Album

Naggingly arresting indie intricacy

Charity worker makes enchanting debut

Over a decade of witty, cinematic pop from Manchester's Becker & Fagen

From 1968, two post Mike Bloomfield albums by groundbreaking Chicago blues merchants on one CD

Intelligently compiled selection of mellow magic

Acoustic re-recordings from lovelorn Factory Records refugees

First solo album in 20 years from UFO-spotting ex-Kink

Chilled debut from soft-rock-sampling young Scot

Treasure-trove of dirge and lullaby over three CDs and one DVD

By 1967, rock'n'roll's voracious appetite for new sounds had drawn it unexpectedly close to another countercultural phenomenon: the classical avant-garde. John Cale, a former student of LaMonte Young, was introducing minimalist drone to The Velvet Underground. Paul McCartney was becoming diverted by the musique concrète and collagist techniques that would eventually result in "Revolution 9".