Even if the rest of Making Mirrors were utter crap, the divinely scrumptious song that is currently burning a hole in the airwaves, 'Somebody That I Used To Know' is enough to secure a decent score all by itself. You all know the words by now, and you are forgiven for being cynical enough to think the rest of the album would not match up to this little gem. And if you do think that, you are quite wrong.

Belgian/Australian musical prodigy Wouter "Wally" De Backe (aka Gotye) is already making a name for himself. Scooping up prize after prize in his native Australia (where the album has been out since August) the rest of the world is now starting to catch up and sing his praises. Comparisons to Sting and Peter Gabriel are apt, no doubt to the diversity of the album (pop, world music, indie) as well as Gotye's wonderfully evocative tenor. The result is a real crackerjax mix of surprises and delights. Opening track 'Making Mirrors' sneaks in, with its pan pipes and Gotye's voice weaving its spell, before segueing into the Syd Barrett meets Peter Gabriel magic of 'Easy Way Out'. Then it is the highlight, the star of the show, that runaway hit featuring New Zealand singer Kimbra. The song is all about heartache, betrayal, bitterness and spite as two former lovers have it out: "No, you didn't have to stoop so low / Have your friends collect your records and then change your number." The risk is that you'll ignore the rest of the album by just clicking repeat.

Yet, (apart from a couple of clunkers) the rest of the album is almost as glorious as that four minutes and six seconds of perfection. The giddy naiveté of 'Eyes Wide Open' contrasts beautifully with the sinister 'Smoke And Mirrors'. Then 'I Feel Better' tumbles out like a frolicking puppy, its 60s R&B brightening up any room. In fact it's all rather wonderful: the jovial 'In Your Light', the dreamy 'Give Me A Chance', and sleepy final track 'Bronte' with Gotye's soft voice as lulling as a lullaby. Only the shambolic 'State of The Art' (why would anyone with a voice as marvellous as this choose to distort it beyond recognition?) and the lumbering 'Don't Worry We'll Be Watching You' drag down the album like an unwanted party guest.

Oddities aside, Making Mirrors is a fabulous collection of cleverly crafted songs. It's early days yet, but this may show up on more 'best of' lists than you might imagine come December.

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