CD: New releases

By swilson

A-ha, Foot Of The Mountain

Album nine for Morten Harket and Co is stuck in 1980s with songs led by synths but given the popularity for artists such as La Roux, Frankmusik and Ladyhawke, this style is perfectly acceptable in today's pop climate. The album opens with Bandstand, a blisteringly typical A-ha single, while the title track is similarly strong. There are some faults: Shadowside is boring, as is the terribly-named Mother Nature Goes To Heaven.

3/5

The Dandy Warhols, The Dandy Warhols Are Sound

This is an alternate mix of earlier album Welcome To The Monkey House. The story goes that in 2003 Capitol Records rejected the band's preferred mix of that album (by Russell Elavedo) in favour of a mix by Peter Wheatley (the engineer behind Sugababes and Sophie Ellis-Bextor). Now the band is setting matters right by releasing Elavedo's mix, with a different title. Strictly for fans.

2.5/5

Master Shortie, ADHD

"It's finally here, man. It's been a long time coming," says Master Shortie, aka London-born rapper Theo Kerlin, on album opener Bringing It Back. Indeed it has. Twenty years to be precise. Shortie drops in a host of influences from his childhood... Thundercats and Star Wars to Adam Ant's Prince Charming, which replaces the drama and theatrics of the original for R'n'B-lite accompaniment. It's not a strong debut but there is plenty of charm.

3/5

Reverend And The Makers, A French Kiss In The Chaos

The Rev a.k.a. Jon McClure is not happy about the BNP, the prospect of a Conservative government or the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as he says overtly on Manifesto/People Shapers, Hard Time For Dreamers and No Soap In A Dirty War. The Makers step up too, delivering more of the grooves and dance beats that promised so much first time around. McClure still needs to find his true voice but this will more than do for now.

4/5

John Jones, Rising Road

The Oysterband singer's solo debut is a mix of traditional and self-written songs in the company of some eclectic musicians, Seth Lakeman, Benji Kirkpatrick and Alan Prosser among them. He does a credible job on Rocks of Bawn, One Morning in Spring, Newlyn Town and Fire Marengo. Two songs are subject to quite bold experiment: an infectious vocal background to Polly on the Shore and Searching for Lambs. The latter is less convincing. That aside, this is a well put together album.

3.5