With her previous two albums indulging in reggae and sean nos it is understandable Sinead has headed to the middle ground and revisited the sound of her often overlooked 2000 album Faith and Courage. The results are rewarding, particularly on the 'London' (full band) disc of this, her eighth full album. As always, the melodies are beautiful, the voice now more tender than caustic with age.

Download: '33' 'Something Beautiful' 'The Glory of Jah'

Neil Dunphy

Jazz

Kelly Rowland Ms. Kelly Sony BMG (46m 20s) . .'Like This' a bongodriven glistening pop song with rapper Eve singing the hook kicks of the album with energy and fun. The rest, however, is pretty rubbish. Snoop Dogg's lazy contribution with a too-high soprano vocal from Rowland underlines the average vibe of the 13 tracks. Scott Storch contributes some slightly aboveaverage beats on 'Comeback' and 'Work', but nothing lives up to the opening track.

Download: 'Like This' 'Work'

Una Mullally

Mark O'Leary Self-Luminous Leo Records . . A free-wheeling three-way between guitar, viola and drums is not everyone's idea of a thumping good listen, but those with a taste for the abstract will find what they are looking for here. Cork-born guitarist Mark O'Leary seems to specialise in collaborations with big names, moving restlessly from one line-up to the next, and while violist Mat Maneri and drummer Randy Peterson are up to O'Leary's usual standards, it would be good to hear the guitarist with a steady group, taking his Frisell-inflected playing to the next level.

CL

Classical

French Recital Sabine Meyer/ Oleg Maisenberg EMI Classics (56m 12s) . . .

Surely the leading clarinet soloist on the circuit and arguably the finest woodwind player, Sabine Meyer marks her 23rd year with EMI with a tip of the hat to the French canon. The clarinet sonatas of Saint- Saens, Poulenc and the flute sonata of Francois Devienne are preceded here by the 'Scaramouche' of Darius Milhaud. Meyer's command of tone is outstanding throughout, with an array of colours and ideas to greet one at every corner. In the typical warmth of EMI's sound, this recording is a joy to listen to. KD