Originally from Montreal, but now based in London, Belle Scar has a show-stopping voice that falls somewhere between Nadine Shah and – stay with me here – Shirely Bassey. It’s true! And she’s written for herself a suite of songs that take full advantage of that voice with everything here cinematic, sweeping, string-laden – you name it. If ever a debut album was put together to make you sit up and take notice, then this is it. Mesmerising stuff. DP

Out now on Plastic Sound Records