Indielondon casts its critical eye over the singles of the week and offers you the chance to buy them. This week: The Roots and Donnas.

DJ Format - Music for the Mature B-Boy
BRIGHTON-based B-boy, Dr Format (aka Matt Ford), finally unleashes his debut long-player, Music for the Mature B-Boy, after months of tantalising 12-inches and EPs, and the result is most definitely worth the wait. Cheeky, dirty and downright funky, this effortlessly hip fusion of hip-hop, beats and breaks ought to be high on the shopping list of any fans of funk or soul.

Cardigans - Long Gone Before Daylight
Long Gone Before Daylight is delicate, gorgeous and subtle album, and though it may disappoint admirers of their earlier material, it will no doubt bring a new set of fans to the fore; and might give the band the commercial success they so richly deserve.

Hot Hot Heat - Make Up The Breakdown
Current single, Bandages, with its hammond organs and catchy lyrical style, epitomises the sound of the debut album - a hopelessly cheery collection of three-minute post-punk pop songs, which combine the sound of mod, ska, and punk to breathless, giddy effect.
Click here to find out more about Hot Hot Heat...

Air - City Reading
Best-described as a spoken-word album, City Reading is a musical rendition of Italian writer, Alessandro Baricco's novel, City, about a young mathematical genius with a vivid fantasy life, which is wrapped around an hour's worth of new instrumentals by Radiohead producer, Nigel Godrich.

Turin Brakes - Ether Song
Certainly more accessible than The Optimist, Ether Song has been put together with the help of Tony Hoffer, Beck's producer, who has also worked with the likes of Supergrass, and feels much more accomplished as a result. The lush acoustic guitars and simple harmonies which displayed so much potential on the first album are brought to the fore here, sounding much fresher and more confident than first time out.

Dannii Minogue - Neon Nights
What Dannii is delivering with her new album, Neon Nights, is classy, well-produced pop, though you'd best not try looking beyond that. In the same ilk as Madonna's (and, dare I say it, Kylie's) latest efforts, it borrows a lot of ideas from 80's synthesized dance music.

Smallville - OST
AMERICAN friendly AOR dominates this soundtrack to the Superman-as-a-teenager hit TV show, which should be perfectly acceptable for its target audience.

Paloalto - Heroes and Villains
Heroes and Villains is that rare commodity - an American album that manages to sound slightly different with each record, without ever resorting to the thrashy histrionics of your average US fare. These are 12 carefully composed records, which are as musically tight as they are vocally strong; tracks which could well feature strongly in any rock fan's end-of-year favourites.
Click here to find out more about Paloalto...

Mull Historical Society - Us
Us is an album packed with bittersweet harmonies, swirling organs, strings, harps, flutes and acoustic guitars, all of which combine to make a much vaster listening experience than Loss. As MacIntyre has matured, then so has his music, and Us bears all the hallmarks of an artist becoming more comfortable and assured with his style.

Adaptation - OST
IT'S saying something for a film's musical score when one of its tracks boasts a remix by Fatboy Slim. But then, just as Adaptation is a movie which thrives on the unexpected, then so is the soundtrack - a diverse collection of mood pieces which are as beguiling as they are profound.

Solid Steel Presents Hexstatic: Listen & Learn
BEST known as VJs (or practitioners of a visual mixing technique that fuses and segues images in the same way that a DJ mixes records), Hexstatic have now turned their attention to music and the result is an ultra-hip and hugely entertaining blend of styles, incorporating everything from old school funk and rock to chillout and soul.

Punch-Drunk Love - OST
Using regular collaborator and gifted producer (working with, among others, Aimee Mann, Elliot Smith and David Byrne) Jon Brion, the score to Paul Thomas Andersons' Punch-Drunk Love is vital to the on-screen action, but, on its own, stands out as a schizophrenic score.

City of God OST
Combining authentic retro tunes of the 60's with the new upbeat grooves of the 80's, the soundtrack moves along at a cracking pace through the decades. From the original samba rhythms of the 60's; the funk-samba of the 70's, and the darker, somber section for the late 70's, an entire world has been created.

Royksopp - Melody A.M.
IF EVER there was music to feel happy to, then this is it. Royksopp's debut album, Melody A.M., is a sweet, funky slice of Norwegian synthesised pop, definitely one for the post clubbers or early risers, with its toe tapping beats and silky vocals.

