Whiting Tennis - Three Leaf Clover (Tarnised Records)

N: Can this album get any better than from the opening lines... "Cotton balls and tumble weeds, are rolling down the street, and they're shining line a snowflake shining, and I'm floating on the breeze..." I could go on, but for me that's so evocative in its beauty, it's delicious. Shades of The White Stripes, maybe even Neil Young, but never once actualy crossing the street to meet either. Respected in his adopted Seattle, the preachers kid has excelled in his chosen subject, that of passionate melodies, coupled with sublime songwriting , who can fail to fall in love?

T: I have to totally agree with you, especially if you're comparing it to either "Harvest" or "On The Beach". Such beautiful country tinged melodies are rare these days, and then there are the moments on "Three Leaf Clover" that are more in line with Liverpool's excellent band Clinic, particularly "William Harry Holmes". Clearly Whiting Tennis has been listening to - and more importantly taking note of - the way Young constructs his songs and injects them with such emotion that you have to beg the question "Why is this man not a megsatsr"? Mark our words - he will be. 9/10

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Samsa - To Conquer/Another Night (On The Bone Recordings)

T: An intense sound that has the effect of being cold but warm, if you see what I mean? I can only liken it to being snug in the backseat of the car, with the window down so that it's a little chilly, except you're all comfy, snoozing while whoever's driving cruises down the highway. It's also to their credit that they don't immediately strike you as sounding like anybody else.

N: ooh I like Sams - the sound of a glorious cacophony of rhythm and howling guitar, deep and sumptuous. A feather down that is large enough to engulf the listener, that contains shades of an early nineties transatlantic swell.

T: Let's face it. This is probably one of the best things we've been sent all year. 9/10

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The High Wire - Saint Bees (ImpatioSound)

T: Sounds like Mark Morriss of Bluetones fame has taken a few illegal hallucinatory substances and fallen asleep holding his guitar in a drug induced state whilst strumming this tune unwittingly to his tape recorder. The single was produced by Julian Simmons (Guillemots, Midlake) and Radio 1, 2 and XFM have all given it a spin. A musical representation of a euphoric state, it does give you a kind of tingle akin to that of a band I can't instantly place...

N: A debut single from The High Wire featuring the glowing Tones of a Spiritualized. Was that what you were looking for?

T: No, I meant The Smurfs. Oh OK then! I admit it. I hate it when you're right.

N: That would have been Father Abraham then. 8/10

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The Lodger - Kicking Sand/Centuries (Angular Recording Corporation)

N: Anyone outside of London would be forgiven for thinking the rest of the UK music scene was from Leeds at the moment, with the second offering this month being the already tested Lodger from the city. A Housemartins/Weddoes crossbreed for the 21st century, minus Paul Heaton...

T: ...perhaps performing a Blur B-side. This is a good thing. The Lodger always make entertaining, quirky summer music and this is no exception. True, it's not quite to the standard of their previous work, but even so, it's more than passable as a good pop sinlgle.

N: Fluffy melodies full of light, poppy pretences. The band's album 'Grown Ups' was released in June this year and may be found at the following link; click here. 7/10

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Grammatics - Something I Learned About Today

T: A rather over dramatic production that melds Muse with Fall Out Boy. Certainly taken at face value, the band are very good at what they're trying to do. Admittedly, it is unlikely I'm ever going to become a big fan of the band, and whoever said they sounded like a darker version of Arcade Fire needs a swift slap round the chops; they are clearly delirious. I'm not a big fan of camomile tea, but others may well be, so don't be deterred just because I'm unconvinced. Like I said, they're a talented band. Just not for me.

N: A band rising from the energetic Leeds music scene, and described as "one of the most exciting prospects..."; I wouldn't necessarily go that far, but entertaining all the same. That said, not too far removed from what we've already heard. 6/10

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Joshua Path - Headlight In The Sun (Vanaldee Records)

T: Whilst I was a little concerned at first that this was going to turn into a syrup laden sentimental AOR ballad akin to that of a latter day Chicago, I'm pleasantly surprised to report that it has more in common with the fantastic Band Of Horses than anyone else. Some great tunes here, as Joshua unashamedly lays his cards on the table from the off. He clearly is inspired by the classic American songwriters from the last few decades, yet somehow has succeeded in putting his own stamp on the music therein. Thankfully his rather celestial sounding brand of rock bears no resemblance to the radio friendly sludge churned out by Nickelback and is proof, if any were needed, that there really are still some great songwriters out there.

