> Kitty, Daisy and Lewis. Smoking in Heaven. Sunday Best/Shock.
3 stars (out of 5)
Here they venture further stylistically but once again take care of production at home, generating that "authentic" lo-fi sound.
Adding ska, Latin and boogie-woogie into the mix gives Heaven a breadth the debut disc was missing, and there's still a sense of fun, but the tendency to take tracks (all self-penned) well past the four-minute mark robs this album of the sassy punch its predecessor packed.
Single download: You'll Soon be Here
For those who like: Imelda May, Pete Molinari
- Paul Mooney
> Annah Mac. Little Stranger. Sony.
4 stars (out of 5)
Along with those infectious melodies comes a strong dose of lyrical ability as Mac (full name Annah Macdonald) documents the journey from small town to the big smoke, hinting at both a sense of loss and a sense of discovery.
All this grappling is wrapped in cloaks of pure pop joy; from the delightfully bubbly Celia to the taut R 'n' B of Girl In Stilettos, Mac's delicate but powerful vocal delivery signals the arrival of a young woman who, along with ambition, boasts some strong songwriting chops.
Single download: Celia
For those who like: Brooke Fraser, Holly Throsby
- Shane Gilchrist
> Seun Kuti and Egypt 80. From Africa With Fury: Rise. Cartell Music.
4 stars (out of 5)
The compulsive, jubilant rhythms of Egypt 80 drive this memorable release, aided and abetted by sympathetic production from Brian Eno and John Reynolds, who give these seven solid tracks a contemporary edge.
But Seun is no mere stand-in here, asserting himself through his resonant vocals and some pretty mean saxophone.
Single download: Rise
For those who like: Afrobeat, Fela Kuti
- Jeff Harford
