IDA MARIA - STELLA

OWING more than a little to Martha Reeves And The Vandellas' Jimmy Mack, Stella is the latest single from hotly tipped Norwegian, Ida Maria. Bags of punk attitude and fuzzy guitars make this a great single.

MYSTERY JETS - YOUNG LOVE

This melodic gem, an ode to lost love, sees girl-of-the-moment Laura Marling make a guest appearance as the object of Blaine Harrison's affections. Her vocal adds another dimension to the song, which is about as perfect as they come.

HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR - HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR

You'll probably already be aware of this album's haunting lead single, Blind - where Antony Hegarty shows that as powerful as his work with the Johnsons may be, he also makes a hell of a disco diva.

You may also have heard advance word on the album, implying that it's all that good, the golden age of disco returned. It isn't. It's a fairly generic, disco-inflected dance album which, like far too many dance albums, has a couple of great tracks interspersed with background music. Not unpleasant but nothing special either. Worse yet, this context saps Blind of its thrill.

By Alex Sarll

ONE REPUBLIC - DREAMING OUT LOUD

It seems that everything Timbaland touches turns to gold and he continues that run with the release of OneRepublic's first album on his own Mosley Music label, following up their top-three hit with his remix of their track Apologize. That reworking is included on their debut as a bonus track and anyone who fell for its heartfelt charms will find plenty more to love.

New single, Stop And Stare, is a lush, sweeping ballad with the potential to replicate the success of its predecessor, while All We Are is as uplifting as they come. It's not all plain sailing, however, with some tracks plodding where they aim to soar. The band have found a winning formula and stick with it but it means Dreaming Out Loud can feel a little flat and one-paced at points - mixing it up a little would have gone a long way:

By Simon Harker

THE KILLS - MIDNIGHT BOOM

Chances are you will have heard of The Kills without hearing any of their music - one half of the anglo-American duo is Kate Moss's current squeeze - but enough with Jamie Hince's love-life, on with the music.

The Kills' third album carries on from where their disappointing second album left off, only this time, the ideas are much more warmer and fully formed, the grooves are infectious and the interplay between Hince - or "Hotel" - and Alison "VV" Mosshart is scintillating. Like a lo-fi White Stripes, there's a lot to like, maybe even love about this album.

By Andy Welch