tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l

How do you follow a debut that fashioned pieces of Dictaphone recordings into a dog-eared – but utterly bewitching – showpiece of low-fidelity pop? Answer: you throw out the portastudio and move into a real one, expanding your band in the process. These are the tactics of tUnE-yArDs’ Merrill Garbus, who gives clarity to the kitchen sink ethics of her homespun debut with crisper production on w h o k i l l.

Her weapons of choice remain a distorted ukulele and those seductive-whisper-to-a-scat-rap vocals (horns, bass and drums are also present), and the style flits from rap to calypso via riot grrrl pop, in a veritable cocktail of genres. Brilliant moments abound – the sassy Powa and energised lead single Bizness to name but two – although Wooly Wolly Gong falls short of those, um, yArDsticks and live favourite Gangsta is muddied by a busy studio mix. Minor gripes on an otherwise charming and inventive release. [Martin Skivington]