Thea Gilmore/Adam Masterson: Liverpool University

WITH SO MANY SINGER-SONGWRITERS around, establishing an individual identity has never been more difficult. When Adam Masterson cranks up his croaky voice and harmonica, the ghost of early Bob Dylan is almost visible. The young Londoner's One Tale Too Many album won deserved acclaim for his ability to conjure up similar greats (Springsteen, Morrison) without sounding quite like any of them. Live, however, the joins are visible, although 'Into Nowhere Land' — a tale of unfortunates sinking in the "King's Cross quicksand" — manages to depict life on the streets of London without a hint of Ralph McTell.