This Newcastle four-piece exude a lounge-pop vibe, a lo-fi-jazz feel, a hushed chamber-folk mood, all of which utterly enchants. Their songs unfurl around you like cigarette smoke and you can’t help but fall under their spell. The likes of The Blue Nile, Angel Olsen and Prefab Sprout have all been mentioned as touchstones, but Lovely Assistant are very much their own thing and this – their second album – should win them over a whole new bunch of fans. (Note: They’re launching the album at Cobalt Studios on 27 February.) DP

Out 28 February, self release