TUNNG – … AND THEN WE SAW LAND

Tunng have shifted their line-up around a bit with singer Becky Jacobs taking a more prominent role. The new album is rich with folk and electronic elements and they aren’t afraid to push along the rhythms and take the music to less song based places. A varied and lush album that yield new discoveries upon each new listen.  Released 19th March via Pod (Inertia in Australia)

ELUVIUM – SIMILIES

Matthew Cooper is the man behind Eluvium and on his latest he has added his sombre, vaguely Interpol vocals and produced another lush and gorgeous album of organic pinao rumblings and note flutters as well as other digitally processed sounds. It is meditative and full of wide open sonic spaces, a record of grandeur and grace. RECOMMENDED. Similies is out now via Temporary Residence (Inertia in Australia)

LOU RHODES – ONE GOOD THING

Rhodes is the singer of trip hop duo Lamb and this is her third solo release. Rhodes has done what Portishead’s Beth Gibbons did with her 2002 solo album Out Of Season. Forgoing the col electronic washes she has instead ventured into folk pastures with primarily acoustic settings. The first track One Good Thing is a gorgeous slice of optimism and the rest of the album reaches the same intimate and heart warming heights. RECOMMENDED One Good Thing is out now via Motion Audio/Ninja Tune (Inertia in Australia)

MICAH P. HINSON – ALL DRESSED UP AND SMELLING OF STRANGERS

The Texan singer songwriter changes things up with a double album of covers all delivered in his deep and weary voice. He doesn’t try and hunt out obscure songs but rather he tackles some of the biggies like Cohen’s Suzanne, My Way, Orbison’s Running Scared and George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps. This will appeal to fans of Mark Lanegan, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and The Handsome Family. All Dressed Up… is out now via Pod/Inertia.

THE BROKEN SPLENDOUR – ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

Released last year, this EP is the debut release for the Melbourne trio who have a swirling melancholic take on indie folk with some Nick Drake mood in the instruments and an engaging warm sound overall. Nice stuff. Myspace