The Divine Comedy: A Secret History . . . The Best Of The Divine Comedy (Setanta)
For those of us who thought The Pop Singer's Fear Of The Pollen Count was a brand new song, here's a catch-up compilation of highlights from Neil Hannon's career to date, featuring the aforementioned summer sneeze anthem, which was originally on The Divine Comedy's second album, Liberation. Other songs from the boy Hannon's early days include Lucy and Your Daddy's Car, and along with familiar favourites such as Something For The Weekend, Becoming More Like Alfie and The Frog Princess, there are two real newies, Gin Soaked Boy and Too Young To Die, the former a jolly jaunt down decadent street, the latter a maudlin lament with its world-weary tongue stuck in firmly in its cheek. The older tunes here show that Hannon has always had dramatic flair, while later hits mix brilliant pop and biting satire. Marvellous, don't you know.
Kevin Courtney
Rory Gallagher: BBC Sessions (RCA/Capo)
For many fans, Rory Gallagher was right up there with Hendrix, Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Peter Green, but for the public at large, albums such as Deuce, Blueprint, Tattoo and Defender couldn't quite compete with the Zep 4s and Electric Ladylands of this world. Since his death in 1996, Gallagher's back catalogue has been remastered and re-released, but this is the first collection of unreleased material from the man's long, workman-like career. The live CD features performances of Calling Card, What In The World, Got My Mojo Working and Used To Be, while the studio section includes For The Last Time, Crest Of A Wave, Hands Off, Seventh Son Of A 7th Son and Daughter Of The Everglades. Hardly likely to raise Rory to his rightful place, but it sure proves what a stupendous guitarist he was.
Kevin Courtney
Mary Black: Speaking With The Angel (Dara)
Mary Black, bringing it all back home? Yes. Following her Circus album, which was produced by American Larry Klein, Mary has produced much of this album herself. And about time. Former producer Donal Lunny still leaves his mark, as does producer-composer Steve Cooney, but Speaking With The Angel is, primarily, Mary's call. And a glorious call it is, more than living up to its title. Folksy, rootsy, richly resonant readings open the album, in both Turning Away and Cut By Fire - and whatever reservations Mary may have once expressed about her ability to do a full-on rhythm tune full justice evaporate as she dances her way through tracks such as Don't Say Okay. But the title track really does sum up the core appeal of this album. She is. And we are blessed to be allowed to listen.
Joe Jackson
Various Artists: Cafe Del Mar Volume Seis (Manifesto)
`Let your mind roll free and listen to the rhythms of the sea," advises Joe Padilla, who compiled this latest selection in the phenomenally successful Cafe Del Mar series of albums. So what's Cafe Del Mar? A bar in San Antonio, built by architect Lluis Guell as "a tribute to the sunset". These albums are the musical equivalent of that architectural tribute, the music DJ Padilla plays in that world-famous bar. For those who've been there the album is a magnificent memento; for the rest of us it brings a little Mediterranean sunshine into our lives, courtesy of great global chill-out artists such as Paco Fernandez, whose Levitation On Home is a definite highlight. But it pales alongside the real glow of Dusty Springfield's The Look Of Love. A lovely album.
Joe Jackson