The French pop troupe pop the question, writes Ben Lomax — and the answer is a resounding ‘yes’

The concept of a spoken word song seems almost contradictory and yet these songs are arguably some of the most powerful and emotionally evocative recorded, writes Katie Shepherd.

Amber Bain brings The Japanese House’s lush dream pop to Club Academy

Ben Affleck’s latest venture shows promise yet ultimately falls flat

Rediscovered folk artist Scott Fagan plays at the Deaf Institute, making Oscar Talbot wonder how he was ever forgotten in the first place

Meg Roberts and Joel Boyce chat with ex-Tribes frontman, Johnny Lloyd ahead of his first Manchester headlining show as a solo artist

Poliça’s pensive and brooding music comes alive at the Ritz with a thrilling sense of urgency, writes Christian Hurry

Daughter went bigger, but was it better? Daughter confidently take a step towards rock in their show at the Academy, writes Rebekah Shaw

American Football’s long-awaited LP2 fails to differentiate itself from its acclaimed predecessor, Harry Sherrin writes

Lady Gaga’s new album is a Wild West shock to the Little Monsters’ systems, writes Alexandra Bickell

Oscar Talbot covers a night of music so overtly druggy that Theresa May wants to ban it under the Psychoactive Substances Act

The electro-soul duo have come a long way in a short time, and it’s hard not to watch HONNE perform and not fall in love, writes Tara Bharadia

Rapper, spoken word artist and political activist George the Poet displays his skill with words in a charming performance

Cassie Hyde reviews the new tracks of the week, with Marika Hackman excelling festively and a disappointing return for Japandroids

Oscar Talbot goes undercover to a sinister world of loud bass and murky corners at Ninja Tune’s Warehouse Project

Jacob Hopkins explores the 30days40songs project — a rare revival of protest music in the build-up to the US Presidential Election

Deputy music editor Katie Shepherd speaks to Sunset Suns about their birth and the escapist nature of their music

After a kaleidoscopic performance, KT Tunstall is certainly no shrinking violet, concludes Jeni Lambert

Charlotte Ridout helps us pretend Halloween isn’t over with this selection of ghoulish tunes

The Australian dance group have returned with a new member and a strong follow up to their 2013 debut, writes Tara Bharadia