Speech Debelle should get tongues wagging

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SPEECH Debelle's debut album, Speech Therapy, luckily isn't just all talk.
The London-based female rapper does have a real gift of gab, giving her male peers a run for their money with a proficient lyrical flow delivered with a voice that teeters between sweet and streetwise.
But for me the real talking points of this album are the backing tracks, which are cunningly crafted hip hop tracks laced with jazzy ornaments and acoustic instrumentation.
There are dips - Go Then, Bye and Daddy's Little Girl are a tad toe-curling for my tastes - but in a genre dominated by male MCs, Speech Debelle has demonstrated she doesn't just talk the talk.

Birdie songs

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IS IT a bird? Is it a workshop? No, it's a countrified folk group, here with their debut album, Sleight Of Hand.
Sort of.
Because Sparrow And The Workshop claim this release is a 'mini-album', too long to be an EP and too short to be an album - which is either lazy or self-indulgent, depending on your point of view.
Anyway, what isn't lazy is the Glaswegians' music, which for the best part rattles along with a pleasing acoustic guitar twang and evocative vocal intertwining of drummer Gregor Donaldson and Jill "Dead Sparrow" O'Sullivan.
But is the trio's Scottish Americana worth a listen?
Only slightly - in fact, why not wait for them to bother making a full album.

Paolo Nutini cracks it

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IF YOU were expecting more of the same from Scot pop sensation Paolo Nutini's new album Sunny Side Up, you'll flip.
Not only does it leave the listener wondering how the singer songwriter managed to leap direct from the straight down the line hook-laden indie pop rock of his first album These Streets to this melting pot, but the question of where the bloody hell his singing voice comes from exactly looms larger than ever.
Musically, the genuinely uplifting Sunny Side Up draws from a baffling collection of sources - from reggae rhythms to big band trumpets to tin whistle solos, Paolo's new sound is harder to pin down than a greased Hulk Hogan.
And over this his voice veers wildly between from Otis Redding-style grizzled growling to Bob Dylan nasal moaning - all with an, ahem, distinctive pronunciation that's Nutini's alone.
It's hard to say what exactly Sunny Side Up sounds like - but as sure as eggs is eggs, Nutini doesn't sound like yet another James Blunt, James Morrison clone any more.

Athlete begin marathon tour in town

TOP rock band Athlete are bounding into town for a gig this Saturday.
The group, whose hits include Wires and Hurricane, play Loughborough Students’ Union from 7pm on May 30.
Spokeswoman Nikki Shipley said: “With some huge anthems behind them, these four guys are guaranteed to give a performance never to be forgotten.
“This is the first venue of a new UK tour and the opening night will not disappoint!”
For more information click here, here or here.

Some more Faith No More

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WITH a title like The Very Best Definitive Ultimate Greatest Hits Collection, you know exactly what you're getting.
Faith No More spent around a decade fusing heavy metal, rap and funk with some superb results, and all boxes have been ticked with this double-LP of singles backed with a collection of B-sides and rarities.
From the proto-rap rock of Epic through the slap bass of We Care A Lot to the twisted Be Aggressive, via the thunderous Ashes To Ashes and Mike Patton's inspired "ewww" on Easy, the memories all come flooding back.
Innovative and inspirational, if you can't catch the reformed Faith No More headlining this year's Download, then download yourself a copy of this compilation.

Britain's Got Talent star singled out

GRANDMASTER Fred, Loughborough's talented breakdancing pensioner, has abandoned his dream of body popping his way into the pop charts.
Fred Bowers had planned on releasing a hip hop single, following in the footsteps of last year's winner George Sampson.
But following national press articles claiming that the 73-year-old star of ITV's Britain's Got Talent, who Simon Cowell described as "brilliant" after he auditioned in Birmingham, was a "fakedancer" who claims disability allowance, the pensioner has shelved the plan.
Rumours had circulated in the town that Fred had already signed a deal with Decca Records, who have had artists including The Rolling Stones, Adam Ant and The Smurfs on their roster over the years.
Grandmaster Fred will take part in the show's live semi finals on Thursday, May 28.

Sabbat and others confirmed

SABBAT will indeed be playing at Download this year, as well as a host of other acts confirmed today.
Bleed From Within, Sleepercurve, Blackhole, New Device, The Outcry Collective, Tripswitch, The Instigators, In Case Of Fire, Hardcore Superstar, Symphony Cult, The Crave, Billy Boy On Poison, The Ghost Of A Thousand, People In Planes, The Auteur, 13 Riots, Forever Never, The Computers, Serpico, Flood Of Red, Attack! Attack!, Logan, Fei Comodo, Jett Black, Million$ Reload and Raucous Jays will all appear.

