IT'S been a long time since Slight Return captivated the airwaves at the height of Britpop.

The Bluetones may have been in the wilderness ever since, but front man Mark Morriss has now branched out on his own and has produced an impressive solo record.

It's impossible to listen to this without noting shades of the 'Tones at every step. But that is as much about Morriss's distinctive voice as the tracks themselves.

Opener How Maggie Got Her Bounce Back is a quality start, mimicking The Levellers, while So It Goes and I'm Sick - tracks which filled an earlier EP - get another look.

The catchy indie guitars which were a trademark for The Bluetones have largely been ditched in favour of a gentler, acoustic outlook as Morriss errs more towards folk as he gets older.

A creditable start.