'Chronicles' is the new album from Paul Young, not him who laid his hat wherever, but the voice of Mike + The Mechanics and Sad Cafe who sadly passed away in 2000. A few years after his untimely death 35 unfinished tracks that Young was working on were discovered in his home studio and it wasn't long before friends and collaborators recorded and completed some of these and so we get the 12 tracks on 'Chronicles'.

Fans won't be disappointed by the songs on offer either as there isn't a weak track on the album and the likes of Mike Rutherford, Paul Carrack and 10CC's Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart have done a great job, as has producer Alistair Gordon, in completing the songs here.

The duet with Paul Carrack 'Grace of God', 'Two Wrongs', 'Loss of Innocence' and the poignant 'I'm In Heaven Again' are all stand out tracks. Bu then you can't ignore the likes of 'Here Comes The Future', 'One Heart' or 'We Did Nothing Wrong' either.

'Chronicles' is a fitting tribute to Paul Young and is a great way to close the book on a long and successful career- although people will always want to hear the songs left behind. First pressings of the album also contain the bonus track 'Every Day Hurts' recorded live and unplugged with Mike + The Mechanics.

****

Review by Nikk Gunns