MALCOLM MIDDLETON - SLEIGHT OF HEART (Full Time Hobby): It’s been less than a year since A Brighter Beat, the last album from Malcolm Middleton, and Sleight of Heart comes across like a more reflective, mostly acoustic companion of the 2007 first release. These songs mark the final part of what Middleton memorably describes as his “Boo-hoo/Wey hey! period”, and the lyrics are full of bittersweet observations on life that had me laughing out loud on several occasions. The first track, Week Off, has Malcolm promising that “I’ll write a good song, just give me more time, it’s easy hating yourself . . . it’s hard making it rhyme." My favourite song has to be Blue Plastic Bags, which is all about how everybody drinks at home these days. SHELBY LYNNE – JUST A LITTLE LOVIN’ (Lost Highway): Shelby Lynne has sold millions of records to the US’s huge Country and Western market. Here, she tackles a selection of songs made famous by Dusty Springfield. Oh, and sticks one of her own songs on the album as well, which sort of ruins the concept a bit, I feel. My wife is the Dusty Springfield expert in our house and I’m sad to report that she wasn’t very impressed with this album at all, pointing out that the songs all lack the guts and passion that Dusty’s versions had, and I have to say that’s she’s absolutely right . . . if only because it’s generally better for me all round to agree with her at all times. This is definitely a little on the bland side. You’d be far better off tracking down a copy of Dusty in Memphis. KRAFTY KUTS - BACK TO MINE (DMC): Krafty Kuts — AKA DJ and Breakbeat producer Sean Reeves — is the latest artist to put out a Back to Mine compilation album, following acclaimed releases from the Orb, Underworld and New Order, to name just a few. As with all the Back To Mine releases, what you get are the artist’s favourite tracks on one compilation, usually mixed to flow seamlessly into one another. Krafty Kut’s open with the breezy sounds of Pork Pie Stride by the Sharpshooters, which then morphs into Massive Attack’s Any Love. If you can’t afford to have Krafty Kuts come to play a set in your living room, buying this CD would be the next best thing. | 
