Short Shorts 1 Kathleen Smith - Dolls (Independent) Kathleen Smith’s debut EP isn’t as country as the boots she’s wearing on the cover. Rather it’s to the folky singer-songwriters of the ‘70s - Carole King and Laura Nyro in particular - that much of the material on Dolls refers to. Six tracks aren’t really enough, but it’s an impressive start, and both “Here’s To You” and “Waiting Round” are splendid examples of literate, beautifully produced, grown-up pop. www.kathleenmusic.com Molehill - Rock & Mole (Independent) Bluesy rock and forceful guitar pop come together on Molehill’s Rock & Mole album and it’s a winning combo. Fronted by guitarist / singer Peter Manhart, an equal emphasis is placed on the songs - the vocals are mixed high for good reason - and the band’s accomplished licks. When they’re in full-throttle mode, “On The Wall” will impress everyone from Hold Steady fans to evening Radio 2 listeners. They’re also unafraid to slow things down when the mood takes them - “Colorado” is a contemplative gem. www.molehillmusic.com Julie Ocean - Long Gone And Nearly There (Transit Of Venus) If you’re going to name yourself after an Undertones song, you’ve got to be rockin’, pop, clever, upbeat, vital, lovable, acne scarred and bloody good - not necessarily in that order. Julie Ocean pass. Mostly. The important stuff, anyway. Boasting ex-members of Velocity Girl, The Saturday People, The High Back Chairs and Swiz, their indie pop credentials cannot be questioned, and though it’s all a trifle C86 rather than Pogo-A-Go-Go, it’s impossible to quibble about the quality of their big guitar tunes and hooks-a-plenty. www.transitofvenusmusic.com Alexander Tucker - Portal (ATP) Alexander Tucker served his musical apprenticeship in various hardcore / post-hardcore noise bands, though you wouldn’t know it from listening to his latest offering. Dreamy free-folk string arrangements and Tucker’s ethereal voice mingle and, on occasion, become indistinguishable on Portal. The overall effect isn’t dissimilar to John Martyn’s One World album, though far less structured or song-based, it is more than its equal in the horizontal, blissed out stakes. www.atpfestival.com Rob F. Next