One listen to this album and you'll imagine some long-lost Syd Barrett or Jethro Tull album, but in fact this is all the work of one-man-band multi-instrumentalist, whose folky name masks the prog rock at the core of his musical muse. The Dungen-like breakaway electric guitar sits on top of acoustic guitar, flute, analogue 'found sounds' and drums, with a voice that recalls British folk. In fact, this album does 'British' medieval better than the Decemberists, with enough psychedelia and rock to elevate the songs into a very listenable arena. There is an odd childlike theme running through the whole album, almost like a Brothers Grimm tale told through an early Pink Floyd filter. That the man makes music alone may be a blessing - it is hard to imagine others keeping up with his imagination.

ACE rating 8/10

John Vanderslice's Pixel Revolt is one of the American indie releases of the year, an angst-ridden piece of delicious rock that has garnered real critical acclaim. To help promote that album, this live album, recorded 5th November 2005, is released as a free download from www.johnvanderslice.com. It makes a great introduction, combining Pixel Revolt's best tracks with the highlights from previous albums. The music is often dark, but deeply narrative and vivid in its telling, like a good James Ellroy novel, or more overtly introspective. Songs like Exodus Damage are just great rock songs, and remind why Vanderslice goes about collecting fans one by one rather than via stadium-style music - the dials remain turned to 7, the lyrics are literate and the listener is treated as an adult rather than appealing to their inner teenager. All of the music works beautifully live, and we must give some kind of thanks to the Internet that such great albums are available free of charge.

ACE rating 8/10

Now that X Factor is over, there is the hope that we can get back to people who can do more than sing other people's songs. One candidate is Tina Dico, whose debut album kept Coldplay and U2 away from Number One in her native Denmark, and all of that on her own independent label. Sung entirely in English, In The Red sounds like Sarah McLachlan, with a touch of Fiona Apple or Heather Nova, but also has overtones of Zero 7, to whose second album she contributed vocals. There is clearly a terrific talent here - the world needs new takes on Joni Mitchell or Rickie Lee Jones now that they have become pastiches of themselves. Her support on Aha's recent tour has alreay opened up new listeners. Even better is that this is clearly a confident, savvy woman who needs Simon Cowell as much as a herring needs a bicycle.

ACE rating 8/10