In a world full of "new folk" singer/songwriters, alternative rock-oriented ones don't get much of a look-in. Thus it is that one time Snow Patrol guitarist Iain Archer comes as a breath of fresh air.

This reviewer defies anyone to listen to Canal Song (End Of Sentence), the opening track on this quite magnificent record, and not come to view it as one of the best tunes to see the light of day this year. After this it just grows in stature, each song taking a different journey, but all in Archer's inimitable style. It will surely feature on many people's Best Albums Of 2006 lists come Christmas.

Archer himself describes the record as having allowed him to be more playful again, and upbeat it certainly is, on tracks like the boppy Minus Ten, while Collect Yourself is as uplifting a song as you will hear anywhere. It's only a shame that the summer has been and gone for if ever there was a record to listen to outdoors on a warm summer evening with a beer in hand, it's this one.

Rating:
Released: 9th October 2006
Label: We Love You