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Fairy tales to fall in love with
IAN SINCLAIR reviews the latest albums by Treetop Flyers, Princess Chelsea and Cat Power

Treetop Flyers
Treetop Flyers
(Loose)

★★★

KNOCKING around in the same musical circles as Wave Pictures and Danny Champions of the World, London-based group Treetop Flyers — their name taken from a Stephen Stills song — trade in classic-sounding US rock music.

Their self-titled third album sticks with this well-worn formula, kicking off with a lovely mid-tempo, pedal steel-led instrumental track. The joyous single Sweet Greens & Blues sounds a lot like Van Morrison’s Caledonian Soul music, mixing rapturous gospel-tinged lyrical phrasing with pumping brass, while It’s Hard To Understand mines classic r'n'b.

Lead singer Reid Morrison’s vocals sit somewhere between soul greats like Dobie Gray of Drift Away fame and new kid on the block Michael Kiwanuka.

Cat Power
Wanderer
(Domino)

★★★★

Princess Chelsea
The Loneliest Girl
(Lil’ Chief Records)

★★★★

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