"HAPPY THIS WAY", by JUDITH OWEN, on Linn Records

NO DOUBT about album of the week if you listen to Judith Owen's "Happy This Way" CD and the way she weaves her 11 songs into a rich tapestry of emotion.

"Painting by Numbers" is a fine example of the way Judith blends theatrics, jazz, folk and poetry into something quite special.

The daughter of an acclaimed Welsh opera singer from Llanelli, Judith made her album debut in 1996 and has established herself in the United States with more releases and a cult following.

She has now signed to Linn Records and has been working on the 1,000 Years of Popular Music project with English folk rock guitar hero Richard Thompson who guests on Judith's album along with Julia Fordham and Cassandra Wilson.

"Cool Life" is a jazzy number that has guest vocals by Ian Shaw, and other startlingly beautiful songs include the opening "Conway Bay", "Nicholas Drake", "Carry", "Happy This Way" which recalls her late mother, and "We're Only Human" which refers to her sister Susan.

"My Father's Voice" completes her family songs to end the main album with Judith just on vocals and piano with double bass accompaniment by Sean Hurley before the bonus 12th track, the groovy Quantic remix of "Enough" featuring Cassandra Wilson.

Judith sums up the album as being her love letter to Britain and the things that sustain her when she is 6,000 miles away in America.

With echoes of Judy Collins, her voice is versatile and taps into the heart and soul making the album feel like a night at the theatre.


"A WORLD WITHIN A WORLD", by RAUL MIDON, on EMI/Manhattan.

AFRO Argentine singer Raul Midon is heading for the UK to promote his new 10-track second album "A World Within a World" which is full of laid back soulful pop with intelligent lyrics and a funky edge.

The legendary producer Arif Mardin signed Raul for the debut "State of Mind" album and his son Joe worked with Raul on this follow up.

"Ain't Happened Yet" is an acapella doo wop number and other sweet tracks include "Save My Life", the breaking up "Song for Sandra"; "Tembererana" and "Caminando" with their elements of Argentine music; and the hopeful "Peace on Earth/Ghost of War".

"TRIBE", by LUKA BLOOM, on Big Sky Records

IRISH singer songwriter Barry Moore made three albums under his real name before seeking a new life in the United States adopting the name Luka Bloom for another 10 original albums.

Tendonitus gave him a distinctive guitar strumming style, he has worked with the likes of Lou Reed and his new album has been made in collaboration with Irish multi instrumentalist Simon O'Reilly. Simon created the music and sounds while Luka added lyrics and vocal melodies. The opening track establishes the gentle hazy vibe that runs through. "Dead of Night" takes things back to a moody Dublin for one of the best songs, while "Lebanon" is a lament to a lost land.

Pedal steel hero BJ Cole also helps on a couple of the 12 tracks that include three instrumentals.

The strongest and wordiest song is "Homeless" about being homeless in Hollywood and about global warming.

"MESSIAH'S DAY", by NEPHWRACK.

THE closing track of Hampshire metal hellraisers NephWrack's "The Once and Future King" album, "Messiah's Song" is now the band's new single.

The band's new five piece line up is earning growing acclaim as a distinctive British powerhouse with this slice of quintessentially British mythic metal folk.