Ensemble – Excerpts (Fat Cat) ***

This is a rather strange album; it is difficult to pin down what exactly it is trying to achieve. It is a mixture of classical music, folk, pop and rock, sung in French and English, with guest artists joining Montreal-based musician Olivier Alary. Some of the tunes are reminiscent of the experimental music from the late Sixties and early Seventies, while other tracks sound very contemporary. The only real way you are going to be able to determine what this has to offer is to give it a chance on your own hi-fi. Personally, I found it enchanting in places but rather dull overall. But what do I know? Maybe I’m not clever enough to get it!

Nigel Goodman, 53, teacher, Heaton

Dweeb – Feels Like Dynamite (Republic Media) ***

It’s worth looking up the word ‘dweeb’ in the dictionary to fully appreciate this Coventry-based foursome. To say that this is the band’s second album, Feels Like Dynamite sounds like a work still in its demo stages rather than a finished product. The vocals sound way too forced for my liking, and you can’t help but think that Dweeb are just a poor man’s version of indie popsters The Hoosiers. On a more positive side, the members of this band do sport some pretty wicked hairdo’s!

Russ Petcher, 35, bassist, Low Moor