Recommended music: 'My Band Is A Computer' by Chuck

I knew I was going to like this record from the moment I saw its title. The first release from Old Money Records (part of the Audio Antihero empire) is an introduction to the sad and wondrous world of Charles Griffin Gibson, who as Chuck has put out a load of records independently, from which these tracks have been culled. Despite this it flows pretty seamlessly as an album piece, telling tales of life, love and loss in New York.

With a vocal style that's part Jonathan Donahue, part Jonathan Richman and part Ezra Furman, Chuck plays the role of outsider as he narrates his tales of New York life. 'Bushwick Girl' is one of the highlights, as the 'L' train announcer gives way to a whimsical tale of an imaginary idyllic life in Brooklyn. 'Phoebe's Lips' (one of many songs about girls on here) is a darker love story about Mikey & Phoebe though, with Mikey's erectile issues contrasting with how easy love was when he was younger. Meanwhile 'The Internet' is possibly the the saddest feeling and most acoustic song ever written about a day in the life of a computer - "chatting with girls who claim to be ex-men, selling your dad's wedding ring, videos of rappers with expensive things" - all human life is here.

'Death' and 'Wipe Out', are as you can imagine from their titles, not the happiest of tracks, but perversely they're two of the most musically upbeat tracks on here. The album closes with 'Let's Make Out', a mournful tale of the end of the night (and possibly the end of the relationship) - "In the darkness on your couch, with nothing left to talk about...Let's make out, let's order take-out" - like most of Chuck's stories you're not sure if this one has a happy ending or not.

There's lots to love about this record - like all good things in life it has some darkness to highlight the light, and it's comfortingly lo-fi approach feels warm and reassuring. The album is out on September 9th and you can order it here.

Recommended music: 'Kite Without A String' by Beach Moon/Peach Moon

Another release from the bijou Paper Trail records, this hazy, gently lo-fi record will slowly drift into your consciousness. Full of warmth and tinkling melodies, it's an album that never outstays its welcome but makes the most of the time it has with you.

Starting life as a solo vehicle for Robert Prisco from San Francisco (I love how that rhymes), but since expanded to a full band, at its heart Beach Moon/Peach Moon revolves around Prisco's high, softly-sung vocals. Like Mercury Rev's Jonathan Donahue but with less angst, he subtly swoops through the tunes, using his voice as an integral instrument within the overall set-up. Meanwhile the lyrics are full of missed opportunities and stolen moments that fit well with Prisco's world-weary delivery. "Thoughts are fleeting, seething through my barren bones" he sings on The Fog, one of many references to the natural world and our environment. On 'Firefly Stars' he tells us how "She filled my sky a deep dark indigo, That's how I saw how bright the moon was", before moving on to the end of the relationship on the title track: "I'm not mad at you, I'm just sad at us".

Overall then it's a wistful but not downbeat album, full of touching moments and hidden pleasures. Well worth a listen.

Recommended music: 'Touched By An Angle' a Crash Symbols compilation

This brilliant 33 track collection is available on a 'pay what you want' basis on Bandcamp, so if you're feeling hard up you can get it for nothing. Whatever you pay for it, it's worth the price for the first track alone - possibly the best thing The Cyclist (Andrew Morrison) has ever put out, full of woozy analogue sounds. And with only a few exceptions the rest of the album lives up to it. So what do you get for your money (or for nothing)? The tracks are mostly instrumental, and mostly electronic based, but across the sprawling two hours there's a huge range of styles and modus operandi on display.

It's a great introduction to a label that was previously unknown to me - most of their current roster of artists have provided new tracks, and there's also a couple from brand new acts who've yet to put out an album. I really can't recommend it highly enough, so have a listen and then download it for whatever you think it's worth.

New music: 'Anika EP' by Anika

The follow-up to Anika's debut album (which was also called 'Anika'), this gloriously lo-fi set of mostly cover versions is again produced by Geoff Barrow (of Portishead and Beak> fame). The EP starts with an obsessed-sounding 'I Go To Sleep' (originally by The Kinks but probably familiar to more people via the version by The Pretenders), which gives a totally different perspective to the song, like a slightly deranged stalker. You then get covers of songs by The Crystals  Chromatics and Shocking Blue, as well as a couple of remixes from the 2010 album.

The EP will be released on April 16th on Stones Throw (although you can already buy it direct from their site here: http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/ep/anika/anika-ep

In the meantime you can listen to 'In The City' (originally by Chromatics) below. And make sure you watch out for the forthcoming video for 'I Go To Sleep' which will be directed by Berlin director Uli M. Schueppel, perhaps best known for directing the Nick Cave biopic 'The Road To God Knows Where'.