Reviewed by David Faulkner

Damien Rice, David Gray, Iain Archer - the British Isles have produced a wealth of male singer/songwriter talent in recent years that appeals to grown-up pop fans. Into this arena steps Paul Bell with a highly promising debut whose charms are not immediate but reveal themselves upon repeated listening. For a young writer there is great maturity in the subject matter: "This Song Won't Change Your Life" berates quick-fix approaches to life; "Slippers" targets those who settle down rather than press on ("So maybe you can walk a mile in my slippers/'Cos I don't wear my shoes much any more"). If there is a weakness it's that some melodies get repetitive just when you want them to develop. But it's summery music and I'm listening to it in November. Bell will almost certainly go on to record better CDs than this, but he is a talent to mark down and watch.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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