Josh Rouse: Under Cold Blue Stars

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * *)

Josh Rouse's Under Cold Blue Stars was afforded a whole column here in Marchlast year. His fourth album 1972 makes another turn and conjures up the spirit of the 70s singer-songwriters (the title track references Carole King, Sparrow Over Birmingham is from the James Taylor school), and his childhood watching The Partridge Family.

It hums with sweetly wistful melancholy and nostalgic pop culture from its garish 70s cover to backing vocals by "the Sweathogs". Slightly indulgent, but Rouse's downbeat vocals and lyrics undercut the upbeat melodies on tracks such as Love Vibration and bring emotional depth to what might have been slightly superficial but sculpted period-piece pop.

Early copies come with a DVD of the Love Vibration video (set up like a successful karaoke in The Office) and a short doco which is less interesting than it might have been.

Label: Ryko/Elite