Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott: Wisdom, Laughter & Lines - Album Review

There’s no point in wasting time when you’re on to a good thing.

After rekindling his partnership with former Beautiful South colleague Jacqui Abbott on last year's What Have We Become?, Paul Heaton's second collaborative album with the vocalist is a continuation of their joyful incursion into pop-rock, with shared vocals and his customarily wry lyrics.

Heatongrad is a laugh-out-loud country-bumpkin rollick, while Morrissey would kill for a song like the pacy The Horse and Groom.

It's the softly sweeping When Love for Woman Stops that best pays testament to Heaton's skill as a songwriter, although Abbott's contribution can't be discounted.

Let’s just call it another fine, if slightly overlong effort from them both.

[ paulheaton.co.uk ]