Un-cut -- The Uncalculated Some

There's no question that this drum and bass act's debut oozes class and sophistication. It makes all the right noises.

It neatly blends modern dance with northern soul, Motown and jazz and in the shape of single "Midnight" contains a nifty sample from The Doors' Light My Fire.

The production is clean as a whistle and as smooth as a newly varnished coffee table. But it's in these strengths that lie Uncut's (above) main weakness.

Despite containing a mine of influences and an enigmatic leader in the shape of part time actress Jenna G, the whole seems too polished and too safe for its own good.

There's stacks of potential to make huge waves, something they may even achieve with this debut, but they need to toughen up before it all goes a bit too Brand New Heavies.

Manny Grillo

Exit -- K-OS

K-OS. It's Chaos, you see. But the name for this Canadian rapper couldn't be more misleading.

K-OS is one of the good guys, a man who even apologises on the sleeve of this debut for maybe getting slightly egocentrical. There's no need -- it doesn't show.

K-OS aka Kheaven Brereton clearly takes his mantle from OutKast, a blend of rock and roll, hip-hop and R&B mixed with lyrics psychedelic, political and romantic.

According to K-OS, this album has been 29 years in the making. It was worth the wait. K-OS has the potential to be a star and there are at least two hit singles in waiting here. Fantastique fuses hip-hop with a dark, loping guitar line and Call Me is as soulful as anything R Kelly has released, K-OS displaying his fine singing voice over luscious strings.

K-OS' enthusiasm for his work is immense. Sadly, it seems he will have to wait to make any sort of impact. With the likes of 50 Cent on the rise as a global superstar, big bucks rap is still very much a bloody business.

Manny Grillo

Snow Patrol -- Final Straw

It was the late 90s when Snow Patrol wandered onto the lo-fi indie circuit. They probably would have wandered off pretty soon after had they not signed to the hugely influential label Jeepster .

They maintained a strong following despite being fairly average and saw off many contemporaries, to emerge a stronger and better band, winning a major deal and releasing an album worthy of their existence.

'Final Straw' is a magnificent lament to early Nineties indie with the swooping My Bloody Valentine riffs of 'Gleaming Auction', the shoegazing, ethereal distortion peddles of early Jesus and Mary Chain and Ride on the track, 'Spitting Game'.

The song 'Run' shows how it's possible to pen a ballad without becoming victims of self obsession and infinite boredom, Coldplay take note.

The once unremarkable Snow Patrol have become as necessary as oxygen!

James Heward