As Bob Marley used to sing, though I don’t think that’s what he put in his cylinders. That one at 8down’s my favourite cryptic definition in a mixed bag. Overall, though I think the best clues are the very economic charades/containers like 2dn, 17ac and 24ac, rather than the CDs and anagrams.

ACROSS:

1. RIB AND. The last one I got, and I wanted it to be RIBALD from the surface, but  I think this is right - ‘blue, perhaps’ being the definition.

5. IN CREASE. Nice wordplay, though I’m less sure about the definition - my pay demand as forwarded by my union is usual several time greater than any eventual increase!  

9. CONVERTS. Double def. ‘Make believe’ I like a lot, but the secodn def is really just the nounal form of the same.

11. NEVERTHELESS (L in THREE SEVENS*).

17. FI (IF<) RESIDE. Good clue, with ‘live’ giving something longer than the customary ‘be’.

18. NILE. Simple anagram, (LINE*), less obvious definition - the White Nile starts in Lake Victoria.

20. NUDIST COLONY (DISCOUNT ONLY*). 

23. C(AN A)AN.

24. IN FAN TRY. Good simple construction.

25. TEA CADDY. Tea is a drink, and a caddy (in golf) is a porter of the clubs, but why would he resort to the tea caddy after a drink? 

DOWN:

2. I(CO)N. A beautifully simple clue.

5. INSURANCE POLICY. I NURSE CAN*.

6. CUT SHORT - a power cut and a short are both causes of power failure.

7. E(XC)EL (LEE<).

8. SWISS ROLLS. CD - and a good one.

19. C OFFER.

21. IS A AC.

22. BeRlInEr.

Initially I thought this was going to be very easy. I got through most of the clues fairly quickly but then got hopelessly stuck on 8 across, 25 across and 24 down, some of which was self-inflicted because I’d incorrectly written “plot” for 2 down.

* = anag, < = reversed