The gothic country of Frazer's '90s band Tarnation shared much with 16 Horsepower and The Handsome Family—a Georgia-raised pastor's daughter, the South inspired Frazer's poetry. While we await the follow-up to 2001's Indoor Universe, these four-track rarities provide ample nourishment. Some of these songs appeared on Gentle Creatures ('95) and Mirador ('97), but not this nakedly beautiful. Frazer's voice has a metallic-folk edge which, allied to mariachi guitar, floods "An Awful Shade Of Blue" and "The Hand" with harsh desert light.

Debut from NYC trio featuring ex-Jeff Buckley band guitarist Michael Tighe and drummer Parker Kindred

Not a voicebox in sight as Comes Alive man makes low-key comeback

First studio outing in six years from recently-rejoined Flatlander

Recorded for pennies, her spectral, bewitching '99 debut available again

The seedbed of punk

Third album from Mike Patton's unpredictable and bloody-minded avant-metal project

Warm and gentle pop from John (Wilco) Stirratt and Pat (Ryan Adams) Sansone

Double album of Boss cover versions

Art-rock doesn't, as far as we know, have a glorious reputation in the working men's clubs of South Yorkshire. Relaxed Muscle, however, suggest there's a captive market for electro duos in Doncaster, where the regulars suffer half an hour of performance art before bingo.