RECORDS / The IoS Playlist

THE FIVE BEST SOUNDS OF THE MOMENT

The Orb: Perpetual Dawn (Big Life, single). Spacey skank from the duo who invented ambient house as a joke. AB

The Boo Radleys: Barney (. . . And Me) (Creation, single). The whole indie spectrum from twee to cosmic in four hectic minutes. AB

Bheki Mseleku: Timelessness (Verve, CD). As seen on the South Bank Show, South African pianist meets big-name guests (Joe Henderson, Pharoah Sanders, Abbey Lincoln, Elvin Jones) in a set full of energy, wit and invention. Phil Johnson

Janacek: String Quartets 1 & 2. Dvorak: String Quartet 10. Vanburgh Quartet (Collins, CD). Strong, vibrant, sympathetic performances of the Czech repertory. MW

Julee Cruise: This is Our Night (track on The Voice of Love, Warner, CD/tape). Chorister's vocals, cinema atmosphere, reggae rhythm: unlikely, but beautiful. Tim de Lisle