If the enduring Damien Rice comes close to lighting your fire, but you find him a little melodramatic and whiney, Iron and Wine may be what you are looking for. More pointedly understated, meditative, warm and stark, Sam Beam backs himself mostly with plucked acoustic guitar, an occasional banjo, and brushed drums, a la Sufjan Stevens. His voice is rounder, hushed and conspiratorial, the songs more poetic and short story-based - there is no surprise that Beam's day job is as a teacher of cinematography, given the sweetly framed observation found here. The gentleness and lightness of the approach puts this in the same category as Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, maybe Will Oldham, but with a less annoying vocal range. Just about perfect, then.

ACE rating 9/10

An interesting, if unassuming name for New Jersey-born Erin Moran, with an album recorded in Sheffield aided by ex-Pulp guitarist, Richard Hawley, which shoots at gorgeousness and hits dead-centre. With a voice spookily like Aimee Mann performing material from Norah Jones' second album, there is lush melody and sweet jazz touches rounding out atypical singer-songwriter material. In feel, this could even sit comfortably in the Sandie Shaw 60s, with its mellow, relaxed pace arguing for a dinner-party soundtrack, but, like Mann, there are many levels of complexity. The songs are properly conceived - no meandering or throwaway verses steer this away from Beth Orton-style exposition. The shimmering production suits the sophistication within. There is plenty of room for a second Aimee Mann, and Ms Moran fits the bill nicely.

ACE rating 8/10

You will need to buy this CD as part of the DVD 'The Smooth Sounds of Josh Rouse' - it isn't sold separately, which seems an odd choice. Rouse is rapidly making a real name in the UK as a gifted rock singer/songwriter - a gentler, groovier Ryan Adams (unlike Adams, Rouse has a quality control button). Coming off the theme album, 1972, which evoked the feel, if not the songs, of that year, Rarities is an entirely new set of songs that didn't make previous albums, compiled by Rouse himself. Like his best work (some of it on the concert DVD), there is the vulnerable voice, a tinge of humour, an elegant economy of effort, and a deliciously bittersweet edge of ache throughout. This is music that worms its way in, as full of hooks as Velcro. Consider it a CD with a bonus DVD, but it is worth getting to know Rouse before everyone else does.

ACE rating 8/10