This outstanding album from the former Sea Urchins and Delta singer has everything Richard Ashcroft's lacks. Strings make their presence felt, but here they turn the screw on the listener instead of seeking to distract. Roberts has been a victim of label shenanigans and personnel problems, while making some of the best Britpop of the past 20 years. This stunning 10-tracker was recorded in just three days: house, soul, prog and acoustica jostle with more straightforward rock shapes, over which one of the loveliest voices in pop lends new and dusted-down songs such as Meet on the Peak, I Knew and Sun Somehow an unbearable poignancy. Buy it. You won't regret it.
Dell'Orso