Jon Boden's debut solo album, Painted Lady, is being reissued by Navigator Records, ten years after its original release.

Fans of Boden's work with Bellowhead will feel right at home. This feels and sounds (obviously) like a laid back Bellowhead album with all its manic busyness toned down. It's interesting to note that this album is ten years old, as it still feels as fresh as the day it was released.

The album's oddest inclusion is the bonus track; a cover of Whitney Houston's 'I Want to Dance With Somebody'. On paper it sounds a bizarre choice that just shouldn't work, but it does and rather well. Boden gives it a bit of a folky twist and the transformation is quite impressive. 'Drunken Princess' feels oddly out of place here, but is still one of my favourite tracks on the album.

The album contains 15 tracks (1 hr, 16 sec). Fans of Boden's later work should pick this up if they don't already own it.

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Nick Smithson