BEBEL GILBERTO: Bebel Gilberto (EastWest)

SOME people are simply born to be stars. Bebel Gilberto is one of them. Her father is credited with inventing bossa nova, her uncle was one of Brazil's first pop stars and she's carried on that Latin American tradition in this, her second album. Hugely sophisticated with infectious rhythms and beats, it is music for a long summer day.

SUSANA BACA: Lo Major De Susana Baco (V2)

Susana's main claim to fame is that she is the first Peruvian to win a Grammy. Unlike the Bebel Gilberto album, this is less polished and, you suspect much closer to the traditional. Wonderful Flamenco guitars and great percussion complement her raw vocals. As with the above album, not for the blinkered, but of the two it's the one I preferred.

BEN ARTHUR: Edible Darling (Bardic)

INTELLIGENT folk singer with a good old rocker lurking in the background. Ben Arthur sounds half the time like he's waiting to break free of the constraints of appearing worthy, with some wonderfully poppy power chords kicking in to a number of the choruses.

WILLY RUSSELL: Hoovering the Moon (WR)

WILLY Russell is a mighty fine playwright, but solo artist? Visions of an embarrassing uncle at a karaoke party sprung to mind. Actually he's got a pleasant voice, sounding a bit like Charlie Landsborough. The wonderful Kate Rusby appears on several tracks. Many of the songs sound as though they would work best as part of a musical and the lyrics have that typical Russell edge.