Ben Folds - Supersunnyspeedgraphic, The LP

Benjamin Scott Folds is an exuberant musical oddity. Responsible for some of the finest geek-pop melodies of the past decade, he takes schlocky songsmithery and entwines it in a web of dreamy symphonic arrangements. Supersunnyspeedgraphic, The LP sees Folds merge a collection of online-only releases into one tangible, technophobe friendly record. Sounding distinctly like a North Carolinian Costello, he croons his way through a delectable selection of self-penned ditties and head-turning cover versions. Dr Dre's Bitches Ain't Shit is astonishing; remoulding grimacing lyrical misogyny into a gushing piano-led triumph, questioning the original's overtly masculine proclamations. Stirring interpretations of The Cure's In Between Days and The Divine Comedy's Songs Of Love wonderfully highlight Ben's soothing vocal elasticity, whilst There's Always Someone Cooler Than You is as quirkily dumb as any of his former conquests. Never a revelation, it's exactly what you'd expect from Ben Folds: catchy, fun and completely bemusing. [Billy Hamilton]