Listening Post

YOU'VE got to admire the idea of this.

Take one British acting icon and raid his record collection. Okay, so it could be rammed with movie soundtracks and heavy classical movements.

But then we are talking the cool star of Get Carter, Italian Job and Alfie here. So maybe it shouldn't be such a shock when Sir Michael came back with a list of chill out tunes, something of which this big screen star is an authority.

"I've been buying this type of music for years and have literally hundreds of CDs," says Caine, 74.

"About 10 years ago I started making my own compilations and over the years have made thousands of tapes. And with chill-out I suppose I finally found my forte."

That means Bent and Chicane rubbing slippers with Felix Da Housecat and Nina Simone, the loungecore of Roy Budd (Get Carter score writer) and veteran John Martyn's Sunshine's Better. It's rather good, you know.

Rilo Kiley, Under The Blacklight (Warner Bros)

THE fourth album from this very productive bunch is a triumph for quality over quantity. Sneaking in at under 40 minutes UTB is also a great advert for the value of side projects, for vocalist Jenny Lewis, guitarist Blake Sennett and bassist Jason Boesel have returned match fit and touting one of the 2007's most enchanting albums.

Prompted by the darker side of life unveiled by the nightclub blacklight, the songs are like characters, each with their own charisma, enigma or manifesto but all touching on the tricky human fuel that is love. Immaculate vocals and guitar ideas that over-shadow 2004's patchy More Adventurous.

Choice FM presents Carnival Classics, Various (Universal)

SO there go the festivals and carnivals...

But fear not, here's a cute little feast of what you may have tasted or missed so you can squeeze the last bit of summer out of the post Bank Holiday climb down.

Even if you've not been to Notting Hill carnival, you get the general idea: big sound systems, costumes, exotic food, muggings etc.

And then there's the music, predominently reggae but in recent years spreading to include other classics such as Cameo and Soul II Soul, Evelyn King and, erm, Apache Indian. Alongside the likes of Marley, Third World, Rupee and Arrow there are nuggets on this double CD in Harry J & The Allstars (The Liquidator), The Upsetters (Return Of Django) and 54-46 Was My Number, by Toots & The Maytals.