Sharon Van Etten - Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory

In which Van Etten leans into the gothy, post-punk strands that have been there at least since Remind Me Tomorrow and goes vibier and more atmospheric, and at the same time (in moments) brighter and clearer, to produce a record that breaks new ground for her. 

Music has a much different place in my life now than in my younger days - but SVE is probably the one artist who I've really come to in the last 10 or so years (actually a bit more than that) whose music has hit me with something approaching the intensity of that very different, earlier time of life. And while this one hasn't shook me as much as that remarkable Are We There - Remind Me Tomorrow - We've Been Going About This All Wrong run, it feels of a piece with them and shares in their power.

Nillüfer Yanya - Attachment Theory

Some bright moments of slightly off kilter pop - "Like I Say (I runaway)" and "Call It Love" are both keepers - but the whole doesn't stay.

Black Bag

The cast helps a fair bit and Soderbergh does seem to have a bit of a touch. The spy vs spy + domestic affairs stuff holds the attention and never becomes more ridiculous than it inherently is, though overall it feels minor.

Frances Hardinge - The Lie Tree

The atmosphere is strong - just spooky enough, science and its margins, convincingly Victorian and with a terrific, spiky, sympathetic but not at all a Mary Sue main character in Faith and a deft feminism, including in its final stage reveals and resolutions. A book that reminded me how it feels to read purely for pleasure - including for the quality of its craft.