777 US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Those with a penchant for Latin disco pop will be in their element here, with the debut album from angel-faced Chilean-Norwegian falsetto Boy Pablo serving up a particularly generous helping with its title track. Accompanied by a worth-checking-out video helping tell its semi-autobiographical take of a young kid falling in love and playing football, it's enough to make some swoon.

Similarly slick, but heavier on the synths, 'I Hope She Loves Me Back' should make it clear that the overall theme here as anything amorous, wistful and smooth, with guitar licks and playful beats ensuring the artist is walking the walk, not just talking the talk. Which, at times, is more cocky than bashful - "Hey girl, do you like me? I guess that's a stupid ass question." Enough said.

Review: Boy Pablo continues his mission to make us all nostalgic for our younger years with a track taken from this year's bubblegum album, Wachito Rico. 'Leave Me Alone' is enough to tell newcomers what they can expect from the full length release. Uptempo, melodic and polished to a fault, it's a timeless, chart-friendly, indie pop sound that has won over a huge following with its unabashed positivity, albeit the sentiments are apparently tied to the feeling disappointment when his parents suddenly making him leave a birthday party early.

Flip it and you find the laidback, smooth, R&B vibes of 'Be With Me', a song that didn't make it onto the LP itself but certainly would not have sounded out of place if it had. Cascading guitar harmonies and a stepping, shuffling beat, it owes plenty to the lo-fi electronic sexiness that has been pervading downtempo beats for years, but is far from a cheap knock-off.