Back in 2005, Liverpool quartet MuddyHead released 'Land And Sea'. They were a group based around the songwriting skills of Andy Steele, who could count on ex-China Crisis man Gary Daly as one of his supporting players. The follow-up record, if one can call it that, arrives under Steele's own name. This is quite sensible given that Steele handles most of the lyrics, piano and guitar playing but it's his own warm vocals which are the dominant force on the new record.

The China Crisis influence is less clear this time around but the arrangements still strive for an old-fashioned branch of tune-making where even the lyrics seem to long for a very British sense of nostalgia. 'Penguin Eggs' features the awkward line of "The architect's final cathedral is from wobbly scaffolding thrown" whilst 'Ile Saint Louis Blues' bemoans "Dorset millionaires hanging out their washing free from care" before closing in on an impressive horn-led finale. As with the MuddyHead record, the album isn't going to change anyone's life, but the rock-solid melodies of 'Vincent' and 'Nobody Whistling' certainly gladden the heart. Indeed, it's an undemanding but thoroughly likeable album.