Alice Russell: My Favourite Letters

Herald rating: * * * *

No faulting NZ Post's fine service here, My Favourite Letters has arrived just in time. Yep, set your watches, because full-throated Alice Russell is here next month for a big night alongside producer/band leader Will Quantic and Australian funksters the Bamboos, filling in for his Soul Orchestra.

My Favourite Letters is Russell's second album and it's a far more consistent affair than its older sibling, which was more of a story-so-far summation of past works with her as supporting actress rather than headlining star.

This time round Quantic's Obi-Wan presence is restricted to the thank-you list, along with nauseating endearments such as twonklepus, minky pinky and gibber jabber (stop that right now), and it's producer Alex Cowan (aka TM Jukie) who comes off the bench to provide a spacious wonderland of breakbeats for Russell to layer herself over.

It takes some effort before the various flavours get in like Macleans, but among the highlights, Humankind seems to be making a case for lavalava-clad sambas, while To Know This is an intense brooder with a creeping rhythm for lovers to sidle up to.

Label: TRU THOUGHTS