With a Greek heritage, London based singer songwriter Livan's album Happy returns is a story of strength from adversity.

Imprisoned, addicted and slowly but surely fast forwarding his end of days, his passion for music has helped Livan turn his life around. Immersing himself in the music of The Cure, Bowie, Smashing Pumpkins, Sisters of Mercy, Cult, The Cars, Nick Cave, and The Stones to name a few, Livan formed his band in 2006 playing mostly local London venues.

A chance meeting with producer David Creffield (Embrace, Kaiser Chiefs)led to the 2008 debut album Democr[i]cy - an album mixed by Dave Bascombe (Tears for Fears, Linkin Park, and with production due Bacon and Quarmby (Bowie, Marley, John Meyer, The Pretenders) gilding the lily.

By contrast, Happy Returns is self produced and features a much smaller cast list - guitars, and bass being covered by John Robertson, Nathaniel Chan and Livan, who also plays keys, and Damon Wilson on drums.

And it's a difficult album to pidgeon hole. Eleven tracks running out at a long player 40 minutes, it runs the gamut of rock, goth and Tears for Fears style synth rock (most notably on the rocked up cover of Shout).

King Of The World opens the set - an uptempo piece of pop rock, while the title track is an energetic dark driving number. Kiss and Tell delivers more of the same - a subtle mix of pop, rock and European industrial synth, with subtle gothic underotones. And that sets the tone for all that follows - When The Lights Go Down feels like early Roxy Music.

Full of melody, full of driving synth rock. Some say, Livan is Lou Reed and Uncle Fester's lovechild. We say, he's one to watch.

***

Review by Pete Whalley