THIS WEEK’S CD RELEASES

Scan The Blue

ex magician

(Bella Union)

ex magician aka Danny Todd and James Smith have a penchant for dreamy synths and psychedelic flourishes within an electronic pop framework. Therefore comparisons with Empire of the Sun and MGMT are inevitable. However tracks such as Desperado and the particularly impressive Kiss That Wealth Goodbye show a good deal more grit than those duos displayed. Feet Don’t Fail is almost bluesy while Job Done are akin to The Move or the Stone Roses depending down which end of the kaleidoscope you view it.

Baker Rose

Clara Rose& Don Baker

(Baker Rose)

Don Baker and Clara Rose Monahan first teamed up on his 2012 album My Songs, My Friends, and decided to pool their resources again for Baker Rose. They share vocal and writing duties barring their arrangements of a couple of standards and a bright cover of Billy Hill’s Glory Of Love. As you might expect, it is a collection of blues-flavoured songs but not exclusively so. They bring the best out of each other on slower tracks such as Creole Belle and Miss You. Individually, Baker is on forceful form on Crack Cocaine while she is feisty on Hesitation Blues.

Arranging Time

Pete Yorn

(Capitol)

For all I know Pete Yo rn is a cleanliving tee to tall er but he has the sound of the elegant ly wasted slacker down pat. He has scored movies for the Far rel ly Brothers and collaborated on Break Up with Scarlett Jo hans son–an album that was a good deal better than it had aright to be. Halifax and In Your Head channel early REM while Lost Weekend and She Was Weird owe ade alto Eels. At times you may heart he influence of Beck but these, as ever, are only reference points for the uninitiated. Check Pete Yorn out of if you haven’t already.