Siamese
Bang/Universal ***

And so 20 years goes by in the blink of an eye, and before you know it Power of Dreams, one of the best Irish rock bands of the past two decades, are reforming for their 20th anniversary. In the meantime, Craig Walker, former full-time singer with Power of Dreams (as well as Pharmacy and Archive), releases a beguiling solo album that proves he hasn't been wasting his time or talents. The mood here is reflective, even quite romantic, and as Walker expresses regret and joy over the space of 11 tracks (one of which is a bonus version of Lou Reed's Perfect Day), it's clear that life and the living of it have interrupted the fluidity of calm without totally soaking it up. From the title track's sense of consolation to the depth of You and Meand the warmth of Strange Girl, Walker's voice from the past is now firmly in the here and now – resigned but not broken. www.myspace.com/ craigjohnwalker

Download tracks: You and Me, Siamese, Strange Girl