Those who track the ins and outs of dance music's micro- genres will recognise Merrisa Campbell as a vocalist and producer with UK funky form. Her debut album is a piece working to a much wider, deeper and more satisfying brief. It's a beautifully pitched document of inner-city romance, soul and quiet domestic dramas. Campbell's languid, lovelorn, hazy vocals narrate these tales against a rich palette of sounds. The beauty of Playin' Me is not so much that she expertly blends everything from dubby house to r'n'b as she weaves these tales, but how she uses this to illuminate the many striking songs here. He Said I Said, Come Into My Room and Sunshine are streamlined pop pleasures, each using dubby elements to cast hazy, sensual spells. Stay clear of the ill- advised Coldplay cover and you'll be knocked out by this chronicler of urban life and strife. facebook.com/official. cooly.g JIM CARROLL

Download tracks: He Said I Said, Sunshine