STEVEN WILSON, The Overview (2025). The headlines are already reading things on par with “Steven Wilson returns to form.” To be certain, this is Wilson’s most prog-driven album in years. Some of its tones harken back to The Raven That Refused to Sing, which was released twelve(!) years ago. But The Overview is not as sad as it is highly introspective. A concept built around seeing oneself from above Earth — rendering oneself relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of things — will be more than a little to take in, particularly in this day and age. (Okay … maybe it is a little sad.) The track listing may include “only” two songs, but this is a suite full of information. It will take a little time to absorb everything, but it’s worth the effort. Wilson’s guest musicians — Adam Holzman (keys), Randy McStine (guitars), Nick Beggs (bass), and Craig Blundell (drums), among others — do not disappoint. They, like their leader, on top of their game. Oh … did we mention lyrics written by Andy Partridge on one song to boot? This is the album many Wilson fans have spent years waiting for. Take it in and be happy. Relatively speaking.

https://stevenwilsonhq.com/

MOGWAI, The Bad Fire (2025). One thing is certain: Mogwai knows how to bring the post-rock fire! Not every band can bring such high levels of intensity while playing some of the cleanest guitars and grooves that ultimately lead to the more aggressive tones fans might be accustomed to. Electronics blend nicely with heavier elements. Each tune is a journey aboard an emotional rollercoaster. And amongst all this emotion reside some remarkable melodies. This album is an experience. Feel free to go on the journey. It’s worth it!

https://mogwai.scot/

MEDICINALS, Stream of Consciousness (2024). Gloriously undefinable music that manages to straddle a Venn diagram between indie, post-rock, shoegaze, and a sprinkle of electronica. The grooves are solid and the guitar lead lines are aggressive without going over the top. And is that just a little funk I hear in one piece? Perhaps. The bottom line is that this is quite the musical adventure. This is one of those bands you should keep your eye on.

https://open.spotify.com/album/3QLIXazgfd4tRfNbONDvMd?si=Iz7G_s-nSVSLzKp1-6Qtvg

YAZZ AHMED, A Paradise in the Hold (2025). The operative word for this album is chill. The music created by Yazz Ahmed’s trumpet and flugelhorn are a great accompaniment to the relaxed musical tapestry going on behind it. Even at its most intense, the music lilts in and out without causing a brutal assault on the eardrums. Ahmed puts her Middle Eastern heritage to work in support of the jazz she creates over it. It’s a sound she’s used for years, and it still works. There are more vocals than on past records, but they too are more soundscape than melodic. This is a cool album, perfect for the tense times we live in.

https://yazzahmed.bandcamp.com/album/a-paradise-in-the-hold

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