If you collect everything and anything that gets released in the Theatre and Stage arena, then you notice trends. A few years ago it was the 'shows-based-on-pop-music' and budget releases of West End and Broadway shows. These days, thanks in part I assume to the availability and price of good quality recording equipment, it seems that composer compilations are the album of choice. In very much a 'musical CV' vein, there seems to be almost a weekly flow of The Songs Of..., The Complete Songs of... and the Lifetime Works of... an almost unending parade of composers, lyricists and producers, all vying to get their work heard.

So I must admit, from time to time, I do say 'Oh No, not another'. And then, after listening, on the rare occasion, I then say 'Please, release another'. I did it with Tim Prottey Jones' first album, and I'm saying it again with the latest release from Simon Greiff's SimG Productions, Somewhere in My Mind: The Songs of Joe Sterling.

I hadn't heard of Sterling prior to this album, although I had heard of (and met) his collaborator, the unassuming Bob Gould, as he is also the creative lyric mind behind most of Tim Prottey Jones' works. The album features 13 original tracks, some of which are taken from an original musical Roundabout by Sterling and Gould, and vocal performances are from current and future West End stars: Craig Rhys Barlow, Adam Bayjou, Killian Donnelly, Jonathan Eio, Ross Hunter, and a personal favourite of mine, Ashleigh Jones.

So what of the album? First off, my review copy of the album had the tracks in a different order to the artwork and press release, so my first criticism that the order seemed disjointed is, I imagine, unfounded. When I re-ordered the album into the artwork-suggested run, then it all fitted perfectly and is a joy to listen to. The mix of lyrics between Gould and Sterling himself is pretty even, and shows that the composer is also a fine wordsmith.

'Here We Are', one of my favourite tracks, is not only clever musically, but is also a fine example in lyric writing. Gould also supplies some tasty treats, in particular 'The Sky Looks Grey To Me' and 'Ships That Pass In The Night'. But by far the stars of the show are the music and performances. 'Meet Me Half Way There' and 'You Could Be The One' soar, the naturalness of the music complementing the effortless performances. The harmonies are perfectly crafted to complement rather than complicate.

While ever we have writing of this quality, and record labels like SimG there to enable it, then the British Music (and Musicals) industry is in very safe, and talented hands.

Somewhere in My Mind is available from , where you can also hear excerpts from the tracks, and of course from Dress Circle. More information can also be found at www.somewhereinmymind.co.uk.

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Ian Gude