ONCE voted NME’s Godlike Genius, former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has a lot to live up to.

The album opens strong with Back In The Box, almost a Joy Division and classic Smiths’ style but more upbeat and driving, like later Supergrass tracks.

Current single Easy Money is a strange one – clearly intended for mass release, it is painfully close to a Hard-Fi track. That’s not entirely a bad thing, and it’s a good song, catchy and memorable, but ever so slightly generic.

Marr’s sterling guitar work is present throughout, lifting tracks like the excellent Dynamo with chiming riffs which make the album an upbeat indie package worthy of a listen, while his voice is strong too, with low and high registers appearing effortless, while 25 Hours uses a rapid drum beat as if the Chemical Brothers had become involved.

Anyone buying Playland and expecting This Charming Man or How Soon Is Now will be disappointed, but go in with an open mind and if you’re ready to welcome a solid pop/rock record you could be pleasantly surprised.