There’s something about this record that stops it being just another Americanised Irish folkie flogging an acoustic guitar to death. It could be the fact he seems to be using his “axe” as accompaniment for proper folky, pop n’soul songwriting rather than as an excuse to foist unfinished poems on the world. It could also be that there’s a warmth to the production and delivery that drains it of the usual plagiaristic cynicism, and there’s even judicious and unflashy use of sax, banjos, strings, slide guitar and glockenspiel to distract me when I get suspicious. So even though a couple of the melodies are naggingly familiar, I just about buy the idea that Paul Tiernan is the real deal.

Key Track: 'Cracks In The Pavement'