Paul J Riley
Album: Alba Place
Label: Wurly Music
Tracks: 12
Website: www.pauljriley.com

This is the first album from the successful designer/builder turned singer songwriter whose previous career highs include making a key ring for Vivienne Westwood, a glass house on Portobello Road and a beach house for a Count. It's a mature, soulful, heartfelt piece of work recorded with the co-operation of film maker Roger Pomfrey and producer Wayne Proctor who appears to have guided the occasional musings of a successful middle aged man into a recording studio and out to the world.

It's easy to see Alba Place as the realisation of Riley's long-suppressed dream, a fortunate fellow given a second chance at a musical career. The songs are mellow, sweet and easy to hear. Ordinarily, that would have this listener lurching for the eject button, but there's something intriguing about the way they manage to sidle up to the borders of bland but never cross over. There are unexpected lyrical and musical twists that simultaneously defy your worst expectations and make imperfect sense - like Al Stewart suddenly got a playmate.

I doubt Alba Place will change many lives but it might just make a few of them happier places to be for a while.

Nick Churchill
www.thegranvillechambers.co.uk