An Pierle, 'Helium Sunset' (Helicopter Records) Released 01/12/03

Every once in a blue moon, an intelligent, ambitious and atmospheric record comes along that seems automatically destined for a deserved place in the nations consciousness.  And listening to Belgian singer songwriter An Pierle's new offering, you do get that feeling that you're in the presence of a 'Dummy', with whom 'Helium Sunset' shares some of the same atmospherics whilst coming at the whole smoky-lounge thing from a completely different angle.

The piano driven opening track of 'Sorry' immediately draws comparisons with your kooky likes of Kate Bush and Tori Amos, whilst 'As Sudden Tears Fall' is a wonderful late night cocktail of lounge-core, acoustic guitars and sparse electronica.  Definitely not your wishy-washy coffee table bollocks peddled by Dido et al however, there's definitely something altogether more sinister that beats at the heart of Helium Sunset.  Take the album title track, that with unnerving accordion and diverse vocals, that range from the sweet and breathy to full on yelping, would be befitting of none other than PJ Harvey.

A rare triumph in a sea of mass marketed mediocrity!