CDs of the week

The Zutons
You Can Do Anything (Deltasonic)
***
Bouncy Scousers The Zutons must have accepted that Valerie will be their signature tune for the rest of their existence. There's no point looking for a hit of similar stature on their third album. The track's success has helped to fund a big-money LA production job, however, so the new songs have a high quality polish, and new guitarist Paul Molloy gives a hefty crunch to Harder and Harder and Family of Leeches. Those who find Dave McCabe's vocals too histrionic won't be converted but interesting diversions such as the country-tinged ballad Don't Get Caught suggest that while their greatest moment is behind them, this band are in it for the long haul.
DAVID SMYTH

FLEET FOXES
Fleet Foxes (Bella Union)
****
It would be easy to make this debut album sound like a twee and worthy affair. Fleet Foxes, a band from Washington State, incorporate elements of gospel music, hymns, antediluvian folk and ancient pop in their music and adorn it with lyrics that celebrate the virtues of the simple life. By some strange alchemy, the result is easily the most beguiling album of the year. A flavour of the sound achieved might be described as a delirious combination of the Beach Boys and Fairport Convention. Beautiful songs and soaring harmonies abound, all sympathetically arranged. Try He Doesn't Know Why or maybe Heard Them Stirring. Try anything, in fact — there are friends for life here.
PETE CLARK

JAZZ
Sylvain Luc's Trio Sud
Young and Fine (Dreyfus)
****
It ain't whatcha do, it's the way thatcha do it. Although described as "drawing on European, world and folk influences", Sylvain Luc sounds 100 per cent jazzman to me. Technically accomplished yet never flashy, this Basque guitarist blends melody-lines and chordwork in original ways, playing deep originals (For My Twins) and strong standards (Darn that Dream, Con Alma) with fluency, lyricism and forceful swing. There's some echo and reverb, but his tone remains lustrously acoustic. Resonant bassist Jean-Marc Jafet and stylish drum veteran Andre Ceccarelli make good teammates for this stylish newcomer.
JACK MASSARIK

Buika
Niña de Fuego (Warner Jazz)
****
Concha Buika made quite an impression in London when she came to Sadler's Wells Flamenco Festival in March. Certainly, black flamenco singers are rare but it's her husky voice and songs that are striking. Buika grew up among gitanos in Majorca and it shows, although she delivers her vocals with the nonchalant ease of a jazz singer. On this disc she works with Javier Limón on guitar and Iván González Lewis on piano, not an instrument I generally like in flamenco, but which sounds good here. There are also atmospheric trumpet solos in this set of predominantly introspective songs. Without ever raising her voice, Buika is a sensual singer reinvigorating Spain's dynamic nu-flamenco scene.
SIMON BROUGHTON