Jonny Alsatian Records***

When two become one? That's the way it would seem for this outing that combines the talents of Scotland's Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and Wales's Euros Childs (formerly of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci's). That these two Celtic musicians and songwriters have conceived what could well turn out to be the most perfectly considered (if gentle) power pop album of the year is no surprise – Blake is adept at turning his hand to truly gorgeous melodies, while Childs is a deft exponent of psych folk. The rather humble, virtually nondescript band name and album title belies (inevitably?) quite a sparkling array of goodies: from the hazy-lazy daze of English Ladyand the utterly charming Circling the Sunto the psych- folk marathon of Cave Dance(an 11-minute spook fest) and the succinct closing track Never Alone(job done in less than two minutes), this is an album that rarely outstays its welcome. See turnstilemusic.net/label/ jonny

Download tracks : English Lady, Circling the Sun