Jack Lukeman has had great success over the years with themed albums – not least his early interpretations of the work of Jacques Brel and latterly, with "The 27 Club".
The Kildare man’s latest album strips away the novelties and lays 12 new and mostly effective tracks on the line.
His voice remains his strongest selling point, booming across the swinging, strutting brass of The King of Soho and crooning a dark lullaby on Diamond Days.
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It also ties together the hotchpotch of styles, from the omnipresent string section to Sweet as Freedom's 1970s era Elton John pomp and Sky News Blues, a twangy, tongue-in-cheek blues-pop number.
There are few risks, true – but there’s a lot to be said for playing it safe when you’ve got a voice like that.
[ Jacklukeman.com ]
Download: The King of Soho, Diamond Days
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