[rating=5]
Released September 16, 2013
Ketevan traces Melua’s steps back to her earlier work and there is an effortless fusion of pop, jazz, rock and blues.

“Ketevan takes Melua back to the peerless blueprint of her previous albums, incorporating contemporary songwriting, the distinctive Mike Batt production and the hallmark sincere, layered and compassionate vibrato Melua vocal.”

[rating=4]
Released September 09, 2013
Tookah is an impressive return for Emiliana Torrini. It is more experimental, personal and has a timely, autumnal feel.

“The lead single, ‘Speed Of Dark’ is an epic pop crossover and is pure audio mescaline. It’s easy to become enchanted with its ’80s synth feel and the track harks back to the days of Ladytron with a smattering of Siouxsie Sioux.”

[rating=5]
Reissued September 02, 2013
The 25th anniversary release of Kim Wilde’s Close breathes life into this crossover album and is packed with an extra disc of b-sides and remixes.

“A quarter of a century later, Close is still a feisty and sincere collection of songs that many of her peers would be proud of.”

[rating=5]
Released September 16, 2013
This tender and heart-warming ballad, underpinned by Melua’s compassionate vibrato and an orchestral arrangement, is a stunning tribute to the Queen.

“The first single from her sixth studio album Ketevan has the trademark soft and layered vocal, but showcases a more mature sound that featured on her last opus Secret Symphony.”

[rating=5]
60 min • Scala, London • August 1, 2013

MKS lit up the Scala as they commanded and enthralled the sold-out audience. Superb, says Nick Smith.

“The audience witnessed both a coming of age and a rites of passage story unfold before their eyes with these women, and this concert was less like a reunion but rather more like a reinvigoration of the promise that the young teenagers showed us 15 years ago when walking the line with Cameron McVey.”

[rating=5]
Released June 10, 2013
Graingerboy’s Silent Universe EP shows an innovative, layered and circumspect approach to electronic music.

“Graingerboy’s innovative, layered and circumspect approach is breathing welcome fresh air into the vast lungs of the electronic genre.”

[rating=5]
Released September 01, 2013
The return of MKS – Mutya Keisha Siobhan – leaves Nick Smith giddy, and wanting more.

“It’s not only wonderful that the original line-up is back, but that their adroit songwriting has not waned and is more mature, crisp and enigmatic.”

[rating=4]
120 min • Arts Theatre • From April 13, 2013

The grit, humour and emotion of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing are all still wonderfully affecting 20 years on.

“The play is set (and was written) in a time when Section 28 was in place and gay characters were usually limited to marginalised rent boys.”

Madonna, by Nick Smith.

To celebrate LGBT History Month, 2013, Polari is publishing a daily series of LGBT Heroes, selected by the magazine’s team of writers and special contributors.

“Madonna is a trailblazer, and made it possible for artists such as Lady Gaga to follow in her path. She has always been an advocate for our views, our society and our right to be ourselves.”

[rating=5]
Released March 25, 2013
A striking ballad from Moya that promises great things from the singer in 2013.

“Opening with a subtle vocal and sombre piano, this stunning track threatens to build into a huge dance banger, but shrewdly kicks into a crossover with shuffling drums underpinned by a thudding bassline.”