Philip Selway: Weatherhouse Bella

The drummer jokes were made (and dispelled) by Philip Selway's fine 2010 debut, Familial, a clutch of fragile songs built on a predominantly acoustic scaffolding. For his second solo effort, the Radiohead pot-banger enlists folktronica specialist Adem Ilhan and string-based musician Quinta's skills for a succinct, full-sounding 10-song collection. The electronic throb of Coming Up for Air and Miles Away recalls a less potent Massive Attack. Selway's voice is ordinary at best, but he uses it beautifully on the haunting Ghosts, a track that recalls Radiohead's Hail to the Thief era, while Let It Go's defiant declaration of emotional advancement mixes melancholia with a twinkling pop melody. We're still waiting for a new Radiohead album, but this plugs the gap nicely. philipselway.com