This column reviews albums & singles released worldwide (i.e. not in a particular country). If your company wants an album reviewed on these pages, then you should read this. If you are in an unsigned band & you'd like your demo tape or CD reviewed, you should go here instead.

It's hardly surprising that Ember Swift, based out of Toronto in Canada, has such a great style & talent. This album is one of the 6 releases behind her & is a live album covering some 16 tracks, albeit with some intro tracks interspersed along the way.

Some will find the style vaguely reminiscent of that of Ani DiFranco, but this comparison runs out of steam after a few tracks. Opening up is a rocking little number simply called "$5", which shows off Ember's great vocal style as well as the wonderful instrumentals which really stand out along the length of the album.

There's a whole pile of great tracks, including a latin infused number called "Happiness Ball", as well as "Whatchado", but the highlight in the end for me is "Elbows", which aside from the great instrumental, represents the best vocal performance here. All up, this is a great album & from the reaction of the crowd here, they also enjoyed it.

For more information, write to Few'll Ignite Sound, 50 Charles St E., Toronto, ON M4Y 2N6, Canada or ember@swift.com

GUY-MICHAEL GRANDE - FAMILIAR STRANGERS

Despite being billed as a contemporary acoustic pop artist, Guy-Michael Grande's music on this album displays more than a passing sense of country feel throughout almost the entire length of the album. While generally not my thing, there are some definite high points here which bear further investigation.

Running at 10 tracks overall, the first half of the album didn't grab me initially, but the second half really picked things up, especially on my pick here, "Come Back", which does in fact verge further back towards the pop feel that you're seeing with softer, more traditional pop on the charts these days.

Other highlights which populate the latter half of the album are "Ever After", which closes out, "No Bounds" & "Guardian Angel", all of which will appeal to listeners who like their pop with a touch of country in the vein of a softer Neil Young feel. Quite a strong debut at that.

For more information, write to Route Five Records, PO Box 310756, Newington, CT 06131-0756, USA or routefive@hotmail.com

GWYN ASHTON - FANG IT

I vaguely remember this artist by reputation only. While born in the UK, he grew up in South Australia & spent the 1980s playing pubs throughout Australia, growing his reputation as a live act. While that's long behind him now, he has a new album, Fang It, which is out now.

The sounds here will be familiar to fans of blues & guitar artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan, but there's no copycat syndrome here, rather Gwyn's music takes a rather different tack on what you might think to listen to Stevie's music, with the exception of "Hit In Here", which captures the mood of the aforementioned artist as well as maybe Robert Cray to a certain extent.

Particularly impressive are tracks like opener "Breakin' All The Rules", my favourite rocking track "Who's That Coming?" & "Gettin' On Down", though there are many highlights here which will impress a lot of people. It's certainly refreshing to hear someone who's carved out their own slice of musical heaven & stuck like glue to it - great stuff & very enjoyable.

For more information, write to Riverside Records, PO Box 16595, London, SW6 6FH, England or RIVERSIDE@postmaster.co.uk

HELIGOLAND - (SELF TITLED)

While not the sort of music any of the commercial stations would have the guts to play, Heligoland's debut 5 track ep is a hell of a lot more worthwhile than most of the throwaway stuff that's churned out on the top 40 charts in recent times.

Reminding me of the moodiness of bands such as The Dirty Three, Heligoland's sound is a somewhat dark & brooding collection of songs which all stand on their own merits, the production & position of the songs here becoming an almost continuation with each new song.

The opening track "Lo Scavo" is superb, with the amazing vocals of Karen Vogt really pulling the whole sound together, understated yet out there enough to let you know what's happening. Also brilliant is second track in "Kuro", but the closing number "When I Look Into The Sun" really brings in the atmosphere & again plays the understated card wonderfully. This is a debut which the band can be very proud of & which listeners should be clamouring to get hold of.

For more information, write to heligoland@hotmail.com

JULIA BROWN - JUBILANT NEWBORN ALIEN HAZE

While not entirely sure of what the title's all about, this is one great album, kicking off with the high energy percussion of "Victims & Villains", which not only showcases Julia's very strong voice but has a real rousing feel that'll have you out of your seat in no time.

