Abraham

1) With a voice of fragile innocence and backing tracks imbued with cinematic atmospheres and supremely languid beats, "Blue For The Most", the second studio album from Sussex's Abraham, featuring the sultry voice of Rachel Cuming, sounds like Dido produced by Zero 7 and Goldfrapp. The tenderly seductive "Magpie", "What Gives With You" and "City For Us", country tinged laments rolling to deep, down-tempo funk grooves, sweeping strings and watery electronica, are all as effortlessly brooding as they are gorgeous. Meanwhile the dark orchestration and claustrophobic computer noise that drives dark odes "Start the Song Backwards" and "Heather" are up there with the most chilling film scores. Yet there's an ever-present sensuality and optimism that makes everything here completely enchanting. As the smouldering title track illustrates, Abraham's hazy charms are too hopeful to be trip hop, and--with the tingling romance of lullaby "Ever So Slowly" proving the point--too ingenious to be dubbed just another chillout album. Produced by Lee Jones of Hefner.