David Gray: 'Fugitive'

If memory serves right, David Gray's 1998 breakthrough White Ladder was hailed by Jo Whiley as an album that "makes life better by its very existence". A pretty bold claim, and despite the pleasantness of 'Sail Away' and 'Please Forgive Me', one that wasn't entirely borne out by the record. Still, it went on to shift a few million copies and thrust Gray's Dylan-esque warble into the spotlight, and you felt that he'd probably worked hard enough to deserve his success.

Despite that album's 'Babylon' allegedly being used to torture inmates at Guantanamo Bay, Gray has since consolidated his position as a superior singer-songwriter to many who followed in his path. 'Fugitive', the lead single from eighth album Draw The Line, isn't a wild departure. A perky mix of piano, acoustic strumming and earnest lyrics about trying when you're in love, sung in that voice of course, it's a solid return that longtime fans will no doubt welcome.