‘-‘
Ed Sheeran
Asylum-Atlantic-Warner
pop folk
★★★
Awakening a shape-shifting approach, a theme that had pulled the acoustic guitar out of the museum in 2017 and cast it as a sexy instrument, began to lose some momentum. The most talked-about moment followed the release of an album titled with the equal sign, known to English speakers as ‘equals,’ about a year and a half earlier. The latest move from Sheeran, a return under the banner of ‘-’ (the subtraction sign), leans into tighter songs, warmer melodies, and a leaner, more intimate sonic palette that blends electronic textures with stripped-back arrangements.
The project appears to operate on a practical recalibration, as the team around Sheeran underwent a notable purge. Regular collaborators like Johnny McDaid were let go, while veteran talents entered the scene: Shellback, Max Martin and Fred Again.., who had previously joined forces with the Redhead from West Yorkshire, plus Aaron Dessner, a National member famous for co-producing Taylor Swift’s Folklore and Evermore (2020).
Dessner is not only a co-producer but also a co-writer on many tracks, and parallels to Swift’s recent mood are evident. The record carries an introspective confessional pulse, touching on storms and scars acknowledged from the opening track Boat, and a sense that old emotional wounds are being confronted anew. The album’s timing coincides with personal losses—Sheeran’s friend Jamal Edwards’s passing, his partner Cherry Seaborn’s battle with cancer during pregnancy—and a high-profile plagiarism case over Shape of You that resolved in the artist’s favor.
From there emerges a Sheeran who oscillates between flirtatious, sensual moments and deeply personal monologues. The risk with some songs is a tendency toward the over-intimate, where electronic touches cloak the singer’s voice in a clinical glow. Yet the record rewards attentive listening, with standout moments that mark a strong return to form: songs about time lost and welcome reconstructions, such as The End of Youth, Colourblind, and Borderline, all delivered with economical guitar and a reverberant mood.
Intimacy here is tempered by a sense of liturgical weight, as tunes reference the hospital crisis involving his wife and the couple’s second child, alongside themes of resilience. The result is a Sheeran who traverses between lyrical delicacy and a more assertive, muscular energy. The trajectory will reveal whether the same audience that fell for Shape of You will follow him through this shift in tone. — Jordi Bianciotto
‘Secret life’
Again Fred.. and Brian Eno
Text Records
electronic
★★★
The saddest collection from the D’Addario brothers—a handful of acoustic ballads with folk leanings and strong pop sensibilities—finds comfort in recalling a musical past that feels almost timeless. There are echoes of Simon & Garfunkel, Brian Wilson, Big Star, and the Carpenters, yet the work also displays a rare talent for crafting songs that endure. The approach blends nostalgia with a modern sensibility, and the result is a release that remains quietly compelling. — Rafael Tapounet
‘Secret life’
Again Fred.. and Brian Eno
Text Records
electronic
★★★
‘Secret life’ presents a delicate yet inviting sonic landscape. It sits in a space between ethereal textures and sincere emotion, offering an opportunity that might be underexplored by some listeners. Fred Again.. stands out as one of the most engaging producers of the moment, with Brian Eno contributing as a legend. Still, the project can feel less adventurous than anticipated, and the three-hour version available on Brian Eno’s channel may be lengthy for casual listening, though it has its own fascination. — patri di filippo
‘watering your mouth’
Renaldo and Clara
Spring Tags
Pop
★★★★
In the well-received L’amor fa calor (2020), Clara Wines mapped a more relaxed, less melancholic path, leaning into playful melodies, cheeky confidence, and bold arrangements. The follow-up continues that spirit with thin, glistening pop silhouettes in Globus or El riu, weaving in cheeky language and urban charm in S’està millor al carrer. The result feels like a refined, modern pop record—likely among the year’s standout releases. — JB
“Treasure Pieces”
rickie lee jones
BMG Modern Records
Jazz
★★★★
The so-called duchess of cool steps into a full album of standards. While she may never rival the great jazz divas in voice or resource, the project is more about mood than technique. Rickie Lee Jones’s long career adds a layer of quiet authority to the set, and her collaboration with Jones on Pieces of Treasure makes the whole enterprise feel lived-in and honest. The closing moment, All in Play, lands with a controlled, intimate hush that belongs to a stage full of accomplished performers. — Roger Rock