Graham Coxon - The Spinning Top

With all attention focused on the Blur reunion, guitarist Graham Coxon quietly releases his latest solo album 'The Spinning Top'. On his seventh full-length offering to date, fans will be surprised by a sharp switch in direction of the singer-songwriter, as Coxon dabbles largely in folk.

'Feel Alright' for example, complete with it's 'Ba Ba Ba" chorus and pianos, is quintessential British folk at its catchiest. 'Sorrow's Army' is the same januty Spaghetti Western influence pushed by The Coral and The Zutons, and the intricate finger-picking of 'In The Morning' nods to the legendary Bert Jansch.

Of the 15 by-large acoustic tracks, less than 5 could be considered non-folk. Such as the scuzz-rock and early-Super Furry Animals skewed-pop of 'If You Want Me', the harmonica-fed swamp-rock of 'Dead Bees', or the calypso-percussion of 'Perfect Love', that recalls the 60s psychedelia of Arthur Lee's Love.

Unexpected is one word to label 'The Spinning Top', so different from his back catalogue are the tracks on display. Described as a concept record that follows one man from birth to death, it may not be every Coxon fan's cup of tea - but it's still one of his best solo efforts yet.