The latest releases reviewed

MIKA
Live in Cartoon Motion Universal ***

In less than 12 months, Mika - the French/Russian/English/ Lebonese emigre - has leap- frogged over the opposition and firmly planted his two feet onto Planet Pop. As pop stars go, Mika is a mixture of the natural and the irritating; a big head goes perfectly with the big tunes, but when the latter are as gloriously catchy as Grace Kelly, Big Girl, Lollipop and Happy Ending, you can forgive the former. Captured live at L'Olympia in Paris last June, Mika live is as camp as you can imagine. Fusing elements of Queen, Elton John, Wham and The Osmonds with a stage show that tranforms Scissor Sisters into The Everly Brothers, Mika regales all and sundry with wit, presence and intelligence. He's having fun while he can; us, too. Extras include five music videos and a smart (if wary) documentary, A Long Way from Home. www.mikasounds.com  TONY CLAYTON-LEA

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
The Beyoncé Experience Live Sony ****

Shot last September in LA's Staples Centre during her worldwide tour, The Beyoncé Experience Live is a 24-carat delight. Featuring a guest appearance by her beau Jay-Z on Upgrade U and a reunion of Destiny's Child with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland on Survivor (oh yes!), the live concert DVD contains more than two hours of grinding, breathless r'n'b from the 25- year-old superstar and her sizzling all-girl band. Highlights include Crazy in Love, Baby Boy, Beautiful Liar, Déjà Vu, Check On It and Irreplaceable. A glittering technological extravaganza, the show seals the status of the singer-songwriter- producer-director-actress-dancer-model-fashion designer as a fabulous cultural icon, at once pop art and hip-hop, cool and hot: she is the experience. As the lady sings, "It's your girl B/History in the making." www.sonybmgmusic.co.uk JOCELYN CLARKE