albums and tracks

With Robbie Williams still out of action, and the charts being deluged by a wave of talented ladies, one thing we're really missing is a great male pop singer. James Morrison and Paulo Nutini might have had success with their debut albums, but as their popularity falters, Daniel Merriweather is ready to step in, bringing his Aussie charm to our shores.

Originally introduced as the vocalist on Mark Ronson's "version" of The Smiths' classic 'Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before', Daniel teams up with the ubiquitous producer once again for his debut album Love & War. Perfectly designed for a long, hot summer, it's a combination of contemporary blues - featuring a variety of modern-day stars, such as Wale - and the classic, old-school soul we'd expect from anything Ronson lays his magical fingers on.

While debut single 'Change' might have wooed us all with its hypnotic piano riff, the popular follow-up 'Red' is where Merriweather bares his soul - telling of a broken relationship through vocals that drip with anguish. With his impassioned pleas, it's the perfect break-up song, if such a thing can exist.

Heartbreak, albeit of a magnitude that belies Merriweather's 26 years, is a key theme here. Although 'Cigarettes' might sound jaunty on first listen, it's all about missing the smell of his lady on his clothes. Similarly, the blisteringly brilliant 'Water And A Flame' - featuring fellow husky-voiced Ronson cohort, Adele - is a duet basted in pain with tales of empty houses, busy dial tones and the long, sad ache of desertion.

Perhaps not the happiest of albums, then, but if you're missing a loved one, an absolutely essential listen.

Talia Kraines