NEW RELEASES Goldfrapp, Albert Hammond, Jonas Brothers

Jun 25 2008

Goldfrapp, Caravan Girl, Single Mute June 30 [2605][2605][2729][2729][2729]

Few bands have clocked up so many different sounds in so short a time. Since 2000's Felt Mountain, Alison and co have experimented with operatic warbling, pranced around in horse heads and kick-started the electro-pop/rock crossover that will undoubtedly come to define the mid-noughties.

Caravan Girl, taken from current album, Seventh Tree, marks another departure. A folkish, radio-friendly track, they've ditched the sexy, sultry sound of Supernature and Black Cherry. A delicate and sun-kissed ode to summer and travelling, it's got Goldfrapp stamped all over it; ethereal, earthy and kooky, it's far from your average chirpy, Radio One anthem, but in a bid to please everyone, they're edging towards middle of the road blandness. They're a band who don't need to play it safe - time for another rethink.

Albert Hammond, Jr Como Te Llama? Album Rough Trade July 7 [2605][2605][2605][2605][2729]

It's been two years - and two Albert Hammond Jr solo albums - since the last Strokes albums, which may well have fans sweating under their polyester suits.

But worry not, because his latest, Como Te Llama?, has all the style of the suited and booted saviours of garage rock, and a lot more substance. He's been let off the leash and, like a teenager leaving home for the first time, he's getting stuck into everything he possibly can.

There's a healthy dose of The Strokes' style of lazy guitar and drawl, but the band's guitarist also ventures into reggae beats with Borrowed Time, and moody indie boy blues with Miss Myrtle.

There's room, too for White Stripesesque stripped back rock-blues with Lisa, and wholesome American rock comes courtesy of The Boss Americana. All in all it's an exciting album - the sort of record The Strokes should have followed the raw energy of Is This It with.

Jonas Brothers Jonas Brothers Album Hollywood Out Now [2605][2605][2605][2729][2729]

Where did High School Musical come from? Overnight it seemed to work some kind of voodoo magic on the world's pre-teens. But, conscious of the little ones' short attention spans, America has polished up its latest tweenie sensations, complete with full merchandising and accessory sets.

A marketing man's dream come true, these Disney channel endorsed mop-topped Christian siblings are part Osmonds, part Busted. This is their first release on our shores - ahead of more TV shows and movies (including the unfortunately titled Camp Rock).

But it's not all quite as nauseating as it sounds - eight-year-old fans of sugary, hyper punk-pop will love this - it's less instrumental than Elliot Minor and, with a top age of 20, they've got a sing-along high pitched squawl that pyjama parties across the country will be jumping to. Cutesy, harmless - the soundtrack to this year's end of summer term discos.