She Darks Me United Pacific Recordings****

Something of a shining light for those who toil behind the scenes, Joe Chester is one of the go-to names for production duties (you can hear his stamp on albums by, among others, The Coronas, Ryan Sheridan and Mundy). He's also a very fine songwriter. With two superb albums (2005's A Murder of Crowsand 2008's The Tiny Pieces Left Behind), Chester is one of those meticulous types for whom compulsion or irrationality is a rarity. Under these terms (which are by no means limitations), Chester triumphs, as his songwriting clearly benefits from such diligence. Several tracks (notably Acid Rain, Foreign Correspondentand Heart of Stone) bear his hallmark attention to observant detail. Musically, it's Chester's usual mix of innate melody and carefully prepared arrangements. See myspace.com/joechester/music

Download tracks: Drawn in Chalk, Acid Rain, Foreign Correspondent