The dirt

After the one-dimensional, in your face thumping from some of this month's submissions, Paradigm by The Penny Sweets sounds like it's arrived from a whole new planet. Respect to (deep breath) Jasmine Ariella, Naomi Belgrano, Kieran Suchard and Zamira Chase. It's a full widescreen production, easily twice the size of any other track here, with every track exhibiting a spacious sound field, and yet despite their diverse nature all happily coexist with space around them. Arrangement wise there's just the right amount of repetition and enforcing of themes. There's some bizarre and brave stereo placement and the ethnic instruments used mean that you're never quite able to predict what's coming next, or what you're truly listening to. Brave and cool.

Beaty leftfield neo-soul. Great eclectic vibes.
http://www.nme.com/artists/the-penny-sweets

Electronic atmospheric female fronted duo... Massive Attack and Bjork would have quite a lot to envy here, and the production is as good as that of Sugababes. There's all sorts of things going on the background, from the most wicked filmic sounds to a magnificent string section, as well as all the expected Chemical Brothers type madness... Moby in parts too... Good stuff...

Super dooper dark pop, think Kate Bush and Shakespeare's Sister!

They are an ariel-esque sprite achieving the crushed romanticism of the Delgados, with at times early Roxy music's sheening bite. A delicate snowdrop with a hidden steel. Cold marble with ebony ripples.

The Penny Sweets, with 'Lacklustre' supply the standout track of the album by quite a large margin. Piano, violin, bass and magnificent vocals all join to make a splendid tune. A cross between The Corrs (on an exceptional day), PJ Harvey and Tori Amos, 'Lacklustre' appears almost too good for the album it is on; it makes the rest look like fillers.

Bargain at half the price - stalker comes for free. Next up we had a complete change of tone, exchanging lead guitar for a violin and slap bass for... well, non-slap bass and welcomed to the fore the lyrical wonder that is The Penny Sweets. Let's get one thing quite clear. I really really really really really like the Penny Sweets, almost embarrassingly so, purely on the basis of their contribution to the Jam night CD so it was rather nice to find out they have more than one song. Truly remarkable vocals (I'm sorry, how high?) combine with effortless violin, keys, bass and drums to draw you in and leaves you weeping with humiliation at your own inadequacies. These are the sorts of soaring tunes that wouldn't sound out of place on a Buffy soundtrack - but until that joyous day, I'm just going to stand in the corner and wave my pompoms.

The lyrical wonder that is the Penny Sweets, remarkable vocals, effortless violin.

Awards and nominations

Twice awarded Demo of the month in Kevin Anam's Demo Chart, Get Rhythm.

Insangel13.co.uk EP Review. Album award (for Bitter Things)

Sponsorship from the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund, 2003

Insangel13.co.uk Annual nominations:
The Penny Sweets - Favourite gig of the year - Dog and Parrot 28th Nov 2003
Jasmine Ariella - Favourite singer and Favourite alternative musician
Naomi Belgrano - Favourite alternative musician