PAOLO NUTINI Vinyl & CDs

Review: One of the most surprising things about the new Paulo Nutini album is quite how much the opening track, 'Afterneath', doesn't sound much like Paulo Nutini. In fact, we're getting into Arab Strap territory: a slightly sinister, certainly-dark spoken word short-sharp-stab of reality, and - in this case - Tarantino movie samples. Perhaps a product of our times, where even comparatively mainstream artists can't help but vent a little menacing nihilism at what the hell is happening out there, everywhere.

Of course, to describe Nutini as a 'mainstream artist' is pretty unfair by today's standards. Yes, this is a guy who anyone can listen to and enjoy, releasing his fourth studio effort on Atlantic Records. But the Scotsman remains a truly artiste, conjuring memories of golden age rock 'n' roll music sadly often committed to memory these days. Taking elements of folk, blues, heavy rock, and soul, it's a heart on sleeve gem.