Electronic: Twisted Tenderness (Parlophone)

The third meeting of the muses between ex-Smith Johnny Marr and New Order man Bernard Sumner is an adrenaline rush of guitars and keyboards, a blinding flash of sword-metal sound, and a sharp crack of the sonic whip. Unlike the previous two albums, Twisted Tenderness is marked by a lack of inhibition, both Marr and Sumner giving full vent to their talents and playing confidently to their strengths. Marr's guitar playing has finally found its rightful place high up in the mix, while Sumner's often ineffectual voice has been honed and tempered to pinpoint accuracy. The result is that Make It Happen, Vivid and Like No Other grab you by the collar rather than simply brush off your sleeve. However, while Twisted Tenderness is not lacking in verve, sometimes it feels as though it's all tooled up with nowhere to go.

By Kevin Courtney

Stars Of Heaven: Unfinished Dreaming (Independent Records)

The Stars Of Heaven flickered brilliantly for a short while in the mid to late 1980s, then faded from view, leaving Irish rock all the duller for their absence. Stephen Ryan went on to form The Revenants, while Stan Erraught dabbled awhile in The Sewing Room, but the Irish y'all-ternative set fondly remember when the Stars Of Heaven still twinkled. This compilation of unreleased tracks, early recordings and radio sessions for John Peel and Dave Fanning is a fitting epitaph for Ireland's original country-rock outlaws, and songs such as City On The Hill, Sacred Heart Hotel and Smalltown Real are true diamonds in the rough, deserving of a treasured place alongside those Replacements, Go-Betweens and Gram Parsons classics.

By Kevin Courtney

Beverley Knight: Prodigal Sista (EMI)

A soul singer for the 21st century? You bet. Despite the presence of dance beats and the token male rap backing track on Made It Back, this is British soul music at its best; in another age Ms Knight would be flying right to Muscle Shoals to record with Stax records. Hers is a powerful voice, singing in an understated manner with harmonies that caress the senses, and delivering lyrics that are realistic rather than mawkish. Songs like the anthemic Sista, Sista are also blessed with melodies that insinuate their way into your senses after even one hearing, while Strong Hand is a woman offering solace to a friend, female or male. An album filled with such delights.

By Joe Jackson