It's been a long, hard journey for Edwyn Collins and one he almost didn't make. Home Again, his 6th solo album, is a project that nearly didn't see the light of day after Edwyn suffered 2 cerebral haemorrhages in 2005. But after a successful neurological operation and a lengthy period of recuperation he returned to the studio to complete the album he'd already begun.

Probably best known for his 1995 hit A Girl Like You, with it's Isley Brothers -like guitar break, his career actually spans some 25 years including his time with Orange Juice.

3 years in the making Home Again was recorded in the 6 months leading up to his illness, but mixed afterwards with the help of engineer Seb Lewsley. It's a gentle, laid back album focused on self-reflection and a retracing of roots - in Edwyn's case the East coast of the Highlands of Scotland.

Edwyn's vocal deliveries are unmistakeable, and while I would love to report this is a triumph over adversity, for me this for the most part acoustic, folksy based album is pleasant and will probably be welcomed by fans, it's likely to appeal only to a niche market.

**½

Review by Pete Whalley