Dusty Springfield: Simply Dusty (Mercury) This aptly titled "definitive" Dusty Springfield fourCD collection is long overdue. For too long, the most anyone other than a Springfield completist could safely buy without risking boredom was her 20 Golden Greats album or From Dusty In Memphis. But now Mercury records have weeded out all the weaker Dusty recordings, stretched the tale back to her days with The Lana Sisters and The Springfields - and given the perfect overview of the career of a woman who was, arguably, the finest female soul singer in British pop. From Island of Dreams to Nothing Has Been Proved, the hits are all here. But even better are long-lost delights such as Summer Is Over. Definitely the best Dusty collection, ever.
Bell X1: Neither Am I (Universal)
This Celbridge band used to be known as Juniper, but don't hold that against them. In their previous incarnation these guys threatened to drag Dublin back to the bad old days of hype and bombast, but as Bell X1, they redeem themselves with quiet grace. The departure of Juniper's original singer has left Paul Noonan, Dave Geraghty, Dominic Phillips and Brian Crosby following an offbeat path, and with Crowded House bassist Nick Seymour in the production chair, Bell X1 have crafted an interesting mix of lo-fi Americana, garage electronica and far-out folk-rock. Not all the songs are great - Volcano sputters a bit, while Offshore laps a bit at Coldplay's feet - but highlights include Godsong, Blue Rinse Baby, Little Sister and the two recent singles, Pinball Machine and Man On Mir.
