Latest Reviews 30 January - 5 February 2012 
Hello Cruel WorldGretchen Peters
Nashville songwriter delivers unusual craft in her own fine voice.reviewed by Ninian Dunnett
Too Tough to LiveDan Sartain
Effervescent bursts of Ramones-inspired punk rarely breaching the two-minute mark.reviewed by Alex Deller
Darby Crash Rides AgainPoison Idea
Step right up and try your luck with the self-proclaimed Kings of Punk.reviewed by Alex Deller
MarcataThe Minutes
The Dublin trio’s debut is fun, but offers little to set them apart from the pack.reviewed by Rory McConnell
Stage WhisperCharlotte Gainsbourg
An obvious, albeit appealing, stopgap release.reviewed by Martin Aston
Queen of the WavePepe Deluxé
Crams more creativity into a dozen cuts than most bands exhibit over entire careers.reviewed by Mike Diver
Old IdeasLeonard Cohen
The Canadian ladies’ man returns with a first studio album in seven years.reviewed by Ian Winwood
Have Some Faith in MagicErrors
A great third LP which sounds like the work of a band hitting its peak.reviewed by Reef Younis
I Will Set You FreeBarry Adamson
Adamson lurks in a grimy alleyway connecting movie scoring with roughshod garage rock.reviewed by Martin Longley
Django DjangoDjango Django
A proposition to confound expectations of what an ‘indie’ band should be.reviewed by Mike Diver
Portico QuartetPortico Quartet
An endlessly absorbing third LP from the inspired jazz outfit.reviewed by Chris Parkin
Be StrongThe 2 Bears
Disco duo’s debut LP is fantastic, so be sure to follow these bears.reviewed by Ian Wade
SnakeoilTim Berne
An interesting new chapter for Berne, promising much for the coming years on ECM.reviewed by John Eyles
Further ExplorationsChick Corea, Eddie Gomez and Paul Motian
When this trio's performance, captured live in New York, clicks it is utterly magnificent.reviewed by Alyn Shipton
Born to DieLana Del Rey
Intelligent, ambitious and brilliantly realised, Born to Die defies any backlash.reviewed by Jaime Gill
