Uncommon Weather CD

Glenn Donaldson's latest album as the Reds, Pinks & Purples, Uncommon Weather, may nominally simultaneously be an "elusive portrait of San Francisco and a sef-portrait of the songwriter" (as the accompanying press release notes), but it largely sounds like the kind of baggy guitar-pop that was once the preserve of Manchester bands such as the Smiths and the Stone Roses. That means lots of glistening, effects-laden guitar sounds, strong choruses, occasional sweeping synth sounds and DIY grooves that let the other musical elements - and his vocals - take centre stage. It's a hugely attractive set all told that sounds like it was frozen in time sometime around 1989. To our ears, that's no bad thing.