That's Beat as in Kerouac rather than Fatboy Slim, for Donovan Leitch's first album since 1996 is a warm evocation of the bohemian world of bebop, poetry, berets and coffee houses. Despite his folk roots, Donovan's acoustic jazz leanings were always evident and, with the help of Danny Thompson and Jim Keltner, Beat Café takes up where '60s classics such as "Sunny Goodge Street" left off. The opener, "Love Floats", borrows and slows down the tune of his '68 hit "Barabajagal", "Lord Of The Universe" is a delightful tongue-in-cheek blues and "Do Not Go Gently" is a Mingus-mellow-fantastic setting of Dylan Thomas' poem. The remaining nine tracks are equally inventive. It's great to have him back and sounding so fresh.

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