Sabbat at Download

VETERAN Nottingham band Sabbat have announced they will be appearing at this year's Download Festival.
In a message on the group's website, guitarist Andy Sneap said: "We are pleased to announce that after months of being really annoying and badgering Andy Copping, the man responsible for Download, he finally broke down and added Sabbat to the bill on Sunday.
"We have to be the most local band ever to play at Castle Donington having been in attendance most years and even walking to the festival a couple of times.
"I must say I have been somewhat disappointed in the lack of pigs heads and bottles thrown during the latter years, kids today just don’t know how to enjoy a good festival!
"I personally am looking forward to getting one half of my face sunburnt Richard Dreyfus style and feeling like George Best's left kidney on the 15th. Should be fun!"

Baying for Hudson

ONE artist who I've been impatiently waiting for new stuff from is Mr Hudson, whose debut album with The Library, A Tale Of Two Cities, was one of my Albums Of The Year 2007.
He resurfaced last year in a collaboration with Kanye West on his album 808s And Heartbreaks, and it seems that working with the rap superstar has heavily influenced his new work.
Minus The Library, Mr Hudson's new single, Supernova - a sparse hip hop track that swells with emotion by its close - is now upon us.
It took me by surprise knowing his piano-based origins, but it's quickly lodged itself in my brain, and I simply can't wait for the full LP, Straight No Chaser, later this year.
And if you want to hear a snippet for yourself, there's a free mix mp3 of some of the tracks available here.

Classic thirty three - Replenish revisited

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THERE can be few debut albums as perfect a mission statement as Reef's Replenish.

Arguably unbeaten by the South Western rockers throughout the rest of their career, their 1995 album is a brilliant collection of bluesy rock showcasing both guitarist Kenwyn House's oh-so-cool riffing and Gary Stringer's distinctive vocal approach.

Recorded in a simple, stripped-down way, what really stands the test of time here is the album's honesty - what you hear is band really in their groove, whether pedal to floor on tracks like Feed Me or on sultry numbers like Repulsive.

Setting the template which led to the group's later commercial successes, if you haven't yet had the pleasure of Replenish, place your hands on a copy and let it fill your speakers as soon as possible.

Grizz me quick

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YOU know when somebody falls into the first flushes of love, and they become a doe-eyed idiot - that's me with Veckatimest.
I keep droning on and on to disinterested people about how great Grizzly Bear's fourth album is.
I keep pining for it when I'm not listening to it.
I spend my days staring at the cover art and sighing.
I've written "Isaac 4 Veckatimest" all over the front of my reporter's notebook.
The music, described as psychedelic folk, is a glorious mixture of Fleet Foxes' baroque folk pop and Battles' math rock.
Veckatimest, named after a Massachusetts island, is a dense, complex collection - in fact on your first listen, you'll probably think you don't see what all the fuss is about.
On the second listen you'll think something along the lines of: "Actually, this is alright."
And third time around, you'll be a doe-eyed idiot too.

Pistols backfire

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SKANKING dance act Dub Pistols are hoping to shoot up the charts with their fourth album, Rum And Coke.
And were they to do so, it would surely be in the style of a gangster from "Landan taan", the sort you find getting into scrapes in a Guy Ritchie movie.
Because the group's shtick of mixing reggae and ska with house beats and a generous splash of British hip hop is the sort of music that's sure to make you have a good time - or else.
But while this exuberance is entertaining in short bursts, over the course of Rum And Coke this uber-cool approach does become a bit repetitive and cliched.
Rum And Coke is a refreshing change, but nevertheless is unlikely to become my usual tipple.

Honey Ryder fail to create a buzz

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HONEY Ryder, a London-based pop duo who share their name with both a Bond girl and a sex toy, are Rising Up with their debut album from Monday.
A pretty slick collection of folk-tinged pop rock, Rising Up has a few tracks that could trouble the top 40 - although it's all a bit sweet and safe for my taste.
So instead, here are some facts about honey -
1) Honey is the only food that doesn't spoil.
2) Honey is one of the oldest foodstuffs known to man - and was used a currency in Ancient Greece.
3) Honey is 25 per cent sweeter than table sugar due to its high concentration of fructose.
4) The flavour of honey depends on the flowers used by bees to make it.
5) Honey has many health benefits, and has even been used to cure dreaded superbugs, as reported in reputable newspapers.