As nearly as I can tell, Julia is based out of New York in the US & she's taken on board a lot of influences from the music she grew up with as well as that which her family listened to. You only need to compare the stark contrast between that opening cut & second in, a soulful ballad called "Instinct #1", which features an extraordinary vocal performance to make it really stand out form the rest.

There's something of an unpredictable edge to the tracklisting, making each forthcoming track something of an adventure. "Afterglow", the 3rd song, really reminds me of the sound of Fiona Apple, but with more of a rock edginess. Yet another mood arrives with "Just Like That", which has the feel of a Beatles song & the catchy qualities to match, while the highlight for me is the closing track "Coffee In Your Teacup", which also features an unlisted bonus at the end that's well worth a listen. Make this a priority on your shopping list - there's a buzz set to appear around this album.

For more information, write to Riot Shack Records, 853 Broadway, Suite 1516, Box MS11, New York, NY 10003, USA or info@riotshack.com

PEPE DELUXE - SUPER SOUND

Few if any people will disagree that this album is very cool & it shows that there is much more to Euro hip hop influence than that of the somewhat lacklustre tracks from the likes of Bombfunk MCs over the last year. Super Sound is all that Chemical Brothers, Moby, Fatboy Slim & a whole host of others have managed & perhaps a little more besides. The closest I can come for a ready reference would be the new album from The Avalanches.

Opening up is a stunning piece of music from the band called "Three Times A Player", which will really impress a lot of people & a comparison made in music media elsewhere was to Handsome Boy Modelling School, which is quite a good pick I reckon.

On the other hand, many will rightly compare one of the major highlights here, "Everybody Pass Me By" to material from Moby's Play album, but there's a more valid line to be drawn with the collaboration between R.L. Burnside & Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

In the end, it's a toss up between "Everybody Pass Me By" & the brilliantly constructed "Big Muff", though a quick flick through the album, stopping at any point along the tracklisting will see anyone pick something great to listen to. This is one diverse & exceptional album, especially when you think that it dates back to 1999 & still sounds ever so fresh.

For more information, write to Emperor Norton Records, 102 Robinson St, Los Angeles, CA 90026, USA or info@emperornorton.com or tim@emperornorton.com

SONIC JOYRIDE - BEHEMOTH

It's hardly surprising that a band who are now into their 4th album would have their sound so tight & well knit throughout & this particular album is indeed a joyride of great proportions, which fans of bands like Everclear & perhaps the rockier end of Foo Fighters will really get into.

There are a whole pile of standouts here, a couple of my picks in particular being the 4th track in "Starting Over", which is a somewhat more laid back track than some others, as well as the much harder edged, but very up & poppy guitar rock of "Never", which apart from those bands already mentioned, reminded me a little of Presidents Of The USA.

The band mostly have a very solid grounding across the album with rock oriented pop tracks which will easily cross from so called alternative mix radio formats to full on commercial FM stations, with great catchy tunes like opener "Is Anybody Out There?" & "B.S." Sort of has me wondering why I've never come across them before.

For more information, write to Anomaly Records, PO Box 260, Milton Hills, NH 03852, USA or info@anomalyrecords.com or terry@anomalyrecords.com

W.O.O. REVELATOR - THE THEORY OF REVERSED EFFORT

Coming out of the US is W.O.O. Revelator, a band on the Whole Other Orbit (hence the W.O.O. in the band's name) label's roster. The sound of the band is not dissimilar to others I've heard recently, mostly of Indian origin, but there's more of a Western improv feel about the music here.

Spread across 5 tracks, the sound runs the gamut of trad jazz to fully experimental, a sort of light pop influence mixed in. Most interesting to me was the second track "The Unending Force", but others may find the epic 10 & 17 minute tracks the most interesting. Whichever you like, you'll need your mind open to listen.

For more information, write to W.O.O., Att: Zee Yimou, 45 First Ave #5-0, NYC, NY 10003, USA or info@wooweb.com