ON THEIR last album, 1998's Blue, Simply Red's patent dearth of strong original material was rescued somewhat by the inclusion of an eclectic mix of covers.

Previous to that, on Life, Mick Hucknall broke away from his blue eyed soul incarnation to embrace Latin rhythms with no little success.

No such creative innovation appears here and Love And The Russian Winter sounds like just another collection of smoky, late-night, lushly recorded, soft soul ballads.

However, closer inspection reveals a genuine, if not totally successful, attempt to produce a mature record befitting a middle-aged pop star coming to terms with his position in the scheme of things. It traverses similar emotional landscapes to George Michael’s Older, with songs such as 'The Spirit of Life' and ‘The Sky Is A Gypsy' underlining his world weary philosophy.

In full flight Hucknall's larynx can be compelling, particularly when the material gives him something to rise to. And when the tempo is pumped up and the groove runs deeper as on 'Man Made The Gun' and the more danceable 'Ain't That A Lot of Love', he is always worth hearing.

The good wine is kept to the very end. 'Wave The Old World Goodbye' a heartfelt, tender slow-burner, thankfully devoid of the repetitious dance beat that punctuates most of these songs, is up there with his very best. And for once, he sings like he means it.