Album

Timely reissue on Aphex Twin's label

This Chicagoan is unique in being an astonishing violin virtuoso devoting himself almost entirely to pop music. Founding Andrew Bird's Bowl Of Fire in the mid-'90s, his best work (2001's The Swimming Hour) takes in Appalachia, jump-blues and orch-pop in a flash-flood of American tradition. With Mark (Lambchop) Nevers producing, Weather Systems distills that same musical heritage into a new, supple-fresh language of strings, glockenspiel, wurlitzer and tape loops.

Curious Blair Witch-style project from US avant-grungers

Japanese freak-rock bonanza

Autobiographical angst from glum northern troubadour

The Voice's 1946 coming-of-age with repertoire, running order and artwork restored. Plus 10 extra tracks from '47

Hit-maker's deft debut available outside US for the first time

Who'da thought Blighty's most provocative new country stars would be holed up in Brighton? This six-piece have already been hailed in some quarters as natural heirs to Lambchop, but there's much more besides. "Her Friend The Rain" and "Living And Dead Singers" (BJ Cole on lap steel) weld '70s Cali-troubadour strum to Clifford TWard's bedsit folksiness, while "Elephants" dissolves into an acid-carousel waltz that's as unsettling as Johnny Dowd.

Another left-field Fishtank collaboration

Classy debut from versatile bassist with help from sister Alison Krauss