The top 40 albums of 2002
After 12 months of listening, Indielondon delivers its top 40 favourite albums from 2002, including the likes of Coldplay, Lemon Jelly, Moby, Peter Gabriel, Death In Vegas and, of course, Oasis.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way
As a collection of 16 rock songs that epitomise the sound of a band at the peak of their form, By The Way has few equals this year - it is, in short, one of the best albums of the past 12 months, with barely a bad tune on it.

Faultline - Your Love Means Everything
The result is one of the undiscovered gems of the year, an album of haunting beauty which is unlike anything else you have heard over the past 12 months.

8 Mile OST
Eminem contributes three more tracks, as Rabbit from the film, and calls up some old and new friends to round it out. So you get D12, Obie Trice and 50 Cent, alongside the old school of Nas, Gangstarr and Jay-Z, making this one of the best rap albums around this year.

Death In Vegas - Scorpio Rising
While not as instantly accessible as the Sessions, Scorpio Rising delivers its sting with gentle aplomb, mixing a wide variety of styles and managing to sound fresh, cutting edge, yet heavily-influenced all at the same time.

Inspiral Carpets bid to become as Cool as F**k once more!
THE Inspiral Carpets will play their first major headline London date for nine years at Brixton Academy on Friday, April 4, as part of a major new tour to coincide with the release of a three CD package, Cool As, on Mute on May 5.

Lautrec deliver up-beat benediction
Formed in the summer of 2002, Lautrec are fairly new on the scene, but with all the collaborators being accomplished session musicians, you would expect a polished performance, and tonight they did not disappoint.

Doves fly high in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust
Following in the path of Coldplay, Eric Clapton and Richard Ashcroft (and friends) was never going to be an easy task, but Doves rose to the challenge in suitably stylish fashion at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of the TCT, even if their support players, Asian Dub Foundation, had earlier threatened to cast a shadow over proceedings...

Coldplay help put a smile on the Teenage Cancer Trust's face...
IN MY experience, charity concerts do tend to be something special. Performers seem to want to give it all, to give everything they've got, in doing their 'bit' for the cause. Coldplay's performance at The Royal Albert Hall (Monday, March 24, 2003) didn't mess my theory up.

A Midnight clear with Un-Cut
Un-Cut, the Manchester-based trio who have been dubbed the UK's answer to The Fugees, spent time with Indielondon recently, talking about their new single, Midnight, their plans for the future and the playing of practical jokes... and vomit!
Click here for the Un-Cut story...

Turin Brakes' love affair with Brixton is fully realised
TURIN Brakes' love affair with Brixton Academy was fully realised on Friday night (March 21, 2003), when Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian played the second of two sold-out nights at the prestigious London venue and delivered the type of gig that will love long in the memory.

Ladytron at the Electric Ballroom
As all respectable electro acts should, Ladytron held an austere stage presence (Fischerspooner take note), the waif-like figures of singers Mira and Helena belying powerful voices that drifted effortlessly from harmonic dirge to crisp melody.

The Cognition perform under-arm bowling
...they weren't particularly offensive, it was durable stuff, but unfortunately it was about as exciting as under-arm bowling.

Canadian foursome attracting some Hot Hot Heat
THE hotly-tipped Canadian funk punk band, Hot Hot Heat, released their debut single, Bandages, on March 24, following months of airplay on the likes of XFM, which has seen the track described by NME as 'the best rock song you can dance to since Hotel Yorba'.
Click here for a review of the debut album...

A fiercely funky evening with Tower of Power
There aren't many live acts that really blow you away, but Tower of Power is definitely one of them. The precision with which these musicians play is incredible, and, to quote an article from the Hollywood Reporter, their music is 'tighter than a clenched fist', and bursting with energy. (Astoria)

South provide a timely reminder of an immense talent
WHEN will South get the recognition their music so richly deserves? It's a pertinent question and one which demands an answer, particularly for anyone who witnessed their barnstorming gig at the ICA on Thursday, March 13, 2003.

The Cornerstones - destined for big things?
A GOOD support act is the icing on the cake of any good gig and when South headlined the ICA on Thursday, March 13, 2003, that is exactly what we got. The Cornerstones took to the stage to deliver a set which was marked by some acoustic songs of pure quality, evoking memories of Crowded House and Neil Young in their heyday...

Two Yeahs and one no
If you crave great rock 'n' roll songs, performed enthusiastically, (with 'Bang' being the best), then make sure you see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs next time they're in town. They are probably the best band I've seen since The Hives at the same venue [the Astoria], over a year ago.

