SINGLES: BADLY DRAWN BOY: Born Again (Twisted Nerve/XL)

DAMON Gough has got plugged in and gone all electric here. With a message of hope it's a great record for the festive season.CL

CHUMBAWAMBA: Jacob's Ladder (Not In My Name) (Mutt)

ORIGINALLY penned as angry lament at Winston Churchill's decision to abandon over 1,500 sailors off the coast of Norway, the track has been given a new lyric, inspired by the threat of war with Iraq. Having lost much of the punch of their powerpop days, the new use of traditional British folk as the foundation for an anti-war song does seem a bit lightweight. But, with a catchy melody and a cutting lyric, Chumbawamba are still as angry as ever and will surprise many with this record. CL

DRAW: She Wants Me (Empire)

LITTLE-KNOWN indie guitar band release their second single on a little-known label the week before Christmas. What a disaster. This track, for all it's merits, will be lost in the mountain of manufactured pop acts going flat out for number one. CL

ALBUMS

NEW ORDER: Retro, (London)

THIS five-CD box set will make a great Christmas present. The fact that it's not a definitive collection is what's so appealing. Each of the four main CDs has been compiled from a different angle, with guests ranging from Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie to longtime fan John McCready, making the final selections. CL