Rhydian Roberts is one of The X Factor's more successful – and certainly more interesting – nearly men. His first two albums shifted impressive units, and now the platinum-ginger bombshell has taken an intriguing turn with this covers set.

Apparently inspired by finding an old compilation tape his brother had made, and not recording over it with vocal exercises for once, Roberts decided to make an album of songs just beyond the 80s nostalgia net.

So, among others, he launches into The Icicle Works' Love Is A Wonderful Colour, The Mission's Tower Of Strength, The Lover Speaks' No More 'I Love You's (taken stratospheric in the 90s by Annie Lennox) and an affecting version of Breathe's 1988 top five hit Hands To Heaven. These are big, showy, emotional numbers, perfect for Roberts' baritone. He can lend grandeur to already pretty majestic songs.

It's a curio more than a tour de force – there's a touch of the ham about the man and some of the arrangements veer towards the tinny when they really needed to go big and bold. Nonetheless, this is a fun and canny change of direction.

Album Review by Matthew Horton
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T r a c k L i s t i n g s

1. Parade
2. The Promise
3. Broken Land
4. Hands To Heaven
5. No More “I Love You’s”
6. Tower Of Strength
7. Waves
8. Love Is A Wonderful Colour
9. The Promise You Made
10. You’re A Big Girl Now