Haberdashery - Illuminated Road (Independent) A jazzy quartet from LA, Haberdashery are a blend of ideas and styles, old, borrowed and occasionally blues(y). Their debut is an adventurous take on European Romany music fused with whatever comes to hand. It could have been messy and unrealised, but the band, led by double bassman Brandon Turner, bring cohesion and a lot of fun to the project. So, whether we’re served up French romance, tango, flamenco, a misplaced cowboy or a subtle North African influence, Chris Luther’s gypsy violin and Turner’s rolling basslines stamp an appealing identity on proceedings. At this point I wouldn’t hold out to much hope for UK dates, and anyway, there’s not exactly a recognised circuit for them to travel. Head over to their MySpace or CD Baby pages for a taste of what they’re up to. They may well provide an attractive alternative to this year’s summer staples. www.myspace.com/haberdasheryquartet Rob F. Next