First things first - it's disappointing that this album (Hitchcock's twentieth) contains a wholly pointless cover of 'The Crystal Ship'. Why an artist of his stature feels the need to include any cover version amongst songs of their own on a studio album, particularly in this day and age where The X Factor has further devalued such things, is beyond me. Breaking a live set up or encoring with one is fair enough or, as Anna Calvi has done in the last month, release a covers-only collection; at least that way the entire release can be ignored by those who fail to see the point of the exercise.

This niggle aside The Man Upstairs is a fine collection that shows Robyn Hitchcock to be in excellent form. Considered, downbeat songs are the order of the day so don't expect anything along the lines of 'My Wife & My Dead Wife', although 'Somebody To Break Your Heart' injects a welcome bit of harmonica-fuelled oomph at the mid-point of the album. In the main though this is a release to explore over a number of listens as the nuances of each song make themselves known like layers of silt settling upon your brain. Put it on and do the housework and it'll be over without registering but stick it on repeat and settle back to give it your entire concentration and its riches become evident.

Lost love and its recollection are the topic of first track 'The Ghost In You' and the air of sweet melancholia that pervades the song sets the tone for the bulk of what follows. Hitchcock remains a master of saying it's good to remember but there's life going on out there so get out amongst it and have some new experiences. 'To Turn You On' (with it's little nod to 'The Man With The Lightbulb Head' and 'A Day In The Life') is a fine example of this amidst a largely fine piece of work.

Now, where's my copy of The Soft Parade?

The Man Upstairs is released on August 25 and is available from amazon and iTunes.

Having left Lanarkshire to experience the wider world Kung-Fu Jesus as returned, via South America and Taiwan, with an album's worth of material to chronicle the journey, both physical and conciousness-wise. 'Wolf' is the first single to be lifted from his debut full-length Celestial Gold, which is scheduled for a winter release on Gargleblast Records.

Comparisons with Withered Hand & The Pictish Trail are inevitable, given the style of music on offer and Kung-Fu Jesus's geographical origins. Electronica plays a large part in the backing tracks for both 'Wolf' and b-side 'Wander' and there is no weedy singer/songwriter delivery in the vocal department, which adds to the single's overall listenability.

'Wander', for my money is actually the better of the two songs. Whilst you couldn't call 'Wolf' maudlin in its delivery (the subject matter of missing an absent friend could well have been presented so) 'Wander' is just so much more exuberant, sweeping you away on its peaks and chivvying you along in its troughs. It's five minutes plus of glorious, bouncing positivity. 

'Wolf' will be released on August 25 and is available from the Kung-Fu Jesus bandcamp page here.