THIS WEEK’S CD RELEASES

Witness KatyPerry (Capitol)

Katy Perry wouldn’t be the first to disrespect a rival in an effort to direct attention towards a new release. In the Californian’s case, she already wants to make up with Taylor Swift, but her ‘diss’ of her fellow singer on Swish Swish probably makes this unlikely. Unfortunately the song itself, a duet with Nicki Minaj, is all breath and bile rather than guts and guile. Other tracks such as Roulette and the tedious Bon Appétit typify an album by an artist that has reached a nadir. Mind you, she wasn’t an artist of much importance to begin with.

Heart Break Lady Antebellum (Decca)

At one end of the broad church that is US country music these days, you’ll find the likes of the straight-shooting Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson, and opposite sit Lady Antebellum and their ilk. It is fashionable to dismiss Lady A as smoother than Cadillac chrome, but they’re also unpretentiously making music that suits them. Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott’s honeyed harmonies are perfect, and songs such as Army and Teenage Heart are constructed with a pop sensibility that renders the ‘country’ tag almost erroneous.

Fake Sugar BethDitto (Virgin EMI)

While with Gossip, Beth Ditto’s vocal chops and physical presence put one in mind of Adele’s dance-punk cousin from the US Deep South. Now solo, the outspoken 36-year-old is never less than soulful on her debut effort. The banging opener Fire gives way to more measured efforts In And Out and the title track, while Oh My God is every bit as anthemic as the Kaiser Chiefs track of the same name. While seemingly determined to not confine herself to styles or tempos, she proves adept at sustaining interest throughout.