> State Of Mind. Nil By Ear. SOM Music.
3 stars (out of 5)
Opener Vega nods respectfully toward Shapeshifter, employing vocals from P Digss to familiar effect, while other guests include Thomas Oliver, Sacha Vee, MC Woody and American singer 3pm.
Stand-out tracks are Return Of The Prophet, featuring a gloriously sinister rap from PNC, and the fast-breaking Chemical Brothers-style epic The Downward Spiral. A beefy menu makes up for the failure to cover any new territory.
Single download: Vega
For those who like: Shapeshifter, Chemical Brothers
- Jeff Harford
> Ben Waters. Boogie 4 Stu. Eagle/Shock.
4 stars
Nostalgia value aside, it's an album high-point, thanks to a vintage vocal from Jagger, whose colleagues feature prominently on the disc.
Rollicking instrumentals give Waters a chance to show his boogie-woogie chops, while spirited contributions from other guests, including Jools Holland and PJ Harvey, add to the fun.
Single download: Watching the River Flow
For those who like: Rocket 88, Fats Domino, Rolling Stones
- Paul Mooney
> Young Widows. In and Out of Youth and Lightness. Temporary Residence Limited.
4 stars
Originally sequestered by the noise rock movement back in 2006, this relatively unheralded Kentucky three-piece is so much more.
Nailing the perfect approximation of Joy Division meets Bauhaus, at times it seems as if the guitars, bass and drums are all fighting each other, but that's part of the appeal.
With each musician on their own trip, when they do manage to wrestle the song back to its core, the results are mesmerising.
Single download: Lean on the Ghost
For those who like: Grinderman, My Morning Jacket, Bauhaus, Straitjacket Fits
- Mark Orton
