Noel's like Bowie, says mum

Noel Gallagher is as talented as David Bowie - according to his mum.

The rocker has played a select group of people his debut solo album,

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, including his mother Peggy, and she told him it is the best record he has ever made.

Peggy thinks it's so good it will further cement her chart-topping son's status as a rock legend.

In an interview on the Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show on UK station Absolute Radio, he said: 'I've got friends who are kind of scrambling round the bottom of the musical ladder, I've played it to them, you know, yeah, but everybody seems to like it. But let me leave you with these words, I played it to a person, they said, 'Good God, that's so good, that's probably the best stuff you've ever done, this easily puts you in the same bracket at (David) Bowie, (Sir Paul) McCartney and Elvis Costello.' And do you know who said that? My mum.'

Noel is famously critical of other bands but it seems he has mellowed since quitting Oasis in 2009 following a backstage bust-up with his brother and bandmate Liam.

The Death of You and Me singer has admitted he is a fan of the Arctic Monkeys - fronted by Alex Turner - and says he has been listening to Coldplay for years.

Noel, 44, said: 'I like the Arctic Monkeys album, I've got to say, it seems like they're back ... And some of the new Coldplay stuff is good, I've got to say.

'I've always been a fan of Coldplay, I've liked them since I heard that track, 'Yellow'. I do like them, the new stuff's good I think.'