Scott potential

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WOLVERHAMPTON wonder Scott Matthews's latest album Elsewhere is a work of subdued beauty.
Pillow to the face subdued.
Following the debut album Passing Stranger, which stunned listeners including myself with its sweeping arrangements and Jeff Buckley-esque guitar and vocals, Elsewhere progresses to a less showy, more introvert delivery.
Maybe some of the aforementioned Buckley comparisons had an impact on the vocals, which are held back to the point of sounding more like Chris Cornell.
And added to this, the tracks here are more restrained than before, though still lovingly smothered in strings and horns.
Listening to it, it sounds like either Matthews is unsure exactly how good he is, or he's too scared to show us.
So while you should probably decide to look elsewhere for the time being, Scott Matthews should remain one to watch.

Smart Alec

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KNOWING some of the work of German electro artist Alec Empire's group Atari Teenage Riot, I was half expecting to be bludgeoned around the head with some hardcore electro shouting by his latest EP, Shivers.
And opening track Control Drug duly obliges, hitting you like a musical fist with techno bass throbs and rampant breakbeats.
But then something strange happens when the title track kicks in.
From track two onwards Empire comes across as some sort of Nine Inch Nails-produced rock singer in the vein of a Teutonic Leonard Cohen or Lou Reed.
It's an interesting twist, which is sure to whet appetites for a full album later this year.

Filthy Dukes come to town

TOP DJs Filthy Dukes are set to headline a two-part all-day Superfuzz Alfresco Bank Holiday bonanza in Loughborough.
From 3pm on May 24, acts including Nic Nell, The Heroes, The Pennyhangers, Penfold Gate, Phil Jarram and Kids With Sticks will perform at The Orange Tree in Ward’s End.
Then, from 11pm, the festivities move to Rapture in Swan Street, where Filthy Dukes, who featured local band Late Of The Pier's Samuel Eastgate on their latest album Nonsense In The Dark, headline a night featuring Nick Carrelli, Parker And Pasquale, Phil Jarram and the Clip Clap Clop DJs.
Tickets to The Orange Tree’s section cost £3 in advance or more on the door, and Rapture admission is £4 with an Orange Tree admission and £6 without.

More Download acts named

MORE acts have been unveiled for this year’s Download Festival in Castle Donington.
My Passion, Dissolved In, This City, Twin Atlantic, Linchpin, Fall From Grace, Don Broco, None The Less, Exit Avenue, Young Guns and First Strike are all set to appear.

The one and only performs

TWO festivals are coming to the Loughborough area this Bank Holiday.
Glastonbudget tribute festival is taking place in Wymeswold, headlined by one hit wonder Chesney Hawkes, while the Off The Tracks Spring Festival comes to Isley Walton, featuring acts including Edward II, Banco De Gaia and Peatbog Faeries.

Mika gets weaker

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AHEAD of a new album this Autumn, Mika is set to release a four-track EP on Monday.
Sadly, he needn't have bothered with Songs For Sorrow.
Recorded live with the aid of Final Fantasy's Owen Pallett, the acoustic EP gets off to a good start with the Culture Club-esque Blue Eyes, which gives African rhythms a Western pop-soul makeover.
But then things turn ugly.
Admittedly Lonely Alcoholic, which kicks off with the truly awful line "you're a lonely alcoholic with a tendency to wine", and Lady Jane are merely turgid ballads, but Toy Boy is actual torture to listen to, a cheap metaphor dragged out over the course of three long minutes.
So by the end, Songs For Sorrow left me with a tear in my eye - lamentably for the wrong reason.

Fink it's good

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SORT Of Revolution, the fourth album from singer and songwriter Fink, is part of a continuing campaign to quietly plough his own furrow - after all he is now Ninja Tune's sole singer songwriter act, less than a decade after the label signed him up as a trip hop producer.
And I have to say I'm glad he made the switch.
Each track here by Fink, real name Finian Greenall, is a mini-masterpiece.
Classical strings soak lo-fi indie strummers laced with chilled out dub grooves throughout.
The tracks sound like a mix of D'Angelo's laid back approach with a Jose Gonzalez knack for subtle beauty and a reined-in Jeff Buckley-emotion to his vocals.
Buying Fink? It's a no-brainer.