SINGLE: DJ ROSS THE RED Warning EP (City Wall)
For years dance producers’ validations have been constrained by having to get the deal that transferred their tunes to vinyl. Now, with mp3s and CDrs anyone can get their tunes onto the dancefloor, but it’s even harder to get them to stand out. Warning is a perfectly decent bit of trance-edged electro house but just lacks that killer hook. A bit more music and this label could really come into its own. (JK)

SINGLE: THE MACCABEES No Kind Words (Fiction)
They’re back, back, back! Having sold out the Concorde in a single day, Brighton’s biggest indie band are surging towards the big time with an album recorded in Paris with Arcade Fire and Coldplay producer Markus Dravs. Felix told us that Wall Of Arms is a varied LP, with this free download from their website the darkest point. Chiming guitars sound straight out of the epic 80s underground, with a moodiness that recalls the Psychedelic Furs. When the tempo, emotion and scope explode your heart will sink and soar at the same time. (JK)

SINGLE: MIDFIELD GENERAL Love Thy Self (Skint)
After last month’s secret release of Error, perhaps the best banger on the former Skint boss’ excellent LP, comes another under the radar release. Lucky Jim provides the vocal title line but this is about the General’s ability to mix the noisy discordant sounds of his Ed Banger adopted family with Skint’s nose for the catchy melody. His own self-evident Disco-ish Mix is the best alt.version, though Tronik Youth would have got props if he could keep things in tune. (JK)

ALBUM: NOSTALGIA 77 Sessions (Tru Thoughts)
Jazz is an old man’s game – guess it takes years to build up the skills to really go off piste, musically. Ben Lamdin is bringing wandering keys, sporadic basslines and skippy hi-hats to a young crowd though, thanks in part to Gilles Peterson’s fandom. You can add to that patronage scene legends Julie Driscoll and Keith Tippett who come onboard for these late nite sessions, dripping with the blues. The melody never fights with itself and Julie’s rich voice will have you imagining you’re a down on your luck 40s detective. (JK)

ALBUM: MC TEMPO Direct From The Heart (Blazin Beats)
The media spends much of its time dissing hip hop for being obsessed with guns and ho’s, so perhaps it’s about time for some truly righteous rap to turn the tables. MC Tempo’s life story is straight outta bible class – a miraculous healing of his deafness in 2001 prompted him to Christianity, praising the lord for his divine aural intervention with beats and rhymes. This, the fourth of such CD offerings to the man upstairs, contains Jesus joints such as Awesome God, River Of God and Heart Of Worship. (NC)