Jack Penate: Everything Is New

The prospect of another album of slightly irritating guitar pop from London scenester Jack Peñate was about as enticing as a CD from your local busker," said Ben East in Metro. Peñate must have "realised this himself because he has embarked on a complete change of direction" for his latest album, Everything Is New. Gone are the "jaunty singer-songwriterisms" and in their place are tracks with "Balearic Afro-beat and heady South American rhythms, thick with mariachi brass". Even more surprising is that "this reinvention really works".

Peñate's sound has had "a complete overhaul", said Killian Fox in the Guardian. "By stitching lots of styles together, one could argue that he is merely aping current trends, but the outcome is refreshingly good" (although the lyrics are "less successful"). At last, Peñate has got his "glitter-ball spinning", said Neil McCormick in the Daily Telegraph. This album is "touching, clever and poptastic". (Verdict: three stars out of five) ·