylistically and lyrically, Vince has taken a sharp left turn – some of it even has a UK garage influence dug up from 2001.”

Artist: Kevin Morby
Title: City Music
Label: Dead Oceans
What is it? Previously part of The Babies and Woods, Kevin Morby’s fourth solo album is a set of songs about feeling lost in crowded places.
L&Q says: “A very natural sounding record, effortless in form, stylistically distinct and completely coherent.”
Read Chris Watkeys’ full review

Artist: Noga Erez
Title: Off The Radar
Label: City Slang
What is it? The Tel Aviv-based experimental artist’s debut album is politically infused pop music that takes sound seriously.
L&Q says: “It’s not afraid of combining pure fun with heavy topics.”
Read Katie Beswick’s full review

Artist: Big Thief
Title: Capacity
Label: Saddle Creek
What is it? The follow-up to ‘Masterpiece’, the songs on ‘Capacity’ explore the deep resilience of the human psyche.
L&Q says: “A gorgeous collection of songs that explores every nook and cranny of the folk rock spectrum.”
Read David Zammitt’s full review

Artist: Philipp Gorbachev & the Naked Man
Title: I Don’t Give a Snare
Label: Arma
What is it? Underground avant-garde raver Philipp Gorbachev is renowned for his solo electronic material and his party-throwing antics in Moscow.
L&Q says: “A spontaneous, scrappy and seductive debut offering.”
Read Dan Dylan Wray’s full review

Artist: Chastity Belt
Title: I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone
Label: Hardly Art
What is it? The third album from the Seattle band – and the best one yet.
L&Q says: “This record feels like a defining moment for the band, via a blend of pop melodies and unfamiliar subject matters that make for a refreshing take on tired indie rock.”
Read Hayley Scott’s full review

Artist: Richard Dawson
Title: Peasant
Label: Weird World
What is it? A pre-Medieval folk record. The narratives of ‘Peasants” eleven tracks take place in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Bryneich.
L&Q says: “Dawson uses an alien society as a mirror for our own.”
Read Fred Mikardo-Greaves’full review

Artist: Algiers
Title: The Underside of Power
Label: Matador
What is it? The second album from the Atlanta/UK outfit is as vital as it is volatile – a collection of highly charged political anthems.
L&Q says: “Algiers angry voice remains a protest sound for these restless days and nights.”
Read Reef Younis’s full review