Album: Lotte Mullan, Plain Jane (Raindog records)

With a razor-sharp edge to her bittersweet lyrics, Mullan ensures that this pared-back acoustic offering swerves clear of twee.

In reclaiming Ben Taylor's infamous Rohypnol anthem, Mullan unwittingly transformed "Wicked Way" into a feminist statement. She brings this naivety to the self-produced shimmering melodies of Plain Jane, a bold first step with an honest awkwardness that cuts through the ostentatious eccentricities of other female artists currently dominating the charts.