Album review overview: Dua Lipa, Angel Olsen and more

Dozens of new albums arrive at Maxazine’s editorial staff every week. There are too many to listen to, 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.

Martí Mitjavila – Playtime

The cradle of clarinettist Martí Mitjavila was in Barcelona, but the young musician has been studying, living, and working in Amsterdam for some time, surrounding himself with top jazz talent around the conservatory. On this “Playtime” we hear, alongside Mitjavila, Cas Jiskoot on double bass, David Puime on drums, and Ben van Gelder on alto saxophone. The title suggests a lighthearted, playful style, and the album certainly delivers. For fans of more traditional jazz, this is highly recommended. It immediately stands out how naturally and effortlessly Mitjavila engages in various dialogues with beautiful improvisations. Where some young musicians focus too much on technique, making the music feel clinical, Mitjavila sounds free. Jiskoot and Puime lay down a solid foundation, allowing the solo instruments to “flutter” across rich melodies: impressive how Mitjavila perfectly accents the rhythmic base. Pay particular attention to ‘Played Twice’ and ‘Blues for Duane’, gems thanks in part to Van Gelder’s performance. Classic jazz, yet highly accessible. Jazz purists will enjoy this, and newcomers can find an excellent introduction to the genre. Mitjavila respects jazz tradition while adding fresh elements. And we can forgive that horrendous cover photo—the music more than compensates. (Jeroen Mulder) (8/10) (Martí Mitjavila)

Pure Prairie League – Back On Track

After nearly two decades, the American country rock band Pure Prairie League returns with “Back On Track”, their first studio album since 2005. Of the original lineup, only pedal steel guitarist John David Call remains, but the new members—Scott Thompson on drums, Randy Harper on keyboards, Jeffrey Zona on guitar, and Jared Camic on bass—capture the authentic sound of the band’s early days. The album opens with the restless ‘The Beginning’, where smooth harmonies blend with characteristic electric guitars and pedal steel. Tracks like ‘Picture Perfect Life’ and ‘Skipping Stones’ show the band still excels at shifting between angular bluegrass passages and southern rockers. Producer Michael Reilly, a former bassist of the band, ensures a warm yet modern sound in which the four-part harmonies shine. While some songs like ‘Crazy World’ feel a little generic, tracks such as ‘I’m the Lucky One’ and ‘A Love Like Yours’ perfectly balance nostalgia with innovation. The Cajun-inspired ‘Six Feet Of Snow’, with its twirling violin and accordion, is a cheerful highlight, while the title track closes the album with a funky rhythm that looks both backward and forward. (Anton Dupont) (7/10) (Pure Prairie League Records)

Imperatore – The Lionspirit

This is the third album from the Australian metal band founded in 2022—certainly not a slow start. “The Lionspirit” contains elements of heavy, power, and prog metal, with a hint of symphony. The arrangements with symphonic elements and riffs are particularly strong, sounding confident and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the lyrics are fairly generic, and the vocals are less convincing than the instruments. The most compelling moments are the Powerwolf-style operatic vocals in the lower register. That is the strength, but represents only a small portion of “The Lionspirit”. In songs like ‘My Life’, the comparison works well, though not all tracks are equally strong; ‘Treachery’ is an example. Instrumentally, the album is solid, but the complete picture lacks the impact to ensure long-term attention. (6/10) (Rockshots Records)

Angel Olsen – Cosmic Waves Volume 1

With “Cosmic Waves Volume 1”, Angel Olsen takes a unique position as both curator and contributor. This compilation on her new label, somethingscosmic, presents five emerging artists chosen by Olsen, each contributing an original track, which Olsen then covers. The result is a fascinating musical conversation showcasing Olsen’s versatility. The album opens with the theatrical ‘Glamorous’ by Poppy Jean Crawford, featuring towering synth architecture reminiscent of Siouxsie Sioux. Coffin Prick delivers the reckless psychedelic ‘Blood’, Sarah Grace White brings the hypnotic ‘Ride’, Maxim Ludwig contributes the minimal ‘Make Believe You Love Me’, and Camp Saint Helene closes with the grand folk track ‘Wonder Now’. In the second half, Olsen reinterprets these songs, especially her dreamy slow-jazz folk version of Sarah Grace White’s ‘Sinkhole’. Her rendition of Camp Saint Helene’s ‘Farfisa Song’, with rumbling guitars and strings, shows Olsen’s ability to make each song her own without losing the essence. The album offers a compelling view of Olsen’s artistic direction and influences. (Elodie Renard) (7/10) (somethingscosmic)

Dua Lipa – Live From The Royal Albert Hall

British pop star Dua Lipa explores new artistic territory with “Live From The Royal Albert Hall”, reimagining her hits with the 53-piece Heritage Orchestra under conductor Ben Foster, a fourteen-person choir, and her seven-member band. Recorded during a one-off October 2024 concert in the historic London venue, the live album presents a full performance of her album “Radical Optimism”, followed by a selection of her greatest hits. Orchestral arrangements elevate tracks like ‘Houdini’ and ‘Training Season’ to cinematic grandeur, while songs such as ‘Falling Forever’ evoke the disco era with strings supporting the vocal harmonies. Lipa’s vocal power is impressively precise, blending seamlessly with the added instrumentation. A standout moment is Elton John joining her for ‘Cold Heart’, poignant given his recent health issues. Production quality is excellent, balancing the massive orchestral sound with Lipa’s vocals and her band. Lesser-known tracks like ‘Maria’ and ‘Watcha Doing’ benefit from these arrangements, blending funkier soul elements with refined strings. The album proves Lipa is not only a pop star but a serious artist willing to take risks with her material, demonstrating that pop music can shine in grand symphonic settings. (William Brown) (8/10) (Warner Records)