W/e 07/11/25 - The Belair Lip Bombs, The Charlatans, Florence and The Machine, Luvcat, The Grid

Congrats to The Belair Lip Bombs, our winners this week plus they have the TOTW.

Decent showing for Luvcat’s debut, just outside our top 30 this year.

Guy takes the 😀 from previous happy camper Sam, who flips and ends Andy’s run with the ☹️.

The Gird sit with Sam’s Dogs D’Amour and Mark’s Televsion on the classics.

Andy

The Bel-Air Lip Bombs - Solid indie rock, you can rely on the Aussies. Just not for sportsmanship or sensible insects 7

The Charlatans - Not quite classic Charlatans but very enjoyable nonetheless 7

Florence + the Machine - I can just about see the appeal at times but I found this to be a chore on the whole 5

Luvcat - Excellent dramatic pop, she’ll be at Reading next year for sure 7.5

TotW - Laurie by Luvcat

The Grid - Didn’t totally get on with this but some of it was ok, a whole album of this sort of thing is a lot for me 5.5

Phil

Belair Lip Bombs 7.4

On my longlist for TGE 24, where I described them as “anthemic indie”. It’s still an accurate description and I now regret that they didn’t make the shortlist. This is great stuff – full of uplifting, fist-pumping guitar tunes.

Charlatans 7.4

Nice to hear an electric piano, for once. In fact, keyboards are the bedrock of this enjoyably retro record. It doesn’t quite make me want to investigate the rest of their back catalogue but it passed the time most enjoyably.

Florence and the Machine 6

Here’s Florence. She’s got a big voice and she’s not afraid to use it! Or should that be over-use it? Far too much of this album sounds like the drama has been dialled all the way up to 11. It’s full of songs and arrangements that have been pumped up to make them stadium-ready. Happily, there are also quieter moments and, surprise surprise, they’re far more effective than the breast-beating anthems that dominate.

Luvcat 7.4

We review quite a bit of girly pop but when it’s this good, I’m more than happy to give it my attention. Luvcat has a good voice, the lyrics are clever and often witty, and the arrangements are a perfect fit for the songs. Dinner @ Brasserie Zedel is a good example of a song full of drama that isn’t overstated. Were you paying attention, Florence?

TOTW – Luvcat – Dinner@Brasserie Zedel

Classic

The Grid 5.5

EDM is not my thing, as you all know. This does get an extra half point because I found the muttered vocals quite entertaining.

Guy

The Bel-Air Lip Bombs – The Aussies are on fire these days. Another very enjoyable indie album from down under, full of energy, riffs and verve – 7.9

The Charlatans – Decent album although not enough of the faster paced, Hammond driven tracks for my liking - 7

Florence + the Machine – Total opposite to Phil. When she belts out the stadium tunes and lets her vocal chords go, she’s great. Some of the slower ‘spoken word’ tracks were a bit tedious for me – 6.9

Luvcat – Really strong debut album. Female pop with edge and variety. 7.7

TOTW – Again and Again – The Bel-Air Lip Bombs

The Grid – Not listened to this for a good while. Swamp Thing was such a great tune… Nonetheless, found bits of this a little dated and monotonous in places. Flotation and Intergalatica are top tunes though. – 7.5

Sam

The Bel Air Lip Bombs , nice enough Aussie indie but I expected more oomph . 7

The Charlatans: Tim still has a great voice but it’s missing a banger and more lead in its pencil . 7

Florence and the Machine : annoying and boring , what a combo : 3

Luvcat : Didn’t we hear this album last week ? Very samey . Apart from the aforementioned Brasserie Zedel story this was average at best . 5.5

TOTW : not easy to find one but I’ll agree with Again and Again by Bel Air Lip Bombs

The Grid : sounds more 90’s than 2013 . Parts were decent and some bits were very Pet Shop Boys . Overall enjoyable: 7.3

Justin

The Bel Air Lip Bombs - quality indie offering. 7

The Charlatans - nothing that would get in my top 10 Charlatans songs and maybe a bit down beat compared to some of their stuff but still gave it quite a few listens and I think it is a quality album overall. 7.5

Florence and the Machine - first run through was quite painful. I have listened again as I am quite a big Florence fan and it did grow on me a bit. All just a bit too much. 6

Luvcat - another quality indie offering with a bit of a different sound. Some possible TOTW like Matador. 7.1

TOTW Charlatans- You can't push the river

The Grid - Flotation single was one of my early ambient purchases. I absolutely love this early days of rave/ambient/balearic sound. This album has had loads of plays this week. 9

