BADLY DRAWN BOY: Disillusion (Twisted Nerve Through XL) -- Mercury prize nominee Badly Drawn Boy is joined by members of Manchester's Doves. Built around a catchy lead guitar hook and some jangly keyboards, this is Damon Gough at his best. Two new tracks, the skiffle-like Bottle Of Tears and a raucous instrumental called, Wrecking The Stage, complete an excellent package. (9/10) CL

SISTER BLISS: Sister Sister (Multiply) -- With Faithless on a sabbatical and each member engaged in their own projects, Sister Bliss has re-kindled her solo career. Being championed by the likes of Pete Tong and Seb Fontaine has seen this dance track become on of the most in-demand tunes of the summer. (8/10) CL

WYCLEF JEAN: It Doesn't Matter (Columbia) -- Teaming up with a WWF superstar may not be the most obvious way of ensuring chart success but it seems to have worked for Fugees man Wyclef. Always a potent creative force, Wyclef has excelled himself with this track, complete with its prominent bouncy ska beat. But The Rock shouldn't give up the day job. (8/10) DH

ECHOBOY: Telstar Recovery (Mute) -- Echoboy unveil the first taste of their second album this year. Fuzzy vocals and dark distortion replace the cleaner moody sound of their earlier work. The heavy touring schedule with Elastica and Doves seems to have to taken the edge off the group's work. (4/10) CL ALBUMS MONACO: Self Titled (Papillon Records) -- Hooky and Pottsy are back at last, nearly three years after their debut album, Music For Pleasure, went into the Top 10. Although this Hooky's side project, it carries many of the unmistakable New Order trademarks. The only real difference is a more upbeat lyric, but the similarities between David Potts' vocals and those of Bernard Sumner is uncanny. For all the band's hardships since their last album, things here are looking surprisingly positive. Excellent. (8/10) CL

VARIOUS: Creamfields (Virgin) -- Reflecting the feel of the now legendary Creamfields festival, this album with the same name includes some of this year's biggest dance tracks, including Spiller, Moloko, Underworld, Aurora and Delerium. Released within hours of the festival ending, it obviously won't be live sets from the event -- but perhaps that is another marketing idea the Cream boys may want to take on board. (7/10) DH

VERTICAL HORIZON: Everything You Want (RCA) -- Having not made quite the impact they may have wanted with their debut single, Vertical Horizon will be hoping to make more of an impression on the British music scene with the release of this truly original album. The all-American outfit, who have worked towards success in the USA the hard way, produce an impressive powerful guitar sound which appears throughout the album. Well worth a listen. (9/10) DH