Bethan Cole

Brit-folk darling Laura Marling, and Tunng’s Mike Lindsay would appear, on the strength of this interview at least, to be odd musical bedfellows. and yet their album as Lump is a fiery spark of a record. We ask the questions, see those stormclouds brood…

In a world where it feels like there’s not much to celebrate, the uplifting, thoughtful pop of New York-based five-piece Barrie is sure to put a skip in your step

Not content on resting on her classically-trained laurels, Poppy Ackroyd takes inspiration from nature and revels in an unconventional approach to tickling the ivories

OnDeadWaves is a fascinating collaboration between Mute artists Polly Scattergood and MAPS, also known as James Chapman. Their self-titled album is one of the most melancholic records you’ll hear all year, but they insist there are nuggets of hope sparkling in the sadness

The original folktronica trailblazer has really cranked up the ’tronica for her excellent new album, ‘Kidsticks’. Will the real Beth Orton please stand up?

DJ? Electronic recording artist? Producer? Soundtrack composer? Drawing on 60s girl groups and epic film scores, Unloved sees David Holmes combining his considerable skills into one deliciously noir-ish album

They make music that is at once experimental, propulsive, foreboding and beautiful. They call it “rock concrète”. They love Baudelaire and Shakespeare as well as Suicide and Coil and Swans and Sonic Youth. They are Tomás and Carmen, originally from Argentina but now based in Berlin. Meet Mueran Humanos