THE former Squeeze man continues with his stand-alone career, releasing his second solo album.

Not many surprises here and the songs, such as the opening Untouchable, resonate with late-career Squeeze.

The subject matter is laddish, shot through a middle-aged lens. Tilbrook sings in that same, unmistakable high voice, pursuing what seems to be his own life through ballads such as Hostage, in which he revisits an old girlfriend trapped in an unhappy marriage; or Domestic Distortion, in which he (or his musical alter-ego) meets up with a long-lost child.

There are oddities, too, especially a hymn to insomnia with the distinct title, Hot Shaved Asian Teens. Competing for weird titles is The Genitalia Of A Fool, a very effective country song. It all winds up with One For The Road, a bright instrumental with a country twang and suggestions of The Shadows. That fourth star may be down to sentiment, but what is wrong with fondness?

Updated: 09:09 Thursday, June 17, 2004