CD Reviews: Angus and Julia Stone

Raised in Sydney's northern beaches, brother and sister duo Angus and Julia Stone first came to attention with 2007 debut A Book Like This, strengthened their fanbase a few years later with gentle anthem Big Jet Plane and, after going off on solo trajectories, have reunited.

The result, produced by Rick Rubin, is a sublime third album brimful of pop gems that manage to be both observationally distant (courtesy of a laid-back vocal approach) and warm and embracing, the latter quality enhanced by an excellent rhythm section whose modus operandi is uncluttered R&B.

• Angus and Julia Stone. Self-titled. EMI/Capitol. 

•  Four stars out of five

Single download: Heart Beats Slow
For those who like: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Beck

- Shane Gilchrist