Balm in Gilead

With no political villain to rail against, Ricki Lee Jones heads back to the personal — her most upbeat collection in years

Richard Strauss

Strauss was a tremendous all-rounder— even his a cappella was brilliant and ravishing, as shown by these four items

Blakroc

The rap-rock duo's success lies in that it shows you the genre’s potential instead of entrenching your worst misgivings

Stravinsky

The transcription restores a sense of danger to a work at risk of losing its explosiveness through overfamiliarity

Purcell/Handel/Haydn

This lavishly presented compendium offers three works with vivacious links to Cecilia, music's patron saint

That’s Right

The Fallen Leaves’ guitarist Rob Symmons and vocalist Rob Green's punchy mod-punk mix remains timeless

Ravel

Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s ear for Ravel’s evocation of the twilit moments before dawn, and the spectacular sunrise, are fabulous

Beethoven/Britten

The younger generation of violin virtuosos line up to challenge the old masters in Beethoven’s great concerto

Bach Reloaded

Grumps who complain modern jazz is anaemic will find themselves mistaken when they come across this set by Jenni Molloy

A Friend of a Friend

Dave Rawlings Machine can be raucous, but it has, in truth, comfortably matched a highly enjoyable benchmark

Throw Down Your Heart

Stripped of the images for which the music was made, it loses some of its impact — but Bela Fleck's humility shines through

Rated R

A fine album by Rhianna, but a very public healing process— for better or for worse, that’s how she is expected to do it

Tradesman’s Entrance

The Courtesy Group's Al Hutchins, the howling faggot and pea-fuelled visionary, is vindicated at last, and at his finest

Rakim: The Seventh Seal

Rakim has lost a lot of collaborators over the years, and this record is crying out for the energy of a few more voices

Alfie Boe: Love Was a Dream

These romantic jewels from the king of European operetta need a voice with a warmer core than Boe’s virile tenor

Matthias Goerne Heliopolis

For pained eloquence it’s hard to beat the first song, Heliopolis, or the last, Abschied

Jesca Hoop: Hunting My Dress

This American has an unusual grasp of British folk music but has produced a new sound that is both studied and inspired

Gwilym Simcock: Blues Vignette

Further evidence of the young pianist’s abundant talents is revealed here - a powerful individual voice is emerging

Sparks: The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman

The intrepid musical spacemen continue to make records regardless of whether people will buy it. And you can’t knock that

R. Kelly: Untitled

Employing 17 co-producers, Kelly has created a record on which religion has never sounded so sexy and sex so tedious