Latest releases reviewed

THE FRAMES
Sideways Down 
Plateau Records
**

Glen Hansard probably couldn't sing Postman Pat without going postal on the gritted teeth and emotional vocals. This is one of the better songs on the Burn The Maps album - not too much larynx-wringing here.

LEMON JELLY
The Shouty Track
XL Recordings
**

Nick Franglen and Fred Deakin have always had a taste for cheese, sampling some ropey old camembert, including (gag!) Gallagher & Lyle. Not sure who they've sampled here, but at least the beats are harder, and the tune drives along like Death In Vegas doing Cassius's La Mouche.

HEAD AUTOMATICA
Beating Heart Baby
Warner Bros 
*

Every metalhead has a secret desire to cheese out on camp, '80s-style Roachford-rock, whoop like Wacko and wig out like Whitesnake. Darryl Palumbo from Glassjaw hooks up with Dan The Automator - that's right, get it out of your system. Phew.

BIFFY CLYRO
Only One Word Comes To Mind
Beggars Banquet 
**

Dunno where they got that name, but this Scottish prog-metal trio are out to show us why Kerrang! magazine like them better than Placebo. This choppy little tune features such reassuring lines as, "It's OK to hide away underneath the ocean." I'll get me diving suit on right away, then.

22-20S
Such A Fool
Heavenly 
***

Oh, lord, don't let these Lincolnshire lads be misunderstood. This slice of instant rock 'n' roll karma sounds like it belongs in a different decade, but we're happy to welcome it to ours.

SIA
Numb
Go Beat 
***

You've heard Sia singing on Zero 7's Somersault single, and now she's got her own album, Colour The Small One, featuring this tune, so chilled out you can hear the ice crack over the acoustic guitars and tinkling piano. This could well be the answer song to Air's Cherry Blossom Girl.