POP

NOAH AND THE WHALE
Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down (Vertigo)
***
Noah and the Whale are yet another manifestation of folk music reinvented for the modern age. The group revolves around the songs of Charlie Fink, who, at the age of 21, has managed to absorb the musical lessons of half a century. Crucially, and almost in defiance of the lugubrious name, Noah and the Whale play tough and forthright songs, organic and free of additives. Despite breaking one of the cardinal rules of pop — no whistling — the single 5 Years Time has already enjoyed success, while Give a Little Love and Mary could easily follow it into the singles charts. Fink may be working in a modern folk idiom but he has the soul of a pop singer.
PETE CLARK

TEDDY THOMPSON
A Piece of What You Need (Verve)
****
It is still impossible to write about Teddy Thompson without mentioning that he is the son of folk royalty Richard and Linda, although, like his fellow folk spawn Martha and Rufus Wainwright, he is ploughing an increasingly interesting furrow away from his impressive heritage. There was a tasteful collection of country covers less than a year ago, and now this album of originals that deserves to secure his breakthrough. There is smoky jazz on Turning the Gun on Myself, toe-tapping country rock on Jonathan's Book, whooshing Hammond organ on In My Arms and bluesy guitar and squalling brass on overall standout Can't Sing Straight. Thompson's warm, rich voice is the lovely glue that binds it all together.
DAVID SMYTH

G LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE
Superhero Brother (Brushfire)
***
Almost entirely kept afloat by the patronage of the surfing singer Jack Johnson, who signed them to his vanity label Brushfire, G Love and Special Sauce have been toiling away for the best part of two decades. In that period their bluesy-funky-reggae sound has barely altered, as it nods to Johnson himself, Everlast and the Rolling Stones at their most whimsical. So laid-back that toppling over must be a genuine fear (needless to say Who's Got the Weed? does not address horticultural issues), Superhero Brother chugs along merrily, enlivened by the whopping Seventies organ on Grandmother, the engagingly silly Wiggle Worm and the poppy Peace, Love and Happiness. Harmless and sweet.
JOHN AIZLEWOOD

JAZZ

STAN GETZ
The Bossa Nova Albums (Verve)
*****
With its gentle rhythms, beguiling songs and hip harmonic surprises, the bossa nova has an evergreen appeal, especially in summertime. And Stan Getz was made for it. The suave American tenorman's light, breathy tone transforms five prime bossa albums boxed to mark the 50th anniversary of the original craze. Girl from Ipanema, his sexy duet with cool chanteuse Astrid Gilberto, and Desafinado, from his other big album, Jazz Samba, are the classic tracks, but the big-band bossa album with Gary McFarland wears equally well. Luis Bonfa, João Gilberto and guitarist Laurindo Almeida also co-star in a quality package, perfect for the car stereo whenever the August clouds eventually roll away.
JACK MASSARIK

WORLD

HANGGAI
Introducing (World Music Network)
***
Last week Chinese pop singer Sa Dingding appeared at the Proms, but despite her half-Mongolian ethnicity, her glossy, exotic electronica seems rather coffee table in style. Hanggai are also mainly Inner Mongolians based in Beijing. I'm sure they sell far fewer records than Sa Dingding but their music has much more bite. Band leader Ilchi fronted a punk group before turning to the throat singing and Mongolian lutes. The songs are largely traditional but given effective arrangements for the six-piece band. Alongside some growly throat singing, other tracks such as Haar Hu and Lullaby are airy, delicate and transcendental. China's roots revival is a long way off but here are some encouraging early shoots.
SIMON BROUGHTON