Ladyhawke: Anxiety

 

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They Might Be Giants: Nanobots Public Service Broadcasting: Inform Educate Entertain Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City Bonobo: The North Borders Kurt Vile: Wakin On A Pretty Daze The Veils: Time Stays, We Go Suede: Bloodsports Waves: Waves and Misfit The Phoenix Foundation: Fandango Man From Atlanta: Oh Yeah EP

After making a huge splash with her debut, it's "difficult" second album time for Pip Brown, which means it's time for a show of maturity.

This consists of unloading her problems and neuroses with a tougher, rockier sound, starting with the opening cut, Girl Like Me.

Brown's keen pop sensibilities still shine through, despite the often anguished subject material  the problem is that while songs like Sunday Drive, Vaccine and the title track are competent compositions, they don't stick in the memory the way My Delerium did, and there are a couple of plodders in The Quick & the Dead and Gone Gone Gone.

However, she still has time to rummage in her electro sounds toybox to good effect with the two-chord mini-drama Cellophane (with a riff reminiscent of Wings' Band on the Run) and Black White & Blue.

Best tracks: Black White & Blue, Anxiety.

• Reviews by Nick Ward; CDs from Everyman, Nelson.