Kaito – live at London ICA 5th Jan 2006

Kaito look knackered. Not just i've-had-a-long-day-at-the-call-centre tired: properly exhausted, not all that well and, from this angle at least, not a little desperate. Given their long and unreasonably tricky journey to still-haven't-quite-cracked-itville, it's hardly surprising, but it's nonetheless disquieting. Singer Nikki, still commanding despite now being virtually non-existently thin, screams her way dutifully through live staple 'Should I' MySpace favourite 'Try Me Out', and new tracks including '2 Say', but Kaito's hearts and minds are elsewhere. Come on folks, look lively: there's a party round the corner.

Charlie Ivens

Various Artists - Strange Folk (Albion Records/Apace Music)

A logical, merciful change of tack from the label which brought us 'Buddha Chillout': 'Strange Folk' is an imaginative and defiantly non-populist mix of psychedelic folk from the last 30-odd years. That means Nick Drake rubs bony shoulders with James Yorkston, and Joanna Newsom cosies up to Pentangle. It's like the ultimate Green Man Festival, and thus deserves your applause.

Charlie Ivens

Tiga – Sexor (PIAS)

Tiga, the Canadian DJ and electroclash pioneer, clearly sees naffness as a badge of honour. Here, he finally shows up with a full-length album – complete with booty bass galore, unnecessary Talking Heads and NIN covers, and a guest spot from Jake Shears on highlight 'You Gonna Want Me'. It's a shallow pop rush, sure, but not half as clever as it thinks it is.

Charlie Ivens

Belle & Sebastian – The Life Pursuit (Rough Trade)

Age does not weary Belle & Sebastian. Neither, in fact, does it persuade them to do anything wildly different from the shiny, whimsical and proudly poetic 60s-tinged guitar pop they've been chucking out with generally exponential success for the past decade. From 'Another Sunny Day''s “I took a photograph of you in the herbaceous border” to the crunchy laundry-as-metaphor-for-longevity post-T Rex delight of 'The Blues Are Still Blue', B&S are admittedly not suddenly about to convert, say, Trivium's fanbase to their charms. But although the fey factor will continue to repel the unadventurous, closer inspection reveals 'The Life Pursuit' to be brimming with confidence, neat baroque flourishes and sensitive, witty songwriting chutzpah.

Charlie Ivens

The Infadels – We Are Not The Infadels (Wall Of Sound)

Having snuck out an encouraging coterie of twelves of late, The Infadels’ album finds them in fine form. If you’ve ever wished Hard Fi actually sounded hard, this will hit the spot, pitched in the gritty hinterland between an Ibiza-bound New Order and Big Audio Dynamite’s post-post-punk pizzazz. ‘Jagger 67’ and ‘Can’t Get Enough’ impress especially, but it’s live where they really shine.

Charlie Ivens

The Broken Family Band – Live at London Water Rats 6th Jan 2006

Fonda 500 were supposed to be supporting tonight, but that plan is scuppered by singer Simon's gammy eye. Instead, we're privy to the pleasure of two full Broken Family Band sets – one nominally quiet, one definitely loud – sandwiching Beatnik Filmstars' (if not triumphant then certainly compelling) first show since 1998. BFB singer Stephen Adams looks a bit like Chris Evans and will almost certainly call me a cunt for saying so. He's also, coincidentally, a funny bastard: “if you're here with your girlfriend and things are a bit rocky, this ought to clinch it”, he says cheerily before 'Devil In The Detail'. BFB are to country what The Pogues are to ceilidh – noisier, darkerer, drunker and funner too. Yee-haw.

Charlie Ivens