Hauschka – Salon Des Amateurs (Fat Cat) ***

Classically-trained pianist Hauschka, aka Volker Bertelmann from Dusseldorf, has produced an album to intrigue and beguile lovers of both classical music and Nineties electronic house dance music. Experimenting with the sounds that he can produce from a piano, Hauschka has created music which at first sounds just plain weird and then slowly grabs your attention with the rhythmic pulse of twin drummers and other guest musicians accompanying him. This is music you can listen to or dance to as the mood takes you, but will also work well as background music that is lively enough to grab your attention when you want it to.

Nigel Goodman, 53, teacher, Heaton

Wild Palms – Until Spring (One Little Indian) **

Hats off to the production of this album as everything can be heard crystal clear, especially the drums and extra-twangy bass, but it’s the singing that I’m not particularly fond of. The vocals tend to drone on and annoy me in a similar way to that of Morrissey, however I can appreciate that some people don’t seem to mind this style of singing. The other problem I have with this band of New Romantics is that a lot of the songs seem to be at the same pace, and so the whole album ends up sounding like one really long song.

Russ Petcher, 35, bassist, Low Moor