Five albums to try this week: La Roux, Common, Woman's Hour and more

Yes – Heaven and Earth (Frontiers)

Why you should listen: Well, Yes are a pretty big deal in the prog-rock world. Although the band have gone through what feels like hundreds of line-up changes over the past 45 years, fans who’ve stuck around since then would do well to see what this new offering sounds like, fronted for the first time by Jon Davison.

It might not be for you if… You firmly believe Yes peaked in the 70s. Come on, what’s the band without Jon Anderson, Tony Kaye and Bill Bruford? Nothing, that’s what.

What we said: “At times, Heaven and Earth verges on the twee, and there's a distinct album-orientated rock flavour throughout, with only occasional flashes of the Yes of old,” wrote Tim Hall, in the Guardian.

Score: 3/5

Woman’s Hour – Conversations (Secretly Canadian)

Why you should listen: If you like letting a singer’s dulcet tones wash over you like a tide, Woman’s Hour’s debut of balmy, mid-tempo pop should be right up your street.

It might not be for you if… You've already had enough of this genre with music from Oxford’s Still Corners, or The xx's subtle dynamic and minimalist sonic palette.

What we said: “Although they count Fleetwood Mac as inspirations, the suave, soft-focus tint to Conversations is a lot like a vintage episode of Top of the Pops 2 featuring St Etienne, Sade, Simple Minds and Vanessa Paradis,” wrote Harriet Gibsone, in the Guardian. Click here for Molloy Woodcraft’s three-star review from the Observer New Review.

Score: 3/5

La Roux – Trouble in Paradise (Polydor)

Why you should listen: Do you remember five years ago, when DJs would crank up Skream’s remix of La Roux’s In For the Kill to end a night? After all that time, Elly Jackson’s back, returning with a more developed take on her debut’s glacial 80s synthpop.

It might not be for you if… La Roux’s high-pitched vocal never quite did it for you, and you prefer to glean your 80s synth slick from tunes that were actually written in the 80s.

What we said: “It sounds airy and confident and effortless, a state of affairs aided by the fact that, at some point in the last five years, Jackson and her various collaborators have hit on the knack of coming up with songs that somehow sound as if they've always existed, as if you've stumbled on a selection of old hits that you'd forgotten about but are delighted to be reminded of,” wrote Alexis Petridis, in his five star lead review for the Guardian. Kitty Empire gave La Roux’s album three stars, in her Observer lead review.

Score: 5/5

Common – Nobody’s Smiling (Virgin)

Why you should listen: Grammy-winning rapper and actor Common turns a spotlight onto his Chicago hometown on this 10th album. Give Nobody’s Smiling a go for his usual brand of socially conscious rap, meshed with some unorthodox production from No ID.

It might not be for you if… You’re not buying the whole “conscious rap” label from an artist who juxtaposes Maya Angelou poetry samples with lyrics on “mad hoes” and “exquisite thick bitches”. Where’s the continuity in that message?

What we said: "Nobody's Smiling is more of a state of the city address in which he tries to make sense of the violence that has earned the city its 'Chiraq' nickname", wrote Lanre Bakare, in the Guardian.

Score: 4/5

Various artists – Hyperdub 10.2 (Hyperdub)

Why you should listen: This “forward-thinking” label is celebrating its 10th birthday in style, on the second of four anniversary compilations due this year. The likes of Ontario’s Jessy Lanza, London producer Burial, rapper Ghostface Killah and the late DJ Rashad all feature on this bassy collection of spaced-out electronica tunes.

It might not be for you if… The idea of alt-R&B, breathy vocals layered over hand-clap samples and synths or slow-burning electronica fills you with dread.

What we said: “Hyperdub is no stranger to the pop song – even if the pop songs on offer here are suitably warped to fit the label's general aesthetic”, wrote Tim Jonze, in the Guardian.

Score: 4/5

New offerings from disco revivers Jungle, a poppier Slow Club and Glaswegian lo-fi duo Honeyblood went down well in the comments section last week. But what are you keen to hear? Fill us in below the line, and help us expand our listening list for the week.