LODGER Small Change (Island)

"Small Change" is the woozily charming new single from Lodger, whoever they may be, that comes on like the missing link between The Pogues and Tindersticks, all bruised decadence and a vocalist who sings it with a slur in his voice, as Neil Diamond would have it. "Taking my girl out on the cheap", he gargles; "Where can we go that costs me no money/Went to the park ‘cos it was free". Fabulous stuff, although the impact is diminished a little by a clutch of b-sides that clearly have no ambition to rise above their lowly status in life.