Patrick Wolf

You can never accuse London's Patrick Wolf of treading the beaten path — the restlessly inventive singer-songwriter brings to the table all of the following: a training in classical composition at Trinity College of Music; a teenage apprenticeship with art-rock band Minty; a fabulous frame of reference based in folklore and myth (his name, and the title of his debut album, comes from an interest in lycanthropy, i.e. werewolves); and multi-instrumental skills that would put many of his peers to shame — he even studied in Paris with an expert in the lesser-known "cristal baschet" which makes sound from oscillating glass. As a result, we have been treated to four fascinating albums so far: club shaking dance tunes ("Paris"), folkish whimsy ("The Hazelwood"), leftfield pop ("The Magic Position") . . . you'll find all of this and more among our Patrick Wolf Essentials.