Album review overview: Pet Shop Boys, Stray Kids and more
Dozens of new albums arrive at Maxazine’s editorial staff every week. There are way too many to listen to them all, let alone review them. It ensures that too many albums are left behind. And that’s a shame. That is why today we post an overview of albums that arrive at the editors in short reviews.
Calefax – Organisms
The reed quintet Calefax presents with “Organisms” a musical exploration of growth, movement and organic structures, with contemporary compositions and arrangements at its core. The album contains works written specifically for the ensemble’s unique instrumentation (oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bass clarinet and bassoon) or arranged for it. The instrumentation is virtuosic, and the sound balance between the five reed players is exceptional, resulting in a homogeneous yet layered texture. The focus lies on chamber music with a modern classical character, in which the compositions often feature complex rhythms and harmonies, as in the title piece “Organisms”. Although the album is less accessible for the average pop music listener, it demonstrates the ensemble’s strength in pushing the boundaries of their instrumentation and offering listeners an intellectually stimulating experience. (Elodie Renard) (8/10) (Challenge Records)
No Angels – It’s Christmas
With “It’s Christmas”, No Angels deliver their first Christmas album, opting for a classic, warm sound supported by a symphony orchestra conducted by George Miltiyadoff. In the single “I Still Believe”, their characteristic pop vocal tone shines, and although the song evokes nostalgia, it also conveys hope and togetherness. With their rendition of “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”, the group shows they dare to approach familiar Christmas classics with feminine class and finesse. The orchestral arrangement lends the tracks a full, festive atmosphere without becoming excessive. Lyrically, the album balances reflection and light-hearted joy, suiting the mix of maturity and youthful energy in the band members’ voices. Although aimed primarily at the holiday season, the sound remains rooted in No Angels’ pop identity: this is not a detached Christmas release but a logical continuation of their earlier work, now dressed in festive colours. It is not a radically innovative project, but it exudes sincerity and genuinely feels like an ode to Christmas, accessible both to fans of the group and to listeners who enjoy warm Christmas music. (Tobias Brown) (7/10) (Stars by Edel)
Stray Kids – Skz It Tape Do It (do Version)
With the “do Version” of the “Skz It Tape Do It” series, the K-pop group Stray Kids delivers an energetic album that highlights their signature explosive style. The album contains tracks heavily influenced by hip hop and EDM, with aggressive raps and rapid, chopping beats that align well with the single “D.O.D”. The production is hypermodern and filled with layered sound effects designed for maximum impact, both in clubs and arenas. The lyrics address themes such as self-confidence, overcoming challenges and the bond with their fanbase, offering listeners a compelling narrative. Although the intense production may feel overwhelming to some and the lack of tempo variation becomes noticeable at times, “Skz It Tape Do It” provides an unmistakably powerful and skilfully executed pop experience. (William Brown) (7/10) (JYP Entertainment)
Tineke Postma – VOYA
During her studies at the conservatory in Amsterdam, Tineke Postma recorded her first album: “First Avenue” was an instant success. And it did not stop there: all subsequent albums received enthusiastic responses. Nevertheless, the Heerenveen-born saxophonist remains for many a well-kept secret. Unjustly so, because this album also deserves attention from a wider audience. The title “VOYA” is a contraction of the words ‘voyage’ and ‘voice’, but also a reference to Oya, the Yoruba goddess of wind, breath and transformation. This suggests that Postma has taken a different musical path on this album, and that is partly true. For years, Postma has performed with a fixed quartet, but on “VOYA” the voice of Theo Bleckmann is added as an instrument: wordless, an extra layer in the music. The saxophone, of course, continues to play the leading role in the eleven compositions that together form the journey of “VOYA”. Eleven pieces in which Postma constantly surprises us: with unusual rhythms, striking chords, unexpected melodic turns and, above all, with the character of her playing – sometimes dreamy, sometimes compact and gripping, always precise. It remains admirable how subtly and how refinedly Postma can make her instrument sound. The tribute to Wayne Shorter with an interpretation of ‘Someplace Called ‘Where’ is a worthy conclusion. An interpretation, but played with respect. (Jeroen Mulder) (8/10) (Clap Your Hands)
Pet Shop Boys – Disco 5
Pet Shop Boys return with the remix album “Disco 5”, the latest in their long-running “Disco” series. It features twelve remixes they created themselves of tracks by artists such as Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (“Think of a Number”), Tina Turner (“Hot for You Baby”), Claptone (“Queen of Ice”) and Paul Weller (“Cosmic Fringes”), along with reworkings of their own material, including “Dreamland” with Olly Alexander and the re-remix of “West End Girls” via the Sleaford Mods version. The atmosphere is both danceable and nostalgic, with synthesiser textures and pulsing beats reminiscent of classic club eras. Yet the project does not feel like a mere anniversary celebration: it showcases their continued ability to reshape existing melodies with their own signature touch. Some remixes give the original works a surprising twist, others feel more familiar, but the PSB identity remains unmistakable throughout. For fans of their remix series, this is a welcome addition; for those who appreciate their dancefloor roots, it is an album to play repeatedly. (Norman van den Wildenberg) (7/10) (Parlophone)
