Dylan Stewart, Journalist

For Jay Z to continue the upward career trajectory that has followed him since he burst onto the scene in the mid-’90s, this album would have had to re-write the concept of music as a whole.

The result: Purely said, Asymmetry is awesome.

The liner notes are a bit iffy, too; quality photos of the band are pitted against cheesy thank you lines like “everyone with a positive outlook on life”. The potential is there, it’s just not delivered well enough, often enough.

For now though, enjoy Pythons while it lasts. Or maybe just throw it on repeat, learn the words, and wait for the next album to arrive.

The lack of any definitively catchy tune makes for a tough time getting stuck in your head, but for those willing to take the time to search out a left-of-centre addition to their 2013 listening, Partygoing is worth a look

There’s a perfect blend of vocal-based and instrumental tracks, all with an underground-London swagger that oozes confidence and sex appeal

A confronting and artistic record, Embracism is certainly not for everyone. It is, however, an ambitious – and strangely beautiful – release from a talented young man.

Just chill out and let the music wash over your ears

It’s simple: if Free The Universe was played at every club in the world, every night, on repeat, we would be in heaven.

"It’s like publicly announcing a party and seeing if anyone comes along.”