Album

Understated debut from Californian singer-songwriter

Yann Tiersen rose to the front rank of film composers with the irresistible Amelie, but he's keen to stress that he'd recorded for years prior to that. He's collaborated with The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon, among others, and sells out the Royal Festival Hall in his own right. Goodbye Lenin!, directed by Wolfgang Becker, won awards at Berlin this spring, and Tiersen's score is a chest-swelling thing of beauty and a million violins. Actually, 17 violins—I've just checked. Yann himself plays piano, melodica and violin—so that makes 18. Claire Pichet is guest vocalist.

Debut album from NYC rap trio

Pre-Everything But The Girl solo debuts

Lou's Velvets and solo works hand-picked for posterity with direct input from interested parties

Psychedelic electronica from ex-Gong guitarist who worked with The Orb before founding System 7

Hip hop heavyweight turns stand-up beat poet

Satisfactory comeback album from '80s hit-makers

A best-of from the prankster rapper, with every track reinvented and re-recorded

Mode mainmen square up in solo showdown