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

Slow Readers Club," 91 Days in Isolation" (SRC Records)-The new album from Manchester's Slow Readers Club follows hot on the heels of its commercially successful predecessor,"The Joy of the Return," which was unleashed on an unsuspecting world as recently as March. The collection of songs was penned remotely during the initial Covid 19 lockdown, and captured for posterity at Bury's Edwin Street Recording Studios as soon as the restrictions were relaxed a little. The finished product is a perfect illustration of the old adage that quality is more important than quantity, clocking in at a little under 30 minutes worth of exemplary music-making with "Wanted Much More," "Two Minutes Hate" and the memorable finale,"Like I Wanted To" emerging as creative highpoints.

My Darling Clementine, "Country Darkness" (Fretsore Records)- The latest offering from the husband and wife duo of Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish finds them working with Richard Hawley's backing band and legendary Elvis Costello sideman Steve Nieve as they explore some of Costello's most accomplished creations in the country and country soul genres.The contents were originally released as three 4 track EPs but "Country Darkness" brings them all together on one disc for the first time, giving discerning punters a heaven sent opportunity to sample the couple's soulful reimaginings of finely crafted gems such as "Why Can't A Man Stand Alone," "The Crooked Line" and "Stranger in the House."

Daniel Hope, "Belle Epoque" (Deutsche Grammophon)- This eloquent vehicle for the instrumental artistry of classical violinist Daniel Hope extends over two CDs as it explores the evocative musical culture which flourished in Europe during the sadly all too brief period before the outbreak of World War One changed things forever. This richly rewarding package divides equally between orchestral music and chamber works, with Hope applying his technical expertise to much loved works by Massenet, Elgar, Kreisler and the hugely influential Claude Debussy to name but a few.