Keyboard Rebel - Northern Sherpa
[Slick Nine]

What do they put in the Manchester water supply? The city just breeds one excellent singer-songwriter after another. Joining the likes of Badly Drawn Boy, Jim Noir, Jack Cooper, Aidan Smith, Nathan Burton and legend in the making John Stammers, Keyboard Rebel will undoubtedly become another addition to the city's glowing roster.

Appearances to date have been fairly sparse, with an inclusion on Twisted Nerve's Jukebox Series (a brilliant rendition of Destiny's Child Bootylicious...no really) and the Ghost Lady track for Slick Nine's compilation EP earlier this year. Northern Sherpa is the Rebel's first full solo outing, with two brand new offerings of avant folk oddities and acoustic loveliness.

Keyboard Rebel draws upon old r & b, folk and pop for inspiraton, yet there's even room for a reggae-ish twist to I Feel Trapped, where trumpets glide over xylophones, twinkly percussion and some of the best use of melody in years. This is an eclectic release to say the least, that betters with every listen.