Chic

Chicago duo craft unearthly, not quite folk debut, with added harp

Third album from erstwhile Weather Prophet Pete Astor and pal

Rare unplugged outing for leading Chicago bluesman

First album in four years from many-aliased Michael Paradinas

In 1980 Diana Ross, Motown and Chic all needed each other. With Rick James' breakthrough still a year away, Motown were forced to hire their biggest competitors to provide Hitsville with some hits. In turn, Diana was the last of the original sequence of classic Chic albums, the real follow-up to Chic's 1979 milestone Risqué. Disc one includes the original "Chic mix" of the album (essentially demos, with slightly gutsier vocals) as well as the familiar one. We are reminded just how skilfully "Upside Down" orbits around its absent centre.

Jason Pierce and co blast back with album recorded in three weeks

Hit-and-miss retelling of legendary outlaw's tale

Indie festival hit profiles puppy love

Six CDs of live Runt, previously only available as Japanese imports

On the intro tape, Johnny Cash's austerely remorseless "The Man Comes Around" sets the mood, then Colin MacIntyre's men come pounding out of the traps. For this mini tour, the school choir, feather boa and inflatable sheep of previous expeditions have been packed away, in favour of frill-free punk aggression.