N: Joshua's personal note to us aside, it is the singer's 4th album, and having been named one of the Top 100 Unsigned Artists by Music Connection magazine, the LA singer songwriter has brought to this affair a glossy shine of well conceived and produced work that should have listeners clammering to hear these songs. 9/10

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Various Artists - 21 Pop And Indie Gems From The Underground (Whimsical)

T: This is a fascinating compilation of innovative tunes from the Whimsical catalogue ranging from cheery pop, mad electronica, sixties garage style dittes and bizarre, fucked up one minute long compositions such as the album's opener, "Hello" by The Idea.
And ideas aplenty leap out at you from this assortment, bringing to mind at any given time the likes of David Byrne, John Cale, Van Morrison, Squeeze and British Sea Power. All classic songwriters, you may notice, and it's great to know there are still folk out there who will lovingly craft compilations such as these. They are the true heroes of the music business and we should champion them as much as we can.

N: Independent labels can be a melting pot of young burgeoning talent, what with their variety of influences bursting from the grooves (or digital bits, firing from its slippery silver surface) making a very entertaining half time, and here is no different. Whimsical Records (love the name) have accumulated 21 artists who, from the starting blocks, fire the riff recognisable from Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" in the shape of The Idea's opening gambit. Day 44 can be found slipping on Steed's cane and bowler hat on "Harold's Bad Trip", Mrs. Peel hot on his heels. Guy and Vivienne present a somewhat kitsch duet, "After The Rain", influences follow in the shape of The Shadows clashing with Glen Tillbrook with a stylophonesque break. But all this statically charged emotion is brought back to earth as brushed drums meet The Harmonic Storm's "'Daddy's little princess'".

T: I think you get the picture anyway; this is a damn fine album, and Ewan McKenzie, the man behind this collection, should be carried on the shoulders of crowds throughout the city and cheered by the masses in unison. 9/10

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Furyon - 32 Hours

T: With a bellyful of fire, Furyon take the formerly reviewed Joy, throw them into a pit and masturbate all over them. That's not to say this is my cup of tea either - in fact I'd still rather dive headfirst into some freshly produced cow dung than have to listen to too much of this stuff, but they're clearly extremely good at this type of music. Can't help thinking they may be taking themselves a tad too seriously though...

N: Sepultura meets Motley Crue. Crunching guitars and bruised drumskins mount up to only reflect an aurally claimed backyard/. 5/10

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F451 - The Battleground Is Everywhere

N: Nice boys, doing the riffs they only learnt the week before at their music tutorial. Names referred to in their press release are, Rage..., Manics and Muse, but they missed Bruce Dickson and his radio show. This is bedroom rock, hair brush in one hand and the other on...

T: ...their Killers CD. This is like a less polished version of an early Brandon Flowers composition in all its raw glory. Not that I ever found the latter band glorious, I must admit, but this is quite impressively ballsy with a nice line in crusty tunery. 7/10

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Christian McKee - The Ipods & Cyclops EP

N: Christian McKee offers a refreshingly bare lyrics, void of pretence, floating on a melody heavily laced with foundation in 'dub'. These songs are sung from the heart and anyone who liberates the term "twat" and then in the next number refers to the "washing of the car" has to be creative to the core.

T: At last! An artist of sheer class shines through on this month's Spotlight page. Christian is hilariously acerbic in his observations on "Ipods and Cyclops", and then "I Will" is almost like a moodier Gary Moore number. This is nothing short of superb and the fact that McKee has a voice unlike anyone I can immediately call to mind is testament to the originality of this EP. Excellent stuff. 10/10

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Barn Burning - Werner Ghost Track (Tarnished Records)

N: This band, out of New England, had the unheard of luxury of being able to go into the recording process for this album and not having to watch the clock (sometimes circumstances come together and work for and not against us). Seriously though this long player does excude quality, of space around the music, tracks not squeezed together, in a place allowed to breath. Think taking a road trip back in time to one where the spaces on that road were not ruled by heavy steel animals, their horns shouting at every false move. A very different 'Spotlight' inclusion in that there would be no need to polish any aspect of this release for it to see a full outing, CD's stacked high in the isles of the local mall. Totally and wonderfully brilliant, as a reference hear Arcade Fire or Richard Thompson, but it should be said that Barn Burning are totally different.

T: In total contrast to you, the first track seemed to meander nowhere and to be frank, bored the crap out of me. At this point, it didn't look too promising, but I have stuffed as many words down the back of my throat as I could on the following numbers as they continually surpass themselves with such warmth and excruciating beauty that the album becomes astonishing. Perhaps I'll revisit that first track again at regular intervals to see if it's a slow burner then!

N: You mean a barn burner... 9/10

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