FIRSTLY an apology, dear readers. This beauteous, beguiling album has sat on the subs' bench awaiting a review call-up since early February, and how remiss it was to fail to alert you to the spring in its step until now.

That said, any season is right for Monsoon, the second solo set from guitarist Scott Kannberg since the demise of Pavement. This is a rueful, introspective record, indie in its skewed roots and country in its olden golden playing, courtesy of guest backing band Wilco and the Minus 5's Scott McGaughey.

Newly settled in Seattle, Kannberg ruminates on "the kind of depressed world we live in nowadays post 9/11" but he is drawn too to the compensatory, country-rock joys of Walk Of A Gurl and refreshing Caught In The Rain. Go-Betweens devotees will swoon at Monsoon.

Updated: 09:34 Thursday, April 15, 2004