Here's an unlikely story, and a potential new star, for 2006. Athena may have appeared at Womad and on a couple of radio shows, but she's still unknown. Until this independently produced mini-CD is released next Monday, she will have had no records on sale in the UK, and yet on Wednesday she starts a 10-date national tour. It's not the usual way to promote a new singer, but on the strength of these five songs, it's a gamble worth taking. Born in London and brought up in Greece, she's bilingual and a remarkably fine singer-songwriter.

The opening Green Eyes is a gently exquisite ballad that shows off her high, clear style and could well be a pop hit. Circles and Eden, also both sung in English, are more reflective and personal, while her own sturdy Thalassa Melania and the traditional Stis Pikrodafinis Ton Antho show her shifting effortlessly into Greek to show off her vocal range and the impressive instrumental work of her acoustic guitarist and double bass player. If she's as good as this live, Athena will be one of the discoveries of the year.