7/10

While Guy Garvey's tortured vocals and narrative lyrics have always been the highlight of every Elbow song, seeing him branch away from the band seems almost like an indistinguishable move. Stick his voice on any record and it will be transformed into this wistful burst of melancholy that is unmistakably him. Which is why it seems this album is making a point of mixing things up for Garvey, playing with genres and instrumentation throughout.

What sets this solo record apart from every Elbow album is its lucid nature within the songwriting. With every track, you feel like Garvey is suddenly fronting a whole new arrangement as the release moves effortlessly from rock, jazz to soul and gives the frontman a real opportunity to stretch himself artistically. The result is one of this country's most beloved vocalists giving a performance of true character and worth.

It will no doubt play well with Elbow fans as this end product isn't that far removed, but for Garvey himself, he does feel more at home as the sole creator of a piece of work like this. It compliments his unique personality in a way we haven't heard before and makes for an altogether more personal listening experience.