Warp Works and 20th Century Masters
FOR the uninitiated, electronica and avant-garde represent the impenetrable extremes of modern music, yet tonight's performance not only demonstrated that these genres are inextricably intertwined but that both are pioneering explorers of the relationship between the visual and the acoustic.

Lemon Jelly show no sign of wobbling at The Forum
THE kookiness which surrounds all things Lemon Jelly went into overdrive at the Forum, in Kentish Town, on Thursday, March 6, as DJs, Nick Franglen and Fred Deakin, played the first of three sold out gigs in the capital... As one fan told me afterwards, 'it put a smile on my face'. And that is the magic of Lemon Jelly.

COMPETITION: Win Adaptation soundtracks!
If you like the idea of a musical score which boasts the odd remix by Fatboy Slim, a chirpy version of Happy Together, by The Turtles, and some expertly constructed background music (which, while confused in places, can also be tremendously uplifting), then this is the soundtrack for you. Click on the link to win one of seven copies.

Blur announce four-night Astoria residency...
AFTER a three-year absence, Blur have announced a four-night residency at London's Astoria, on May 8, 9, 10 and 12 - the same week that they launch their new album, Think Tank.

Coldplay triumph with two Brit awards
COLDPLAY continue to be the toast of the British music industry, after picking up two awards at this year's Brit Awards, for best British group and album. The accolades lent some credibility to an evening which, for the most part, seemed content to pander to the masses...

The Elastic Band continue to stretch themselves at Putney's Halfmoon
I SEEM o keep banging on about the Elastic Band. I have very good reason. Witness last week (Sunday, February 9, 2003) when the regular trumpet player, Ken Reece, was understudied by Janusz Carmello (he'll hate that), a different kettle of fish to our Ken but nonetheless as brilliant and surprising.

Paloalto look to Fade In to the big time - quickly...
Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath noted that they have 'made the record Radiohead should have made', describing their debut album as the 'first brilliant American record of the millennium; a semblance of brilliance in a sea of shit'. So who are they? Paloalto, that's who, so click here to find out more...

Briefs, short skirts, nudity and The D4 at the Mean Fiddler
In order to avoid making it look as if I have committed such a fashion faux pas, I ventured downstairs for The D4. It was the right decision. To be honest, I couldn't remember many details about their set, as I spent most of it jumping around like a monkey.

A shambolic charity gig from The Electric Soft Parade
Through their numerous apologies and excuses, not to mention their whole performance, the audience knew that The Electric Soft Parade did not have their hearts in the evening. Perhaps they have let their young fame go to their heads. (Dingwalls, November '02)

A whole lot of Rock 'n' Grohl!
After this spontaneous interlude, and returning back to the stage on a high, Grohl pondered: "I don't know how those Oasis guys can just stand still when they're playing rock n'roll;, something just gets in me and I have to let loose." This totally sums up how Grohl's heart and soul goes into every track performance, never just playing a track through gritted teeth after the billionth time on tour, writes Lucy Hayes, from The Foo Fighters' Wembley gig.

March at the Halfmoon in Putney
THE next few weeks at the Halfmoon in Putney takes on an unusual number of first class bands, proving, if proof were needed, that this is one of the prime areas in London for hot gigs. Gigs to look out for include The Cornerstones, Wilko Johnson and The Hamsters...

Sunday afternoons with a cool pint of beer and a hot jazz band
THERE is surely no more civilised a way to spend a Sunday afternoon than with a cool pint of beer and a hot jazz band.

Recommended gigs listings
INDIELONDON takes a look at the best concerts coming up over the next few months. NOW UPDATED TO INCLUDE DETAILS OF MACY GRAY, GRANDADDY, INTERPOL, DAVID HOLMES AND THE FREE ASSOCIATION AND LIVE.

Larry's Music Room at Pizza on the Park - what's on this week, plus future events
FOR jazz enthusiasts who simply cannot get enough, Indielondon has compiled the best of what's currently on offer at Larry's Music Room at Pizza on the Park in Knightsbridge, including Barb Jungr and Kate Dimbleby.

Recommended gigs @ The Jazz Cafe
FOR jazz enthusiasts who simply cannot get enough, Indielondon has compiled the best of what's currently on offer at the Jazz Cafe. Dates to look out for include Richie Havens and Dave McMurray...