Herbie Hancock: "Gershwin's World" (Verve).

At first, the line-up seems anomalous. A Herbie Hancock album with guest vocalists Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder and soprano Kathleen Battle? Plus ace jazz musicians such as Chick Corea, Eddie Henderson, Kenny Garrett and Wayne Shorter, among others. But as this muted masterpiece unfurls, it all makes sense. Gershwin's compositions dissolved all lines between Tin Pan Alley, pop, jazz and classical music so we get Joni doing a delicious version of The Man I Love, Hancock's bluesy take on My Man's Gone Now and Battle wafting her way through a wonderful version of Prelude in C Minor. Making the album even more pluralist and intriguing, is music by Ravel, W.C. Handy and Duke Ellington, all of whom obviously influenced Gershwin's world. A delight.

Joe Jackson

Spiritualized: "Royal Albert Hall October 10 1997" (Dedicated)

Lucky old Albert Hall - they got to see the full Spiritualized monty, choir and all, and the punters must have rattled their jewellery in delight. This double live CD, unlike the recent Dylan release, really was recorded in London's Royal Albert Hall, and it catches Jason Pierce's crew in full flight, its psychedelic drone-rock sound floating in the vast spaces of the domed venue. It begins with the gospel-tinged Shine A Light, then gets hot-wired with Electric Mainline and Electricity, before sedating itself again with Medication on the way to a final showdown in Cop Shoot Cop. Blizzards of blinding white noise are followed by moments of almost beatific calm, and the crash 'n' burn of Come Together contrasts nicely with the loneliness in Broken Heart. This sonic symphony ends on the healing chorus of Oh Happy Day.

Kevin Courtney

Portishead: "Roseland NYC Live" (Go-Beat)

July 24th 1997, and the orchestra is tuning up at the Roseland Ballroom while Internet users around the world are logging on for a unique Webcast. Suddenly, the classical sounds are undercut by the eerie wail of a Theremin and the choppy scratching of Geoff Barrow's turntable, and the compelling voice of Beth Gibbons slides to the fore, wrapping itself like a wraith around songs such as All Mine, Only You, Glory Box and Sour Times. I wish I was there, too. There is a lavish booklet of full-colour concert-shots and a short film accompanied by a DJ Andy Smith mix, and if you put away the peripherals, close your eyes and let Portishead's magnetic aura pull you in, you're already there.

Kevin Courtney