The Hours – See the Light

The Hours – See the Light

They’re debut album threatened to establish Anthony Genn and Martin Slattery as stars in their right, after years as the nomads of British music, playing with everyone from Black Grape to Elastica, via Pulp and the legendary Joe Strummer as part of The Mescaleros. It had the quality you’d expect from such esteemed professionals, but it sadly never took off in the way it perhaps deserved.

This, their second album, even more powerful and dynamic than the first, is their chance to address that issue, as the world wakes up to see the light, and to hear The Hours.

Lady of the Sunshine – Smoking Gun

Lady of the Sunshine – Smoking Gun

Angus Stone has left his sister Julia behind, for this, his first solo album, that aims to reveal the side of Angus only seen when he stubs or toe or can’t find his keys. For, yes, this is darker, more contemplative and brooding than his day-to-day fair, as his press release proclaims in the opening paragraph. Who can argue with such thoughts when the man can make “Jack be nimble” sound more sinister than Omar Little telling you your last rites with a shotgun in your face?