Latest CD releases reviewed

ALAN MX

Warpsicord Smalltown America ***

He's a comic book-loving Londoner signed to a Belfast-based indie label for his debut album: In his own words, it's a "love story, but with robots, zombies, monsters and dark rooms at every turn". Welcome to the geeky world of Alan MX. The press release spins comparisons to Peaches and Thom Yorke, but this bedroom indietronica is more in line with a less soggy Aqualung, or a less profound Beck. A drum machine beats out a staid patter for each of these 10 songs, which are then garnished with idiosyncratic melodies. Alan MX's lyrics, meanwhile, are about being gay yet fancying girls (Captain America Video), and um, green tea (Green Tea), while the cinematic "superhero" instrumentation on Cuckoos is oddly amusing. It's undoubtedly silly, undeniably derivative, but utterly charming madcap pop. www.myspace.com/alanmx LAUREN MURPHY

Download tracks: The Captain America Video, Strange Bird

VEDA

Star's Edge Agnes Management

Drag queens are usually dismissed as mere novelty acts, but not Veda Beaux Rêves. Having hosted a successful club night in Dublin for the past decade, the cross-dresser now teams up with synth-loving musician Neosupervital (himself no stranger to camp musical theatrics) for her debut album. Paying homage to The Human League, Heaven 17 and Dead or Alive, Star's Edgeis an accomplished record, if one that's somewhat lacking in contrasts. Still, Veda manages to put her own stamp on proceedings with lyrics that are both personal ( Finally) and laugh-out-loud funny ( Dyno-Rod Man). 1980s songbird Maria McKee is even corralled for a duet on the beguiling Running After You. It's cheeky, glam and often cheesy, but also a lot of fun - as demonstrated on the genuinely great Radio Song. www.vedamusic online.com LAUREN MURPHY

Download tracks: Radio Song, X-Plosion

LIGHTENING BOLT

Earthly Delights Load****

Earthy, visceral and thrilling, Lightning Bolt make a lot of noise for a duo armed with just drums and bass. Rhode Islanders, Brian Chippendale and Brian Gibbons are best known for their intense, exhilarating live shows. On record, such intensity is also in the air, with the duo's trademark aggressive noise and fury acting as the jump-off point for their fifth album's explorations. Strip away the riotous velocity, intricate loops and distorted psychedelic reeling and you'll find some very conventional song shapes beneath (see The Sublime Freakfor more on this). That said, the real joys of Earthly Delights come when you go with the flow and surrendering yourself to Lightning Bolt's heavyweight noise and inventive, life-affirming riffs. www.laser beast.com

Download tracks: The Sublime Freak, SOS

EILEEN ROSE & THE HOLY WRECK

Luna Turista Freeworld***

Eileen Rose is one of those rock/ roots stalwarts who regularly release albums yet seems to receive very little in return. Working on the fringes, however, apparently suits the Boston-based Rose. It's as if she touches the snags and edges of music while blindfolded and makes her way from unfamiliar territory to home. Luna Turista, her fifth album, is infused with Rose's usual thorns of rough-hewn rock'n'roll ( Simple Touch of the Hand), rugged roots ( Third Time's a Charm), and, in general, music constructed from the heart rather than the head. Factor in assistance from pros who are involved with the likes of Detroit Cobras, Neil Young, Frank Black and Caitlin Cary. The resulting album pulls few punches while simultaneously extolling the virtues of life's little accidents. www.eileen rose.com TONY CLAYTON-LEA

Download tracks: Simple Touch of the Hand, The One You Wanted