Adele Adkins' retro-soul debut '19' was striking less for her songs than for that voice: a voluptuous slightly parched alto that swooped and fluttered like a Dusty Springfield student trying to upstage her teacher or at least update the rules.

A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning as if supported by the rays of the sun a bird settled on the fire escape joy in the task of coffee joy accompanied me as I walked.