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FUNKED UP

2117¬Montreal's foremost exponenents of Prince-inspired dirty funk are back with their new album. Critics so far are impressed, Rave Magazine seeing the album as an affirmation of the band's unique style.¬False¬

Middle of the Trail

2101¬Rootsy folkster Ray Lamontagne continues his career as a Radio 2 botherer with his new album. Critics see it as competent but hardly revolutionary, scores coming it at around 6 or 7.¬False¬

Towering achievement?

2098¬There's a very rare 10/10 from The Skinny for the rapper, pianist and producer's album, released to accompany a feature film also written and produced by the maverick Canadian. Such enthusiasm is not shared by the BBC or music OMH, who regard it as interesting but only partially successful.¬True¬
Constellations

Balmorhea

Constellations

Fourth album of eclectic acoustic and piano compositions from the Texas instrumental ensemble

Critics average rating

7.2

Label
Western Vinyl
Release date
08/03/2010
  1. 8.5 |  Blurt

    If you give it the time and attention it deserves it will reveal itself to be one of the best instrumental albums you’re likely to hear this year – post-rock or otherwise
    Read Review

  2. 8.0 |  Tiny Mix Tapes

    A work of exquisite beauty, coming from a group that grows by leaps and bounds with every release
    Read Review

  3. 7.9 |  Pitchfork

    Its rich textures push it past the point of background music, and its gorgeous melodies serve as anchors for even the sparest moments
    Read Review

  4. 7.0 |  Blurt

    The group has - through constant performance and studio work - come considerably closer to paring down its sound to its essential elements
    Read Review

  5. 6.0 |  Mojo

    Print edition only

  6. 6.0 |  NME

    Print edition only

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Track preview & download

Balmorhea: Constellations

  • Download full album for just £7.99
  • 1. To The Order of Night £0.99
  • 2. Bowsprit £0.99
  • 3. Winter Circle £0.99
  • 4. Herons £0.99
  • 5. Constellations £0.99
  • 6. Steerage and the Lamp £0.99
  • 7. Night Squall £0.99
  • 8. On The Weight of Night £0.99
  • 9. Palestrina £0.99
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Prolific

2120¬These Virginian sludge-rockers find themselves releasing their fifth album in two years, a huge feat by anyone's standards. Critics are unsure whether any degree of quality can be sustained at that rate however, with Tiny Mix Tapes stating that in fleshing out their sound, they have drawn "too much attention to musical aspects [they] never had going for them".¬True¬

Duppy Love

2109¬Critics are falling over themselves to heap praise on this album of dub remixes of classic Roots Manuva tracks. It has managed a very decent showing on our chart, especially given that it is essentially a remix album. It has impressed so much that Culture Deluxe has proclaimed it as "possibly the most perfect reggae album released in the last 30 years". ¬True¬

Back On Top?

2114¬The Manic Street Preachers have had something of a critical rebirth with their last two albums, and that trend looks set to continue with their latest offering. The Line of Best Fit call it a "wonderful album", while The Fly reckon they "are in the form of their life". With only a few reviews in so far, it seems we could have a contender for the higher echelons of our chart.¬True¬

Pain and pleasure

2105¬Can the third of the three Mancunian electro-ish bands which featured in the BBC's Sound of 2010 list emulate the success of their counterparts, Delphic and Everything Everything? The jury's still out so far. NME is a big fan of the duo's 80s-inspired synthpop anthems, but The Guardian is far from convinced, and others find the album stylish but unremarkable. ¬True¬

Compilations & Reissues

They're not in the main chart as they skew things

  1. 8.5

    The Teardrop Explode Kilimanjaro: Deluxe Edition

  2. 8.5

    R.E.M. Fables Of The Reconstruction

  3. See full list