THERE is a point, about two minutes into an instrumental called High Ball Stepper on Jack White’s latest solo album, where heavily distorted guitar kicks in after a brief, playful piano riff.

It sounds like a mountain falling down around your ears, and it is a testament to White’s style that while the crunching sonic assault could easily overwhelm a tune, it simultaneously drowns out the other instruments and it sits perfectly amongst them.

Elsewhere, tracks like such asJust One Drink are closest to White Stripes material, but also reminiscent in style of Ben Folds Five, and album opener Three Women is an adapted early blues standard, almost passable as a period cover, but for its discussion of digital photography.

The title track is a frantic snare and bass heavy with a bouncy riff, which segues into Temporary Ground – a violin-led almost-duet, which is part Cold Mountain, and part Hunky Dory-era Bowie.

Difficult to dislike, but difficult to sing along to, the whole album is unmistakeably Jack White, with all his eccentricities, confidence and whimsy, and successfully blends heavy guitar with lighter, country-style tunes.