CDs of the week

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Worth the wait: Bat For Lashes

Close call: Doves

Plodding: Neil Young

Switch on: Tony Desare

Quality: Kasse Mady Diabaté

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POP
Bat For Lashes
Two Suns (Parlophone)
****
Natasha Khan's first album as Bat For Lashes lost out on 2007's Mercury Prize, but while eventual victors Klaxons struggle to complete a suitably momentous follow-up, the Brighton songwriter has had the freedom to come up with something special. Two Suns is more complex and stylistically adventurous than her debut. “I've seen so many planets dancing,” she coos on Two Planets. It's easy to compare her to Kate Bush and Björk as a woman who is not of this world, but the pulsing synth melody of Daniel and piano ballad Siren Song's dramatic conclusion have more than enough spirit of their own.
David Smyth

Doves
Kingdom of Rust (Heavenly)
***
With Elbow finally breaking through, the moment seems ideal for Doves — also personally unassuming but musically bold Lancastrians — to make a similar leap into the mainstream. The peak-period U2-esque Compulsion, the echo-laden and unapologetically northern title track, and the clattering swagger of House of Mirrors suggest they've almost cracked it on this fourth album. However, for all their fascinating soundscapes, most notably on the enthralling Winter Hill, there's a surfeit of stodge and a dearth of the irresistible melodies that all those who escape cultdom need. Close call, though.
John Aizlewood

Neil Young
Fork in the Road (Reprise)
***
Neil Young's response to the collapse of capitalism and the rape of nature is to jump into a convertible and go roaring across the country shouting imprecations at the money men. It's OK, apparently, because the car runs on eco-fuel. The music is what you might expect to accompany such a concept — shuffling rock 'n' roll that is often dubbed road music. The backing group are solid pros and Ben Keith's steel guitar is a lovely counterpoint to Young's usual racket. The problem is that the material is desperately thin melodically. Songs such as When Worlds Collide, Johnny Magic and Cough up the Bucks are plodding and obvious. Just Singing a Song shines by comparison.
Pete Clark

JAZZ
Tony Desare
Radio Show (TelArc)
***
Nostalgia is not for everybody but the latest wave of Sinatra and Bennett-style neo-crooners seems to be defying credit-crunchers on both sides of the pond. Leading this Italian-American line is the talented young singer-pianist Desare, who heads the Pizza on the Park's American Songbook in London season for two weeks from next Tuesday. His clever concept album plays like a Forties US radio show, complete with dedications, news bulletins and station breaks. The songs are all good, naturally, and guest singer Jane Monheit pops into the studio too. You won't want to switch off.
Jack Massarik

WORLD
Kasse Mady Diabaté
Manden Dueli Kan (Universal)
****
The name Diabaté is almost a guarantee of quality in Malian music. Kora player Toumani Diabaté is well known but singer Kasse Mady far less so, although he's performed with Toumani and appeared in London as part of Africa Express. In Mali he has a superb reputation. With a pretty traditional line-up of guitars, kora, bubbling balafon (xylophone) and some rattling percussion, this is a compelling disc, with Kasse Mady's warm, commanding voice and female backing vocals. The more transparent Nankoumanjan features just voice, koras (including Toumani) and balafon. It's a great example of how Malian tradition renews itself. Kasse Mady appears with Orchestra Baobab at the Barbican on Monday.
Simon Broughton

 

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