Kevin Bryan delivers his verdict on some of this week's CD releases.

Jeremiah Johnson,"Heavens To Betsy" (Ruf Records)- Thomas Ruf's excellent blues label continues to provide a rich source of subject matter for devotees of the genre, and their latest offering focusses attention on the work of St.Louis bandleader Jeremiah Johnson. The singer-guitarist's new album mines a rich vein of bluesy Southern rock in the mould of the Black Crowes or Allman Brothers, with Frank Bauer's driving sax underpinning a fine batch of new self penned songs alongside an almost danceable cover of Albert King's classic "Born Under A Bad Sign."

Nels Andrews,"Pigeon and the Crow" (Self Released)- Gifted Americana practitioner Nels Andrews is an accomplished weaver of atmospheric narratives whose work has prompted favourable comparisons with everyone from Van Morrison to Pulitzer Prize winning novelist E.Annie Proulx.Nel's latest collection of ethereal story songs was assembled at Sam Cooke's old studio, Whispering Pines in Los Angeles, during an intense three day burst of activity which spawned beguiling gems such as "Scrimshaw," "Eastern Poison Oak" and the six minute long title track.

Cigarettes After Sex,"Cry" (Partisan Records)- This enigmatic outfit were formed in the Texan city of El Paso in 2008, with androgynous vocalist Greg Gonzalez citing musical influences as diverse as The Cowboy Junkies, legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis and French sixties chanteuse Francoise Hardy. Their latest excursion into the seductive world of ambient pop was recorded during a series of night time sessions in a mansion on the Spanish island of Mallorca, capturing the lush cinematic essence of the trio's sound via minimalist meditations on love such as "Heavenly" and "Don't Let Me Go."