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CDs of the week

Spiritualized: Renewed focus

Al Green: On imperious form

Mudcrutch: Does nothing to inspire confidence

Esperanza Spalding: A bright new star

The Teak Project: Debut album of delicate acoustic interactions

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POP
Spiritualized
Songs in A&E (Spaceman/Universal)
****
Spiritualized's Jason Pierce seemed to be on the way out, musically at least, after two albums that either went too far (the indulgent Let It Come Down, 2001) or not far enough (garage rock bore Amazing Grace, 2003). Then he nearly checked out altogether in 2005 with double pneumonia. His travails seem to have given renewed focus to a delicate collection that gets the balance between soul, gospel, folk and rock just right. His cracked voice sounds exhausted with less production polish than usual, and on tracks such as Death Take Your Fiddle, its lethargic rhythm kept by a respirator's whooshes, his pain is easy to feel. DAVID SMYTH

Al Green
Lay it Down (Blue Note)
****
These days, 62-year-old Al Green combines his gospel preaching with recording, writing and touring his secular music. Praise the Lord, soul's sweetest voice is on imperious form here, either on his own or alongside young bucks John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae and Anthony Hamilton, the finest vocalist of the current soul crop. Yet this is no tribute album, no attempt to drag a 20th-century icon into the 21st century. Instead, the guests - especially The Roots, who provide most of the musical backdrop - let Green soar. And soar he does, be it on the sumptuous title track, the funky What More Do You Want From Me? and Take Your Time, where Bailey Rae turns in the most sultry, slow-burning performance of her career. JOHN AIZLEWOOD

Mudcrutch
Mudcrutch (Reprise)
***
Hiding behind this unlovely name is the band that Tom Petty and various other Heartbreakers were members of almost 40 years ago. That original group never made a record, so they have got together again to correct that omission. For all the mumbled talk of achieving closure, one really has a right to ask if this record is necessary. The opening Shady Grove does nothing to inspire confidence, an old chestnut hauled out of the brazier and nibbled at once again. Other cover versions are more successful, including a noble stab at Born on the Bayou. Then there are some Petty originals, winning in their mellow and unhurried way, but not out of the top drawer of his song cabinet. PETE CLARK

JAZZ
Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza (Heads Up)
*****
Young, gifted and black (plus charming, unaffected, intelligent and versatile), Esperanza Spalding is the brightest new star to swim into my ken for years. Scatting to her funky double-bass, she sings in Spanish and English and writes originals which tap into hip soul-jazz and urban-Latin trends. Her US group, with pianist Leo Genovese and handdrummer Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez prominent, is dynamite and standards (Body and Soul, Samba Em Preludio) are no problem. Don't miss her with Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca at the Barbican on Tuesday. JACK MASSARIK

WORLD
The Teak Project
The Teak Project (First Hand Records)
***
The Teak Project is three young improvising musicians - Jonathan Mayer on sitar, Justin Quinn on guitar and Neil Craig on tabla. Their debut album features seven tracks of delicate acoustic interactions in what might be called Indo-Jazz fusion. The description isn't accidental; Jonathan's father, John Mayer, was a pioneer of Indo-Jazz fusion in the Sixties and Jonathan was part of its revival in the Nineties. Justin Quinn's mother was married to John McLaughlin (of Shakti), so he also inherits this tradition. What's clear is how much more integrated the Indian and Western ingredients are. They play Pizza Express Jazz Club on 31 May as part of Indo Jazzwise. SIMON BROUGHTON

Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.

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