SLEEPY Welsh band The Afternoons have teamed up with Rosie Thomas for their new EP, Fading Fast.

They sound much better for it, with Rosie singing in place of The Afternoon's songwriter Richard Griffiths.

He heard her sing on local radio and got in touch only to learn that she wasn't from these parts and was in fact an American on tour.

She was convinced to come to Cardiff to record a session, which is released on Monday, August 30, on Saturday Records.

The rest of The Afternoons are Peter Morgan on drums and percussion, Sarah Ellison on bass, Paul Rapi on piano and keyboards, and Andrew Walters on violin.

Rosie sings on two tracks Fading Fast, of which there are two versions, and Rollerskaters it the Park.

The sound is fleshed out with Nathan Stone on cello, Jonathon Thomas on pedal steel, the producer Greg Haver on spring drum, and Simon Griffiths on French horn.

Rosie is a singer of some repute. Her debut album When We Were Small was warmly received by Q, Time Out NY, Uncut and others.

And she's also great at stand up comedy and is oft known to get up there under the name of Sheila, a hapless pizza delivery woman, wearing arm-sling and neck-brace.

She has recently released her second album of music, Only With Laughter Can You Win.