The Bird and the Bee - The Bird and the Bee

The self-titled debut of Inara George and Greg Kurstin sees the former's enchanting harmonies combine with Kurstin's multi-instrumental talents in a sixties Brazilian tropicalia-influenced pop-meets-bossanova manner.

The suburban Los Angeles-pair are not new to this; Inara is the daughter of Lowell George, sometime frontman of '70s Southern rockers, Little Feat: she's spent time in various bands before releasing a solo-album, 2005's critically acclaimed, All Rise.

Greg is famed as one of L.A.'s most well-respected musicians, lending his jazz piano skills to the likes of Beck and writing and producing for The Flaming Lips, Peaches and Lily Allen.

Varying in tempo and mood throughout (F-cking Boyfriend and Spark are two perfect contrasting examples), the album displays a keen versatility, Kurstin using his myriad musical talents to combine brass, piano, guitar and electronica in the process creating a charming pop palette that's beautifully graced by George. [Colin Chapman]