I've loved both of the Lost Trades albums and now there is a new album from one third of the band, Phil Cooper.

Playing Solitaire contains ten tracks all written and played by Phil alone.

And there is my problem with the album.... 

There are some great folk tunes (Still Holding My Breath and Beauty In The Cracks for example) but one voice and an acoustic guitar tends to mean the songs merge and become less memorable if not heard in isolation.

This is the same problem I have with all singer/songwriter albums so it's not saying this is a bad album.

My favourite tracks is Nectan's Glen which all about finding the special place in nature that is just yours

The Lost Trades of course have three voices to work with from three multi instrumentalists and occasional surprises such as the violin in Road Of Solid Gold or the almost acapella of Valhalla.

 As a singer/songwriter and lyricist, Phil is excellent but this album just doesn't quite do it for me.