Album

Various Artists – Ave Marina

German label celebrates 10 years in thrall to early-'80s Scottish jangle-pop

DJ Shadow – In Tune And On Time

No matter how much his music is over-used on crap TV travel shows, there's no denying that DJ Shadow is hip hop's premier auteur. His trademark (pyro)technics signature is all over this live performance from Brixton Academy, June 2002. Performance in this context means a silhouetted, hooded man mixing up a subtle sonic brew in front of some spiffy visuals for 50 minutes, but the crowd lap it up.

Kings Of Convenience – Various Artists

Norwegian acoustic duo return, while their singer exercises his right to party

Boom Bip – Corymb

Emerging in 2001 with "Circle", a collaboration with Doseone of the oddball cLOUDDEAD collective, Boom Bip was an onomatopoeically perfect alias for the creator of glitchy, goofy-footed hip hop. Now, it's doubtful Bryan "Boom Bip" Hollon would describe what he does as hip hop in any way. Corymb (it's botanical) is a giddily gorgeous collection of remixes (Boards Of Canada, Four Tet and others) and new tracks.

Arto Lindsay – Salt

New York No Wave guitar geek offers more avant-cocktail lounge music

Sweet Black Angel

Dazzling selection from back catalogue of the "cosmic" country visionary who changed the face of American music

Various Artists – Midwest Funk

James Brown-inspired fare from Ohio to Oklahoma

Elvis Presley – The Last 24 Hours

A potentially tasteless cash-in (given that the makers can't even get the date of his death right on the back jacket), surprisingly this turns out to be an immensely watchable documentary detailing Elvis' tragic demise. The usual suspects from the "Memphis Mafia" line up to share tearjerking anecdotes about junk food and drugs ("he jurst ferkin' lurved 'em!"). Morbidly fascinating.

Ready To Depart

Canadian eclectics find new directions from '80s pop and recent avant-dance

Christine McVie – In The Meantime

Sounding happier at 60 than many male rockers, she delivers third solo album
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