Pop: Album Reviews

Tim Keegan & the Departure Lounge `Out of Here' (Meek Giant)

Shining like a beacon in the usually morose indie world, Keegan is a songwriter of some excellence and adaptability, from the happy country strains of "Save Me From Happiness" to "(We've Got) Everything We Need". A stunning debut. HHHH

The Beta Band `The Beta Band' (Regal)

These eclectic (and that's something of an understatement) Scots have no rules and no barriers, so it's difficult to work out why this first proper album doesn't excite to the same degree as last year's "3 EPs", but somehow it just fails to reach those great heights. HHH

Chemical Brothers `Surrender' (Freestyle Dust/Virgin)

What has been tipped as the "dance album of the year" sees the duo bring in heavyweight guests like Noel Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie and Bernard Sumner, but none of these tracks really manages to hit the spot. A shame as the instrumentals are as exciting and ingenious as ever. HHH

Norma Waterson `The Very Thought of You' (Hannibal)

Britain's leading folkie almost scooped the 1996 Mercury Prize and on this second solo album she covers material from "Over the Rainbow" to Freddie Mercury's "Love of My Life". Her pacing is perfect and the result is a good slice of easy listening rather than straight folk. HHH

Mishka `Mishka' (Creation)

Discovered by Creation boss Alan McGhee on the Caribbean island of Nevis, Mishka at times offers some sweet and melodic acoustic reggae. However, the voice is reedy, the sparse production a little too subtle at times, and in the end it just comes over as beach-bar roots. HH

SINGLE OF THE WEEK

Everlast `Ends' (Tommy Boy)

The second single from his triumphant "Whitey Ford Sings The Blues" album sees the ex-House of Pain leader continue his redemptive mood with this moralistic acoustic hip-hop that just rumbles along and along in a most addictive manner. HHHH