Well here's the second new album from a local singer/songwriter in as many weeks.

Nick Jackson has been around for a good few years now, first with his band The Reporters, then with the excellent Mirrors Over Kiev and more recently with the innovatively named Nick Jackson Band.

For this album, Nick has recorded some of the newer material he has been playing at his solo gigs throughout the north west, and included them with a smattering of re-recorded songs from his Mirrors Over Kiev days. Good idea actually as the Mirrors had some cracking tunes but their folk/country/rock sound bore little relationship to the current band.

Its as if he's saying the Mirrors sound has gone for good, this is me now. And it does give the music a much more immediate sound for the new millenium.

Backed by some top local musicians (including Nick Bold, featured elsewhere in this column)

Nick's uniquely individual vocals are still there, but I detect a lot more cynicism in his phrasing (or maybe its just my ears?). Whereas most bands release an album of new songs then tour with it, Nick has performed these songs loads of times before, and there are a lot of subtle nuances in the delivery. Maybe he's been listening to Dylan?

All in all then a really good album, an essential buy for those wanting to know where Nick is at the moment, and a great reason to go and see the band live.

Also full marks to Mary Rudkin for the cover photography (even though I wildly misinterpretted the back cover!!).

There you have it, the second excellent release from a local singer/songwriter...now all I have to do is get my four-track out and complete the hat trick!

Alec Martin