Over the past 12 months, Jim Noir has emerged as one of the most promising new talents on the UK music scene. In case you aren't familiar, Noir had been busily releasing a string of stupidly brilliant EPs in England since late 2004. So brilliant, in fact, that they all sold out. Herein lies the problem. If you missed Eanie Meany, My Patch or A Quiet Man in the shops, eBay was, until now, your only means of achieving Noirvana. In accordance with the law of supply and demand, My Dad Recordings did the decent thing and compiled them on an album � "Tower of Love." "There are a couple of new bits and bobs on it as well," says Jim. "So it's not that much of a rip off."

"Tower of Love," released in England last December, has received press notices that are just so good: "melodic genius" (The Guardian): "irresistible" (Uncut); "full of pocket symphonies and childlike wonder" (Mojo ); "psyche pop that will entertain and engulf your senses" (Dazed and Confused); "a fine addition to the hallowed ranks of British psychedelic oddballs" (The Independent); "psychedelic sunshine pop" (The Times); "consistently beautiful, grainy and utterly genius" (The Fly).

There's much to savour in the dozen tracks on "Tower of Love." There's My Patch's irrepressibly bouncy beat, How To Be So Real's dreamlike melody and Eanie Meany's richly nostalgic lyrics ("If you don't give my football back I'm gonna get my dad on you/I only kicked it over your fence and broke a silly gnome or two.") Then there's Jim's bizarre ode to his PC on Computer Song, and the hot new track The Only Way. In short, it's an instant classic.

Rarely seen in public, Noir remains something of an enigma. Here's what we know: Noir was born in 1982 in the dreary village of Davyhulme near Manchester. Aged nine, he formed a band with a friend known as Batfinks. The duo performed In Yer Face by 808 State at a school talent show. Three years later, our hero sang a Grease medley at a holiday camp and was awarded a Batman waterpistol for his efforts. Realising he was in possession of a special gift, Noir threw himself into music, developing his sound and mastering a multitude of instruments. If you can hit it, twang it, blow it or tinkle it, Jim can play it. Fast-forward one decade and here's Noir meeting the founding fathers of My Dad Recordings. They let Jim release a neat little record called Eanie Meany. In a psychedelic explosion of colour and sound, Jim Noir, pop star, was born. Things looked promising. He even moved out of his Mum and Dad's house.

Noir made his U.S. concert debut last month when he played a series of gigs at SXSW. He will cross the Atlantic once again this summer to play the Lollapalooza festival, as well as a series of club dates in a dozen or so major markets - dates will be announced shortly.