Simon

The Belair Lip Bombs: bright and jaunty C&W-tinged indie from Melbourne, there seems to be an inexhaustible supply of it down under these days. Engaging enough but didn't knock my socks off. 7

The Charlatans: when the Charlatans first appeared in the early 90s their distinctive organ sound made them stand out from their peers - kudos for still releasing new albums 35 years later, this is solid enough but lacks the flair of their earlier stuff. 6.5

Florence & the Machine: Flo's dramatic blend of folky mysticism may not be everyone's cup of tea but I've always had a soft spot for it - this approaches Kate Bush-levels of theatrics at times (Witch Dance) but it strikes the right balance on tracks like Kraken and You Can Have it All. 7.5

Luvcat: didn't mind this on first listen but second time round it just annoyed me - Alien is OK but the rest is too slow and samey and I didn't really like her voice. 5.8

The Grid: never got into the Grid beyond A Beat Called Love (there was a lot of similar stuff around at the time) - good to finally catch up with this although doesn't float my boat now quite as much as it would have at the time. 7.3

TotW: Florence and the Machine - Kraken

Mark

Belair Lip Bombs - this started out really good, first few were ace, didn't quite sustain it over the whole album but it comes back strongly towards the end and it's another more than decent Aussie act to add to the collection -7

The Charlatans - long term fan and the band I've seen live the most over the years (reckon it's around 40 times now). Mucho melancholia as is to be expected these days, but still some lovely tunes from the nicest man in indie - 7.5

Florence & The Machine - sometime goes a bit pagan hey nonny nonny (Witch Dance...) I do like her but sometimes it's too emotionally overwrought for my liking, although bonus half point for having a pop at Matt Healey in Music By Men - 6

Luvcat - some pretty accomplished songwriting for a debut release, although seems she had a few solo acoustic singles out previously, it's like Taylor Swift meets Fleetwood Mac via Last Dinner Party - 6.5

TOTW - For The Girls, by The Charlatans

Paul

The Belair Lip Bombs (6.5)

Nice enough low key indie, enjoyed it but didn’t blow me away.

The Charlatans (7.5)

Enjoyable album with a recognisable Charlatan’s sound. Thought it finished strongly.

Florence + The Machine (6)

Quite full on as expected understand why it might be an acquired taste but didn’t mind it too much.

Lovecat (7.5)

Way more interesting than I thought it was going to be after the first couple of tracks, improved as it went on. Like a dark Last Dinner Party in parts.

TOTW - The Charlatans, We are Love

The Grid (6.5)

Decent enough atmospheric chilled out dance. Enjoyed it overall but it dragged a bit and could have done with a few faster tracks.

Erol

The Belair Lip Bombs - a genuinely fun slice of Aussie indie rock. Really bouncy. 7.5

The Charlatans - when they were good they were fab. This is nowhere near their previous heights but it’s still a decent listen. 6.8

Florence & the Machine - she sure has a set of lungs but overall impression was this was a bit overblown. 7

Lovecat - enjoyable girl

pop, if a bit samey. Gorgeous voice. 7.3

TOTW - Alien by Lovecat

The Grid - decent enough chill-out tracks but it went on for too long. 6.5

Annette

The Belair Lip Bombs: 7.5

The Charlatans: 7

Florence and The Machines: 6.5

Lovcat: 8

TOTW: Dinner @ Brasserie Zedel by Lovcat

Classic: The Grid - 7

Matt

The Belair Lip Bombs: 7.6

The Charlatans: 6.9

Florence and The Machine: 6.8

Luvcat: 7

TOTW: Again and Again The Belair Lip Bombs

Jim

The Belair Lip Bombs 8

Terrific indie, a tasty mash of Bip Blom, Wednesday and even Killers on my TOTW.

The Charlatans 6.5

They are ledges of course, and this is nicely crafted but a little too melancholy and lacking any memorable tracks. Suffered in comparison to the fresh and interesting indie and pop we had this week

Florence + the Machine 5.5

Her voice is great, obvs, but it drowns out what little there is behind. They lack the guitars to be rock and catchy tunes to be decent pop. They are decent live though.

Luvcat 8

A treat, vying with Lorde for the pop album of the year. Best compliment I can give is she probably the nearest to matching Billie Es subtle classy pop I can think of.

TOTW: Belair – Hey You

The Grid 8.5

Great stuff – excellent mix of ambient, some Beloved-esque soulful pianos and a handful of no-nonsense rave choooons. Intergalactica is cracking

Adam

The Belair Lip Bombs 8

The Charlatans 6

Florence + the Machine 7

Luvcat 8

TOTW: Belair Lip Bombs - Another World

Classic - 7