Album: Drumbo, City of Refuge, (Proper)

John "Drumbo" French was the drummer in Capt Beefheart's Magic Band.

Yes, that one. Here he is with Zoot Horn Rollo, Ella Guru, John Thomas and Rockette Morton revisiting the jagged territory of the Magics' glory days, following their 2004 Glasto reunion: 12 new songs voiced by Drumbo himself in full Beefheart pastiche mode. How can it work? Reasonably well, as it goes, given the absence of the Cap himself. Guitars cut and thrust, time signatures jerk around and the songs stand up for themselves.

Pick of the Album: 'Bogeyman': 'Told you not to do things that are bad...'