From: New York, USA

Who: Julian Casablancas

The Scoop: The front man of The Strokes (that great rock band of the early noughties with a now unclear future) is on his first solo project. If you are looking for edgy, interesting good looking rock you will want to keep moving. Casablancas certainly seems to have done that.

His first solo album is called Phrazes for the Young which takes its inspiration from an Oscar Wilde collection. Overall the feel is quite retro with the sound draped in a 70's & 80's layer of synths with a couple of particularly plinky plonky moments.

The couple of tracks which stand out are the ballad 'Glass' & the slick, bizarre and anthemic '11th Dimension'.

Overall Mr Casablancas is taking himself really rather seriously, how can you do that and have a banjo ('Ludlow St.) on your album? Somehow he has managed it. He was quoted recently saying "a band is a good way to break up a friendship" and with this effort he has certainly departed from the vital Manhattan pop punk of The Strokes. An album to enjoy over a latte.

Shuffle with: Keane, The Killers, Albert Hammond Jr

Play on: Sunday after lunch when a snooze may be just around the corner.

Links: myspace, official