Roots

The Handsome Family: In The Air (Independent)

Here are some facts: The Handsome Family is husband-and-wife duo, Brett and Rennie Sparks. She's a New York Jewess with a master's degree in literature, he's a Texan Baptist graduate of music history. Brett writes the music and Rennie handles the lyrics. Dem's the facts, but they do nothing to shed light on the gothic, macabre, bizarre, beautiful sound and vision of this singular pair, who tour here next month. The music is predominantly crude backwoods twangy country. However, such is their oft bewildering take on life that this simple musical backdrop perfectly complements Rennie's lurid and darkly comic imagination. Check out The Sad Milkman or When That Helicopter Comes for the perfect Nashville antidote.

- Joe Breen

Clint Black: D'electrified (RCA)

A tasty and welcome reminder that under his big stetson Clint Black has something other than crass Nashville formulas on his mind. As the title implies and the minimum details on the sleeve confirm, there were no electric instruments used on this recording. Don't expect, however, an unplugged-type session; there is plenty of meat and muscle, courtesy of a punchy rhythm section, great piano and picking and occasional Dixie-ish brass. That said, the material on offer is variable in quality - and eclectic, to say the least. There are not too many country albums with Python Eric Idle an honoured guest and contributor. Produced by Black himself, this was obviously a pet project where he was allowed exercise his imagination. The result, especially on tracks such as his Dixie Lullaby duet with Bruce Hornsby, is a qualified success.

- Joe Breen

Tracy Chapman: Telling Stories (Electra)

Just as this country rediscovered Tracy Chapman's classic debut last year (10 weeks as the country's best-selling album), this sensitive and articulate American songwriter is running into a rich vein of form. Her new album - her first since 1995's New Beginnings and her fifth in total - harks back to the haunting melodies and deeply moving lyrics of her debut, though her thoughts seem more fixed on the spiritual and personal journey these days than the political idealism which first inspired her. While David Kershenbaum's production is deceptively rich, this is very much Chapman the folksinger, one-to-one with her audience, gently drawing them into the intimacy of her world. This is no cheap deception; her warm voice conveys dignity and honesty, and nowhere better than on the title track.

- Joe Breen