Ian Brown - All Ablaze
[Polydor]

Beginning with quirky electronic sound effects and Eastern instruments, it is difficult to imagine this is the same swaggering, arrogant singer who fronted The Stone Roses and became an idol for an entire indie generation. All Ablaze is the latest track from Ian Brown to support his best of album, Greatest.

As with most of the material produced by Brown since taking the solo route, All Ablaze is fairly funky, taking a sprawling dance aesthetic to a rock and indie sound. Driven with force by it's booming basslines and sparse horn blasts, the single again finds the monkey one inspired by his fondness for dub, reggae and Jamaican music. B-sides include live versions of Destiny Or Circumstance and The Sweet Fantastic, both recorded at Brixton Academy and display the performance of the charismatic Ian Brown.

With rumours emerging almost on a weekly basis as to whether the Roses will reform this year, songs this good suggest it's very doubtful nor necessary for Brown to even consider.