Album: Sweet Billy Pilgrim, Twice Born Men, (Samahdi Sound)

uckinghamshire landlubbers they may be, but SBP - whose debut album is reissued following its Mercury nomination - pursue a notably nautical theme on Twice Born Men that stretches far beyond the illustration of a storm-tossed schooner which adorns its David Sylvian-designed sleeve. The trio's brooding folk-pop, intertwined with Tim Elsenburg's Guy Garveyish vocals (perhaps too Garveyish for victory, so hold on to your betting money) pitches and rolls like a ship on the waves. A dark rum pleasure.