Rilo
Kiley Under The Blacklight
Warner
(36m 41s)
. . . .

RILO Kiley are unrecognisable from the collective neuroses of Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett's debut Take-Offs and Landings. They may be accused of an indie sellout but, as their side projects have shown, they have always displayed a more adventurous spirit than mere indie rock. Blacklight carries this towards what some may say is MOR. But this would be shortsighted. Sure there is classic rock here, and even some dub beats, but there's also a cabaret, funky feel. As others have pointed out, this is what Fleetwood Mac would sound like if they were currently in their 1980s heyday.

Download: 'Under The Blacklight' 'Close Call' '15'
Neil Dunphy

Stephen Fretwell
Man On The Roof
Fiction
(46m 28s)
. . .

HERETOFORE described as the best thing to come out of Scunthorpe, Stephen Fretwell is a talent that requires a little patience from the listener. A singersongwriter, albeit cut from the same cloth as Guy Garvey from Elbow or Tom Smith from Editors, the 25-year-old's second album is full of wry observations on broken relationships, hangovers and the generally parlous state of the human condition. Fleshed out electrically in places, it is mostly written on acoustic guitar. Which means Damien Rice should be sitting uncomfortably in his seat.

Download: 'She Dead', 'Sleep', 'San Francisco Blues'
ND

Monkey Swallows the Universe
The Casket Letters
Loose Music
(35m)
. . .

THE second album from the Sheffield indie-pop heads isn't earth shattering. But it's still a sweet little thing that occasionally offers zest, namely on 'Elizabeth and Mary' where the usually saccharine Nat Johnson gets some grit. The rest is a collection of lovely acoustic pop songs with warmth and structure.

Throughout the country moments on 'Ballad of the Breakneck Bride' and folk of 'Statutory Rights', the worst crime MSTW could be accused of is blandness, as they cling to traditional sounds and chord progressions. Still, nothing in particular wrong with that.

Download: 'Bloodline', 'Statutory Rights'

Una Mullally

Kila
Gambler's Ballet
Kila Records
. . . .

CONSISTENTLY one of the best live Irish acts, Kila has faced a problem many energetic acts do in being unable to transfer that spark onto record. But it doesn't matter . . . and these two entities are best divided.

So it's just a great album. Beginning with a lively interpretation of Pachabel's Canon in D, the record winds and unfurls around a barrage of fascinating compositions. The highlight . . . 'Fir Bolg' . . . a heady, occasionally Middle Eastern concoction, benefits from the addition of Dan Page from the North Strand Klezmer Band. A violent, busy and generally rapturous stew.

Download: 'Leath Ina Dhiadh A hOcht', 'Fir Bolg', 'Boy Racer'
UM

Jazz

Led Bib
Sizewell Tea
Babel Label
. . . .

NAMED after a protective garment worn by dentists, and with an album title that refers to a tea stand outside a nuclear power plant, Sizewell Tea are perfect examples of a quirky and uniquely English strand of humour in jazz. The group's sound blends punk, funk, free and fusion in an aggressive sort of way that will be recognisable and generally appealing to those under 45 and those acquainted with John Zorn. It will be utterly incomprehensible to most others.

Drummer Mark Holub leads from the back and breathes fire into a line-up that includes keyboards, bass and two alto saxophones.

Cormac Larkin

Classical

JS Bach: The Cello Suites
Steven Isserlis Hyperion
(2 CD)
. . . . .

ISSERLIS has left the world waiting for a long time to record the famous suites in their entirety. As his wonderfully readable sleeve notes prove, he's certainly done his research on the suites, and even included three alternatives, according to differing manuscripts, to the prelude from the first suites.

Isserlis' fingering is generally audible throughout, though the sound is quite perfectly warm, balanced and evocative. A stunningly in-depth and technically ideal foray into this category of the canon, this record is definitely worth every penny of your 40.

Karen Dervan