When we put this album in around the office, and the first song “Overture” came on - the soaring strings, the heavy percussion, the Bowie-esque vocals – everyone went quiet. Which never happens. All the highpoints of the captivating opener continue through a masterfully constructed/executed album, and while the melodramatic grief of his first two LPs is represented in songs like “BlueBells” and “The Stars”, they’re balanced by characteristically campy theatrics that revel in a more colourful and triumphant optimism.

This young duo are all set to be the next big electronic export from Sweden, after the likes of the Knife, Jenny Wilson and Peter, Bjorn and John. Despite their hipster rep though it’s pure pop, at times stripped back but always packed with simple, cute vocals and tunes. While it lacks variation in tempo and levels, all in all Boylife is hedonistically upbeat and very (perhaps too) easy to tap ones fingers on the desk to in an irritating fashion. Alex P & SH

I’m writing this after only one listen - I wanted to go with my initial vibe. Said vibe = ‘Freakin’ Rad’. But then, nothing bad ever comes out of Portland does it? Secret Lawns is the one-man DIY project of Charlie Salas-Humara, and features Prince-like vocals over a bed of quirky, experimental pop. Synth, violin and organs gives depth to the falsetto disco madness – meaning dancefloor or bedroom, it brings the heat. Alex P

Perhaps a more consistent and focused sound than Adam’s previous (and yes we’ll use the word prolific) repertoire – and even if it is less immediately inspiring, it’ll grow on you. The songs sit somewhere between rock, alt-country and all-American blues – a sound that sits nowhere on the Australian music soundscape. An easy listen on a lazy afternoon, if you’re in the mood for a bit of Nashville twang.

Where Brian Eno had his Oblique Strategies, Trans Am created “Obscene Strategies” in the recording of their eighth LP – whenever the band hit a block, they’d follow a random suggestion card; ie. “Take a nap”, “Rip off black musicians” or “Pillow fight!”. The result is an album of cross-genre experimentation, which, while impressive for its vast and innovative scope, loses consistency towards the end. Alex P

Another long-awaited, ridiculously controversial debut full-length. You’re already familiar with “Waters of Nazareth” and “D.A.N.C.E”, but be prepared for these to be the catchiest pop-crossovers in the album. While we’ve found it less-than-spectacular, there’s more hits than misses - Justice can clearly do more than blow your speakers with singles and remixes. (Just skip straight past ‘The Party’ and Uffie’s extremely predictable impersonation of herself. Ohhh snap.) Alex P