Off the record

BETH DITTO'S GOOD TURN

Beth Ditto helped change my mind about charity singles this week. The Gossip singer is contributing to Consequences, an intriguing single which will raise funds for the homeless charity Crisis. The song also features members of The Enemy, Babyshambles, Supergrass, New Young Pony Club and The Smiths as well as Paul Weller and Graham Coxon.

The collaboration proves that charity songs can be about great music rather than egos (Band Aid) and novelty singles that you buy dutifully but never bother to listen to (Amarillo, anyone?).

I was invited to a recording session at Sir George Martin's Air Studios in Belsize Park this week to get a glimpse of the unusual method behind Consequences.

"We didn't want it to become Band Aid - a bit worthy and patronising," producer Paul Epworth tells me.

The man credited with bringing a sharp sonic edge to Kate Nash and Bloc Party is remarkably laid-back given an intense, week-long schedule that he describes as "mathematical and meticulous".

It involves him coaxing improvised performances, from musicians he's never actually met, to a strict timetable, then updating the recordings each day into a coherent whole.

Pearl Lowe, a former Britpop singer, came up with the Consequences concept, inspired by the parlour game where players take turns to add names, places, statements and a final outcome to a folded sheet of paper, without seeing the previous entry. Then the "story" is revealed.

In keeping with the game, the musicians play over a basic backing track of a few chords without hearing other bands' contributions.

Epworth guides them and builds the parts into a complete song. Graham Coxon admits to misgivings: "Of course I played Consequences.

It was a surrealist game, wasn't it? But it's a pretty abstract notion for a song." And when half a dozen people from the charity and various musicians gather in studio one for the first listen of the initial recording, Epworth confesses that he's feeling rather nervous.

But he needn't worry. Consequences has a bombastic sound like Motown crossed with Super Furry Animals and masterminded by Phil Spector; there's a pounding piano from Ed Harcourt, driving guitars from The Enemy and crashing percussion from New Young Pony Club and Danny Goffey from Supergrass. It's impressive.

The music will be finished tonight and Ditto will record her vocal in the US next week. "Beth's got such a strong voice," says Epworth, hoping she will be the glue that binds the track together.

Alcohol-awareness charity Drinkaware is sponsoring the project and the single will be released early next year, with a benefit gig at the Roundhouse on 2 March.

Expect a big group singalong for the finale - but hopefully no rock star egos. www.crisisconsequences.com.

WHO'S THE COOLEST MAN IN ROCK?

Gallows frontman Frank Carter must be pretty cool - he's the only singer who's ever made me want to get a tattoo. Now the NME has confirmed it by putting the wiry, ginger punk-rock boy-man at the top of its annual Cool List. Previous winners include Beth Ditto and Pete Doherty.

Actually, with Doherty relapsing into drug use again, 23-year-old Carter's ascendancy is timely. He's avowedly "straight-edge", part of a hardcore punk counter-culture whose adherents don't touch drugs or alcohol. And frankly, his furious performances are a lot more interesting than Doherty or Amy Winehouse's latest evening out.

I interviewed Carter backstage in Camden after a recent soundcheck. He was busy debating with his bandmate and brother Steph about whether he had time to go home to Hemel Hempstead and get his mum to do him some beans on toast before the gig.

He was thoughtful, affable company, but also a magnetic presence. Then there are his tattoos: dragons, eagles and eyes so detailed and vibrant. Incredibly, he got one done onstage at Reading Festival.

Gallows' uncompromising debut Orchestra of Wolves won't be for everyone. But their brilliant cover of The Ruts' Staring at the Rude Bois, on which Carter duets with grime rapper Lethal Bizzle, is a potential smash. It's out on 19 November.

NEW ON THE NET

Dreading the prospect of another X Factor Christmas number one? So are the people at Last.FM. The social music site is urging its 20 million users to buy a 40p download by an unsigned band to shake up the festive chart. Find out more at: www.last.fm/group/xmaschartattack. The bands in the running play a rooftop gig in Baches Street, N1, on Wednesday.

When Lee Hazlewood died this year, Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley lined up to pay tribute. Now you can hear one of his final recordings: Hazlewood features on Amiina's single Hilli (At The Top of the World), released on 11 December on iTunes. Watch the video at www.everrecords.com /amiina/video/amiina_hilli.mov

She's best known as the voice of Zero 7, but Sia could now enjoy serious solo success. Her new single Day Too Soon has been playlisted on Radio . ahead of its 1. November release. Listen to it at www.myspace.com/siamusic and then check out her endlessly entertaining site http://siamusic.net.